Help: STPM vs Diploma

[leolsq]

I'm currently a lower6th student, taking Physics.
I am offered a place in Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka for Diploma in Electronic Engineering. I'm having a great dilemma to accept the offer as I'm struggling to understand lessons in class and staring to doubt my ability in obtaining full As.

To be honest, f6 wasnt my first choice after I've finished my SPM, I was praying for an easier way out as I was naive.. The first few days of f6 were depressing, but as days goes by I'm getting used to it, and enjoying it very much. I've changed my views about f6, I told myself I would like to have a good foundation in Physics and Maths T as I'm looking into engineering in the future. I'm also currently attending further maths tuition class.. As everyone knows, f6 is not easy, my mind is filled with doubts such as what if I don't get a nice result, what if my hard work don't pay off, what if I screw everything up..? I've heard a lot of stories about f6, nice ones and bad ones..

Other than that, I am planning to register to sit for a-levels paper next June/July for Chemistry, Physics, Further Maths and Maths (I know it sounds crazy but it was one of my further maths teacher's advice)

And yes, one of my engineering fave field is electronics, so far I've received opinions about taking up this offer instead of continuing f6. To me, diploma is as important as f6.

I want to continue f6, I have the heart to continue but at the same time I'm worried about a lot of things..To me, the time range for education is not that important, I care about the quality of the education more.. I need some advices and opinions.. I'm about to crack my head already

I strongly need your views =) Thank you

[jika]

hiya;

well it all depends on you. if it was me, i would choose diploma coz

1. if anything does not go to plan i could apply for a job. especially those diploma related like engineering,account or any technical diplomas

2. stpm is only when u wanna find sponsors for your degrees when in ur first year u have to learn more u know tiresome and cumbersome

3. diploma if u score well u can also find sponsor.

so thats my penny for thought...

then again hope u can make a wise choice

[lowxuan]

LOts of my frens were offered DIPLOMA when they were in Lower six....One of my fren was offered Diploma Chem Eng in UTeM too. But she rejected it though she love chem eng alot.

Then one of my fren accepted Diploma electrical engineering in UTeM. He was soooooo regret that he chose to accept the offer. He keep on complaining about the dark side in that Uni. He claimed that, he could get cpga 4.0, just that the lecturer wanted to "unify" the cgpa among races, so his cgpa was pulled down to 3.5. So, if i was in your place, I WILL CHOOSE STPM. That's all I wanted to say.

[leolsq]

Thanks for the opinion, I'm still thinking.. this is tiring,

[luckblessed]

In my little something opinion, if i were u i would choose f6.

Reason? i believe u won't stop ur study after diploma, as most will continue to further their studies to degree level. If thats it, i would take 'time' into consideration. Since i will be working only after i've completed my study, i might as well choose the shortest path that brings me faster to society^^

F6 takes 1.5 year, and how much time is the diploma going to comsume?
If the diploma is any longer, i would recommend u to continue f6^^

Bottomline: Who would ask for ur stpm/diploma result while u r holding ur degree cert?lol

[Oxford-harvard]

Hi leolsq may I know where did you find the further maths tutor? I am staying in Seremban and there's no any tutor available in my area. I have been searching for a long time and started giving up. Can you introduce some stpm further maths tuition to me? Thanx a lot!!

* If anyone knows about the stpm further maths tuition in Seremban you are welcome to reply. Thank you.

[leolsq]

Hi there Oxford-harvar, I'm so sorry, just saw this post.
Been hiatus ever since busy with STPM stuff.
Well my Further Maths tutor is my Maths sir at school, I'm sorry I don't know anyone else that teachers Further Maths other than my Sir.

And hi all,
I actually continued with Form6, I didn't go for diploma.
Its was a very rough ride for the whole 18 months of Form6, I was juggling many many things at one time. But I am here to say, it was all worth it. And no, I didn't take any A-levels exam as my previous post.

I've lived form6 life as an average student, to be honest my grades were dropping and all, its really different compared to form5, the add maths I knew was only like 5% of Pure Maths.
Form6 is a little bit of a hell and all.
But I chose form6 because I wanted to be involve in many co-curricular activities that I've missed during my high school year(form4-5).
It took me a lot of courage to keep my studies from falling and also with all the co-curicular activities.

Anyhow I reached my goal of getting involved in activities, I joined charity work, global competition, organizing treasure hunt for my club, being the girl's captain of my house, secretary, vice-president of co-curicular prefects, getting involved in school drama as a dancer in junior year and as backstage crew as senior year, well it was very fun to mix around, especially with juniors and knowing more people from my school itself.

All of these certainly helped me a lot in developing skills that I need when I go further, now, the form6 is different, I'm glad that I'm one of the survivor there.
I didn't regret anything, though my results for STPM is just so-so, at the border line, but I am thankful that I got accepted into Utem once again, doing degree.

Now, I am pursuing a new-or not so new course - Degree in Technology Management(Innovation) at Utem.

Well, alls well ends well.
I am thankful for everything.

Juniors, please work hard.
When you get something you want, thats the smile you will wear for the rest of your life.

Cheers!

[Zulhelmi]

I'm not sure how other diplomas in other unis work but I recently graduated in Diploma in Accounting at UiTM.

1st of all let me just say that you should go for diploma at uni that offers good degree course later on. So in my case, UiTM do offer me a good degree course, 2 1/2 years after I have completed my diploma. So recently, I've been offer for a degree for this coming Sept intake at UiTM Shah Alam and USM too.. But I'm going for UiTM I think because USM dont give much for credit transfer.

I don't know much about STPM and I was resisting at 1st when I've been offer for a diploma, matrix isn't my option (because I hate the sylabus) and was rejected by JPA for overseas study. So went for diploma eventually... So what I can say is that diploma is wayyyyyyy better than matrix in terms of the end product. Diploma students are more mature, they have been exposed to uni life, good proficiency in English, you can work after you have graduated and you are practically half way through a degree courses so you are eligible for credit transfer to other unis for degree BUT preferably you should go for the same uni as they usually give you the maximum credit transfer which resulted in time saving. Hmm no offence to the matrix students okay.. This is just only a general view.. But I dont think it applies to fellow recommers because we know that we have A LOT of bright students here so rest assure okay?

In terms of how hard is it, depends on your course really. Let's say a degree in engineering is hard so the same goes for diploma level. Like in my course, some students do struggle and keep on repeating and carrying papers. Yet, I still think diploma is a cozy and carefree ride...

So quick facts about my overall education at diploma level
- completed a Diploma in Accounting at UiTM for less than 3 years actually due to the Sept intake adjustment
- a dean's list student for every semester with final CGPA 3.86
- will be attending my convocation in November, graduating with Vice Chancellor Award, the highest award that is available for grabs
- will be pursuing Bachelor in Accounting at UiTM Shah Alam for 2 1/2 years which means I will go straight to semester 4
- received UK offers from Birmingham, Sheffield, Bangor and Teesside but not going due to financial constraint

So that's about it