Living out her dreams: Setbacks are no hindrance for Lee to pursue her tertiary studies in the UK.
“Sometimes, when I’m walking through the cobbled streets of Cambridge or writing essays in the university library, I reflect on how grateful I am to be studying a course I love in one of the best universities in the world.”
Karen Lee, 22, had never thought this was possible a year ago, until she secured a scholarship from YTL Foundation to pursue a degree in human, social and political sciences at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
Having represented the country as a youth ambassador on the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program to the United States in 2019, the Penangite returned home and began her Form Six studies at Penang Free School while also volunteering with AFS Malaysia as a liaison for an Italian exchange student in the state.
When Covid-19 struck, her education was put on hold, and she faced some challenges in applying to UK universities and for scholarships.
“The pandemic disrupted my education as it did for everyone else. I was anxious over the multiple postponements of the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) exams, thus I directed my focus towards my studies and missed the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) 2021 admission deadline for Cambridge.
“Although I was thankful to have gained entry into the Bachelor of Economics programme at Universiti Malaya (UM), I still wanted to study human, social and political sciences.
“Thus, I set my mind on pursuing this dream of mine. In my first semester, I was balancing the workload of being a full-time UM student while working on my UCAS application and preparing for the interview.
“Imagine my joy when I got an offer from St. Edmund’s, a mature college for students over 21 years old, the night before returning home for Chinese New Year!” she shared in a press release from the Cambridge University Malaysia Society (CUMaS).
“While ecstatic, I knew my family could not afford the exorbitant tuition fees and living costs.
“During my second semester, I threw myself into scholarship applications while preparing for the UM final exams. As a 21-year-old student with an unconventional education pathway, there were limited overseas undergraduate scholarships available to me.
“Fortunately, YTL Foundation provided a golden opportunity through the Yeoh Tiong Lay Award, and after two assessment rounds, I was awarded the scholarship,” she said.
Recalling how she arrived at the UK varsity as a bright-eyed and nervous fresher, Lee said she struggled with adapting to the weather, the heavy workload, the self-doubt, and the social conventions of Oxbridge.
“The first term was tough. I was extremely insecure as I felt my peers were way ahead of me in academics. I worried about living up to the prestige of the university and often wondered if Cambridge made a mistake in accepting me.
“Although student life was stressful at first, it drove me to get out of my comfort zone and work harder.
“I have seen immense academic growth since the first term; my supervisors used to heavily critique my essays and now they’re praising my work to the new freshers!
“And in terms of personal development, I feel more grounded and confident. Now, as I reflect on my first year on the cusp of my penultimate year, I am overwhelmed by gratitude for how much I’ve learned since,” she shared.
Describing the process of applying to Cambridge and for scholarships as a huge step in her journey of self-discovery, Lee, who will be graduating in 2025, said she is now more sure about her identity, her capabilities and her future aspirations.
Encouraging young Malaysians to pursue their passions, she said the journey to success is not easy, but it is not impossible to achieve one’s dreams.
What you need to know
ALL universities in the UK admit students through the UCAS platform. UCAS allows each student to apply to a maximum of five universities or courses.
For the 2022 academic year, the University of Cambridge received 252 applications from Malaysia and eventually admitted 17 students, resulting in an admission rate of 6.7%, which is slightly lower compared to previous years.
To gain admission to the varsity, you must first know which qualifications and prerequisite courses are recognised.
Most applicants choose to take the A-Levels or the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme.
However, Cambridge University also recognises STPM and matriculation qualifications.
Applicants are encouraged to check the varsity’s official website for subject and grade requirements for their chosen courses.
In addition to achieving outstanding grades, Cambridge assesses students’ abilities and enthusiasm for the subjects in other ways, such as through their personal statements, admission tests and interviews.
Source: CUMaS
