FEATURE
So, you are going to college?
Consider before you decide
BY VERA S. L. TAY
MANY 17- TO 19-YEAR-OLDS, will be making the choice of what they want to study and where.
A private higher educational institution is not necessarily better than a public university. one thing about a private college is that it is many times more expensive. I would like to suggest some guidelines to assist in making a decision on what and where to study.
Firstly, God does care which college you sign up for but not necessarily in the way that you think. God is also concerned with the choice of your degree. For this, it is important that as Christians, we pray and seek guidance.
STRENGTHS AND INTEREST God has created all of us unique, with different strengths and weaknesses; therefore the first aspect to look at is what subjects you are good at, what you naturally enjoy and excel in.
You will then naturally gravitate towards the course of your interest. When you are good at a particular subject, the probability of you doing well in the course is higher. If you, however, insist on studying a course that you are weak in, the likelihood of you struggling and failing is high. Do also consider your hobbies or interest to provide a guide on your choice of degree.
RECOGNITION OF THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION The recognition of the public and private university is very important as you do not want to graduate with a degree that is not recognised in Malaysia and that bars you from getting a job. This is especially important if your choice of career is as a doctor, dentist, pharmacist, optometrist, nurse, lawyer and accountant or in a specialised professional field. Recognition does not necessarily have to come with a high price.
COLLEGE FEES The tuition fees for private colleges are rather high for the average income family with two or three children. You may want to consider the PTPTN * loan.
The Bible does not explicitly command against all forms of debt. However, the Bible does extol the virtue of not going into debt and has harsh words of condemnation for borrowers who do not repay their debt. It is also clear that all forms of debts must be paid. There are different colleges offering the same or similar courses at different fees and some of these differences can be as much as RM10,000. So, shop around, and one of the best places to do so is at the education fairs.
Do bear in mind that choosing the cheapest course is not necessarily the best decision either.
Also, remember to ask for discounts, scholarships for“ A” at SPM ** and ask for all the miscellaneous fees to be revealed and the instalment plans.
LOCATION, LOCAL OR INTERNATIONAL The distance of the college to your house also makes a difference as this can take a toll on your time and money. There is also the option of studying overseas. Some courses in the Health Sciences such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, etc. can actually be cheaper if you study overseas in countries such as Indonesia. Studying these courses does not need to cost an arm and a leg. However, do check on the recognition status.
ENVIRONMENT If your choice of college is in Malaysia, then I suggest that you pay a visit to the college. Walk the land, walk in and out of the buildings, check out the facilities, accommodation blocks and get a feel of the physical and spiritual environment of the campus. Speak to the lecturers who will be teaching the programme of your choice. Assess the level of English and listen to how they answer your questions and advise you. These will be the people who will be imparting the knowledge to you. Do not speak only to the course counsellors or staff who are trying to“ enrol” you into the course.
Do find out if they have a Christian Fellowship and what other activities you can join, as college life is also about developing your social and communication skills and making friends. Another question to ask is the percentage or international students’ ratio to local students. There is no right or wrong ratio here but rather one that you feel comfortable with.
Stop and have a chat with the existing students and find out the best things they can share about the college and the one thing that they dislike the most. Ask them what they think about their lecturers.
Finally, when you have done all of the above, commit in prayer your findings to the Lord. I encourage parents and child to pray together. This is a new season in the teenager’ s life and God wants it to be an exciting season where you begin to discover the skills and talents that will prepare you for the market place.
Vera S. L. Tay holds an MBA in Banking and Finance from the UK. She has over 30 years of working experience and about 20 years in the education and training industry. She has worked in the private higher education industry and is experienced in advising students on their choice of studies. She is currently the Head of Unit for Learning and Development and Certification for the Malaysian Institute of Management.
* Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional ** Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia
20 ASIAN BEACON 48 # 1 December 2016- January 2017