How to study without matric :)

[Morgoth]

Since I'm studying with UNISA let me explain how it works:

No Matric no Degree / BSc - its the law in South Africa, no exceptions. The department of higher education wants to change this (soon) and I agree with them. But do not wait.

There is no such thing as an age exemption!!!!!!

You get university exemption after 25 which means you only needed to pass certain subjects with certain grades if your younger than 25 to study at university. If your 25 or older you just need a plan matric.


What you can do is basic non-degree modules like MAT011 (High school maths). This will determine if your able to understand the maths used in the degree.

On Diplomas there is mixed info on this, generally you need matric or technical school equivalent. Many fly-by-nights offer diploma course which have no legal merit.

So for now your only option are access courses (if your black as whites and coloureds seem to be left out of this pool) and/or to complete your matric. Being hounest your remarks on not wanting to complete matric do show a bit of arrogance and I'm wondering if you have the commitment to actually study further?

Its not hard to study for a BSc, heck I'm doing it, its just a lot of commitment and being humble and accepting I do not know everything. I'm not trying to put you off as I encourage everyone to continue studying.

bull****, you can get into unisa with a diploma, els my brother won't be studding there at the moment :>

 

[hj2k_x]

Agreed. Matric is quite easy now - most likely much easier than you could have done it.

Maths - just do the past papers
IT - you'll probably know most of the practical side, the theory is easier.

English and Afrikaans might be a bit of a mission, since you do language + writing + literature papers. However, Paper 1 (Language) and Paper 3 (Writing) require very little learning because of the way it is tested these days.

Then you have a choice between Science/Biology/Geography. I'd say choose Geography - by far the easiest of the 3.

Then you have a choice of anything else really - history, accounting, economics etc.

Yeah, if I could do my matric again now, I would dominate it. Get the 6 A's you need for University scholarship

 

[xrapidx]

I'll have to see - remember, my preference is an overseas university, not something local like Unisa, Unisa would be my last attempt.

Matric really is worthless to me, and if can find a place that'll accept me based on an interview, or something similar, all the better.

 

[Kilgore_Trout_Redux]

I'll have to see - remember, my preference is an overseas university, not something local like Unisa, Unisa would be my last attempt.

Matric really is worthless to me, and if can find a place that'll accept me based on an interview, or something similar, all the better.

If you need it to study (Which you obviously do.) how is it worthless?

We get it. You're a rebel and are too cool for school. Unfortunately you need to matriculate for a reason. Welcome to reality.

 

[xrapidx]

If you need it to study (Which you obviously do.) how is it worthless?

We get it. You're a rebel and are too cool for school. Unfortunately you need to matriculate for a reason. Welcome to reality.

ROFL - yes thats the reason - its because I'm a rebel.

I don't believe in wasting my time on something that is worthless to me (matric). I work a good 10-12 hours a day, so when I do study, it brings my working day up to 12-15 hours... doesn't leave much time to actually live, does it?

Also, I don't even know if an international university will accept a South African matric - so doing it could be a complete waste of time. And again, a South African university isn't my first choice.

I'd rather pay the R300,000/annum to study overseas than the much fewer thousands required to study here.

 

[Kilgore_Trout_Redux]

I don't believe in wasting my time on something that is worthless to me (matric).

Except that you need it now to do what you want to do so it isn't worthless.

I work a good 10-12 hours a day, so when I do study, it brings my working day up to 12-15 hours... doesn't leave much time to actually live, does it?

That is a time debt you took up when you dropped out of school. The rest of us sucked up our objections to the religious rubbish at school to get through it because we wanted to study. You were probably earning money. It's time to pay that debt.

Also, I don't even know if an international university will accept a South African matric - so doing it could be a complete waste of time. And again, a South African university isn't my first choice.

I'd rather pay the R300,000/annum to study overseas than the much fewer thousands required to study here.

That is fine. Just realise that a foreign university will most likely insist on some form of matric.

I'm sorry that nobody here is telling you that dropping out of school hasn't affected your academic growth but it has. Deal with it.

 

[Morgoth]

What is wrong with our local universities btw?

 

[Kilgore_Trout_Redux]

What is wrong with our local universities btw?

A lot of their qualifications aren't internationally recognised.

 

[Vox Populi Vox Dei]

Agree with BrendanD. I don't see how you expect to get into an international university - which are vastly more competitive than local unis (UCT is not that bad btw - 179th in the world) - without some form of matric. It is true that you most universities don't accept the South African matric, however some do. I know for a fact that Edinburgh accepts it since I got in there - but it was too costly . My other friend got into Oxford but don't hold any ambitions for going there (unless you really are a genius)...he needed a 90% aggregate, and 90% for Add-Maths and he had to do the Oxford University Maths test.

@BrendanD: Engineering is internationally recognised (Washington Accord) and so are Commerce degrees. I think Law and Medicine used to be recognised internationally...well at UCT anyway.

 

[phoneJunky]

The better universities' qualifications are internationally recognised.

 

[Morgoth]

Agree with BrendanD. I don't see how you expect to get into an international university - which are vastly more competitive than local unis (UCT is not that bad btw - 179th in the world) - without some form of matric. It is true that you most universities don't accept the South African matric, however some do. I know for a fact that Edinburgh accepts it since I got in there - but it was too costly . My other friend got into Oxford but don't hold any ambitions for going there (unless you really are a genius)...he needed a 90% aggregate, and 90% for Add-Maths and he had to do the Oxford University Maths test.

@BrendanD: Engineering is internationally recognised (Washington Accord) and so are Commerce degrees. I think Law and Medicine used to be recognised internationally...well at UCT anyway.

I would say that the big faculties will get recognition,

 

[Kilgore_Trout_Redux]

@BrendanD: Engineering is internationally recognised (Washington Accord) and so are Commerce degrees. I think Law and Medicine used to be recognised internationally...well at UCT anyway.

Thanks for that. I wasn't specific because I just remember an outcry about the topic a few yearsago. I don't just recall which universities and qualifications were involved.

 

[Pitbull]

Guys, what happened, happend.

Yes he doesn't have Matric and I also agree with him the Matric is worthless.

However:

Xrapidx, just think about this for a second. Lets say you lose your job today, if you need to apply for another Job, will you: A) get the same salary or more? B) get a Job based on experience? C) Get a job at all?

Now, you can do a Matric bridging course in a couple of months, 4 I think (Not sure) Let face it, you are prepaired to do a Degree which will be nothing short of 4 years. Might has well add the extra 4 months and get your Matric.

This will open more doors for you as they are all being slammed back in your face currently. Also, most degrees touch on STD8 - Matric subjects in the first year or 2 (Algebra anyone? ) I would never be able to redo the first few modules now since I have been out of school for so long. Getting your mind back into those subjects for 4 or so months will set the way for the first year/2 years on the degree you will be doing.

Any which way it's a win/win to get that matric thing sorted. It will help you with your degree modules (especially the first year or two )

 

[xrapidx]

Except that you need it now to do what you want to do so it isn't worthless.

That is a time debt you took up when you dropped out of school. The rest of us sucked up our objections to the religious rubbish at school to get through it because we wanted to study. You were probably earning money. It's time to pay that debt.


That is fine. Just realise that a foreign university will most likely insist on some form of matric.

I'm sorry that nobody here is telling you that dropping out of school hasn't affected your academic growth but it has. Deal with it.

Where did I say I dropped out of school? I was expelled because I refused to go a fanatical church, the Sunday Times did a story on it, and later the same church was on Special Assignment for various other dodgy reasons.

Have you tried finding a school that'll accept a student that was expelled in their matric year? The court case dragged on till July of my matric year, when it was decided the only option was correspondence, also leaving it a bit late to hope getting matric in the same year.

So how about you get of your high horse?

MANY overseas universities will evaluate your admission on an individual basis - whether that be by an interview, or written test, or allowing you first year access, and re-evaluating you at the end of said year.

Please have a look at the title of this thread, "How to study without matric", its not titled "Rant about xrapidx droping out of school". I'm fully aware of the requirements at SA university - hence the thread. You can rant as much as you like, there are alternatives when you don't have a matric, and those are what I'm looking for.

 

[xrapidx]

Guys, what happened, happend.

Yes he doesn't have Matric and I also agree with him the Matric is worthless.

However:

Xrapidx, just think about this for a second. Lets say you lose your job today, if you need to apply for another Job, will you: A) get the same salary or more? B) get a Job based on experience? C) Get a job at all?

Now, you can do a Matric bridging course in a couple of months, 4 I think (Not sure) Let face it, you are prepaired to do a Degree which will be nothing short of 4 years. Might has well add the extra 4 months and get your Matric.

This will open more doors for you as they are all being slammed back in your face currently. Also, most degrees touch on STD8 - Matric subjects in the first year or 2 (Algebra anyone? ) I would never be able to redo the first few modules now since I have been out of school for so long. Getting your mind back into those subjects for 4 or so months will set the way for the first year/2 years on the degree you will be doing.

Any which way it's a win/win to get that matric thing sorted. IT WILL HELP WITH YOUR DEGREE MODULES (especially the first year or two )

The big problem is a lot of international universities not accepting South African matric - expecting you to do an alternative course before being accepted, kinda defeats the object of wasting said four months to do a bridging course.

Maybe I should change the topic to, "What requirements were asked when applying to an international university for online study". Writing off local universities completely, as I'm not sure how many even offer what I'm looking for as a correspondence course.

With regards to my job, a.) applies - I'm not worried about being without work - but would like something to fall back on - even if I just do it for myself.

 

[Pitbull]

The big problem is a lot of international universities not accepting South African matric - expecting you to do an alternative course before being accepted.

With regards to my job, a.) applies - I'm not worried about being without work - but would like something to fall back on - even if I just do it for myself.

I agree with you fully about the worthyness of Matric

However, the subjects and the curiculum finishes in Matric where your first few modules pick up on in your Diploma (Needed to get a Degree) and so forth. I'm honest here, things like applied Maths and so forth will kill me now if I had to do that again since I've been out of school now for 11 years.

This is the only reason I'm saying get matric sorted. The practice of those subjects will get your brain into that state of mind again to be able to do the applied Maths as an example.

Seriously if some one was to tell me now to calculate X with so and so I will faint

 

[xrapidx]

I agree with you fully about the worthyness of Matric

However, the subjects and the curiculum fisnihes in Matric where your first few modules pick up on in your Diploma (Needed to get a Degree) and so forth. I'm honest here, things like applied Maths and so forth will kill me now if I had to do that again since I've been out of school now for 11 years.

This is the only reason I'm saying get matric sorted. The practice of those subjects will get your brain into that state of mind again to be able to do the applied Maths as an example.

Seriously if some one was to tell me now to calculate X with so and so I will faint

I do statistics everyday - Math's isn't a big problem to me

I'm actually interested in studying further in a B.I. type direction...

 

[Morgoth]

Write a email to the university or phone them asking them what their alternative admissible requirements are, maybe their faculties do stuff differently?

 

[xrapidx]

Just spoke to my Mom - wanted to find out about Std. 8 certificate.

I wrote three matric exams in 1998 before deciding it was a pointless effort, all HG:
English, B
Afrikaans, A
Math, C

Anyone know what water that holds?

EDIT, you know you're getting old when you can't recall things like this.

I slightly recall doing mid-year exams, but don't recall any at the end of the year.

 

[xrapidx]

Write a email to the university or phone them asking them what their alternative admissible requirements are, maybe their faculties do stuff differently?

Yeh- they do, I know someone that was accepted based on an interview, the school he went to in Zimbabwe no longer exists, and he no longer has the certificate.