Diploma or A-Levels

[Lance_Kuan]

Originally Posted by BattleBoyz

You already somehow specialise to the course offered to you in diploma. In your case, if you opt for diploma, you will study Manufacture Engineering or related course as your degree. For A-levels, the courses available for you will be general ones, which in your case, any type of engineering. So, I guess its easier. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Precisely, but as far as I am concerned, it is quite hard for A-lvl holders to gain a place in IPTA's as the government tends to give places for matrix students and STPM students. So be well prepared to study in IPTS or overseas if you're taking A-lvls. But the good thing is A-lvls are worldly-recognized so you will not face problems getting yourself into oversea universities

[massive_attack]

Originally Posted by candelifera

I have an offer to do my diploma in engineering in UTM, and some ppl are suggesting me to take it, as they say a degree from a public uni is more valuable than a degree from a private uni. If I do my A-Levels, there's no way for me to get into a public uni, is there? I'm now rather torn between doing my diploma or my A-Levels. And doing A-Levels is more expensive,right? Suggestions?

thx for ur post...but how is it in terms of the study environment or surroundings if study diploma in local uni???i m trying to find somebody who had experience in studying diploma to giv some explainations..butn unfortunately i stil din get any reply yet...

[Nicholasng925]

Originally Posted by candelifera

I have an offer to do my diploma in engineering in UTM, and some ppl are suggesting me to take it, as they say a degree from a public uni is more valuable than a degree from a private uni. If I do my A-Levels, there's no way for me to get into a public uni, is there? I'm now rather torn between doing my diploma or my A-Levels. And doing A-Levels is more expensive,right? Suggestions?

Hi candelifera, I was at the same situation as you too, or should I say am. I have got an offer from UTM to do Diploma in Electrical Engineering(Telecommunication) and apparently, lots of people persuaded me to accept the offer, and the most obvious one were my parents. Yes, I think degrees from public universities is much valuable than those degrees from private universities. However, one question I want to ask you, what is your ambition? Engineering? Or others? If you do A-Levels on your own, you may stand a chance to be accepted into big local public universities(eg, UM, etc), but the chance of getting admitted would be very much slimmer as compared to diploma, matriculation and Form 6. Apparently do A-Levels on your own would be much expensive than to do diploma.

In my case, I have got an offer for diploma, but I decided to reject it due to the lack of interest in that field. I want to study Actuarial Science, and it is far different from Engineering courses. That's the reason, I would be studying A-Levels in Methodist College KL(MCKL) , with the aid of 100% tuition waiver scholarship from the college itself, if I didn't get any scholarship. For now, I have registered myself in Form 6 first, to spend my time wisely at school, rather than continue rotting with my brain rusting at home doing nothing except online until 4am everyday. Be wise in making your decision! Good luck!

Originally Posted by Lance_Kuan

Precisely, but as far as I am concerned, it is quite hard for A-lvl holders to gain a place in IPTA's as the government tends to give places for matrix students and STPM students. So be well prepared to study in IPTS or overseas if you're taking A-lvls. But the good thing is A-lvls are worldly-recognized so you will not face problems getting yourself into oversea universities

Well, yeah it's quite hard for the A-Levels holder to gain admission into local public universities, but it is not impossible. Of course the chances of getting admitted into local public universities would be much lesser for A-Levels holder, as compared to those matriculation, diploma, STPM and foundation (asasi sains) students. But no worries, if you attained a stupendous result in your A-Levels, it won't be a problem for you to get conditional/unconditional offers from overseas universities, and secure at least a scholarship/financial aids to study there. If you couldn't secure any local scholarship to study abroad, some universities do offer financial aids/scholarships to international students to study there.

Originally Posted by massive_attack

thx for ur post...but how is it in terms of the study environment or surroundings if study diploma in local uni???i m trying to find somebody who had experience in studying diploma to giv some explainations..butn unfortunately i stil din get any reply yet...

Everything depends on you. If you want to study wholeheartedly, I don't think the environment would affect your study. Sometimes, even though you get a chance to study overseas, if you didn't study wholeheartedly and never take initiative on your own, you would not be succeed in your study too. By the way, do you know what's manufacturing engineering? Do you interested in it? If you do, you may accept the diploma offer.

[Lance_Kuan]

Originally Posted by Nicholasng925

Well, yeah it's quite hard for the A-Levels holder to gain admission into local public universities, but it is not impossible. Of course the chances of getting admitted into local public universities would be much lesser for A-Levels holder, as compared to those matriculation, diploma, STPM and foundation (asasi sains) students. But no worries, if you attained a stupendous result in your A-Levels, it won't be a problem for you to get conditional/unconditional offers from overseas universities, and secure at least a scholarship/financial aids to study there. If you couldn't secure any local scholarship to study abroad, some universities do offer financial aids/scholarships to international students to study there.

Yes this is exactly what I meant For some unknown reasons, our MOHE does not elect some (not all) A-Level students with excellent results. One of my cousin appeared to scored almost 100% for all his subjects but still did not get a chance to study in local IPTA. Luckily he was offered scholarship to study abroad since he is from a quite poor family

[Nicholasng925]

Originally Posted by Lance_Kuan

Yes this is exactly what I meant For some unknown reasons, our MOHE does not elect some (not all) A-Level students with excellent results. One of my cousin appeared to scored almost 100% for all his subjects but still did not get a chance to study in local IPTA. Luckily he was offered scholarship to study abroad since he is from a quite poor family

Yep, and before I forget, the places offered to A-Levels holders are only for some particular courses, and not all. Maybe that's the reason your cousin failed to get admitted into local public universities.

[candelifera]

Thanks for your answer, Nicholas! I'm actually interested in medicine, and I've decided I'm only gonna do it if I get a JPA scholarship, because the cost if I do it on my own is gonna be crazy! My 2nd option is engineering, my family suggested that, and I've no complaints because I'm pretty open on the field I end up doing. So, if I want to do engineering, which would be wiser, diploma or A-levels? My concern is IF I do well in my A-Levels, but I do not get any offers/scholarship. This means my parents will have to fork out money to probably do my degree in a private uni, when a degree in a public uni could be cheaper!

[Young]

Originally Posted by candelifera

Thanks for your answer, Nicholas! I'm actually interested in medicine, and I've decided I'm only gonna do it if I get a JPA scholarship, because the cost if I do it on my own is gonna be crazy! My 2nd option is engineering, my family suggested that, and I've no complaints because I'm pretty open on the field I end up doing. So, if I want to do engineering, which would be wiser, diploma or A-levels? My concern is IF I do well in my A-Levels, but I do not get any offers/scholarship. This means my parents will have to fork out money to probably do my degree in a private uni, when a degree in a public uni could be cheaper!

Hmm, are you an excellent student? Most of the time, students with exceptional Pre-U results are offered generous scholarships by private colleges to pursue their degrees there. That could substantially reduce the burden imposed on your parents.

[mala]

Hmm im in big confusion now..

actually im a spm leaver, i applied for pharmacy course under Latihan Separa Perubatan SPA, but i didn't get..then i applied for Diploma in Accounting,now i get the course already the intake is in november..
but now im not really sure to do the course because im not so interested in Accounting.. and now my second choice is to do A-level in science..
hmm i need your advice, watch u think? give me your opinion please..