Asean Scholarships (Pre U)

ASEAN Scholarships 2010-2011

Application
You don't have to worry much about this, just fill it up as best you can. If you're not sure where to put some activity or achievement, just put it where you think it fits best. When in doubt, just put it down somewhere. The worst scenario is that they don't put into consideration, therefore nothing to lose putting down more information. Most important never lie in the application. Not to worry as majority will be called for the selection test. You don't need straight A's in your end-year exams or anything, either. there are student who got a bunch of B's and only 2A1s and it turned out fine.

For the photo you have to attach, cropping your self-taken photo is easy if you are well verse with Microsoft office Picture Manager. to make the situation even easier I suggest you just go to a shop and get a proper photo taken, with a CD. The soft copy in the CD should do well.

Selection Test
Do take note as this is much more important.

Even for the real good Maths students out there, I think you'll find the paper really tough- syllabus use are similar to the malaysian version plus minus a few chapter anyhow no worries for those who are strong in Add Math.Just do your best for it, if you can't do a question skip it and get all the others done before getting back to it. Conventional advice but it's true. Work on speed, if nothing else.

English is really really tough, considering how little grammar we actually learn in secondary school. Areas they likely will ask are synonyms or definition of words - nothing simple majority rather challenging. And there's an essay to write too, just focus and fit in as much as you can and don't take too long on finalising your points.

The General Ability test is arguably the most important. though it may benefit you if you take a look at some sample questions first. If anyone's taken the Mensa test before...is likely similar. It's called the Raven's Progressive Matrices. Look it up. I think there's also a sample quiz online, so try it out. Do not take it easy as the real test is much challenging then the sample question online.

Interview
If you do well in the selection test (I presume they focus on the General Ability test) you'll be called to the interview. Notification will find ways to reach you either by email or snail mail, so don't worry about missing them.

At the interview, It's more like a semi-casual conversation with the interviewers than anything overly formal. Is time to share about yourself, this is the time to let them get to know you better, so loosen up, be friendly and warm. Try to keep the conversation interesting, steer it towards topics that show who you are and what you do and do well - your hobbies, outside activities, passions. Don't talk much about school results, because they already know yours and because it's a given to them that you have decent results. It's not what they're looking for.

Dress formally. That means long pants, shoes, shirt and tie. No need for anything fancy, plain shirt and tie will do. Common sense.

As for interview questions, don't think too much about figuring it out. I prepared a list of questions they might ask and how I would answer them, and it turned out utterly useless. One of the first things they asked me if I was hungry (it was about lunch time). They also asked me how I thought I did on the Maths test - rather awkward. Can't give too low a value, can't give too high either 'cause I know I didn't do that well. Though that'll be up to you, if it comes along at all.

Conclusion
Do your best for the selection test, but don't crack your head studying for it.

The application form isn't a worry either. Just fill it as best you can.

The interview is the real decider. Learn to chat with adults a bit, maybe talk about things like current issues. You must come across as enthusiastic, intelligent and likeable.

(Quote and edited from Pass student comments)