First i have to know what are u doing now? High school? Pre-U? If Pre-U then which Pre-U, and when can u get at least ur forecast result, if not actual?

Assuming u're interested in going to PMS. Yes, for now February batches are generally less competitive, with less STPM students (they are usually hardworking but not many of them actually opting for PMS) and JPA scholars, with less of the latter fighting for Australasia PMS'es.

A-Levels result should be released simultaneously worldwide, while STPM results are usually released in March, though some of the STPM students come in by February with their forecast results.

What did you get for A levels? And what are your preferred destinations?

Well, just don't think about the competition first, it's more time-saving if u apply for February intake now right? (Because it's too late to apply for August intake already) Yes generally February intakes are fewer in students overall, for both Seremban and PMS options. The competitions are less stiffer for Australasia PMS'es, and even lesser for those UK places, as TRADITIONALLY  there are few or even no JPA scholars can rank UK PMS'es first (i use the word traditionally because JPA started sending some A-Levels students to ME1/09, who are already bound to IMU, not just those AUSMAT and SAM students who miss their places of Australasia medical schools due to various reasons, who can only put their initial respective countries as top choices). I even heard someone from M1/07 with below average results got Edinburgh. This is almost impossible as Uni of Edin is one of JPA scholars' favourite destinations.

As aforementioned, my facts above may not apply to your potential February 2010 batch as this year JPA started sending in A-Levels students by separating them into 2 batches, with February batch having generally the better students. Rumours also say that JPA may revert to the old style, which like mine, M2/07, having 50-60 jpa scholars all cramped into 1 batch, taking nearly half of the PMS places, hence a force to be reckoned with. It seems i'm stressing too much on JPA scholars, perhaps that's because i'm one of them, but it's more due to the fact the number of JPA scholars and their trend of ranking PMS'es are more predictable compared to the private students.

Private students are usually more concerned of the fees and job and postgraduate prospectives, making Australasia PMS'es, especially the cheaper ones like Adelaide as current favourite destinations. Of course, there are still some, who consider UK or North America as their only destinations.

To your second questions, i don't have a definite answer. I can only say that, IMU puts more emphasis on students' financial status then results. But of course, it's always better to apply early, isn't it?

What i said above would not be absolutely right but I do hope my rare longer post can give you and others out there a clearer picture.

ya i do realize and acknowledge the chance of getting "displaced" by other students in PMS matching, and get matched to a UK PMS, even after i rank all Australasia PMS'es as my top 8 choices. it did happen before.