Ok before I start, I want to let you know that I've already done alot of researched and considered alot of options myself. However it all seems to come to a dead end. I'm posting this here in hope some of you may suggest me other ways that slipped my minds or inform me about people or places that could help. And I hope this is the right place to post this kind of topic.

I'm 21 this year and I've been out of college for more than a year. Prior to this I was studying abroad. I was about to begin my 3rd year of my degree. Long story short, I got into some difficulties which not only exhausted all my money but money I did not own ended up being spent on me. Therefore, I am heavily in debt. My debt is no small amount and I probably can never settle it doing unskilled or non-professional jobs. I expect my creditors to take legal action soon. As it is now, I can't get any kind of education loan or any loan for that matter.

Even though I'm almost into my 3rd year, it's not easy to transfer over to a local college. Most do not want to accept me. To make matters worse, my highest qualification so far is SPM. I did not take any pre-university course or exam. US universities do no require that.

An education is something one can't do without these days. I could never get a decent job without one. I do not think I'm too grand to do oddjobs or hard labor, however I have some disability in moving around, which severely limits my ability to do those kinds of jobs. And definitely I can't be a cashier or store helper for the rest of my life. The money might be enough for food now, but as I grow older, my expenses will grow.

Even a degree in Utar will come to about 35000. With the kind of pay I might be able to get now, it would take at least 6 years to save up that amount. The fees too will increase as the years go by. That too is subject to whether I can save any money in the first place.

If possible I wish to take the shortest route to get some kind of qualification. I've studied alot and I do not wish to waste time and money redoing everything again. It will reduce the financial burden and also enable me to get a decent job faster, a bearable work place and maybe some medical benefits.

Before I receive any ridiculous comments, I know that without money there's nothing much I can do and I can't be choosy either. If it's my fate to be poor I'm fine with that, but of course I've to seek all the information I can find. I'm just so lost now.

Thanks even if you just spared your time to read and it's be really great if you have any suggestions.

This post has been edited by startingover: May 1 2010, 12:18 AM

well..there are many other cheaper alternatives.

for your case, you no longer have to luxury to study in this so called 'universities' or colleges.

what i suggest is you find out more about those small small colleges and institutes...those that do courses in maybe just one floor of an office block if u get what i mean..specifically which college i don't know but i am certain there are many...

or..u can do the course part time...there are still many choices..its not the end of the world

all the best!

what happen? mind sharing?

there is no end to study, at least not until u die..

Basically it's just an unfortunate turn of events, Sorry, but I don't want to talk too much about it here.

There's no end to learning, but without the institutional recognition of the knowledge I've gained, it's worthless in the job market.

I've thought about these. However I'm not very familiar with how these shoplot colleges work out. I can't even be sure if the certificates from there have any value.

Part-time is an option. Any suggestions where? But the fees and living expenses still worry me. I still do not know of any college that has really super low fees.

This post has been edited by startingover: May 1 2010, 12:58 AM

sounds like a college boy fell into mlm scam thingy.

Learn from the mistake, you have no other choice besides working part time, even it means to work your @ss off to earn a living, its something you'll have to endure.

Unless, you can get financial support from family. nuff said.

Just something you should consider,

What about those poor people who cant go overseas but after a couple of years they are well doing well enough to support themselves and note many don't get scholarships or loans that easily.

They tend to work and study. Switch major do law, BA etc........part-time in places like open-university or the many other colleges out there.

Work in call centers many give decent pay RM1.8k is the most u can ask but if you have more experience or work in places that offer incentives you can earn 2k upwards.

You're young anyways so all is not lost. This time try to be a little more mature and hope you learned your lesson-never spend beyond your means.

You can actually do part time courses.I don't think it's difficult to find whether one cert is recognised or not.
If there's a will,there's a way.
What field are you interested in anyway?(if you choose a course just for the sake of it's cert,you might suffer in your job next time)
All the best!

If our forefather can survived after suffering from 2 world war and countless harsh situation, I can't see why TS couldn't survive in this society. Work part time while you study in those affordable colleges.

have any value? dude. u are longer in the position to think about this.

as long as you can get a degree to graduate(of course it must be MQA accredited) then you are quite safe.

or maybe u can try diploma?

try this website: www.studymalaysia.com

see if it helps.

I agree with zstan.

Also, I find your choice of words curious:


It's not "I cannot transfer" or that "none" want to accept ... Why does it appear that you're already closing this option? Is it because you need to study a year again? Or that you need to re-do some subjects? It makes it appear as if the only option you want is if you can simply continue the third year of your degree smoothly. If the ONLY option available to you right now is to re-do the entire thing all over again ...

Well, that may be the only thing you can do. If you want that degree, that is. I know of a LOT of working adults who did not have the opportunity to study before, yet did not give up. They started from scratch. They are in their 40s, have a family to support, have work commitments yet they still find the time and energy to study, and even though some fail the first few exams - they carry on. I find such people to be truly amazing.

In short, there's no "short-cut".

Haha. No I didn't fall for an mlm scam. I really didn't do any mistake actually, so I've nothing to learn from or nothing to regret. I don't mind working my ass off for a living, I've been working since I was 14. Working is not the hard part, getting an education is.

I understand what you're saying. But I'm not the 'other people'. True, if I continue doing part-time work I can make like 600 a month now. Most people have it pretty easy, they just get a PTPTN loan. I don't have that option anymore. Furthermore, once my creditors take legal actions, I'll have to declare for bankruptcy. I will never have money, but with a better education, I could at least get better working conditions. And really I've never spent more than my means, how I got into such a great debt is a complicated matter. Bankruptcy is another problem as I will only be allow to keep a certain amount of money from whatever pay I receive every month. I have checked open university, their fees are pretty much the same, amounting to 10000 for a 3 year diploma. I'm hoping for something lower.

I was doing a degree related to economics and finance previously.

It's not a matter or survival. I'm confident I can at least make just enough to survive for the rest of my life. But that doesn't mean I want to work in the worst and harshest conditions there are. I've spent a great deal of my time on education and if there any possibility I can make it to a cert with spending the least amount possible, I wish to know. So basically I've open this thread to find out what's an affordable college. So far everything I've checked are above my means.

Hmm, well I've requested for a transfer with many colleges. All public universities will not accept me. Of the local private colleges, I've asked INTI, UTAR, HELP, Sunway, Taylors, Nilai, KDU, MMU which give me a pretty standard reply, they aren't allowed to accept transfer if I haven't got a pre-university certificate, it's the regulations they say. So that's not just repeating a year, it mean I've do start from foundation. Time's not the problem, money is.

I'm not lazy, I've really been working hard since I was 14. Previously my education abroad wasn't financed my my parents. I've worked hard for everything that I have, it's just now I'm faced with bankruptcy and I really have to look for the cheapest education possible. If there is some college which I can transfer to that you know of, please let me know. Just completing one more year is much cheaper in terms of fees, books and living expenses than going for a 3 year diploma. Sincerely I need your help and information now since I really do not know of such a cheap but reliable college. I don't want to study 3 years to find out that the MQA suddenly declares the college a sham. Or maybe someone here might just happen to know someone of authority who can talk to someone who can talk to another someone and I might be able to transfer to credits over.

Still thanks everyone for all your advice and suggestions so far.

This post has been edited by startingover: May 1 2010, 01:49 PM

The answers from all those institutes are standard because is it MQA's policy therefore without a pre-u qualification you pretty much can't do anything ^^" I'm pretty sure you can't get into any UK or Australia based Degree programmes but have you asked whther you can't transfer and apply for credit into places like INTI that offers something like this
http://www.newinti.edu.my/intisj/intisj-co...ess-management/
which is a four year American Degree program through INTI's partnership with Northwood University which can be completed in INTI.Ask if you can since students enter this Degree programme from SPM and no pre-u.
At least can get a few exemptions also enough already or something.
It is impossible to transfer all 3 years of your credits ^^"

If you desperately need a pre-u qualification than do something like self-study and go to the British Council and register to take the Cambridge A-Levels exam as a private candidate or something like that, just pay exam fees.This will take time since you have to sit for AS level first before A2 Level and waiting for exam dates and all but it saves money but it will cost time score well and maybe you can get some kind of scholarship or if not well at least get good enough grades for Universities to see you as an A-Levels holder.

Or you could do something like CAT and ACCA, pick the cheapest and best routes for each paper just go to those shop-lot tuition centers won't cost you much.

Other than that, if you really can't do stuff like going through traditional education where you go to uni and learn your choices are pretty much limited to you working part time and studying part time for a Diploma or something, beggars can't be choosers ^^"

Hello TS, my sympathies with your current situation. I myself am facing almost dire straits, so I can understand how you feel. To make things short, I'll approach this in a quick manner:

Firstly, some questions:

Which country were you studying in?
What degree course and which Uni?
Was it an ADP/ADTP programme? (since you mention you only have SPM)
If so, then how many years did you actually DO overseas and did you even do any modules locally?
are your parents, relatives or friends able to help you in any way?
how are your SPM grades?

Some helpful insights:

you don't need to keep working odd jobs forever. you have two problems now, and what you need to do is to prioritize. it seems to me that you're grasping desperately at straws- are you even supposed to be thinking about your education now? what's important is to pay off that loan as soon as possible, because (i) according to you, creditors are going to come after you any time soon and (ii) loans generate interest. LOTS of interest, if it's from a financial institution. Generally, the sooner you pay your loan off, the better, or else you're going to keep paying for it. so get a job now, right now, tomorrow or whatever, as long as it helps to pay for something and start paying that loan off.

This is a long shot, but how good are your SPM grades? Have you considered an education in Singapore by transferring credits over? I can give you links to the institutions in Singapore and perhaps they might be able to take your credits. From what i've read, they have flexible financing options for SG citizens and foreigners alike, although they're usually in the form of scholarships awarded by independent bodies.

startingover,

1) What AMERICAN DEGREE program was you in?? Be specific. Which state??

2) If you transfer into American Community College aka 2 years college, can you get a diploma aka associate degree out of that??

Nobody can help you unless you can provide SPECIFIC information as to what program that you were in.

Dreamer

What about doing STPM and then trying to get either into local U or at some private college (transfer your credits etc)?

that's probably the cheapest option. i remember there were some 20-somethings at my secondary school.

x

This post has been edited by JiJai: Jul 18 2010, 04:50 PM

please whether the following list might be able to help you. =)

Organization
Akademi Kreatif
Akademi Laut Malaysia
Allianze College Of Medical Sciences (Pulau Pinang)
AMC The School of Business
Asia Pacific Flight Training Academy
ATC College
Bandar College
Bukit Merak Laketown Institute Of Allied Health Sciences
City College of Business Management
Cosmopoint International College Of Technology (Ipoh)
Cosmopoint International College Of Technology (Kota Bharu)
Cosmopoint International College Of Technology (Kota Kinabalu)
Cosmopoint International College Of Technology (Kuantan)
Cosmopoint International College Of Technology (Kuching)
Cosmopoint International College Of Technology (Pulau Pinang)
Cosmopoint International College Of Technology (Sungai Petani)
Cosmopoint International College Of Technology (Terengganu)
Cybernetics International College Of Technology (Cawangan Pusat Bandar Kuala Lumpur)
Disted College
Equator Academy Of Art & Design
Excelpolitan International College
Fajar International College
Food Institute Of Malaysia
FRIS Engineering Institute (First Robotics)
G Institute Of Real Estate
Han Chiang College
IKIP College (Campus 2)
IKIP College (Campus 3)
IKIP College (Campus 5)
IMH Academy (International Music House)
In-House Multimedia College
Institut Akauntan KTC (Cawangan Johor Jaya)
Institut Akauntan KTC (Cawangan Kluang)
Institut Akauntan KTC (Cawangan Skudai)
Institut Citipro
Institut Eksekutif
Institut Hasani
Institut Hospitaliti YPJ
Institut i-Systems (Alor Setar)
Institut i-Systems (Johor Bahru)
Institut i-Systems (Kuching)
Institut Latihan & Pembangunan
Institut Latihan FTMS - ICL (Cawangan Sarawak)
Institut Media Integratif Malaysia
Institut Methodist Pilley
Institut Mutiara Mopar Kajang
Institut Nasional Oftalmoogi
Institut Nirwana
Institut Omega
Institut Pengajian Tinggi Islam Perlis
Institut Pengurusan Dinamik
Institut Pengurusan Maxcel
Institut Prima Bestari
Institut Sains & Terknologi Darul Takzim
Institut Sains dan Pengurusan
Institut Seni Sabah
Institut Sinaran
Institut Teknologi & Pengurusan Lebuh Victoria
Institut Teknologi Butterworth
Institut Teknologi Cybertek
Institut Teknologi Maklumat Nusantara
Institut Teknologi Midas (Cawangan Melaka)
Institut Teknologi Perindustrian YPJ
Institut Teknologi Petroleum Petronas N
Institut Teknologi Riam
Institut Teknologi Sarawel
Institut Teknologi Sentral
Institut Teknologi Silicon
Institut Teknologi Suria
Institute Of Global Management
Institute of Medical Sciences Mantin
International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance
International City Institute of Technology
International Institute Of Management and Technology
Internexia Institute
INTI College Sabah
INTI International College Penang
INTI University College (Sarawak)
Island College Of Technology
KDU College (Penang)
Kinabalu Commercial College
kolej
Kolej Aman Batu Pahat
Kolej Antarabangsa Almacrest
Kolej Antarabangsa Bandaraya
kolej Antarabangsa Genting Inti
Kolej Antarabangsa Kemajuan Pelancongan
Kolej Antarabangsa Nightingale
Kolej Antarabangsa Oakland
Kolej Antarabangsa Paramount
Kolej Antarabangsa Sedaya Sarawak
Kolej Antarabangsa Teknologi Lanjutan Sarawak
Kolej ATI
kolej Automotif TEKAT
Kolej Binary (City Campus)
Kolej Eastern
Kolej Elitejaya
Kolej Excel
Kolej IBS Miri
Kolej IJN
Kolej Integrasi Kejururawatan dan Kesihatan Bersekutu
Kolej Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Ismail Petra
Kolej Islam Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah
Kolej Islam Sains Dan Teknologi
Kolej Islam Sains Dan Teknologi
Kolej Islam Teknologi Antarabangsa (KITAB -Pulau Pinang)
Kolej I-System Bukit Mertajam
Kolej I-System Miri
Kolej ITA
Kolej Jaiputra
Kolej Kejururawatan Adventist
Kolej Kejururawatan dan Saina Kesihatan Seri Manjung
Kolej Kejururawatan dan Sains Kesihatan Sime Darby
Kolej Kejururawatan Lam Wah Ee
Kolej Ketengah
kolej MASA
Kolej Masterskill (Kampus Metro Kuching)
Kolej Multimedia Antarabangsa
Kolej Negeri (Cawangan Chedang)
Kolej Oasis
Kolej Penerbangan Antarabangsa GGIFA
Kolej Pergigian Antarabangsa Pulau Pinang
Kolej Poly-Tech MARA
Kolej Poly-Tech MARA
Kolej Poly-Tech MARA Bangi
Kolej Poly-Tech MARA Ipoh
Kolej Poly-Tech MARA Kota Bharu
Kolej Poly-Tech MARA Kuantan
Kolej Pratique Asia
Kolej Presiden
Kolej Profesional dan Pengurusan
Kolej Profesional Mara Beranang
kolej Profesional Mara Indera Mahkota
kolej Profesional Mara Melaka
kolej Profesional Mara Seri Iskandar
Kolej PSDC
Kolej Ranger Melaka
Kolej Sacred Heart Sibu
Kolej Sains Kesihatan Aseana
Kolej Sentral
Kolej Shahputra Bandaraya Kuantan
Kolej Sri (Cawangan Sarawak)
Kolej Syuen
Kolej Teknologi Bestari
Kolej Teknologi Dan Profesional Indera Kayangan
Kolej Teknologi Darulnaim
Kolej Tesdec
Kolej Universiti Islam Melaka
Kolej Yayasan Sabah
KPJ International College of Nursing and Health Sciences (Johor Bahru)
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (Sarawak)
Linton University College
Management & Science University
Masterskill College of Nursing and Health (Campus Metro Kota Bharu)
Masterskill College of Nursing and Health (Campus Metro Kota Kinabalu)
Maxwell College Ipoh
MCS College
Melaka International College of Science & Technology
Multimedia College
Multimedia College (Eastern)
Multimedia College (Sabah)
Multimedia College (Sarawak)
Multimedia College (Southern)
Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia
Olympia College
Olympia College (Kuantan)
Olympia College (Petaling Jaya)
Optima College
PAAC Business Institute
Pacific College (Kuantan)
Penang Medical College
Plaza International College
Premier International University Perak
PTPL College (Penang)
PTPL College (Sabah)
PTPL College (Sarawak)
PTPL College (Sungai Petani)
PTPL College (Terengganu)
PTPL Kota Bharu
Pusat Pembangunan Kemahiran Pulau Pinang
Ranaco Education & Training Institute
Reliance College (Penang)
Renaissance College
Saujana Academy Of Hospitality & Tourism
Sedamai College
SEGi College (Pulau Pinang)
SEGi University College (Sarawak)
SIDMA College
Sunway College
Surya College
Taj International College
Technology Park Malaysia College
Twintech College (Sarawak)
UCSI University (Sarawak Campus)
UCSI University (Terengganu Campus)
United College Sarawak
WIT College
Yelex Institute Of Management


this are the list of colleges n unis that are approved by MQA from my source...

i am too lazy to remove all the big names..so maybe you can take your time and look for the smaller institutes..

Ok, I have talked with some more people and I can transfer to a local private college into their first year degree. So that means I will only be skipping pre-U. Still the fees are way too high. For Inti's Northwood program, I can transfer at the most a year and the fees are reall high too. A-Levels exam fees cost almost 4000.

Paying back the loan is out of the question actually. First of all I or rather my parent only have a small house which is worth so little. The amount of the loan can't be settle with what I can earn now, in fact I don't think I'll be able to settle it in my lifetime. I don't think I've any other choice besides bankruptcy.

My SPM grades are pretty good. It's possible to transfer my credits to Singapore, but I won't be able to afford the fees. Furthermore, after I declare bankruptcy, I can't leave the country.

I did do an american degree program locally for about a year however I didn't transfer my any of the local credits overseas. I applied to a pretty good college there so I had to apply as a freshman (ie. right after high school). Then I studied for about a year there but I did two years worth of credits. I was in a normal degree program. I was going for a Bachelors of Arts in Financial Mathematics and Economics. Sadly I don't have any family members who can help.

Yes there was a community college nearby. I never thought of transferring over to get an associate degree. I will see if I can work that out. Thanks alot for this suggestion.

Sorry to hear that you lost your sponsor. But I think studying overseas again is pretty impossible for me. It's true the college hasn't kick me out. I still hold my admission. However, without financial backing, I won't be able to get my I-20. Then the fees and cost of living is about 30k USD per semester. So that works out to 120k USD for another two years. Who would load me that amount? Plus if I declare bankruptcy, means I can't leave the country.

Thank you zstan. I will check out the colleges in your list and see if any fits my budget and if I can get a reasonable job and accommodation over there.

Certificate is no biggie.

If you are well-versed in english, both written and oral, people would hire you.