as far as i know you have to go for interview if you are going to apply the course provided by IPTA, once you have shortlisted. is that true?

does this mean even i get very good result and is called for interview doesn't necessarily mean i get to secure a very own place of mine? this is absurd.

for IPTAs, u will be called for an interview only if u're shortlisted. after this interview, the final number of students deemed suitable for the course is formulated and submitted to the senate committee of the respective universities. the u'll get the actual offer letter to study for the course.

yes, it does mean that even if u scored perfect 4.0 in STPM/matrics/A-levels, it doesn't mean u will secure a place. architecture is one of the few course that u're actual academic result dont matter much compared to ur personality as an individual. ur results are just a means to secure a place in the university.

a 4.0 student is nothing if he cant even present himself properly, or not able to communicate in english (yes, we're still talking about IPTA here...). i've rejected several potential candidate solely for his/her inability to even CONVERSE casually during the interview.

but do remember, IPTAs serve the society as the client, not the student. we wont allow a sub-standard to study architecture, let alone graduate. there are other courses that would take advantage solely on academic achievements alone. unfortunately, as i've mentioned before, architecture is NOT one of it. hope this explains it.

hrmm...i see.

well, cant rely too much on my academic, huh azamiry? gosh, i was thinking of doing it before i get to know the truth. hehe

so, personality...fuh, i guess got to know a lot how to perform well in interview. that is, IF i were short listed.

neway, how do they shortlisted applicant? do they take academic and curriculum alone of an individual as the factors to shortlist them?

thank you for the information...really appreciate it. it really help me and others like cassie.

This post has been edited by *TeDucK*: Jan 26 2007, 09:23 AM

yes.

when UPU receives all applications, they will rank everyone using academic and co-curriculum ratings. the entire list will then be distributed to each universities. we then countercheck the list (just to be sure), and establish our own shortlist. the shortlisted will be called for the interview.

so it's not to say that u dont need ur academic results. u need it to GET IN. but u can throw it all away once u're in. the personality part is what remains even until u graduate and becomes an architect. so that's what the interview is for, to sort out those who're able or atleast potentially able.

there are also stuff that we wanna see during an interview that cant be assessed through UPU. examples of past candidate that exhibits extra skills (not attributed in cocurriculum or academic results):

i. one boy drew lotsa of manga and managed to published some works internationally. he even illustrated an exercise book for secondary school (mandarin).

ii. one girl exhibits exceptional english articulation that we almost rejected her so that she could study overseas...

iii. another girl actually worked in an architect firm (her uncle's friend or somesort) as a part-time clerk during school breaks since form 3. during the interview we verified through a series of questionings that she indeed has picked up a substantial amount of knowledge that even a 2nd year student couldnt grasp yet.


these are some examples of stuff we assess during the interview. these are not made known to us (the university), so we need to pry each and everyone of the shortlisted to find out why we should take them in. so if u have any sort of hidden talent, the interview is the time to show them. some examples of talents candidates have (but we deemed as irrelevent, although could potentially be a bonus):

i. a boy could sing so well he should've been on malaysian idol or something. and yes, we made him sing during the interview ^^

ii. an indian girl have mastered several forms of traditional dance including malay, indian and chinese dances. we made her perform that too...




oh u get the picture...

huh...really??!!!

even if it doesn't have anything to do with architecture, they will take the applicants for their talent? hrmm..... What if i DONT have any talent? ok..mayB im exaggerating. let truth be told, if let say..im gud in martial art..then need to show to them ka?



im a shy person la..need some work to eradicate shyness and low self-esteem..

the interview will try to korek whatever u're hidden talent might be, regardless whether u're shy or have low self-esteem. the interview is usually conducted in a closed room with two interviewers. sometimes there's only 1 interviewer.

worst case scenarios are when u r not able to communicate. so our approach is to take things casually. talk like u usually chat at pubs, kedai kopi or even at home. only if that didnt work, u r in serious trouble. even for students who're not able to converse well in english are offered a chance to speak in BM (with some penalties ofcourse), but the penalties are easily overidden if ur talent is... impressive enough.

dont worry if ur talent doesnt have anything to do with architecture. if the interviewer is impressed, u MIGHT just get in.



... hence u see why architecture students are mostly 'troubled' people... hehehe...

kay! thnks again, azamiry!

troubled? in academic or people who makes trouble? or probably with lots of prob?

troubled: people with issues. with talents usually comes with disabilities. a talented artist who can paint "philosophy" might have disciplinary problems. a hardworking girl with eating disorders. a brilliant designer but very shy and almost unable to articulate his designs verbally. a handsome young man who cant design at all.

that kinda stuff...



anyway, here's an update on the topic:



this diagram illustrates where most Part 1 holders commonly go. the yellow choices are academic programmes, the blue choices are working/practicing. these are the common ones. gotta dig up more to include the uncommon and rare ones.

will update the frontpage to include this.

in da end, evyone has to start from scratch. architecture students organize a lot of events so a variety of skills and talents are very much needed. so that is y, u r still appreciated even if u have talents in other stuff.

i have a fren who is famous for his wushu skills and muscular built. Dun think anybody else in my faculty is known for this.

hah... u mean tantoi? everybody knows him laa.




actually, it's the other way around, justin. architecture organize a lot of events BECAUSE they have so many diverse talents, and being taught to be expressive, the students need an outlet. hence they organize such events to accommodate their needs

oh, i see..like to meet the person someday..if its like that, then wait for a junior to come and become famous of her silat, justin. hahah!!

hopefully in utm there will be events that encouraging this kind of martial art. but, in KL got ka? when i was in taiping, students in schools there mostly join silat as it is popular and encouraging there.

hmm in UTM, Silat Cekak is very popular here.

They don't want architecture students to be nerds..that's the main reason...

They don't want them to give people the impression they are boring bookworms also.

I'm a bit confused...Architecture = Science + Arts
Which science subject is needed for architecture then? Physics?
What about those students who were from Arts classes who major in accountings or commerce?
Your maths must be good rite?

actually, as i've mentioned several times before, although architecture is a combination of both arts and science, what u learn in it is almost entirely new stuff that have no precedence in 2ndary school education.

meaning, scoring subjects in SPM/STPM is almost only good to qualify u for the course, but u dont really use it AFTER u're in.

what u're need to be really good at is deductive reasoning (logic, reasoning, rationale, analysis, observation etc). the experiment process u do during science classes? (science report: tajuk, radas/bahan, kaedah, pemerhatian, kesimpulan etc) yeah that u will need, but not the experiment itself.

actually, there's almost NO math in architecture. u're gonna learn a little math+physics, but nothing a form 3 student cant do. most of the hardcore calculations are usually left for engineers to do.

bottom line is, even if u're from sekolah agama tinggi, u can still do architecture. but that doesnt mean u dont have to score for ur exams. u need to score in SPM/STPM to qualify u for the course. after that, u'll get brainwashed in first year and will unlearn what u've learned and learn totally new stuff.

WOW...sounds nice leh? I'm actually going to Japan soon...So, i think Architecture there would be good rite? Eventhou i'm actually a Biology Major hehe Anyway...any comments abt Architecture in Japan?

Engineers dislike architects because sometimes architects give them trouble ... especially when it comes to calculation...hahaha..maybe

Im a troubled student definately...i can do model-making..i love model making but im horrible in drawing those fantastic sketches. dang!

architecture in japan is great. they have an entirely different typology and approach to their building that is almost unique by itself. what i mean is, it's not just their architecture that looks different, the way people use it is entirely different too!

yup, that's true. most engineers hate architects so much it ended up in marriage LOL.

huh? really?! aahahah!!

Architecture in Japan is totally different just as Azarimy has pointed out. Because land is so scarce, they have to build vertically. and because Japan is so earthquake prone, it poses a different sort of challenge to the architects there. Not to mention the 4 season climate over there.