Wesley's Interviews

I asked my friend Wesley Wong to share his experience. He is aiming for architecture.

Personal details:
1. Name: Wesley Wong
2. Class: Biology Class
3. STPM result: 3.33
4. First-choice course:Architecture
5. Universities applied: UM, UTM, USM

I was called for UTM and USM interviews in May 2017.

UTM interview

1. 30 minutes aptitude test includes
a. writing of special characteristics of renowned building in the world
b. comparison between building in the olden and modern society
c.designing of logo
e.scientific facts on environmental issue

2. An hour drawing of building
3. Interview (Individual/Group)
a. introduction
b. explaining of own portfolio and model (required by the uni for interview)
c. explaining of own previous drawing
(aesthetic value, creativity, innovativity, technology)

d. miscellaneous (general issue:name of sultan, famous architect,…)

USM interview

1. An hour drawing of building
My question was drawing of building by the lakeside.

2. Interview (Individual/Group)
a. introduction
b. explaining of own portfolio and model (required by the uni for interview)
c. explaining of own previous drawing
(aesthetic value, creativity, innovativity, technology)

d. miscellaneous (general issue:name of sultan, famous architect,…)
I was asked to sing a song for during the introduction session for I introduced myself as a choir member in my church.


Personal experience
Unlike medical or engineering course, the interviewers are not assessing our knowledge and experience on the course we applied. In my opinion, they are searching more about our true self through the deep conversation. They are assessing our attitude, flexibility and versatility while undertaking the course as prospective architecture student.

Camy Chai's Architecture Interviews

This is an overview of how my friend, Camy Chai's interviews went. She applied for architecture. 
DISCLAIMER: This was written by Camy.

USM ARCHITECTURE INTERVIEW DAY 2 RIVERSIDE MAJESTIC HOTEL (7 PEOPLE)

-registration 

-45 minutes for drawing (A3 paper and 2B pencil) hillside dream house (heard that other batch got lakeside 

dream house)

-waiting outside the corridor for group interview (first group consists of 4 people, second group 3 people)

During the interview (2 interviewers, language used - English),

-individually state name, junior high school and lower high school

-individually state STPM CGPA and MUET band

-Individual presentation of previous drawing e.g. explain the design and concept

-interviewer asked about the courses, schools, offers etc. such as if you are given a choice, which would you 

choose? USM or others, architecture or other courses…

-the interviewers ask if we have any questions for them about the course, qualifications, university

 environment etc.

 UTM ARCHITECTURE INTERVIEW AT UTM JOHOR (70 PEOPLE)

-registration and briefing

-aptitude test in BM with subjective questions and 30 minutes to draw a futuristic city

-five panels of interviewers in five rooms, individual interview (average 10 to 15 minutes)

-presentation of drawing, questions: why do you want to take architecture, why do you want to take

 architecture in UTM, what do you think an architect do, favourite local architect and building, favourite 

international architect and building, elaborate on the designs of the aforementioned building etc.)

-show portfolio and elaborate a bit

-a few questions to be answered in BM (to test our language competency in BM)

UM ARCHITECTURE INTERVIEW AT MERDEKA PALACE (2 PEOPLE)

-registration

-30 minutes to draw a kitchen

-about 10 minutes individual interview, why do you want to take architecture, why architecture at UM, 

favourite local architect and building, favourite international architect and building, name one building you 

like in Kuching

-show portfolio, documents, certificates etc.

Florence's Thoughts on University Interviews

I asked my friend Florence (yes, the Florence who accompanied me to Singapore) to contribute a few nuggets of thought. DISCLAIMER: THIS WAS NOT WRITTEN BY ME, BUT BY FLORENCE. 

University Interviews: NUS, USM & UKM

When I started Form 6, I wasn't sure of my career path. Heck, I'm not sure if anyone at my age knew what exactly were they going to do with their life. If you did, I salute you. Anyway, I only knew that I NEVER EVER wanted to touch a Physics textbook again (my hatred for physics due to some inborn repulsion for anything mechanic-related---I'm a klutz around IT and machines, by the way). This is why I chose without hesitation to enroll in a Biology class. 

The seniors were not lying. STPM is HELLISH. The pressure, the constant grinding, and the inhumane schedules (I might talk about it in another post but this is all I will say for now) are enough to eat at your soul. However, I do not regret my experience in Form 6 and I finally got an idea of my interests and passions. I decided on Health Science as a career pathway. 

Naturally, as a product of Asian parents and the general Malaysian social stance, you study Bio? Sure become doctor lah! This is an unhealthy culture, parents wanting their children to become doctors, or the children themselves wanting to become doctors without even knowing WHAT BEING A DOCTOR IS LIKE. I have never watched Grey's Anatomy, but do not think that being a doctor is glamorous and oh-so-noble like in the TV series. TO ALL DOCTOR WANNABES: To get a feel of the current situation of the medical field in Malaysia, READ THIS BLOG by Dr. Pagalavan. There is even a special section for aspiring medical students. It is highly informative, truthful and factual. No sugar-coating at all. Excuse my rant.

Anyway, because my mind wasn't set on any career in particular, I applied for a mixture of courses:

1. National University of Singapore: Dentistry (1st choice) and Medicine (2nd choice)
2. Universiti Malaya: Dentistry (1st choice) and Pharmacy (2nd choice)
3. Univeristi Sains Malaysia: Pharmacy (1st choice)
4. UPU: UKM Pharmacy (1st choice)

In the end, I was shortlisted for interviews for NUS Medicine, USM Pharmacy and UKM Pharmacy. I didn't get UM which was a huge shock and disappointment for me, since I never imagined the possibility of being turned down before being given a chance to prove myself in interviews. To be fair, I did pray to God to close every door that's not for me and to leave only one door open. Maybe this door just slammed shut in my face earlier before the rest.

Upcoming posts

Alright, so let's get to the point. I'm creating this blog mainly to share my experience of attending university interviews. When I was researching for information to prep myself for upcoming interviews, I found plenty of blogs written by matriculation students, but NONE by STPM students. There isn't much difference, to be honest, regarding the pre-university course in relation to your performance in interviews, but it is curious that all these blogs are from matriculation students. Maybe I just haven't stumbled across any STPM bloggers, if there are any.

In the course of the next few days I will be posting about my own experience. Hopefully, they will help you know what's ahead, and what to prepare for.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Originally from the song from the 1964 Disney musical film Mary Poppins. Commonly defined as "extraordinarily wonderful" or "wonderful", a word you say when you have nothing else to say. 

DISCLAIMER: I GOT THIS FROM THE WIKIPEDIA  PAGE FOR THE WORD. YEA IT AINT AN ORIGINAL POST JUST FOR TRYOUTS OK.