What to Do After SPM and Before University?

Ah, SPM. The last milestone for students in secondary school. To my fellow SPM graduates, congratulations on finishing the last step of your schooling life, and just know that you’ll never have to deal with that mess and pain anymore in your life! No more crazy studying and sleeping schedules to remember your curriculum for your SPM classes, no more sadness and anxiety with the exams and no need to worry about your grades for the classes you took anymore. It’s time to put all of that in your past and take the next step into your future. 

The next step in life for you would naturally be getting ready for university, but till then many of you will have a long break in between. This break can get boring after a while, because you’ve done everything on your list and your watch-sleep-eat cycle may have become too repetitive and bland for you. Instead of being a couch potato in the comfort of your own home, how about we give you some ideas about what you can do while waiting for the next step, and find ways for you to enjoy the outside world? 

Activities and Personal Doings

1. Getting Your Driver’s License

Staying at home can get boring sometimes, and it’s good to get some fresh air and sunlight. However, to go places outside your own house, it’s better to have your own transportation because Grab and Rapid KL can cost too much sometimes. But to be able to have your own transportation, you must be able to drive it! So, we recommend our fresh school graduates to get their driver’s license in order to be able to drive at anytime and anywhere they desire. Use this spare time to practise driving and attend a driving school for the mandatory classes, because by the time university life rolls around, you’ll be able to drive places easily without the help of your family members. Easy and convenient! 

2. Become a Part-Timer

If you want to be more productive but also receive extra cash for that shopping spree you desire, how about applying for a job as a part-timer before university life starts? The gap between finishing your SPM and the start of university is usually about 3-4 months (depending on the intake period and the institution you choose to study at), so this is plenty of time for you to be able to get a part-time job and earn your own cash. 

Getting a part-time job has its own personal benefits, because not only will you get the money you want, but you’ll also get the feel and experience of working. You’ll be able to meet different people, understand the industry you work in a bit better, be able to build your own character within the surrounding environment, and you’ll also be able to determine the type of job that suits your needs and expertise. 

Students who are willing to take up a part-time job can choose between an office job, hands-on F&B or other retail industries, or freelancing jobs for those whose expertise is in the writing field. It’s up to you on what you want to do and what your expertise is when it comes to choosing your part-time job. 

3. Volunteer Services

For people who want to make a change in the world and help people who are in need, we recommend you apply for volunteering! Being a volunteer has many benefits as you get to experience and learn about the lives of others, understand certain global issues and its causes, and help the surrounding community. Plus, it will no doubt look good on your resume when looking for future jobs or for college applications. Malaysia offers many students the ability to apply to numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the country, so do apply and be a part of a greater change. 

Do have a look at THIS LINK provided as they list the types of volunteering fields from education, to health to helping refugees in and out of the country! 

4. Travel Around Malaysia or to Your Dream Spots

The best way to celebrate your graduation and completion of the last milestone of your school life is to book a flight and travel to your dream spots. It can be domestic travel or international travel, but most importantly, go out and explore! It’s time to reward and splurge on yourself and do the things that you’ve always dreamt of doing. Go travel, go on tours around the city and learn the different cultures, meet new people and get comfortable with the new surroundings! 

You can travel alone and get lost in the city of your dreams, or you can travel around the globe with your family and friends one last time before entering university, as it can get hectic once it starts and your schedules will differ. It doesn’t matter who you go with, where you go and when you go; but when you do, make sure to enjoy it to the fullest and do everything you can because you deserve it. 

5. Pursue a Hobby

If you choose to relax and spend your last days at home with your family before moving out for university, you can try pursuing a hobby or continuing with a hobby that you’d previously put aside because of your studies. 

Pursuing a hobby can be beneficial as you’ll be able to learn more about yourself and find out what your strengths and weaknesses are. Find out whether you’re the creative type or you can find out that you’re the mathematical, science-y one through pursuing a hobby during your break. Here are some ideas of hobbies that you can pursue while waiting for university to commence. 

• Playing an instrument
• Writing or drawing (arts & crafts)
• Learning a new language
• Taking up a sport
• Learning how to dance
• Playing games and taking up in online competitions
• Gardening
• Photography and photo editing
• Creating your own videos
• Learning how to cook
• and many more!

Getting Ready for University: The Preparation Stage

While doing the things you love and doing things that will help you find yourself, don’t forget to do the things that will help you ease your way into university. This preparation stage is important so that things will become easier when your intake period rolls around. 

During the break, you should already know which course you’re applying for, which classes you want to take, and look for scholarships or other financial aid so that you won’t struggle halfway through your studies. On the other hand, you can also opt to take a gap year to rest and recover before furthering your studies again. 

1. Decide on What Course to Study

Deciding on the course you are going to study in university is crucial, as it will determine your future and the careers that are made available for you, so do choose wisely when picking your course. You might be thinking, ‘Which course should I take? Which one is the most suitable for me?’ 

You can find out which course field is best for you based on your interests and your strengths. Pick a course that you know you will have passion in and is something you’ll continue to have interest in with the years to come. Pick a course that you have good knowledge about and have studied in detail during your school years. The course you choose is important as it is something you will be taking on for many years from your college degrees all the way up to your career. 

Check out the articles below!

6 Reasons to Become a Pilot in Malaysia

6 Reasons You Should Become an Engineer in Malaysia

6 Reasons to Become a Doctor in Malaysia

10 Courses That Guarantee Good Jobs in 5 Years

2. Pre-University? Foundation? Diploma? Degree?

Choosing your degree or educational pathway after high school is important as it not only determines your academic career, it also helps you understand your field of study better. Many students after high school choose to further their studies by doing a foundation or diploma course first before continuing into a bachelor’s degree, but just know your academic career is totally up to you. To find out what is suitable, do check out the links provided below. They can help you determine which pre-university course is right for you and whether you want a course based on assignments or exams, but at the end of the day, the choice is purely up to you. 

Do check out the articles below to find out what's right for you!

Which Pre-U Course is Right for You?

Choosing a Pre-U Programme Exam Based or Coursework Based

3. Finding the Right Scholarship for You!

Every student at some point during their tertiary education searches for a scholarship. Scholarships can help a student financially, more than you can ever imagine. It’s a blessing for people going through financial struggle at home and has helped numerous people with achieving their dreams in and outside of the country. 

Scholarships come in many forms from partial scholarships to full scholarships, and some scholarships even allow students to further their studies in different countries. Do look at THIS LINK to find a scholarship that’s right for you!

4. Should I Continue Studying or Should I Take a Break?

Many students think that right after secondary school, they need to further their academic careers and enter university right away, but sometimes that’s not the case. Some students choose to take a gap year before studying at university once again. One reason why a break in between your studies can be beneficial is that you’ll be able to do certain things: travel around the world, work and make money to pay for your own tuition fees, relax and de-stress yourself before putting the pressures of studying on your shoulders again, finding yourself and understanding who you are inside and out, and overall just to clear out your mind before starting yet another stage in your life. 

It’s important to take a break and be well-rested, as constant studying can lead to a loss in your spark or feeling burned out. Plus, it’s a great time to figure out what you want to do with your life in order to be ready once everything starts back again. So, if you choose to do a gap year, go and experience what the world has to offer for you, as there is so much to do out there. Find yourself and your individuality because you never know what skills and passions you have hidden in you until you explore it yourself!

If you are unsure of what to study or which university to choose, contact our expert counsellors to ease your biggest doubts through a personalized virtual counselling.

Set you appointment now with our counsellors by clicking here. 

To find out more about scholarships and courses, click here and here.

Afterschool.my is Malaysia’s no 1 higher education website that provides helpful information on courses, institutions and scholarships for students transitioning from secondary school to university level.