What you should know when applying for the Look East Programme: South Korea

Assalamualaikum and warm greetings!

Congratulations to all the SPM candidates and a huge shout out to my juniors Zealot Boes! The main reason I am writing this post is because, when I applied for this Korean Programme, I had absolutely no idea what I had gotten into.

So, I want to shed some light on the Korean Programme to potential new juniors so that you can contemplate and decide whether this is the right road for you.

Frequently asked questions

1. What scholarship should I apply?
Ans: This is going to sound immensely biased, but if you are to apply a scholarship, I strongly recommend JPA. I wouldn't encourage anyone to apply MARA, because here in Korea, MARA scholars have a tougher time than JPA scholars. Plus, JPA scholarship is a fully supported scholarship, and the one that MARA offers is a half scholarship. If you ask any MARA scholar that studies in Korea, they would say the same thing; apply JPA.

2. If I were to apply for the JPA scholarship, what courses do they offer?
Ans: JPA only offers engineering courses. During my time, the criteria to apply for the Korean Programme is all subjects has to be A except for Biology, Additional Mathematics or English. This could change though, so I am not able to say the same thing for this year. Even though JPA offers only engineering courses, there are lots of engineering courses to choose from. The most popular among Malaysian students are; Chemical, Mechanical, Electric and Electronics, Material Science. Others include Environmental, Aerospace, Biochemical, Industrial, Mechatronics, Nuclear, Naval (although this is not recommended).

3. How to apply for the JPA scholarship?
Ans: You can apply the JPA scholarship at esilav2.jpa.gov.my/‎ . The application period is usually 1 week after you get your SPM results. So apply fast! Always check the website for updates.

4. Is JPA offering diploma or degree?
Ans: JPA offers both, you can do both and it doesn't affect the duration of your studies. If you apply for both diploma and degree, it will take you a total of approximately 6 years including your 9 months in INTEC, 1 year at a Language school, 2 years at college and 2 years at a university. If you apply for degree, then it will take 4 years at a university to graduate. You only have to choose if you want to do a 4 year degree or a 2 year diploma plus 2 year degree once you have entered the language institute. So you don't have to worry about it now.

5. How do I succeed in the interview?
Ans: Personally, I found the interview part of the application to be the easy part. My one advice is be yourself. Be the best of yourself of course. Dress smart, for girls, I recommend wearing baju kurung with light colours, or a suit that fits your body nicely, not too tight and not too bulky. But if you want to play it safe, wear baju kurung and sensible shoes. No glitter,no bright coloured outfits. Wear something that makes you feel comfortable and is proper and gives you confidence. Guys, wear a suit. A clean, ironed, dark suit, with a light coloured dress shirt and a matching tie. If I remembered correctly, there was a guy who was in the same group as me during an interview and he didn't wear a tie. But to be safe, wear a tie.

Basically, they'll ask you questions in English and in Malay. They'll group you up into 4 or 5 people and send you into the interview together. Then you'll sit in a row facing the interviewers and they'll start asking you questions. When I went to the interview, the questions were asked to us directly. Others that I have heard of, had the questions asked generally and you have to pick your hands up and answer. I prefer the former, so that you are not in competition with anyone. Questions range from why you picked the course to global issues.

Sit properly and calmly. It's nerve wrecking but if you exude confidence and smile and answer humbly and politely, you don't have anything to worry about. Just be yourself. I didn't know what to expect from the interview so I didn't actually practice anything beforehand. But if you think that you need to brush up on your speaking skills then I suggest you do that. Oh yeah, know your issues, global and national.

6. How is the flow of the Korean Programme?
Ans: Once you get your acceptance letter, you'll enter INTEC located in Shah Alam, to learn beginners level of Korean Language with a side of physics, chemistry, English, maths. You'll study there for 9 months and then if you do pass the cut off point ( I think the cut off point is 3 but I can't remember), you'll come to Korea and continue to learn the Korean Language for 1 year till the 6th level. You'll also be studying Physics, Maths and Chemistry. When you graduate from the language institute, you'll either pick to do a diploma-degree or do your degree for 4 years.

7. Is the Korean language hard?
Ans: It depends on people. Some find it easier (not technically easy) and some find it really hard. If you think you have a knack for languages, then it'll probably be easy. Personally I don't find it too hard, but the key to being good at a language is practice talking no matter how ridiculous you sound. Koreans won't laugh at you if you speak in broken Korean, so it's fine. If you keep up from level 1 then it won't be a problem.

8. Is studying Maths, Physics and Chemistry in Korean hard?
Ans: YES. YES. Even if you study those three subjects in English, it's already hard, let alone Korean. But we do survive. Universities in Korean also have certain subjects where it is taught in English so it's not something you should worry about.

9. If I don't get good results, will I be sent back to Malaysia prematurely?
Ans: Err... If you get bad results, lower than the safe GPA, then you'll get a warning letter from JPA. The letter is also sent to your parents. If you get 3 letters, then there is a huge probability that you will be sent back to Malaysia prematurely, resulting in your family having to pay back everything that JPA has paid for you. So don't do that. Don't worry and just study hard.

10. I'm scared to study overseas because I'm afraid that my welfare won't be taken care of.
Ans: Contrary to beliefs, Malaysian students studying in Korea are very well taken care of. If you are sick, then you'll be sent to the hospital and the other students will take care of you. If there is an emergency that forces you to fly back to Malaysia temporarily, then the Malaysian Students Association in Korea (PPMK) will provide you with the financial help that you need (you'll have to pay back of course). Medical bills are supported by JPA to a certain degree (dental bills are another story), and basically, there is nothing to worry about.

11. I'm afraid that I will start being wild because South Korea is not an Islamic country.
Ans: Some people have actually voiced this out to me and they said that they are embarrassed. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. InsyaAllah, you will not go through that. I can safely say that not only is your physical welfare is taken care of, but your spiritual welfare is also in the package. You'll have many friends and seniors that will take care of you so that you won't go break the law or do stuff that will divert you from your studies. Friends of the same age will pick you up when you're down and seniors will also be attentive because we're Malaysians and we have to look out for each other.

12. Is there a chance that we'll experience a nuclear emergency and/or war?
Ans: A lot of people are worrying about this. But there is a minimal chance that there will be a war between North and South Korea, or a nuclear emergency. InsyaAllah, you won't experience that anytime soon. South Korea is a peninsular like Malaysia, and is situated far from the fault lines and volcanoes. Surrounding South Korea is the Yellow Sea, Korea Strait and the Sea of Japan. Even if there is an emergency that arises, the Embassy of Malaysia in South Korea will make sure that all students are evacuated and are safe. InsyaAllah, it won't come to that so don't let that be a factor to hold you back.

13. What are the pros and cons studying in Korea?
Ans: Let's see. One of the perks of studying in Korea is during your language institute year, you'll go to Jeju Island, Kyeongju and other exciting places and the best thing is that it is funded. You'll get to travel all over Korea and experience things other people can only dream about. You'll learn the differences in culture between Malaysia and Korea, you'll make Korean friends. You don't have to look at subtitles to understand Korean drama (haha).

The cons are it's hard. I am absolutely not sugarcoating any of this. But it's hard. Learning a new language, adapting to a new culture, making new friends. It's really hard. You'll miss your family, especially when you're sick. For the muslims, at one point you'll get tired of seeing so many women with so little clothing. You'll get tired of the smell of liquor, pork, pork belly, pork intestines, the whole deal. You'll encounter rude Koreans, people will look at you warily, some might tease you, others will gawk at you as if you're an alien (especially to the muslim girls).

But, nothing beats the experience. You will meet some rude people, but then you'll meet some of the most nicest people here. Your language teachers for example, your friends of the same age, your seniors (hehe), and because we're such a small community, we're so in tune with each other. Other Malaysians won't experience learning a new language totally off the bat, others won't experience the hardship of learning engineering subjects in Korean. But it's totally worth it. The koreans (some of them), will treat you so well, you'll be somehow burdened by their kindness. From my personal experience, the professors will treat you well because you are a foreigner, and if you show some enthusiasm and you work hard, then that is a definite plus on your GPA.

You'll develop good traits of Koreans (hopefully not the bad ones), and you'll get to broaden your mind and travel to all these wonderful places. You'll learn to be independent, you'll learn to cook, you'll learn to appreciate Malaysia so much more. You'll learn to appreciate your religion more. That, that's the best thing ever.

Not to mention, fast internet, fast transportation, safe environment, delicious food, snow, spring, autumn. The list goes on.

14. Any other advice?
Ans: If you hate maths, physics and/or other science subjects, don't apply. It will be torture for you for 6 years. You do not want to be spending 6 years of your life not liking what you study. Of course, you can always say that you'll learn to love it, but don't fool yourself. That rarely happens.

If you come to Korea for the KPOP, Kdrama, whatever other K you can think of, then I suggest you to think hard and well about your decision. This is not a drama, you won't accidentally meet a handsome, rich Korean dude that will sweep you off your feet. The chances are low, so don't get your hopes up. There isn't a big chance that you'll accidentally meet your oppa from such and such band while walking in the streets of Apgujeong. Like I said, the chances are there, but don't think too much about it. Your life, once you arrive in Korea, will be about your studies and other responsibilities. You'll have very little time to stalk your favourite oppa, or go to concerts or music shows. Even Koreans, once they enter universities, they don't get caught up in that anymore. If you hate science, but want to come to Korea because you want to meet oppa, then please, do yourself a favour and think hard. You can apply but I can't guarantee that your university life will go smoothly as some of the others.

But, remember, where ever you go, and where ever you end up, it is no coincidence. Have faith, and think positively. InsyaAllah, you are planned for greater and bigger things.

If there are other questions that you wish for me to address, then you can freely ask me on my facebook, on twitter or just leave a comment below. Or email me at syaza.mariyah@yahoo.com

Good luck to all the applicants!