To Matrics Or Not To Matrics?

The proper English for the title:
To Apply For Matriculation or Not To Apply For Matriculation?
(But that title would have been too long)

So here’s a post on some of my takes on matriculation a.k.a. matrics

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Matrics is like STPM/ Form 6.
You take them up for your pre-university course before going up for a degree.

The difference is, your chance to apply for matrics comes BEFORE you even sit for the SPM papers.
And it only comes ONCE.
So it’s a now or never chance for us then.

Most smart students went to apply for it,
regardless of what courses they are actually interested in or whether matrics is really relevant for them.

I, on the other hand, wasn’t a smart student.
I was a stubborn twit.
I didn’t apply for it for certain reasons.

Which most would consider stupid since:

• If you get matrics, at least you have a path to continue your studies if you’re rejected by the IPTA.
• You’ll have more options to choose if you get accepted by both matrics and IPTA.
• You have NOTHING to lose in applying.

Really?

Do you REALLY have nothing to lose by applying?

There was a rumor going around:

If I did get accepted by matrics, my IPTA application will be terminated automatically.

Not True!
I have friends who got both matrics and IPTA entries.

So matrics really have no effects on my IPTA applications whatsoever?

Aha! THAT’s the real question here.

There’s no official answer for this.
But sources have said that it DOES affect the IPTA admissions.
It makes them consider less of your application for the IPTA.

If you look at it one way,
it’s unfair as matrics and IPTA are two different institutions.
Why mix them up to have one affecting the other?

But looking at it from another way, it is somewhat sensible.

So let’s look at a very common case here:

Students who are interested in Science courses.
(Regardless whether it’s medic, biotechnology, farmacy etc)

They applied for the Science matrics and the Asasi/Foundation in Science for IPTA.
They got accepted for the Science matrics.

 

Now, if you are the person in charge of the IPTA intakes,
you will look at this applicant and you see that he/she already has a place in matrics under the same subject.
So would you prioritize so that this person will also get the offer for IPTA?

Despite having hundred thousands other applicants who are also fighting for this same course that have no placings in the matrics?

I’m not saying that it is fair to disregard IPTA applications after seeing their matrics results.
Nor am I saying that it is unfair that some have the luxury of getting accepted by both offers.

But I can see why they had to do that as it is necessary to sacrifice one’s OPTION to
offer another’s CHOICE.

Although you have two options, you can only choose one.
Thus, wasting one chance for those who have none at all.

 

So now, do you REALLY have nothing to lose for applying to matrics?