Help: What should I do?

[ellora]

Hi guys, I'm trying to figure out what to do with my current situation here.

I received a scholarship from The Star Edu Fund & Fairview International School to do the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). Tution fees and facility fees are fully covered while accommodation is heavily subsidised from RM4,000 to RM1,200 per term (there's four months in a term and the whole course takes up 2 years)

Thing is, I only applied for the IBDP and after two years of IBDP, I am on my own to fend for myself again. I thought of taking up something under the Medicine umbrella after that but I think I will have a hard time trying to find scholarships for it especially since I have hopes of studying overseas (Maybe US or SG).

On the other hand, I went for the JPA Germany Engineering interview and my dad told me to wait for the results (heard someone say that it will come out on the 25th of May). Chemical Engineering has always been an option and it is fully funded from Pre-U to First Degree.

Thing is, I have to reply the Fairview e-mail by the 15th and then we will have decide on a date and method to sign the three way contract (Since I live all the way in Sarawak).

Do you think it would be wise to accept the scholarship first and then if I get accepted for the JPA scholarship, opt not to sign the contract? Do you think there will be severe consequences? I don't want to risk this prestigious opportunity and turn the scholarship down in the event that I don't receive the JPA scholarship!

[frostbyte13]

Originally Posted by ellora

Hi guys, I'm trying to figure out what to do with my current situation here.

I received a scholarship from The Star Edu Fund & Fairview International School to do the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). Tution fees and facility fees are fully covered while accommodation is heavily subsidised from RM4,000 to RM1,200 per term (there's four months in a term and the whole course takes up 2 years)

Thing is, I only applied for the IBDP and after two years of IBDP, I am on my own to fend for myself again. I thought of taking up something under the Medicine umbrella after that but I think I will have a hard time trying to find scholarships for it especially since I have hopes of studying overseas (Maybe US or SG).

On the other hand, I went for the JPA Germany Engineering interview and my dad told me to wait for the results (heard someone say that it will come out on the 25th of May). Chemical Engineering has always been an option and it is fully funded from Pre-U to First Degree.

Thing is, I have to reply the Fairview e-mail by the 15th and then we will have decide on a date and method to sign the three way contract (Since I live all the way in Sarawak).

Do you think it would be wise to accept the scholarship first and then if I get accepted for the JPA scholarship, opt not to sign the contract? Do you think there will be severe consequences? I don't want to risk this prestigious opportunity and turn the scholarship down in the event that I don't receive the JPA scholarship!

I am not a recipient of this scholarship but I have a friend who is in the same place as you. She is waiting on her Sime-Darby and The Star Edu Fund interview results while she has been offered a full-tuition fee waiver scholarship to study Psychology and Management in Nottingham Malaysia from Sin Chew Daily. She contacted both her future sponsor and the university herself and just went on to accept the award for the time being because she needs to answer them soon too. According to the details she told me, should she decide to pull out for something better like SD or Star, she will only have to refund Sin Chew what she owes them i.e. whatever that has been spent on her at the moment she withdraws from contract. Example, she decides to accept SD's offer during her first semester. She will only have to pay back her first semester fees (and hopefully without interest) Though I think she did a lot of talking and negotiating with them because I think these newspapers companies are fed up with people doing this. Appearing on their award list and even coming for the ceremony only to throw it away a few months later. Give The Star and Fairview a call, explain thoroughly what situation you are in and present yourself in the best manner possible. Perhaps they will be as good as Sin Chew. However, make sure to read the contract as well just in case paying back the fees isn't the only headache you are in for. Hope this helps. Congratulations by the way. It's a very big honour to be accepted by Star. Many people including myself have applied and have failed. Star is really keen on filtering and if you've been shortlisted and even received the award, I'll let you be the judge of just how much worth you are to these people.