It may be best for you to apply as undecided and then choose your major after a year or so.

In Malaysia, an overseas degree is viewed much higher than a local degree, so in that sense, yeah any overseas university degree that you've achieved is better than a local one.

However, I know a hiring secretary at an MNC who told me this: the first thing they look at is your degree class (UK) or your GPA (US). The next thing they look at is your university. I think this applies mainly to the MNCs though, who are international corporations.

Hey guys, I searched the topic and I am still puzzled. Do I need to contact MACEE to register for SAT? If so, where do I sit for SAT here in Malaysia?

Is almost everyone who study in US either received full scholarship or by ADP? Because the cost is really high there, my budget is only barely enough for 2 years there or not even enough for 2 years. So, for me, even a RM200k of scholarship will not be sufficient. I can probably only rely on full scholarship if I am going to study in US.

I doubt much people are able to afford for 4 years cost at US (the same goes for UK and Australia), but there are a lot of people studying in these country (don't think all of them are supported by full scholarship). So I wonder how do you guys fund yourself? I mean those who apply to US directly, without going through ADP.

This post has been edited by Kurogane___: Jul 5 2014, 03:13 PM

alot of them has rich parents.... UK/AUS is out of reach...i pulled out of a go8 uni last mind because it is so costly to attend the university, just cost of tuition alone is almost equivalent total cost for attending a canadian uni.... in USA, i only apply to places which i can afford, ie TEXAS.

you can register online for SAT without the help from macee. make sure you have a credit card though. register at collegeboard and choose the place from the website

don't wait until the last minitue, or the places you want will be fully booked.

My father was an expat.

Most Malaysians who are overseas in the US are either on ADTP or on a scholarship. I'm not sure why you think that they're fully self-funded.

This post has been edited by spunkberry: Jul 16 2014, 10:51 PM

hi, may i know which local bank offers the best rates for MYR to USD for funds transfer? Im looking to open up an account with Bank of America when im there. Thank you!

bump.

Any Malaysians study in non-conventional places such as North Dakota, Wyoming here?

Probably not. Most attend more well-known, prestigious universities. Is there a particular question you have?

Yes...as im applying to places like Texas, Wisconsin and ,aybe Uni of Utah...so just want to find out how's the environment?

Texas will be hot during the summer, and nice the rest of the year. Wisconsin is in the Midwest, so the winters can be harsh. I don't know about Utah.

Hi I would like to share my future study plans in US, hope to get some insights:

1. Currently SPM,
2. go for AUP(INTI) or ADTP (Taylor's), (optional: get bursary for 30 free credit hours) for 1+3 programme in Engineering
3. After acquiring my Bachelor's, start working in US, and work for PR,
OR
pursue Masters in Engineering, Medicine or Law

So my concept (or misconception) is that, once I get a Bachelor's Degree from a US Uni, i can apply for Professional courses e.g. LSATS or MCAT and once i graduate from that Masters degree I am already the same as a houseman back here in UK systems.

This is because the US only recognise Masters degree as the qualification to be an actual professional in that respective field.

Meaning to say, I will have a Bachelors degree in Engineering, and CAN pursue Masters in Engineering, Law or Medicine. Thus, upon completion of the Masters, I am an actual Engineer/Law/Doctor, just without internship and registration to the respective Board of X Profession.

How true is this?

Hi everyone.

Well, there are like 3.9k Uni in the US. And how you guys select ?

Im looking for a transfer. Currently studying Diploma in APIIT. Estimate graduate next year Jan.
Actually, Im searching for well known computer sciences university which I can do artificial intelligence and computer security together. In the US they never do any specific computer majors. Just general Major in Computer Science. But what they have is elective subjects like... AI and Security. I like both.

My point is... do you guys have any idea what Uni is good for computer science?
(Pls take out MIT, UCLA, Georgia Tech, CalTech, and other competitive ones. As I'm not a 4.0 student. )

TQTQTQ

Hi everyone,

I'm currently sitting for SPM and now I am lost in what I am going to be doing next year after SPM.
My first choice is NYU, The Stern School of Business and the backups are all generally target schools for Wall Street Firms, UMich Ross, UVA McIntire, UTexas at Austin McCombs(BHP), Georgetown and so on. ( I don't really have the confidence in going to Ivy Leagues but I'll definitely try)

Numerous email exchanges with a senior admissions committee told me that ADP is not the way to go, as it is considered as a foundations program, and our form 5 is actually only 10th grade in the US, so he recommended me to take A Levels. First, questions for A Levels. Is it hard? This is so cliche but I have no idea what A levels look like and how it works, I surely have to take math, how hard is that? Next, I don't know when to attend for the A Levels, Jan or March I don't know, because I still haven't decided if I want to take the SATs. Which brings me to my next question.

For people who have taken the SATs, is it hard for us Malaysians? How long did you guys take to study them all and get a score of at least 2100? And how did you guys study? Because I think I can confirm that I will be taking A levels, so I'd like to plan in advance to accommodate with the SATs.

These should be my questions for now until I can think of more haha

What you are looking for is only available in grad schools in the US, because of how they emphasize the need to be a well rounded person in their undergrad years.

Colleges/ Universities I recommend are UCLA, UCSD, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Carnegie Mellon, University of Washington, UTexas at Austin, UMadison Wisconsin, Rice and University of Maryland College Park.

Hi. A bit of backstory, I'm currently 17 doing SPM. I've taken the SAT once and got 2100. I plan on retaking it next year.

I have a few questions about education in the US.
1. Colleges require students to have 12 years of formal education. Seeing as I only have 11 years, how do I go about obtaining my 12th year?

2. Is there a difference in the quality of education between public (UCs, for example) and private colleges?

3. Benefits of US over UK/Australia?

Thanks!

This post has been edited by brianlzf: Sep 29 2014, 12:50 AM

- A levels is the same as Advance Placement tests as far as US universities are concerned. You get some credits from the subjects but that's about it. Some credits often do not transfer very well. Eg. You get 10 credits for Math but 2 of them cannot be used to your major for some reason.

- You generally do not need X years of schooling to get into university. The SAT 1 & SAT 2 tests will test you on that.
- I don't really know how hard the SAT is to others because I only know how hard it is to me.

Looking back now, the most efficient and cheapest route would be to start taking SAT tests and some AP tests right after Form 5 SPM. Then, start applying for unis in November-December.
Then, continue to take AP tests which can be credit transferred until you enrol to uni. Of course this strategy will cause you to be cram studying continuously and bad results mean that you cannot get credits.

The easy way will be to just take SAT 1 & 2. Apply then enrol. You will be studying pre-requisite classes which are the same as A-levels/AP but much more expensive since you are studying overseas.


A levels might be a good idea if you are still 50-50 on where you want to go. ,


Anyway, the understanding of the US schooling system in Malaysia is generally lacking. One of the main hurdles you will face is getting human references and co-curriculum activities.

These 2 will usually be the big weakness for Malaysian students on their application because:
1. People in malaysia don't know shit about writing a good recommendation letter. Sounds harsh but it's true.
2. Extracurricular activities : If you are not active in secondary school, A-levels might be a second chance to fix that.

This post has been edited by maru&box: Sep 29 2014, 01:00 AM

Well, according to the NYU senior admissions committee, he told me that A Levels are both Standardized Tests as well as a proof of completion for high school, since we only have 11 years and they require 12 years.

So how did you do in you SAT's? How long did you study for it?
Where do you take these AP tests? Are they hard?

I think I will be going for A Levels in April 2015, and study the SAT's in between SPM and the start of the A Levels April intake, would that be enough time? I honestly don't know.
And I am sure where I want to go already, A Levels is international so I'm not really worried about its acceptance in US colleges.

Yeah! I know! These two and the personal letter is really just a headache to me right now. What is considered a good recommendation letter? I'd like to get one from my English and my Social Studies teacher. And the EC's I really have to brainstorm something out, but I would like to try to be an intern in a bank and volunteer for stuff, I personally am interested in finding a way to deal with the homeless in KL.

Have you enrolled into a US school? If so, where?

First of all, I'd like to know when did you do your SAT's? And how long did you prepare for it without (or with) guidance

1. Well, if you opt for a top school, like those Ivy Leagues and New Ivies (NYU, UChicago, Stanford and such)or Public Ivies (UCB,UMich,Utexas at Austin, UVA) , take the A Levels IB or STPM, if you're not looking to aim that high, go through the ADP, easiest path.

2. Well, the Public Ivies, as stated above, are actually on par or sometimes surpassing some private colleges. They also do not provide alot of financial aid, especially to international students, its really close to nothing at all, and they are not as cheap as people say. The rest of course, are cheap, quality of course, I'm talking about schools like University of Minnesota, U of Arizona, U of Florida, U of Massachusetts and the likes, but not as good as the well regarded Public Ivies, if you are looking to Finance, go for Public Ivies, if the rest, you can try the others, work hard and NETWORK, you will have a bright future in the US either way.

3. Well, to me, and doing unfathomable amounts of research, the US really has alot of advantages compared to the UK and Australia. First and most obvious of all, the US has a much higher salary than in the UK and quite a bit more than Australia. And then there is the cost of living, the UK and Aus has a really high cost of living while real estate is also sky high, both aggregate and compared to wages.

Also, it helps that the US is the largest economy in the world, by far, providing people with a large market for businesses, opportunities, diversity and dynamism. Because ask yourself this, where else can you find a country that leads in so many aspects? If you go for finance, there is an enormous market backing you up, with an abundance of capital and or private equities to fuel your needs, unparalleled. If you go for engineering, good god, you'd be surrounded by the best engineers in the entire world, with a country that leads in aerospace, software and just about any type of engineering. You'd be essentially consumed by opportunities offered by this country, provided you work your ass off. I have so many family members that go there and are either rich as hell (business) or a loaded professional (pays very very well) .

I can probably think alot more, but then I'd be flooding this post, if you'd like to know more, you can PM me.