My Postgraduate Decision

Feeling: Contemplative
Weather: Cool
Listening To: The sound of the photocopy machine

I think I’ve pretty much decided that I do not want to go overseas to pursue my Master’s postgraduate degree.

1. It’s only a year- two at most, but even then, there are no long breaks unlike a Bachelor’s undergraduate degree. Part of the reason for going overseas is to explore and experience the place, but with the time constraints and the short period of time I would be there, it would be near impossible to do so and won’t be as enjoyable.
2. Stricter visa restrictions are imposed now. No thanks to the people who take advantage of visas for the wrong reasons- going overseas, especially for studies is not as easy as it used to be anymore. Even if you are guaranteed a place in the university and have made all the necessary preparations and have all the necessary paperwork, there is still no guarantee that your visa would be approved.
3. I would have to fly back and forth at least once (If I’m lucky), maybe twice, just for the application process, including interviews and all, which is time consuming. Instead of starting, say, next year after I graduate, I might start in another 2 years instead once everything is settled.
4. I would rather my parents save the money for me to go overseas to study and I use it for going for an overseas holiday instead, where I can really enjoy it. Or I could save up the money.

However, my dreams are not that all dashed :D I intend to apply to either a university in Singapore- maybe Nanyang Technological University, or to The University Of Nottingham- Malaysia Campus, where they’re nearer (Thus eliminating the problems I’ve listed), and have the courses I intend to pursue. A plus is that The University Of Nottingham- Malaysia Campus is a branch of The University Of Nottingham in the UK- not an affiliation but the actual university itself.

Possibly considering New Zealand, but definitely not Australia- it’s overrated and the standards are pretty horrible, at least for my course and from what I heard from those who have transferred over and/or are studying the course there.

I would also like to state, for once and for all, that my decision to pursue my Master’s postgraduate degree nearer to home and/or locally is not influenced by anyone. I don’t understand why everyone (Read: Family, mainly) seems to think I am so easily influenced =_= Plus, I am not easily swayed, and consider a lot of factors before I actually make a decision. Also, the reason why it seems like I’m so indecisive about my Master’s postgraduate degree course is because there are a variety of choices I can choose and actually want to study- but I need to factor in things such as job market availability and the like. I can’t just take a course that although I like, won’t be able to give me a job, right? :\ It’s just not feasible. So yeah.

My mid term results for this semester impresses even myself- 16.86/20 for PSY303 Counselling Theories And Techniques, 23/30 for PSY305 Ethics In Psychology (I even scored 14/15 for the subjective part… which I honestly don’t remember what I wrote XD Pure BS!) and 21/30 respectively for PSY310 Cross-Cultural Psychology and PSY315 Human Motivation :D