tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post114789075821860054..comments2024-03-21T20:10:28.943+08:00Comments on EDUCATION IN MALAYSIA: Matriculation quandary?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-58963981515854546942009-01-15T02:28:00.000+08:002009-01-15T02:28:00.000+08:00hmmm...we need change indeed..but i feel offended ...hmmm...<BR/>we need change indeed..<BR/><BR/>but i feel offended by some of your guys' remarks on Purdue.<BR/><BR/>why on earth would you want to go to Harvard for if you want to do engineering?<BR/>i'm Malay, and I'm a proud engineering student in Purdue, and i'm here not under any scholarships.<BR/><BR/>go take a look at the Princeton review's et all. search for Purdue engineering.<BR/>we're in the freaking top 10!!!!! in nearly every category available!!!!<BR/>I'm doing IE, and we're currently ranked 2nd best in the nation.<BR/><BR/>hell the 1st and the last man to step on the moon are Purdue engineers.<BR/>we produce more astronauts than any other colleges except MIT and the army academy...<BR/><BR/>please look back at your facts...<BR/><BR/>and to tell you, this place is freaking competitive...<BR/><BR/>mannn...<BR/>the guys who didn't do well in their SATs go to stevens institute of technology in NJ.<BR/><BR/>and Wisconsin-madison and UIUC have very good engineering and business programs too.<BR/><BR/>man, i'm annoyed!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148474913172714742006-05-24T20:48:00.000+08:002006-05-24T20:48:00.000+08:00erm.....it's cepat dimasak, sedap dimakan.......erm.....it's cepat dimasak, sedap dimakan.......Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148462026836432622006-05-24T17:13:00.000+08:002006-05-24T17:13:00.000+08:00Matric is akin to the mee magee adverts...cepat di...Matric is akin to the mee magee adverts...cepat di masak , cepat di makan...tapi not really nutritiousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148384175911626982006-05-23T19:36:00.000+08:002006-05-23T19:36:00.000+08:00"Just see the exam results in faculty of medicine,..."Just see the exam results in faculty of medicine, science, engineering and dentistry at UM...You will laugh!"<BR/><BR/>The problem is to do with the quality and motivation of the students and less to do with matriculation. Good students, even if illed prepared, struggle for the first few semester and then will do well. Weak students through STPM will do no better.<BR/><BR/>I did a twinning programme without STPM or A Level to UK uni and during the first semester, most of us struggle but most of use ended with 1st and 2:1 in the end also.<BR/><BR/>I have no doubt about quality of STPM education but in most cases, that is not what the students or what the nation needs. It is like buying a Ferrari just to go to the shop around the corner. <BR/><BR/>By the time you graduate from uni, most of the STPM stuff are already been long forgotten. I do apologize if this comment offends anyone doing STPM but this is what I see many years after the leaving uni.<BR/><BR/>In fact, being able to leave uni one year earlier (on matric, twinning etc), you have significant advantage over those who came 1 year later. In UK, those who starts working at 16 (not going to uni) are in fact doing better than msot who go to uni and burdended themselves with debt.<BR/><BR/>Again..my two pennies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148358409001938302006-05-23T12:26:00.000+08:002006-05-23T12:26:00.000+08:00As far as I can see it...the purpose of matriculat...As far as I can see it...the purpose of matriculation is just save time and money and get special ' green lane' to easily enter the university.<BR/><BR/>STPM gives you very good foundation, competition with other races which is healthy.<BR/><BR/>No wonder a four pointer in matriculation cannot compare with a four pointer in STPM....miles apart!Comparing STPM being similar or identical is like comparing apple and orange....any idiot can see that.<BR/><BR/>What is conclusive how do these matriculation fare compare to their counterparts with STPM...???<BR/><BR/>Just see the exam results in faculty of medicine, science, engineering and dentistry at UM...You will laugh!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148357910978753592006-05-23T12:18:00.000+08:002006-05-23T12:18:00.000+08:00Dont worry, with TNB going bust soon it will more ...Dont worry, with TNB going bust soon it will more cash strapped!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148300686111208422006-05-22T20:24:00.000+08:002006-05-22T20:24:00.000+08:00I see...I wonder why JPA decided to change the pol...I see...I wonder why JPA decided to change the policy. In my year (SPM 2000), all US programs are 9 month ADP in UiTM and then off you go to the US. JPA must have been cash-strapped sponsoring the ever increasing numbers of straight A students.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148298279815013062006-05-22T19:44:00.000+08:002006-05-22T19:44:00.000+08:00TO anon @ Mon May 22, 07:21:22 PM,This year all J...TO anon @ Mon May 22, 07:21:22 PM,<BR/><BR/>This year all JPA offers to US is that. Your sneer of me not getting a better offer is not vindicated. :)<BR/> <BR/>The only "better" offer I didnt get is the lucky draw within the JPA scholarships - the DIRECT entry to Vanderbilt University this August, without taking the SATs, TOEFL and even writting the essays. Of course, you can guess what race they will select for this fasttrack scholarship.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148296882253460682006-05-22T19:21:00.000+08:002006-05-22T19:21:00.000+08:00lyl said... Well, to anon @ Thu May 18, 05:42:20 P...lyl said... <BR/>Well, to anon @ Thu May 18, 05:42:20 PM,<BR/><BR/>'The JPA offer for US sux. I got it too. Its 1 year Intec + 2 year LOCAL COLLEGE + 2 years USA (transfer). Hence the reject decision was a no brainer'.<BR/><BR/>You obviously didn't get the better JPA deals out there!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148285465198339862006-05-22T16:11:00.000+08:002006-05-22T16:11:00.000+08:00Former Matriculation Student and Going to Graduate...Former Matriculation Student and Going to Graduate from Uni in September;<BR/><BR/>Here the gist from a former matriculation student and will be graduating from Uni on September.<BR/><BR/>The gist:<BR/>Yes matriculation is "weak" (the correct term is shortened) compare to STPM because it crams and snips syllabus from 1 and a half years (STPM) to one-year. <BR/>Here is the basic, matriculation students are divided into 3 category, physical science, bio science (or sains hayat) and art stream (couldn’t remember the precise name/term). Physical science enables you to get into engineering, technical courses while bio science enables you to take medical, forestry courses. The art category is the usually reserve for the most part accountant courses and maybe management. Therefore, what science stream STPM students are learning is actually physical science and bio science together. And they learn more. But what matriculation students is taking have to coincide with their future Uni courses. Therefore, matriculation is more specific.<BR/><BR/>Results:<BR/>STPM prepares you for further/higher education or directly become a member of the working society.<BR/>Matriculation prepares you for higher education only.<BR/>Students should consider the two statements above and decide whether to go straight to work or further your education. It is as simple as that.<BR/><BR/>Downside for Both:<BR/>But when you get into university, both STPM and matriculation students (back then when students can apply to Uni using SPM results and those students who got into Uni are 1st<BR/>Year students) are automatically 2nd year students (STPM & matriculation). And they have to take certain subject that was not learned in STPM and matriculation but was learned by SPM(1st year) students. STPM students have more subjects to take than matriculation students because STPM is more general (as the example above have shown) <BR/><BR/>About the bumi and non-bumi rule:<BR/>Well there is actually a hole in the system for Sarawak and Sabah people. The only gist I will give you is the term “Mix blood”. And it has been active long before the 10% non-bumi rule.<BR/><BR/>About STPM student better than Matriculation students:<BR/>Well, I saw a lot of situation and all I can tell you is that it depends on individuals. (Plus I SOMETIMES score higher than students that got in using either SPM or STPM results, yes I am bragging)<BR/><BR/>Discipline between the two:<BR/>Well, I certainly remembered that every Friday morning (matriculation) I have to learn how to march. Discipline in terms of studying and acquiring knowledge still depends on the individual.<BR/><BR/>What about the quality of student between STPM and Matriculation?<BR/>I don’t know. Ask me again when I am successful.<BR/><BR/>PS-Just wanted to share what I know (and I didn’t read all the comments and feel free to disagree)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148271375760037942006-05-22T12:16:00.000+08:002006-05-22T12:16:00.000+08:00"It's just that those who claim to 'deserve' a sch..."<I>It's just that those who claim to 'deserve' a scholarship or a place in matriculation simply don't show that they deserve by whining and complaining when they don't get it.</I>"<BR/><BR/>Damn right. They need to stfu. These people all think the government owes them a scholarship. A question can be posed to them - if you are so damn good... why rely on the government in the first place?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148259408486405722006-05-22T08:56:00.000+08:002006-05-22T08:56:00.000+08:00Liz:Of course there are those with degrees and Phd...Liz:<BR/><BR/>Of course there are those with degrees and Phds who succeed in contributing to human knowledge. However, my point is that it is not a compulsory pre-requisite. Anyway, figure out yourself why they are still 'unknown' despite their so-called 'contributions' to advance human knowledge. My guess is that Bill Gates and Steve Jobs did a better job than them.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, my original post was targeted at those who are obsessed at getting JPA scholarships and matriculation places just because they want to take the 'easy' way out when they actually do not have the guts to try the road less taken and have more confidence in their own abilities regardless of the circumstances. <BR/><BR/>I'm not against any scholar or degree holder because I'm a scholar myself and am on my way to getting a degree. It's just that those who claim to 'deserve' a scholarship or a place in matriculation simply don't show that they deserve by whining and complaining when they don't get it. <BR/><BR/>I also do not understand your point on medicine, engineering, drama, dance and business students taking away from society more than they can give whereas arts and sciences don't... think that is an over-generalisation.<BR/><BR/>-Nick-Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148254202000115532006-05-22T07:30:00.000+08:002006-05-22T07:30:00.000+08:00"Why don't you try stepping into a research lab on..."Why don't you try stepping into a research lab one day?"<BR/><BR/>Perhaps it is worth taking a minute to count how many of these PhD thesis and Uni research projects are funded by industry (e.g. Microsoft, Motorla etc) before industrialist's and corporation contribution are brushed aside..<BR/><BR/>Can't really understand your logic about doing medicine is taking resource away from the society.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148189491528038412006-05-21T13:31:00.000+08:002006-05-21T13:31:00.000+08:00Nick: 1) erm... there are many more scientists tha...Nick: <BR/>1) erm... there are many more scientists than the oft-cited popular Thomas Edison and Einstein, you know. For example take a look at Google Scholar and the latest science journals. <BR/><BR/>Using examples from just one university - and what about Brian Skiner? What about William Nordhaus? What about Harold Bloom? <BR/>Granted Einstein and Thomas Edison, the only two scientists that you could name, have made scientific discoveries without a college education - however, back then, education was not so formalized. And business people's main objective is to gather as much material wealth and power, and not to advance knowledge.<BR/><BR/>I'm not entirely sure what our govt's objective of putting scholars (not normal people) into established academic institutions are, but part of that reason must be to advance academics in this country.. <BR/><BR/>In US at least, subjects like engineering, drama, dance, business, medicine are considered PROFESSIONAL professions, where people actually pay money to study in this subject - because these professions take out of society more than they give. Whereas pHDs in graduate schools are usually FREE in arts and sciences (ask Kian Ming :)) because doing a pHD has a positive externality on society i.e. academics gives back to the pool of knowledge more than it takes. Or speaking from general experience, for an economics major, if you become an i-Banker, you'll be richer compared to a professor in economics. <BR/><BR/>Of course, all professions are important, but I think that praising Bill Gates and Steve Jobs for developing software is quite insulting to all the other millions of unknown scientists toiling in laboratories and making a fraction of what these business people make. Why don't you try stepping into a research lab one day?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148167394422092442006-05-21T07:23:00.000+08:002006-05-21T07:23:00.000+08:00Dear Casper, your few cents worth much more. I ful...Dear Casper, your few cents worth much more. I fully with you. The points you mentioned are indeed very good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148156293188710632006-05-21T04:18:00.000+08:002006-05-21T04:18:00.000+08:00Just a few points that I would like to add here:(a...Just a few points that I would like to add here:<BR/><BR/>(a) Contrary to popular myth, Bill Gate is not a dropped out, he quit because his Microsoft Inc was doing too well. (The differences between to dropd out and to quit is akin being sacked or resigned from a job because you are already too rich).<BR/><BR/>(b) JPA uses tax payer money to fund these scholars and hence has a fiduciary duty (whether JPA realises it or not) to make sure the scholarship awareded adds value to the the development of Malaysia.) Of course, if it is a Malay entrepreneur's pocket money, he can fund whoever he likes.<BR/><BR/>(c) Sometimes, fate takes us to different path. Not getting a scholarship may just lead one to another path where one achieves a lot more. When one looks back many years later after graduating, getting scholarship or not would have been a tiny ripple in life.<BR/><BR/>(d) Not SRJK(C) student about not having a good graps of english. All one needs to learn engish are personal initiatve, a dictionary and papers/books. Simply being SRJK(C) is not a valid excuse, I am afraid.<BR/><BR/>(e) STPM more challenging. Indeed so but STPM is such a narrowly focus course and what you learn from it has little value in real world. So, getting through this A Level/STPM/Matric hurdle as quickly as possible would be a wise thing to do. One can benefit further by reading widely and in depth rather than trying to memorise the STPM text books which are as thick as telephone book (we have computer to store data, our brain should be used to think, not to be used as a hard disk).<BR/><BR/>Those are my few cents...<BR/>casperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148128661184272102006-05-20T20:37:00.000+08:002006-05-20T20:37:00.000+08:00Comrade,Why don't you join politic so that we can ...Comrade,<BR/><BR/>Why don't you join politic so that we can vote you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148128129308087322006-05-20T20:28:00.000+08:002006-05-20T20:28:00.000+08:00your apologies acceptedyour apologies acceptedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148125999718818792006-05-20T19:53:00.000+08:002006-05-20T19:53:00.000+08:00Sorry it's Malaysian Government not Malaysia.Sorry it's Malaysian Government not Malaysia.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148125891124583772006-05-20T19:51:00.000+08:002006-05-20T19:51:00.000+08:00The only that can be said is the Malaysian is raci...The only that can be said is the Malaysian is racist, hypocritical and an outrage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148086385939956202006-05-20T08:53:00.000+08:002006-05-20T08:53:00.000+08:00STPM is still the BEST!!STPM is still the BEST!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148060419629963822006-05-20T01:40:00.000+08:002006-05-20T01:40:00.000+08:00Speaking as a Purdue engineering graduate, I feel ...Speaking as a Purdue engineering graduate, I feel compelled to defend it (or "her", for anthropomorphic effect) as well as U. Wisconsin-Madison and UIUC. Anon (Fri May 19, 04:53:59 PM) was right to say that these are state schools (as opposed to private ones), with plenty of mandates (but never enough money, at least from the schools' standpoint) from the respective state governments. High enrollment number---with significant % from in-state---is definitely one characteristic, as is the panoply of majors ranging from history to consumer science to nuclear engineering to cater to the state residents.<BR/><BR/>When evaluated "holistically", these universities definitely aren't ranked up there with the Harvards, Stanfords and Columbias. However, Purdue, UWM and UIUC have the advantage of being located in the "Midwest" which is (historically) "high-tech" region of the United States, first in the agricultural sector (some started off as agricultural and mechanical, or A&M schools) and in the mid-20th-century, the manufacturing sector. So their technical (engineering) programs are rather established, well funded and quite highly regarded. (Assuming the validity of the rankings, the engineering programs in these schools are certainly up there, most likely above Harvard and Princeton and such.) U Michigan-Ann Arbor, which is closest to the original Big-3 car makers General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, is another such school.<BR/><BR/>One major challenge now is of course the shrinking manufacturing base in the US Midwest as companies move to states down south, then Mexico, then China and East Asia. But at least for now, these universities have leveraged their reputation in engineering to move into other high-tech realms: IT, bio- and nano-anything, healthcare, energy, security, etc. and compete for funds pouring into these areas. We'll just have to see if the bets work out in their favor. Keep in mind that Stanford really come to prominence after betting correctly on the silicon technology (as well as tapping into the entrepreneurial drive of Californians) in the late 60s and 70s; so is U Texas-Austin in the 80s; and Georgia Tech is pumping loads of money to build up its reputation starting in the mid-90s (it is about the only school I know of that visit other universities for graduate program/PhD student recruitment).<BR/><BR/>Back to the topic at hand, some JPA scholars in Purdue engineering programs are quite good. Others are mediocre at best. A few are simply disgraceful. I'll hold my tongue re. "scholars" in non-technical programs there...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148045564710975682006-05-19T21:32:00.000+08:002006-05-19T21:32:00.000+08:00SPM straight As achievers who are rejected by JPA,...SPM straight As achievers who are rejected by JPA, don't worry so much, go for A-Levels first, most private colleges will waive the tuition fees, go on to attempt another straight As again.<BR/>With both straight As in SPM and A-Levels you will stand a better chance for other scholarships.<BR/>All the best wishes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148044098860572252006-05-19T21:08:00.000+08:002006-05-19T21:08:00.000+08:00Well, yeah, STPM is way above matriculation. But i...Well, yeah, STPM is way above matriculation. But its standard is decreasing, probably by some force behind. Let's hope it wont be worse, since it's already lower than A-levels.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1148040623626065082006-05-19T20:10:00.000+08:002006-05-19T20:10:00.000+08:00straight A's and can't get into matrics?? Duh, she...straight A's and can't get into matrics?? Duh, she should know why?? I;m rejected also by the way(straight A student myself)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com