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