After SPM

Salam and good day!

As recently the result for SPM has just came out, a lot of the students will ask what will they do next? The thing about the future is it is a scary thing to think about especially when you don't really have a clear idea in mind. 

This time, I would like to share to you some of my insights and my experiences and may they help you to figure out your future endeavors. 

For me, I have never had to worry about my result because I had the opportunity to enroll to Darul Quran, Jakim for their certificate programme a few months after I've finished my SPM exam. However, I did fill in the UPU form as I'm sure most if not all students will do the same. 

There are a lot of ways that you can go after you have finished the exam, depending on your passion and opportunities. 

Some people will immediately get the opportunity to further to Bachelors degree after SPM either in a public university or private. If previously you have applied to a university and received an offer, the best thing to do is to accept it because you are the creme de la creme. This opportunity only be given to a small number of students.

If you received offers for foundation studies (pre-university) and matriculation centres under the ministry of education, I would suggest you to go to foundation studies because that will secure your place in the university. 

However, if you only get an offer from matriculation, that will be a good choice too. It's just that you will have to fight for a place at the universities with other prospective students from STPM, SPM and other matriculation centres all over the country. If you did not receive any offers from public university, private uni will be just as good (only much more expensive) or go back to school for STPM.

Some people (or most) will only take STPM if they did not receive any offers from universities. This should not be the case because my bestie took STPM and we found that the syllabus that you learn can sometimes be more extensive and difficult than the ones you learn from pre-u or matrix. 

STPM will also give you a more secure prospect for jobs if you wish to work afterwards which you can;t do if you are taking pre-u or matrix. 

Another good option after SPM is diploma. Although you have to sit for three whole years for it, at least at the end of the course, you'll have something to show for. It'll maybe take more time to finish study, but you'll surely gain more too. Sometimes, if you excel in the first few semesters, you'll be offered a chance to immediately convert to bachelors degree. 

Another issue is between studying abroad and studying in Malaysia. Studying abroad have their perks but not more than studying locally.

If you think you can benefit more by studying abroad, by all means do that. Some of the perks that I find by studying abroad is:

1. Getting new experiences (living in a different environment and culture will definitely give you a broader perspective)

2. Learning from the best in the field that you are taking (you have to find where in the world that has most progressed in the field that you are interested in.

3. If it's something new or non existent in Malaysia, you will be the pioneer that brought home the knowledge. 

There are a lot more benefits that you can find by sharing from seniors experiences. Learn from those before you, so that you will not make the same mistakes and will repeat the excellence that they've achieved. 

That's all the sharing that I can think of right now. Other pressing questions can be directed to my email. Before I forget, congratulations to all students, regardless of your result. Every result is great in their own way. Because it will help to give you an idea what you should do next. I have to get back to work...until next time..