Lure of Melbourne
MALAYSIAN student Wan Siew Choo has no regrets about moving to Australia to study agriculture. As a child, she had wanted to visit Australia because she was attracted to the scenery.
When she first arrived in Melbourne, the staff from the student welcome desk at the airport gave her a warm welcome and provided pertinent information about the city. That made her feel reassured.
From her first day as a Bachelor of Agriculture student at the University of Melbourne four years ago, Wan knew she had made the right choice.
Apart from being the top university in Australia, it had a strong academic culture and its supportive staff members encouraged Wan to pursue a Master in Agricultural Sciences to further her knowledge.
As part of her course, Wan did an internship granting her firsthand experience with farm management. This experience helped define her career pathway.
Taking intensive subjects at the Dookie campus, which has facilities for agricultural production, was also another eye-opening experience.
Like most students, Wan had ups and downs in her student life. Thanks to supportive advisers from Student Connect, she was able to network with others in the same field and learnt different ways to reach her targets. Also, the “First Year at Unimelb” Facebook page provided helpful information for students.
Wan is also an avid badminton player – she has played and competed in her free time. From there, she made friends from diverse backgrounds.
Wan recently graduated and is seeking a permanent position in her field.
“Although it sometimes feels intimidating, I have been immersing myself in the Melbourne cafe culture and recharging amid the city’s beauty.
“I make sure I keep up to date with the latest information to broaden my knowledge so that I am well-prepared,” she said.
The University of Melbourne will be joining in the Study in Australia, UK & USA Education Fair at:
• Weil Hotel, Ipoh, Aug 3, 1-6pm
• E&O Hotel, Penang, Aug 4, 1-6pm
• Aloft Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Aug 5, 1-6pm
• AUG, Subang Jaya (No.8, Jalan SS15/8), Aug 19, 1-5pm
Bring your results or transcripts to submit your application and enjoy an application fee waiver.
■ For details on the education fair and The University of Melbourne, contact AUG Student Services at 012-9699 440 or visit http://www.augstudy.com.my/