tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post112771806144335275..comments2024-03-21T20:10:28.943+08:00Comments on EDUCATION IN MALAYSIA: Oxford University: Should I Apply? (II)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-90315363713260708372008-07-29T15:32:00.000+08:002008-07-29T15:32:00.000+08:00Very interesting and helpful for all international...Very interesting and helpful for all international students - thanks. I've posted a link to the article on http://www.how2uk.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1128003414306858722005-09-29T22:16:00.000+08:002005-09-29T22:16:00.000+08:00What to say... top US schools especially those sma...What to say... top US schools especially those small-medium size institutions and unknown to most Malaysians has some of the most vibrant learning communities. The term tutorial seems like such a sophomoric concept. I prefer seminars. Graduate Seminars.<BR/><BR/>-- Old ManAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1127918378613963022005-09-28T22:39:00.000+08:002005-09-28T22:39:00.000+08:00I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Deep Springs Coll...I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Deep Springs College in California yet. It has a rather small endowment and only awards Associate Degrees (which means you have to transfer to another institution after two years to gain your Bachelor's), but the education is helluva good. It's a rural ranch, and all students receive a full scholarship; in return, they work on the ranch. The school is mostly self-governed (which means the students by and large run it; one issue they contemplate every year is whether to make the institution co-ed, as it is currently only open to male students). The average class size is four, and there is a heavy emphasis on writing and public speaking. Many transfer students from Ivy League universities have said there's no way their education there could compare to the one they get at Deep Springs. (The website is <A HREF="http://www.deepsprings.edu" REL="nofollow">http://www.deepsprings.edu</A>.)<BR/><BR/>As for the difference between big prestigious universities in the US and LACs, it tends to vary from what I understand. Some bigger LACs are still very prestigious, such as Swarthmore and Dartmouth (Dartmouth is actually an Ivy League university, but because of its undergraduate focus, many consider it similar to an LAC). Another thing is that while many big universities (Harvard is one) rely on graduate students to teach, there are a few that emphasise undergraduate education, like Princeton.John Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16316489754000191267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1127917230885765362005-09-28T22:20:00.000+08:002005-09-28T22:20:00.000+08:00... one final bit of info, for those interested in...... one final bit of info, for those interested in US education...<BR/><BR/>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/2RUNY97H6VUAT/ref=cm_lm_bg/002-9700494-8264803<BR/><BR/>Go to this link for a list of college guide books. See the sidebar entitled 'Related Listmania'. Read as many of the comments as you can. <BR/><BR/>Content aggregators, such as the commentary on bookstore websites and various other forums, are an excellent place to 'virtually' visit that environment you are considering.Jernghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10065140605321202631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1127916835825262532005-09-28T22:13:00.000+08:002005-09-28T22:13:00.000+08:00... Additionally... the best 'education' in the US...... Additionally... the best 'education' in the USA might be found at smaller liberal arts colleges with no graduate departments, simply because students get the personal attention of their Professors. For example...<BR/><BR/>Reed College has nearly the best 'undergraduate academic experience' in the USA; it is structured like oxbridge, with tutorials; and it is NOT LISTED on many official rankings, because it actively denies the accuracy of numerically-based ranking systems. Reed College slashes the commercial sector for turning 'education' into an industry, and in turn websites like US News and World report downgrade its Reed College in its rankings! This is one example of how politics, and market forces distort available information about education in our world.<BR/><BR/>St. John's College is another example of 'great education' with 'little respect for the marketplace'. Every student at SJC takes the same courses, which is a course in reading books from the Western canon of literature, science, philosophy, etc. In a seminar (tutorial) style, they read books, do math, study music, and do laboratory science for 4 years. They learn calculus by reading Newton. There are no special 'majors' at SJC. This sort of thing is said to be, 'training in nothing, but preparation for everything'.<BR/><BR/>Anyone looking for the best undergraduate education in the USA, might do well to consult the vast body of literature which has appeared as a result of the demand for more information about colleges in the States. Websites such as Colleges That Change Lives (http://www.ctcl.com) and the Princeton Review (http://www.princetonreview.com) are pretty good, and there are many many many others, such as the Students' Guide to Colleges : The Definitive Guide to America's Top 100 Schools Written by the Real Experts--the Students Who Attend Them (http://studentsguidetocolleges.com).<BR/><BR/>If you are in Malaysia, just go to Kinokuniya or Borders (and perhaps some other bookstores). There you will find the print version of this reference material. MACEE has some books. From what I hear, they have ok college counseling services, but are not fantastic if you are looking to get the very best education, because typical counselors are not built to help with this sort of thing.Jernghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10065140605321202631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1127915859176446772005-09-28T21:57:00.000+08:002005-09-28T21:57:00.000+08:00Trainofthoughts has some good points. Tony you're ...Trainofthoughts has some good points. Tony you're doing a great job with this blog<BR/><BR/>I want to offer one caveat though, about the tutorial system.<BR/><BR/>If I am not mistaken, the tutorial system is one of the identifying features of the British higher education system (at least, at the premium tier), however, this is rarely the case in the USA. In the USA, undergraduates at 'top' universities might often find themselves being lectured by graduate students, who haven't even obtained a masters degree in their subject. Tutorials might not exist.<BR/><BR/>While I was an undergraduate at a small liberal arts college in the States, I made it a point to investigate how the college operated at various levels besides student body dynamics (support/infrastructural, commercial/administrative, faculty/political). Anyone who has the opportunity to live at an institution of higher education for several years should look into these things. The relationship between academia and marketplace is facinating!Jernghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10065140605321202631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1127912507018996832005-09-28T21:01:00.000+08:002005-09-28T21:01:00.000+08:00trainofthoughts>> Pfft... Cambridge has twice the ...trainofthoughts>> <BR/><BR/>Pfft... Cambridge has twice the number of Malaysian students because it's easier to get into! Everybody knows that! :PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1127868723390135502005-09-28T08:52:00.000+08:002005-09-28T08:52:00.000+08:00I'm curious of engineering or computer science stu...I'm curious of engineering or computer science student's experience in the top unis... do you know any links ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1127820601351934552005-09-27T19:30:00.000+08:002005-09-27T19:30:00.000+08:00Hi TonyFirst of all, I would like extend my hearti...Hi Tony<BR/><BR/>First of all, I would like extend my heartiest congratulations to you for maintaining what I personally considered to be the foremost blog on education issues in malaysia. I have followed this blog since its humble beginnings and I must say it has been a great ride and wonderful learning experience.<BR/><BR/>I am a third year in Oxford and if you don't mind, I'd like post a link to this particularly thorough and well written article for reference by prospective applicants to Oxford. Our forum is at www.oumc.org.uk/forum and the current committee and past alumni are more than happy to answer any questions specific to Oxford albeit from a student's perspective of course. <BR/><BR/>I think you have addressed the major selling points of an Oxford education well. As fond as I am of Oxford, I think I should mention two (out of many)critical issues that it faces at the moment. <BR/><BR/>The first is the lack of funds to maintain its world class position. The new vice-chancellor John Hood faces difficulties in securing the much needed support from the university's Congregation in order to pursue his planned reforms. In terms of student spending and scholarship, I am curious regarding Oxford position in comparison with the other top Ivy Leaguers. I assume that Cambridge faces the same predicament. <BR/><BR/>The tutorial system or supervision as they call it in Cambridge is the distinguishing feature in the two premier universities. A common concern among students and tutors is that this may be sacrificed in pursuit of fiscal prudence.<BR/><BR/>Currently the university is heavily reliant on foreign undergraduate and post graduate students to generate cashflow as we pay the full nine yards.<BR/><BR/>The second issue is regarding the inherently inert and inefficient university administration. As you rightly pointed out, the university is a loose confederation of independent colleges with their own representatives in the university version of parliament called the congregation. Decentralisation of executive power in the administration has made it difficult to govern.<BR/><BR/>Unless the university institute much needed reforms, I fear Oxford may slipped further from the best. Hopefully this will not be the case.<BR/><BR/>That said, Oxford is one of the best and Malaysians should be encouraged to apply. <BR/><BR/>For some reason Cambridge gets twice the number of students a year than we do. A branding issue perhaps? Is it because Cambridge is traditionally better known for science related subjects and more prominent South East Asian politicians are Cantabs. A question that does need an answer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com