Pre-U programs: Which is the best for you?
A pre-university program is designed to prepare students for higher education after secondary/high school and before enrolling in a university or college. It is the bridge between high school and university. The most prominent programs are a university’s foundation program, International Baccalaureate (IBDP), and Advanced levels (A-levels). Since each program has its pros and cons, how do you decide which is the best?
Firstly, foundation programs usually range from several months to a year and are offered by universities for specific majors. It is sometimes called the “gateway” or “year-zero” program and focuses on the subject-specific knowledge students need for their chosen degree. After completing the foundation program, students can continue their studies in a degree program at the same institution. However, this is also a weakness as most foundation programs are restricted to that specific university and some are not transferable. So, students are stuck with that university since they need to restart everything if they were to change institutions or courses. Because of that, it is recommended that unless students are dedicated to their choice of university/course, they should take a pre-university program like A-levels, IBDP, AUSMAT, etc since those programs are accepted by most universities globally.
On the other hand, A levels, IBDP, Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT), and many others are preferable for students who have not decided which course or university they want to take. That is because they are widely accepted globally by most universities. However, it is recommended to research specific universities and their requirements when deciding on your pre-u program. It is because certain universities might have a preference for certain pre-u programs or only accept on a case-by-case basis. Moreover, some university courses will require you to take specific subjects in pre-u so it would be best to research the courses you want and their requirements.
In A levels (Advanced Levels), students must choose 3 to 4 subjects to focus on in the last 2 years of their secondary school. It allows students to focus and specialize in specific subjects of their interest and strength. Not only that but the broad subject options allows students to be more flexible in their education and focus on subjects they prefer and are good at. However, that can also be a weakness since students will have less exposure to other subjects and interdisciplinary learning. Moreover, the A-level program is 100% exam based which may not be suitable for some students since everyone learns differently and has their preferences.
Next is the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). Unlike the A levels, there are 6 subject groups for students to choose from and some subjects will be at a higher level (HL) and some at a standard level (SL). Furthermore, the 3 core elements of the IBDP are the theory of knowledge (TOK), extended essay (EE), and creativity, activity, and service (CAS). As you can see, the IBDP has many requirements and a high workload for students to complete in 2 years. However, the IBDP allows for a broad and interdisciplinary education that prepares students for any field in their future studies. But that can also be a weakness since it doesn’t allow any in-depth specialization.
Overall, A levels are good for those who already have an idea of their future studies and work well in a 100% exam structure. And IBDP is good for those who are not sure and still want to keep their options open. Nonetheless, there are other less well-known pre-u programs like the Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT), South Australian Matriculation (SAM), Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), Canadian International Matriculation Programme (CIMP), and many more. However, some students refrain from taking those programs if they aren’t going to those respective countries since there is a chance universities from other countries might not accept those programs. But most of the time, universities will review those applications on a case-by-case basis (depending on the university).
In conclusion, everyone has different futures and pathways for them and what might work for some might not work for you. The most important way to decide your ideal pre-u program is by doing research on the programs and university requirements as well as evaluating yourself and your skills.
