Hi there,

My two cents about STPM - don't waste your time there. And this is coming from someone who has been there done that. I'm 40 this year and in my school days people go for STPM and almost guaranteed a place in university if they do well. Nowadays, I won't bet on it. STPM is a high standard exam I agree but the reward isn't matching.

If money is a problem, try applying TAR College Kampar. They have a very good schemes for poor students. I know the Dean and they are doing a lot to help students from poor family. The only problem TAR is facing now is students coming in with high SPM/STPM scores but very poor grasp in English. Most are from Chinese schools and when lectures and textbooks are dished out in English, many flop. So, please boys and girls, do well in your English.

As for Architecture, it's an expensive degree. Very expensive, sometimes more expensive that a medical degree. If you go to a "setengah masak" university which is cheap, your degree will not be recognised and no firm will want to hire you because designing a building involves human lives. A good architecture isn't about beauty. First and foremost it's safety. The best uni for architecture today is University of Texas, US. If you can graduate from there, you will have no problem getting a job or run your own firm someday.