I know, I know I’m contradicting myself. I am indeed heading the Swinburne way. Despite religiously promoting form 6 previously.. Okey, maybe not religiously, but I did, right-o?
So here’s to why I finally chose this path. Come on, we all know that form-6-is-all-so-good post is largely just for self-satisfaction. To convince myself by writing a bunch of good stuff about form 6, so that I won’t feel that bad in school.
So is form 6 really worthwhile?
It is undeniable that form 6 is a tougher choice. With all that hype we’ve heard about form 6 standards since those pre-SPM days, who wouldn’t know? That said, staying in form 6 and sitting for STPM would be a struggle. It is here where the question arises, are all that struggling worth it? I’m not talking about a bit of struggling, such as you might go through playing a game at the PartyPoker site or on your console, this isn’t a game. It’s your education and future on the line.
The daughter of my dad’s friend who scored an amazing 4 flat in her STPM was only offered a disappointing Education course in a local varsity. So was the case of few of her friends. Hearing such news are indeed de-motivational to form 6 students.
Why struggle your ass off going through STPM when you end up getting a course you can so easily get after form 5 — by applying into a teachers training college? And I’m talking about STPM candidates who scored a perfect 4 flat.
why struggle?
Of course, I heard you. There are lucky asses who got engineering courses despite only scoring 2A and 2B’s. There are people who got their share of the cream of the cake. But the risk of getting an unpopular course is there, no matter how hard you struggle, no matter how well you score. Period.
Quality Control.
It may be too early to talk about standards since I haven’t started classes in Swinburne yet. And even if I’ve started, there is no definitive way of gauging which course is of higher standards, because the both courses cover a totally different array of topics and subjects. It’s like comparing a bowl of laksa and mushroom cheese spaghetti.
Note here that I’m talking about the Swinburne Engineering foundation course and form 6.
mmm..spaghetti.
Talk to any Swinburne scholar and they’ll tell you loads about how tough the foundation course is. Of course, as you may think, that’s just them thinking that the grass is greener in form 6. I have a reason to think that would be a reason too, but something led me to believe otherwise.
When I went for Swinburne’s info day last Saturday, there was this talk on engineering, given by a female Russian lecturer. With a serious tone in her voice, she said something along the lines of “You now must really study hard if you are to go through studying in Swinburne. It’s no honeymoon.”
She might have scared off a few would-be Swinburne course applicants, but she just delivered the blatant truth. Perhaps it’s their marketing strategy, for at least now I’m confident that I won’t be lacking in par with my form 6 counterparts. QC passed?
How useful is form 6?
My form 6 math teacher, knowledgeable and humorous Mr Fong whom I highly respect, was explaining that other day about how form 6’s Pure Mathematics subject is of little use for engineering courses.
In the past, pure math had this topic on Mechanics, which, according to him, was really helpful in building a foundation for engineering students heading for a degree in that field. But it was later completely removed and replaced with Probability, which was pretty much useless for engineering. In the end, he said, form 6 students only got to study mechanics through a chapter in Physics, which is insufficient for the degree course.
Well, I’m not saying that form 6 doesn’t help at all, in helping engineering students in their degrees later on. I’m simply implying that form 6 is not sufficient.
It does help build a strong base in your math and physics, there’s no question to that, but it isn’t as specific as what you learn in the engineering foundation course.
So why not concentrate your brain juice and efforts onto a foundation course that actually specifically prepares you for the engineering degree from A through Z? Instead of loitering in form 6, which probably only reveals a bit of B and parts of Z.
The teaching force.
Another reason why I wouldn’t continue form 6 is — teachers, right. They say having a good teacher makes all the difference. Looking at my class as it is now, my General Paper teacher is a freshie, my MUET teacher is so so, but I could live without him.
We don’t have any Chemistry teachers as of now, our previous one was uh, well, pitiful in her command of english. Note that I didn’t use the word horrible. Which adjective implies greater emphasis on the hard truth, You decide.
Well she left, so we’re now doing math homework during chemistry lessons.
And our Physics teacher. My my. He could have been reading the Bible in his hands and we wouldn’t know it. (read: hear)
Only our math teacher, Mr Fong whom I mentioned earlier, is dependable. But he’s retiring mid next year. So what the hell.
Then again, I’m not expecting Swinburne’s lecturers to be extremely dependable. At least I won’t be following a bunch of un-dependable teachers while struggling in form 6.
I admit, this entry is starting to sound like another self-convincing post. As a matter of fact I think it is an effort of self-convincing. XD Heh, I just can’t start something without getting all mentally prepared for it can I?
Disclaimer: The above arguments should only apply if you are really sure of your interests, therefore which specific field you would want to pursue. If you’re still unsure, it’s form 6 by all means. That said, I can’t be held responsible for discouraging anyone from continuing form 6. Nor is that my intention. No animals were harmed in the process of creating this entry.
Edit: By the way, look what I’ve just found: 70% public university graduates joblesss?!. Uh, oh. Bad, bad.
can i buy your books? XD
F6 is definitely a tough course, but it’s a very good training. All of my teachers said so. Time management, effort, self-discpline… Besides, STPM is the 2nd toughest exam in the world. Survive these years, no other courses in the whole world will scare you. To enter local u.…ahah…the chances are very slim. Yep, basically I agree with what you have wrote. If you have the money, go for private u. For people who are poor like me, f6 will be the cheapest choice. About the future in local u? Decide it 1 1/2 year later.….
tay, I already have a waiting list of people eyeing to buy my books. XD sorry mate. :p though it kinda sucks when the first thing your friends say upon hearing that you’d be leaving for swinburne is “aha! sell me your books then.” :\
hut ting, yeah. I’ve heard from somewhere that it is. That’s why I called f6 the gem-making programme. XD but in my opinion, what use would that gem be of when it can’t be properly appreciated and be truly made use of it’s value? (Read: high-scoring form 6 students not offered good courses in local U’s.)
traitor!
lim sheng han is a traitor!
cheh~ who says that UF6 is the best among all?
alah, u can say change and just change because u’ve got MONEH in ur pocket.
but i like being tortured in form 6 lol.
anyway, good luck to you.
any road would have its own future, seriously.
no matter what u choose.
man, another Swinby.*sigh*
First off, I did not say form 6 is the best. :\ As you said, every path has it’s own pros and cons and I agree with that.
Secondly, understand that I did not choose to enter Swinburne just because I got too much money to spend. FYI, i’ll be getting a PTPTN loan once i’m in Swinburne. And you know it’s so hard to decide to go or not because it’s no small burden on my family’s financial situation. Sometimes I’d feel like giving up the swinburne way and stick to form 6, since it’ll be such a burden. It’s expensive, yet there so many other factors to consider other than financial reasons.
And indeed, every road has it’s own future. But what the future holds is another question. And of course it’s not for me to say which one is better.
As i said above, my arguments may only apply to me and me alone. I wrote just merely to convince myself.
By the way, what do you have against Swinburne? People have their own reasons as to which path they choose.
good then. whatever decision you make,
remember just don’t give urself any chance to regret.
don’t look back and think ‘what if i didn’t chose this’..
choose what you like, like what you chose.
for me, i dont want to just stay in Kuching and finish my college/U life here.
form 6 would give me more alternatives.
good luck to you.
you’ll be someone one day. XD
Well i certainly hope they’ll be no regrets. :\
Yeah, lol. it does bug me a little thinking that i’ll be stuck in Kuching for a good 5 years ahead. The cost factor is the only thing keeping me from studying across the south china sea. it’s all about the money isn’t it? 😐
Form 6 does opens up chances for placings in local U’s in West m’sia. So maybe you’ll try your luck on those. XD
As for me. It’s gonna be swinburne in Kuching for some time. Unless my dad strike 4D some time within these 5 years. XD off I am to Melbourne! XD
what? I AM already someone. XD Thanks by the way.