Hey guys... Just wanted to ask a question here or two.

I'm a SPM 2011 candidate (2 more subjects left to finish SPM)
I'm interested in Software Engineering, so I would like to go for UTAR's.
But UTAR's Foundation is too expensive for me. And since UTAR accept TARC's diploma, so I planned to go for TARC's diploma and continue with UTAR degree.

My question is, which diploma course of TARC is most equivalent to UTAR's Bachelor of Science (Hons) Software Engineering?

Thanks guys...

EDIT: Or if you guys have any ideas I can get loan for UTAR's Foundation with as low interest as possible?

Anyone heard about KDU? Is the college good? I am applying for American Degree Transfer Programme.

-when and how can i apply for STPM?

For my info and as far as I know, your school will announce the candidates that are eligible for STPM after June or July...

For my school back then, the school will announce the registration period for STPM or Form 6. They will also state the SPM results criteria at the same time.

- how and when can i apply for IB?

I don’t know what course I want to take
First, ask yourself what do you like the most. Perhaps you like nice looking flash, website and programs or perhaps you are fascinated by the latest technologies in automotive and cars. This is the first and foremost thing you must first consider. One of the most common mistake people make is to look at the $$ factor and their own results. It is not to say results are not important, it is important but not to an extent it’ll influence too much of your decision. However, please do note that you shouldn’t stray too far away from reality. For example, you found that your interest is in music yet, you can’t even identify what a flat/sharp is in theory. If this is the case, you should then re-evaluate your second interest as trying to study something you have no knowledge in, will get you no where near far.

I don’t know what to do and how to start
Well, to start, the first thing you should do is to understand what you like as stated on the first post. After that, try looking at your results and will your results be able to help you to gain entry into the specific institute. For some if their results are slightly off the standard or aren’t looking that well, there’s always foundation courses available.

I have chosen my course and what should I do now?
After you have chosen courses that you find interesting, the next thing is to short list all the institutes that are offering them. In this time, let’s just leave every other factor out and short list all your choices. Then from your choices, evaluate the details of each institutes for example, are they offering accredited course by LAN? Are they having positive feedbacks or are they just a phony institutes? How well do they rank among the other institutes which are offering the same course? Try sorting out all this and cut out those that don’t fulfill those criteria. In my humble opinion, the most important thing is to look at the accreditation of the institute and the course itself.

I have short listed all the institutes, then?
Well, after you have narrowed down your choice, you should then consider one of the most important factor, the $$ factor. This is one of the cruel realities you must face. First thing is to look at your budget including tuition fees, living expenses and miscellaneous expenses and compare them with the information given by the institute, if they go out of your budget, the institute shouldn’t stay on your list as regardless of how good the institute is, if you can’t support all the fees, then it’s not really a wise choice. After all this shortlist, you will most probably be left with a few (like 5) choices.

A short note to above, even if they are over your budget, you can always check if any of the scholarships are available for such institutes, if yes, then you can try to apply for the scholarship. Well, everyone loves a prestigious institute compared to a “cap ayam” institute.

So I can apply now?
Wait just yet, after you have short listed all these, one of the important things is to check this out institutes by visiting them and talking to their course advisor. Never trust too much of the information you found on websites as most likely, they are showing all the nice wonderful information and most probably, you wouldn’t see something that is negative. After visiting all the institutes, do check for some online feedbacks from current seniors or you can ask your friends in the institutes about the status or their view on the institute.

Generally these are some simple guides to how you can choose an institute. However, do not make these mistakes when you are choosing some of the institute.

1) Do not follow the crowd or your friends in choosing a course or institute, don’t worry about friends as you’ll make new ones once you are there. Following the crowd is a fool’s theory and it shouldn’t be followed.

2) Undeniably, $$ factor is an important factor and it’s one of the rules guiding your choice. However, please do not choose an institute because it is cheap, do check the credibility and accreditation of the institute. No point getting a cheaper education where no one will hire you as they don’t recognize the institute.

3) Don’t give up just because you messed up your SPM results. Remember that results are not everything, it’s just a measurement tools to see how well you fair in school, stick it to your mind that A doesn’t mean everything and results only meant something, not everything. There’s always a second chance for you to improve yourself like foundation courses or form 6.

Additional Information
1) Culture Shock - Tony C
2) What to do after Form 5? Form 6, Private college or Uni? - LaR_c
3) Extra information on Form 6 - soccergod
4) Additional information on foundation courses - cynthia_tss
5) Choices after SPM - azarimy
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A simple list I wrote based on the frequently asked questions in the education section... Hopefully this may clear some of your doubts...

If you think something is missing, please add them in your post .... thank you ...

Everyone is welcomed to ask questions and get their doubts answer here instead of creating new threads with little replies

Anyone heard about KDU? Is the college good? I am applying for American Degree Transfer Programme.

I have questions here

1) If i choose foundation program, does that mean that i have no chance at all to go for overseas study?
2) If i choose A-level, will it be a waste if im not going to overseas study in the future? cause its 15months and quite expensive.

im stuck to choose between foundation and A-level

Hi everyone,
I'm kinda stuck between whether i should go for 3 or 4 subjects for my A-Levels.
I really want to study Medicine overseas (preferably UK) after my A-Levels.
Is it better if I take 4subs or is 3 already sufficient?
Thanks for your help!

New here. Took SPM last year and my results are...decent I suppose. I already decided to study locally in M'sia and I have interest in UTAR's MBBS course. So I'm trying to decide on which pre-u I should take to enter it. My question is whether I go straight for UTAR's foundation (which I might be able to get 100% tuition waiver) in science or study A-Level/STPM so that if I score well I can perhaps apply to another uni which offers better scholarship for medicine since UTAR only offers 15% waiver. If I enter UTAR I think to use PTPTN loan to support my studies after foundation. Is it worthwhile for me to set on foundation in UTAR to get to its MBBS course or should I try for A-level instead for a better prospect? Please advice

UTAR is very new in MBBS course, their facilities are not completed. You better look for Monash, UCSI University or IMU, they are well established in medicine course.

Some uni will give you scholarship only at foundation year, then you have to re-apply again and for sure you will not get it. This is a trick for enrollment. Be careful.

As for the foundation, you need to be careful as well. Most of the uni do not recognize each other foundation.

Good Luck.