Mode of Study: Coursework or Research

Ada masa sikit ni so nak cerita pasal comparison between coursework and research. I've shared a lil bit of my experience of my pre-postgrad experience. Basically, akan jadi camni..

Sebelum decide nak sambung mode mana 1, fikir dulu;

1. Apa yang awak nak sebenarnya? 
2. Apa plan awak dalam 1 tahun, 2 tahun and 5 tahun akan datang? 
3. Kenapa nak sambung belajar? 
4. Lepas tu, buat SWOT analysis untuk diri sendiri. 

Another explanation dah ada dekat my first post, tak silap. kalau i pandai, i attach link haha!

Okay, so here is the next episode.

Why coursework?

1. sebab nak cepat grad
2. sebab ada classmates
3. sebab boleh handle weekly assignments
4. sebab nak masuk industri
5. sebab nak naik tangga gaji
6. sebab confirm ada cuti sem

Selalunya, if you decided to enter industry, you are preferred to do coursework. Sebab boleh buat part-time jugak. Kiranya, kerja jadi nombor 1, postgrad is your 2nd priority. Ataupun sebab memang tak suka buat research writing. 

Dalam coursework jugak, kena belajar semua method, nanti kat hujung sem baru pilih method mana nak apply dalam dissert. So, plus point nak masuk industri bila buat coursework sebab dah tahu banyak method.

Why research? some of my reasons (ok, this is my first post.) 

In short, student kena belajar sendiri apa yang related dengan research field. Method, problem, data, sampling, etc. You do what you want. Of course dengan guidance from supervisor la. Macam pre PhD. Cuma your contribution is smaller than PhD. 

Ada jugak yang seek guidance dengan pergi workshop, seminar. Join conference or symposium sebab kena publish paper. It depends on uni's requirement jugak kena publish berapa journal, hantar kat publication mana semua (I'll make a post about conference, insya Allah).

And bila buat research mode, plus point untuk publication. Sebab nanti nak masuk edu line, uni will consider your publication experiences. Ada jugak student who looks forward to best thesis award. 

Or else, you may opt to mix mode. Belajar dulu, nanti last sem buat dissert.

Mana lagi senang?

Duduk rumah baring depan tv la paling senang. pun intended. 

I will never say coursework is much easier than research or vice versa. Sebab semua mode ada struggle masing-masing. 

You've known yourself better than others. Ada orang dia jenis laju gila absorb bila masuk kelas, jawab test, etc. Ada orang dia pesen kreatif, suka invent benda baru, hybrid benda-benda sedia ada. 

Don't block your mind and/or choosing the most easiest way out. Ni pasal masa depan ni. Fikir elok-elok. 

I've started thinking of postgrad prospect during my degree life - sem 6. During internship pun fikir lagi. Nak tekan submit button dalam online application pun takut. Dah dapat offer letter, lagi lah. Boleh pulak ada rasa nak defer. Sebab we never know what's in the future. Ordeal apa yang akan muncul. Financial issue, family, friends, love, also career. It's a difficult phase because this is the start of our adulthood. 

In all, always remember that postgrad life ni bukan ukur tahap cerdik kita, tapi ukur tahap struggle and how we survive. Appreciate the process. 

Choose wisely!