Hello there!
I’m Aesya, a PESP (Petronas Education Sponsorship Programme) recipient. I’m here to guide you in choosing a scholarship.
Firstly, I do understand that there is always this pressuring expectation for good students to get sponsorships after high school. I’m sure you who’s reading this is one of those sky-high achievers.
But first you have to ask yourself, do you actually want and need this?
and most important of all: will a scholarship pave the best journey for you?
Addressing the common issue about scholarships
Please be informed that there are generally two kinds of scholarships:
1. Scholarships that prioritise the financially troubled
2. Scholarships that prioritise students who both perform outstandingly in academics and co-curriculum and need financial assistance
so if you ever hear yourself saying:
“I’m not as smart as my straight A+ friends. I’ll never even get a chance for it.”
or,
“I don’t deserve to be sponsored. I’m not that poor.”
Stop! Those are only words of discouragement from yourself.
Things you need to know
Take note that most sponsorship programmes come with a bond - meaning you must work with them for a number of years, or pay them back a certain amount.
But, how do you know if it’s the right sponsorship for you?
Do thorough research about the sponsorship. Don’t just read their websites, scavenge for direct information from current sponsorship recipients too! in this case here I am :D
This is the time to find out if any of their requirements do not sync with your future plans.
My personal experience
In all honesty,
My strategy in applying for scholarships was to apply for everything - and then choose the best out of all the offers I’ve gotten.
Yayasan Khazanah, PNB, PETRONAS, Shell, JPA, MARA… you name it. I sent applications for all of them.
You will find that probably half of your applications are rejected. Maybe even more.
Well in my case, I got rejected halfway by many, and only got to the interview stage of Petronas and PNB.
Even at this stage, competition was still extremely high.
Only then came the critical part: choosing the best one for me.
I wanted a sponsorship that was offering a degree I was interested in, and was not too strict on academic passing requirements as I don’t cope too well with immense pressure. So you guessed it, I went with PESP!
p.s: we get a good amount of allowance
Your choice of sponsorship should have a thorough thought process behind it. Blindly applying for things will possibly have its downsides in the future, as most sponsorship agreements are strict.
Application for Petronas Education Sponsorship Programme
To get the PESP award, you will have to go through 3 stages:
1. Online application on the website
2. TSA Cambridge test
3. Student Potential Assessment - a group interview (only for students applying for overseas programmes)
Before the pandemic, tests and interviews were done on the same day. It was called the PETRONAS YoungStars Day. They still use the name to indicate in their email that you’ve been invited to join the group interview.
I’m not going to lie, most of the filtering was at the first stage. This definitely shows that Petronas looks for certain values in your high school achievements. TSA on the other hand definitely required lots and lots of practice. Search for past papers and their answers online to self-revise.
Next comes the nerve-racking part, the interview. Some tips that I’d like to give you:
Be nice
Do talk when you’re asked to, and it is for sure advisable to interact in group conversations as much as possible. However, do give a chance to your other iv- mates. Ask them for their opinion if they’re silent, or initiate conversations on topics during the group interview session. It is good to have a steady pace of conversation, but do avoid being too overpowering.
Study about the company
Make sure you know what they’re currently involving in. Read their website about everything they do, and throughout the interview, you could use that information. Bonus tip: the interviewers will ask if you have any questions at the end of the interview, so ask them questions that show you’re updated about them!
Stay calm
Talk at a consistent pace. It shows confidence! As most people would say:
“Be yourself”. Although I’d advise you to be the best version of yourself instead. Showcase that great personality of yours.
Finally, when the interview ends, all you have to do is relax.
Hope for the best and only the best as you’ve done everything you could.
Whatever your SPM result is, it’s never a reason to back down from applying for sponsorships. Amazing academic achievements aren’t the only factor of assessment. Everyone stands an equal chance.
I wish you the best in applying for scholarships. Remember that if you end up not getting any scholarships, that doesn’t devalue you as a student at all. It isn’t the end of the world. Without a doubt, God has different plans for you in the future that might turn out even more triumphant than receiving a scholarship.
Wishing all the best things in life for you! If you’ve any questions on the application experience or about my choice of course, feel free to contact me on Telegram or Instagram at @aesyafatihah.
Until then, stay safe ♡
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