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Pre-university… which course to take?
I remembered being in high school and pondering over that question. Every year there would be an Education Fair organised by my school whereby representatives of universities or recruitment agencies for studying abroad would be there.
All private institutions of course.
All I know then was that I was interested in either Engineering or Medicine. Not Accounting or Commerce or Business or Arts for I know my strength does not lie there.
In addition to my question, I did not know what to do next for I have no siblings who were able to guide me. I merely followed the crowd and I was on this conveyor belt. I liked being on the conveyor belt as it brought a sense of security and stability. I knew what was coming next.
First, UPSR (Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah) at Grade 6, next would be PMR (Penilaian Menengah Rendah) at Form 3 / Grade 9 and finally SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) at Form 5 / Grade 11, which at that time, was the biggest deal ever.
As much as I treasure my friends, for I have a very small closely-knit circle of friends, our journey together was coming to a close. Gone were the days where we would put in request to be shifted to a lower class for the “sake” of our friends, sacrificing our “social status” in school, being in the higher class.
We weren’t going to be in the same course, whether we liked it or not. We do not have the same interest.
Well, one thing is for sure, if I could attain a scholarship, then great! They would probably pave the way for me. If not… Oh dear.. Even my parents, sadly could not guide me on this.
I was extremely passionate and determined to pursue Engineering although my parents wanted me to do Medicine. I didn’t hate medicine. It just wasn’t my first choice.
My parents were not thrilled with the idea of me pursuing Engineering. Hence, if I were to go about it, I had to attain a scholarship.
But, I needed a fallback.
My dad made it clear that overseas was not an option for me unless I was under scholarship as he would not be able to support me financially. Hence, I had to remain within the country, which was not a bad suggestion actually. I’m closer to home and able to live comfortably.
However, I was much younger and extremely immature. I did not want to be left out. I wanted to study in Australia or Europe or in the United States of America or at least Singapore.
When the results of my SPM was released, I obtained 3A+ 3A 2A- 1B+, in total, 8A’s 1B+, not a straight A student and I took it pretty hard on myself.
There goes my window for scholarship as I received a B+ in Chemistry, my weakest subject. I ABSOLUTELY ABHOR Chemistry. I apologise to who might be offended upon reading this but I couldn’t master the foundation of Chemistry. Hence, I had to memorise it and I was lucky enough to had obtained a B+.
After some time upon receiving my SPM results, I received news that I had been accepted into the Malaysian Matriculation Programme.
Being a non-Bumiputera in Malaysia, we know that getting a slot in the Malaysian Matriculation Programme was not easy but it was an easier pathway in securing our place in public universities as it is extremely competitive and certain amount of slots would be allocated based on status as Bumiputeras and non-Bumiputeras.
Now the options were vast for me. Suddenly, I was being served a buffet of Pre-University programmes.
Well, I honestly prefer STPM and A-Levels over Matriculation and Foundation programme.
Although we will learn much more in our degree courses but I wanted to be fully equipped theoretically. I was willing to go through the hardship first in order for it to be easier for me later on.
Diploma Programme?
Too long. It would be a 3 year programme and I most likely had to work first yet I’m still not sure which course to embark on at that time.
Too risky for me.
Hence, it was between STPM and A-Levels.
Well, I like A-Levels. I heard that the syllabus was was easier than A-Levels in the sense that it was not too overly condensed as it is in STPM over a short duration of time, however adequate enough, more than Foundation and Matriculation programmes.
I get to go to college and pretty much dress as I please. On top of that, I get to hang out with my friends and skip classes if I didn’t want to attend it.
As you can see, extremely immature thinking. A-Levels just sounded more “cooler”.
However, the “rational” side of me kicked in and I found myself wondering, “But there goes my chances of applying into public universities”. Besides that, my parents would be spending a sum of money on a pathway that is just going to lead me down another private institution anyway.
So, how about STPM?
It doesn’t sound bad. I mean how hard can it be? Why do people discourage it? Is it THAT BAD? People were literally telling me to avoid it as if it were a form of spreadable or contagious disease.
Hence, I went to the bookstore and got myself a textbook on STPM Biology. It took me a while to understand the concept through recurrent reading and finally YouTube videos.
It’s actually not that bad. Time was a sole factor.
STPM or Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (Malaysian Higher School Certificate) consisted of a minimum of 4 subjects and a maximum of 5.
Pengajian Am or General Studies was compulsory and the rest was up to you. I took General Studies, Mathematics (T), Biology and my arch enemy, Chemistry.
Chemistry seems to accompany me wherever I went! Even during medical school.
In addition to that, STPM was also divided into 3 semesters, just like in A-Levels at practically the cost of nothing.
In the Malaysian Public Education System, we were lucky enough to not be slammed with school fees.
Hence, STPM being part of the public education, was free. Except if you were to sit for the remedial paper of course, which during my time only cost RM50 per paper.
Thus, to blow off 5 figures for a course or to go for one slightly more difficult but saves money and increases my options upon completion?
I mean, there’s tuition classes available… So, it can’t be that bad right?
Besides that, upon completing my STPM, I would have the option of applying into both public and private institutions and better yet, it is accepted and recognised in most countries as it is equivalent to A-Levels.
Well, thank God for that. This sounds like a good deal.
Hence, after thinking about it long and hard, I decided to reject my offer letter to continue into the Malaysian Matriculation Programme and embark on my Form 6, STPM journey which was the most amazing time I’ve ever had in high school.
Never had I thought that I would enjoy this journey immensely.
1 and a half year later, which was when I completed my STPM journey, I placed an application to pursue Medicine in the Public Institution, knowing quite well that I would not attain a place in my selected course as I had obtained a B+ in my Chemistry and I did not qualify for it as they looked into both our SPM and STPM results. Besides that, I would be competing for a spot with other students who have completed STPM as well as Matriculations. My suspicions confirmed as I was offered a Nursing Programme in Universiti Sains Malaysia. Not bad I would say, for a person who applied for Medicine.
Hence, I applied into MAHSA University and pursued my Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) here. Today I am Dr. Jewel Nambiar, one who is awaiting her internship / housemanship period, of course.
Anyway…
In conclusion, if I had to do it all over again, would I choose STPM?
Definitely.
The only different thing I would this time is I would be studying consistently, cutting out my distractions and starting a YouTube channel.
My advice for you who are unsure, would be to ask yourself, would you be willing to study and put in more work, yes, much more than SPM? Don’t let the amount of subjects fool you.
If yes, then STPM is no different than A-Levels. In fact, it would benefit you more as your options are now wider and you are still able to pursue your tertiary education overseas if you intend to.
STPM provided the foundation I needed when I entered medical school.
Do think long and hard and ask around. However, make the decision based on your capabilities and interest, regardless of what others may say because at the end of the day, it is YOUR journey, not theirs.
To those who have recently completed SPM / O-Levels, I wish you All The Very Best in your future endeavours and I hope that whatever journey you choose to embark on, it would be the best one for you.
Related Posts:
- 4 Reasons You Need An iPad / Tablet In Medical School
- My Morning Routine – While Awaiting My Internship As A Doctor
- 5 Morning Habits As A Medical Student
- Why I Started My Blog In 2022?
The Theoretical Doctor 