University Application Procedure In Thailand

[samsara]

I'm currently tutoring an M6 student who will soon take the SAT and all her entrance exams for uni. she'll be applying to Thammasat, Chiang Mai, and Chula. when we recently discussed the application procedure i was completely speechless.

here's how she explained it to me.

first, the student takes the exam for said uni in nov/dec. some unis will give out scores in a matter of days, some (like thammasat) wait for over a month!! (what the hel_l for?). when scores are received the uni mandates how long the student has to decide whether they want to attend (assuming they passed). supposedly, this period can be as short as 2 days (chiang mai) or as long as 2 weeks. if the student fails to accept the offered position they must retake the exam during the next exam period.

for example, thammasat's exam is nov 24 (i think) but doesnt give out scores until like jan 11th (<deleted>). meanwhile, chiang mai's exam is on dec 8th and gives out scores as soon as the 11th of dec.. now since chiang mai only allows 2 freakin days to decide there is no possible way for someone to rationally choose between thammasat and chiang mai (hmm, how insanely stupid).

so, in summary, unis basically corner students into prematurely/blindly accepting spots instead of allowing the student to CHOOSE which place best fits their needs.

tell me im wrong; tell me there are loopholes somewhere. if not, this system is utter bs.

[simon43]

Samsara, AFAIK that's the system! ie - there is no centralised entry system for Thai universities which manages all the decision dates etc. So yes, you cannot make a sensible decision if the dates for decision required by one university conflict with those of another university.

Simon

[andyc2006]

sounds like they're encouraging you to say "yes" to each offer, and then matriculate to your favorite when the time comes.

after all, if you say yes to thammasat and chulalongkorn, then decide on thammasat, how is chulalongkorn going to punish you, given that you've decided you won't be a student there?

[madjbs]

There is a central examination for government universities. You only need to take one exam and you have to list the universities and program that you prefer in order. If you know exactly what you want to do then some universities will have a special exam that you can take before the government exam which allows you to enter first. Private universities and some special programs at government (international programs etc.) unis are not in the central exam system. Why is she taking the SAT test? It’s usually only required for international programs and only if you haven’t done the university entrance exam. So you don’t have to do both.

[samsara]

There is a central examination for government universities. You only need to take one exam and you have to list the universities and program that you prefer in order. If you know exactly what you want to do then some universities will have a special exam that you can take before the government exam which allows you to enter first. Private universities and some special programs at government (international programs etc.) unis are not in the central exam system. Why is she taking the SAT test? It’s usually only required for international programs and only if you haven’t done the university entrance exam. So you don’t have to do both.

its her understanding that the schools require substantial non-refundable deposits upon indication of acceptance. none of the unis shes applying to are govt-run so she'll take a separate exam for each school; hence, the problem and complete inaneness of this system. she's taking the sat partly for the experience and partly to see if she can get a scholarship to study abroad.

as always in thailand, punish the gifted/those who attempt to rise...

[madjbs]

For the private and special programs you can nearly always avoid the entrance exam if you have the required SAT grade. So the SAT kind of acts like the central exam system as you choose who it gets sent out to.

Edit: Just read you OP again, all those unis are government so she could have used the central examination sytstem. Nearly every student in Thailand Puts Thammasat and Chula as number 1 an 2 so its very difficult to get in normally.

Edited October 13, 2007 by madjbs