The MARA Interview

When my life course changed

Adapted from ReCom.

A few days before interview [on Fri, 6 May 2005]. Thanks to mediator and bittersweetheart.

For MARA interview:

• No group interview (unlike JPA).
• No specific group debate/discussion on a current social/economic issue. May have a general question on a social issue.
• Find info related to the course; e.g. Minister of Health Malaysia
• Prepare to answer honestly why MARA instead of JPA, why overseas/local, why Medicine. May need to unveil some personal life principles.
• Be myself.
• Relax! Just have a healthy, but not excessive dose of anxiety.

My personal thought: JPA and MARA interviews are very different in terms of time, place, format, and process (MARA questions were also scarcer on ReCom).

On the day of interview:

Just went to MARA in Kota Kinabalu.

Each applicant is interviewed by 2-3 panel members.

I applied for Medicine; 7/38 Sabahan applicants went for this course (18%). Others applied for TESL, Engineering, German Engineering.

Some of the questions:

1. What course are you applying for?
2. Where do you want to study?
3. Tell us about yourself and your family.
4. Why do you want to be a medical doctor?
5. Situational question: I am in medical school, I have 3 assignments and 1 week to complete them. What will I do?
6. Tell us about your co-curricular activities.
7. Do you have any questions for us?

It took 20-25 minutes.

In my next post, I'll tell you how I responded to those questions.

Meanwhile, let's contemplate God's unforeseen blessing in the form of ReCom - that forum revealed the questions way before the actual interview. Thank God for such a useful tool.