MARA Interview PILN 2010

See the title? I hope my blog will come out when people google it. Honestly, I'm so sick of googling and only a few comes out, especially for Mara interview, Teehee

Bangunan Mara, Jalan Sultan Zainal Abidin

Okay, where should I start? Erm, My interview was on 12th April ( the first day) at Bangunan Mara, Kuala Terengganu. This buiding is near to Istana Maziah and there's a beautiful garden in front of it. I arrived there at 10.20 am. My interview was scheduled at 12.00pm. As it was still early, we (my sis and I) went around KT, well just to get used to the roads. (we're not quite familiar with the roads there as we r Kelatenese) & 10 min later, we came back. LOL. FYI, I apply for medicine, non middle-east. So basically this post's about medicine.

In front of the buiding, you will see this. LOL

My sis left me there and I let her to go shopping. xD I went in n asked the staff. They (both r ladies) said that I have to wait till 11.45 am before I could register. Thus, I talked with the staff and ask this and that. She (one of the staff) said that there would be 3 panel and each panel consists of 2 interviewers. I asked her, "who're the interviewers?" but she said that " Akak pun tak pasti. Nanti boleh berkenalan la kat sana." =.=

PRE- INTERVIEW

1. Conduct your researches.
For Mara interview, the things that u should and MUST know are:

#1 Your education n career planning. These include the country you choose, the university, your
career and lotsa.
#2 Mara background ( eg: objectives, CEO, Ministry that handle Mara, and thename of Minister itself- u can obtain these information from their website)
#3 If you're applying for Egypt, you should know how to converse in Arabic, at least you know how to introduce yourself in Arabic. 
#4Some information and details about ur chosen country, especially if your applying for GMi, MFi and such.( as I mention in #1 before). Don't forget to remember the capital city of the country that u're applying for.
#5 Current issues 're not very important (for MARA) as it rarely being asked but i think, it's not a waste if u get ready for these.
#6 The name of Agong. As a loyal citizen, u must remember it, Teehee = Duli Yang Maha Mulia
Al-Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi
Billah Shah (for the time being)

2. Essay.
You need to write 300 words essay entitled Autobiography, education and career planning. Basically, about 3 paragraphs at least. At first, i did write an essay and surprisingly it exceeded to 3 pages. hehe. Maybe I'm so obsessed. xD Then I redo it. Actually, it is very much like personal statement that you'll need to write when you are applying for medical schools at overseas universities. So, you might want to goggled and refer some tips writing personal statement in doing ur essay. There're loads of website & blogs that offers guidelines on writing this. ie ucas.com

3. Psychology test
You need to answer lots of psychological questions; consist of Section A and B. Basically, it's just to know your consistency. You need to print "slip pengesahan menduduki ujian."

4. Attire
First impression is the last impression. Dress smartly and professionally. For girls, baju kurung is just nice. Don't need to heavy wear make-ups (U're not going to tackle the interviewer, right? LOL). Wearing a blazer is advisable. Make sure the blazer fits you perfectly (in case u borrow from someone else.) FYI, I'm the only one who wear blazer during the interview session (among female). For guys, I don't really know. shirt, trouser, tie, blazer and shoes. Make sure you polish your shoes. I'm pretty sure that all of you are better in this thingy :)

5. Your english and ways of speaking. My interview session was conducted fully in English. so, start from now, please brush up ur English (for those who're not fluent speakers.) The staff told me that the interviewer once asked a candidate (before my interview sessions), "Do you prefer this interview to be conducted in bahasa or english?" That candidate replied " Bahasa" Later, she was shot with "how come ... bla3" The lesson learnt here is, prefer your interview to be conducted in English.

Just get prepared and if possible, try u talk in matured manner. Eg:-

Even I cant prevent the death, but at least I do give the patients some sort of comfort before their last breath.

sounds more matured: As u know sir, Man proposes, God disposes. Even, I can't change the fate/destiny, but at least ....

6. Documents
Put the Original ones in clear folder. arrange them orderly and nicely. while the non ori (the one to be submitted), u should put them separately. some candidate do make them as scrap book and there're candidate who just clip and put them in envelope. It all depends on u. Just be creative.( I didn't know that, so I just put them all in envelope only ><) This 's my clear folder, that containing all the original certs :

clear folder. I just did as what I saw from a blog

first page of clear folder

D-DAY

1. Be early. Don't late. If u came late means u're killing yourself. Make sure you sleep early the night before your interview session.

2. Just relax. Don't panic and try to mingle with others. Ask them about this and that. Share your experiences or whatsoever. Well, it's just to make u feel better. And do smile a lot. It helps actually.

The place ( for my interview) is quite small, so there 're not so many candidates there. So, i just talked with a few of them and their moms t0o. I personally think that it's not nice to make you parent waiting for you. But, it depends. Well, just be friendly with everyone.

Anyway, moving on..

At 11.45 am, the staffs asked us to queue. There, they checked our documents. and I saw they put a tick at "melayu" on birth cert. Perhaps, to make sure that we're truly malay. xD. I'm in panel 2. And they asked to wait for a while, and then ushered us to a room (for panel 2 and 3). There, there are a staff, so called "kakak" . We were seated separately (left and right, depends on the panel) I talked with the other candidates and that kakak as well. She's so friendly and even gave us some tips. She also adviced for those who apply accountancy, actuarial science, they should know about current economic issues (KDK, MEB and such). One of the candidates was so panicked when hearing that. We calmed her down and later, that kakak told her briefly. I just joined and listen to the kakak. (Luckily, that kakak is in this field. If I was not mistaken, she's taking business management. FYI, she's doing her practical right now.) She also introduced the interviewers in Panel 2. Yeay!

Erm, There's also a candidate who jotted down all the common question and I saw her memorize. Waa~ I looked at the answers, and I was amazed. The answers was kinda brilliant!

Btw, I'm no 3. Two candidates before me, took approximately 10 min in the panel room. Then, it was my time. That kakak opened the door for me (and the other candidates as well) and i entered with "salaam" ( as they r muslims) I gave them my clear folder and documents, which will be submitted.

- Please sit
- Thx you *smile*
- She looked at my clear folder and asked "Is this your 1st interview?" and I replied "Yes"  and lotsa question was bang to me..

and after approximately 15 to 20 min , it ended. Huh. What a relief! Then, I continue talking with the other candidates and that kakak for another few minutes.

Some Qs that I got during the interview (not in particular order):

1. Tell us about ur background?
2. Which country do u like to study? why?
3. What specialization you choose to be?
3. Why not mid east?
4. Why u choose Mara, not the other scholarship?
5. What do you like to do in your spare time?
6. What if u don't get any offer for this course? (Don't tell them that u're going to change to another course. Show ur passion. At least tell them that u're going to matriculation and then will pursue your studies in medical field. It's just my two cents.)
7. Why there's still lack of doctors in M'sia even though each year we sent many students to
study medicine?
7. There's a lot of obstacles and challenges you need to face when studying abroad, do you think you are ready for that?
8. Is there any question? (Ask them at least a question to show your interest toward this scholarship)

Erm, I don't remember if there's any. But basically, they're all focusing on your education and career planning. I'll update it when i remember the other Qs. There's a guy took 25 min in the panel room. I thought, the interviewer must be very impressed with him.

EXTRAs

All of these questions are from my seniors and friends from the interview session.
1. What's ur opinion about overseas students involved in politics? = senior in India
2. Who's the Agong? = senior at UK
3. What would you do if your patient die during operation? = senior in Egypt
4. Mara is under ministry of? Who's the minister? = a new friend
5. Introduce yourself in Arabic language. for those who apply medic in Mid East
6. Why you want to be a doctor/ engineer/ etc?

7. If they ask you, "what's specialization you choose to be?" They also may comes out with: "so, tell us about stroke" if u previously said that u're interested in neurology.

Sometimes, the interviewers did ask some random/unrelated Qs. It happens sometimes, who knows.

eg: Do you have a boyfriend? Do u know how to cook?

POST INTERVIEW

Go somewhere nice and relax. Don't ponder about the interview too much. Well, we have done as best as we could. Pray for the best. and not to mention, prepare for the worst. I went to the beach as it's quite near from MARA building.

and don't forget to send thank you letter to them. Well, as an appreciation for giving u an opportunity.

Lessons

#1 Don't talk too fast. I did talk too fast and my english became $%^&8
#2 Be careful on what you talk as u 'll just make a fool of yourself.
#3 Don't worry, the interview is just simple and enjoyable. So, no need to be panic k :)

All in all, I sincerely hope that this post help for those who are gonna face MARA interview. And sorry for the language :p. Feel free to ask me any questions -formspring at the sidebar or simple leave ur qs in the comment box below. Geez.

ALL THE BEST~

P/s: I hope I can secure this scholarship (a convertable loan- to be precise). The result will come out one month from now, the interviewer did tell me, but i forgot the exact date. xD. If I'm not mistaken, 17th May. One more, there's no quota for each course. Mara would choose 1000 scholars from 2000++ who went for interview. but my friends said, out of 5000. which one? Nvm