Options

*sigh*

I decided that I'd better start posting stuff if I wanted to remain affiliated with this blog....

Anyway, as you can see from my heading, this post is about OPTIONS.
What options?
Well....
SPM results are (supposedly) coming out this week. So, many of us who are nowhere yet have to start thinking about going somewhere....
Therefore I'm attempting to list down the options available to us post form 5 students for further studies in the hope that it'll help some of you guys out.

First of all, and probably the most unpopular option for most of you guys, is Form 6. (Yes, I hear the groans...) Form 6 means STPM, therefore it will be tough. However, it has it good points.
Firstly, Form 6 is actually a great course. You'll probably learn more in Form 6 than in matriculation/A-levels/foundation or any other similar course. In fact, my dad, who lectures in UNIMAS, tells me that Form 6 students usually are WAAYYYY better than the rest in university. They top their classes, and generally have a much easier time in uni.
Secondly, Form Six is (almost) free. Thus, those of us who don't get scholarships and don't have enough money to go anywhere should not dismiss F6.
Also, F6 is one of the only two ways to get into a local public Uni (the other is matriculation). If you want to go to local public unis but can't get into matrics, go for F6.
The problem with f6 is:
1. You're second choice students for local public unis after STPM. Unis will draft in matricuation students first (they're the first choice), f6 students second, so you might have a problem getting into uni if your STPM sucks (or even if it doesn't- everyone knows of straight A's students not being able to get into medicine).
2. STPM is hard. REALLY hard. Be prepared to work like dogs if you choose f6. Not only is it hard, the government actually LIMITS the number of students that can get an A in each subject. So, if there are only 1000 A slots for Bio, then you've GOTTA be one of the 1000 best Bio students in M'sia to get an A.
3. You're stuck back in school. You lose all the glamour of college kids. Your freedom will be seriously curtailed (hair, uniforms, the lot).
I'm sure you guys can add more, but i'll move on for now...

Option 2: Matriculation
This one's pretty straightforward. You apply (if you haven't, tough luck, i'm not sure you get a second chance), you get in (most non-bumi citygoers won't), spend a year in a crappy matrics college with crappy teachers and do a (relatively) crappy course, then you get to go to the local public uni of your choosing. Plus, if you get in you're almost guaranteed to get a 4.0 CGPA, and the course is free. However, you'll probably have problems catching up in uni.

Option 3: A-levels
I know quite a few of you guys are going for this one. You sign up with a local or overseas private college such as Swinburne, Sedaya, Taylor, or Sunway, get into the course, and upon graduation go to a local or overseas private uni.
Pros: It's quite a good course, and you get to experience college life (and its freedoms). You have plenty of options after completing the course, and with good scores you can get into prestigious unis almost anywhere (assuming you have the money).
Cons: If you go straight to work after graduating with a degree from those colleges above, most employers will regard you as second class and you'll have to start from the bottom. So you might not get into the career of your choice. You might not even get in, as most employers prefer students from more prestigious unis, unless you can prove your competence.
Besides that, the course is expensive (private colleges mah...). Your parents will have to shell out something like 20K to 30K a year (i'm not sure about that figure, maybe some of you guys can help me out there), unless you get really good grades or a scholarship with those colleges (i hear Sunway will give a tuition fee waiver for those with 11A1s and above, meaning you just have to pay living expenses). In short, this is an option for those who are better off.

Option 4: Foundation
With this course, you skip the STPM/A-levels thingy entirely, and go straight into getting ready for your degree. For example, you can get into Foundation for Mechanical Engineering at any number of unis. Thus you can skip all the unwanted and unneeded subjects (except for the government required ones like Moral, of all things...), and study only what each required for Mech Eng.
Pros: This is sort of a fast-track option. You save a year, so you'll start making money a year earlier than if you take STPM/A-levels. If you already know what you want to do, with Foundation you can get straight into it and cut out (most of) the unnecessary crap.
Cons: It's equally as expensive as A-levels, unless, again, you get scholarships (like Jave and Rich). Also, if you do the course halfway and decide you don't like it, you're in deep trouble. So make sure you're really into what you're in.

Option 5: Overseas
This one differs with the country and with the individual. I'll go by country.
Australia
Plenty of ways to get to the Land of Down Under....
If you've got cash: Just sign up with any public/private colleges over there. If you get accepted, you're in, with only minor other problems to settle. It's expensive though, total cost can reach RM1 mill, depending on the course and the uni (1 mill's for medicine).
If you've got PR: I'm not a hundred percent sure about this one. But I think you'll have to go through 12th grade, take the school leaving exam (SPM equivalent, minus a lot of subjects and stress), and go to college. It's MUCH cheaper than if you're a foreign student.
If you've got neither: Then I'm afraid the only way is to get a scholarship or a student grant. More on that later.
New Zealand
Pretty much the same as Australia, save that in the land of Down Down Under you take 13th grade instead of 12th (if you got PR).
England
Pretty much the same as Australia and New Zealand, except you can't get PR there (I think). The only way you're getting there is with LOTS of cash or a scholarship. However, as far as I know, quite a few Malaysians (Sarawakians, in fact) have gotten into Oxford/Cambridge, and are doing superbly, so maybe it isn't as hopeless as you think.
Can't say I know too much about the three countries above, so those of you with more info, help me out here....
The US of A
Now this one, I know a lot of.
To get into USA ain't that hard, really... (unless you've got a name like Osama bin Laden)
If you've got money: Same as always, a lot of colleges will be more than willing to accept you if you've got cash. You just need to fulfill the requirements (more on that later), apply, and voila, you're almost certainly in.
If you don't have money: Then you'll need what the Americans call financial aid. Quite a few colleges and unis offer these, assuming you can get them to like you...
Well, to get to the US, you'll probably have to take a couple of exams first: the SAT 1, SAT 2, and TOEFL. They're almost a must if you want financial aid, and most colleges/unis need them (the requirements I was talking about earlier). These exams can be taken IN MALAYSIA. Yes, that's right, you don't have to fly all the way to the U.S. for them. You'll probably just need to go to KL. In fact, I took my SAT 2 in Kuching itself.
The SAT 1 is sort of like an IQ test-Vocab, critical reading, math, & writing. SAT 2 is a subject test- Bio, Chem, Add Math (they call it Math Level 1&2), History, Eng. Lit., and the sort. TOEFL is a Test Of English as a Foreign Language. Pretty clear cut. You can sign up for these tests online.
Actually, even before you take these tests, you should check out the uni you want to go to and see what they require. Most require you to take these tests, but some don't. Others even accept A-Levels as an entry score. So check out the unis first.
So after you check out the unis and take the tests (if required), you apply and hope to get in. For those who need financial aid, you'll have to fill in (a LOT of) extra forms. Your chances of getting in depend on your test scores, your school reports, teachers' recommendations, and others, including your entry essays (yes, you'll have to write a LOT of essays). Some of the higher-level unis (Princeton, Harvard, Yale, MIT) require you to go for interviews with local alumnis.
However, many of the closing dates for application to these unis have already passed, so you might have to wait another year.
The good thing about the higher-level unis (the Ivy Leagues) is that once you get in, you probably won't have to worry about finance. You pay whatever you can, they'll pay the rest (that's why it's called financial aid). A few full scholarships around, but they're hard to get.
Another good thing is you get to skip the whole STPM/A-Levels thingy and go straight into getting your first degree. However, you'll probably have a hard time coming back (you'll probably have to work during summer break) or even contacting your friends/family here as the time difference is enormous. So if you can't live without your family, don't go.
That's just the tip of the iceberg. For more info about education in USA, drop a comment with your question, or try contacting me (i'll not say how here... =P). I don't claim to know everything, though, so you might not get all the answers.

Option 6: Scholarships
This one's pretty much mixed up with the rest. You can get scholarships to do A-levels, foundation, overseas, etc. You just have to prove, of course, that you're better than the rest.
The Pros: Scholarships lessen your financial burden by a LOT (duh). Also, some of them guarantee you a job after you get out of uni.
The Cons (yes, there are cons): If you accept one from say, PETRONAS, you're stuck with that company/association/whatever for a fixed period of time. (PETRONAS is 10 years) A mixed blessing, i'd say. Your independence will be taken away, but at least you know you won't be graping (menganggur =P). Also, you'll have to accept the course they offer you (no negotiations usually), and if you screw up halfway, you might have to pay back all that they've sponsored you (big trouble).
I'll list down the scholarships I know about.
1. JPA
One of the easier one to get. Just get good grades (11A1's should do) and wow the interviewers. Apply after SPM results (online, I think, or with the school counselors). I hear JPA students in Korea even get FREE XBoxes.
2.PETRONAS
Two application dates for this one. First one's over (December). Next one's after results. This one might be even easier to get, if you're the confident, show-off type. PETRONAS is looking for leaders, so if you've got leadership, you might get it even with crappy grades. (If you don't, then bye bye...) Even easier to get if either of your parents are PETRONAS employees.
3.SHELL
No idea about this one. Probably for SHELL employee's kids only.
4. Bank Negara
They offer a couple for accountantcy and economics. Beyond that, i've no idea.
5.ASEAN
To get it, you'll have to sign up online (i think) and sit for a test somewhere in September. Application date's in April, i think. Get good enough grades, ace the test, and you'll be heading to NUS (Singapore) next Jan. Be warned, though, a LOT of Malaysian students (even some of the best) couldn't handle the stress and dropped out. Really tough course and HEAVY competition.

Those are all the major scholarships I know about. Plenty more coming from individual schools, unis, and associations, but for those, you'll have to find out yourself. Those of you who do know more, however, please enlighten the rest of us. (Put up a post, or at least drop a comment).

That's it, I guess. If anyone's got any more info, please please PLEASE put it up on the blog.
I think this post is one of the longest ever. Hope it was worth it.