My elder daughter has just completed her degree course in International Relations and Politics. She was top student for the first two years and though she doubted if she could for the final year, she is expected to get First Class Honours, which happens to be my condition for attending her convocation next month!
Her boyfriend had applied and was offered a place in Oxford University. She would have done so if not because of our financial constraints. I joked that she should have applied and if offered a place, turn it down so that I could have a letter to show people that she was actually offered. Anyway, she is not into our local “kiasuism”.
After seeking advice from some European lecturers, she shortlisted some universities and applied to three: ETH Zurich, Switzerland (MA in Comparative and International Studies), Lund University, Sweden (MA in European Affairs), and K.U. Leuven, Belgium (& Differdange, Luxembourg) (The International Master in Social Policy Analysis).
The first good news came from Belgium/Luxembourg. She subsequently applied for a grant which was approved within a short time! The scholarship was too good to be true as it covers fees, food and lodging, allowance and even use of a notebook!
Then she was offered a place by Lund University, Sweden but she rejected it because she had enough of European Affairs for the past 3 years. At the time she applied, she had only submitted her 2 best essays in lieu of her dissertation (which was required), but hers was not ready then. So she was really taken by surprise.
Lastly, she was offered a place by ETH Zurich! She had mixed feelings, as on the one hand, she was happy to be successful in her application, on the other, she had a hard time in deciding, even after another round of discussions with the lecturers.
Her European lecturers strongly recommended ETH Zurich (probably best in Europe) as a continuation of her first degree. The other favourable factor is that for those who completed their Masters and accepted for PhD course, they are paid while doing so!
However the lure of immediate financial independence as opposed to after one year, and the change from politics to social policy proved to be irresistible. Moreover, she can still apply again after completing her Masters in Social Policy Analysis.
I can imagine how some top students in Malaysia feel, being offered places in Harvard, Yale, Oxford and Cambridge for example, and having to decide which one to accept.
For some of us, we have problems in deciding, when faced with many empty parking spaces!
Government fed by the people
Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.
Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?
When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.
Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)
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