Students at a loss over future studies

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Many students who want to continue their studies at university are at a loss because they do not really know what subject to major in and which university to go to.

They admitted their choice was influenced by their peers or their parents orders.

Ricky Romani, a student at a private high school in Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta, said he chose a university where his gang would also continue studying.

"We are a group of four students. We still want to study together at the same university. That's why I enrolled myself with the same university and chose the same subject as they did," he said on Wednesday.

Over 135,000 high school students took part in the final exams, the results of which will be announced on Monday.

Even though the exam results have not yet been announced, Ricky has registered with a private university in Depok and plans to take a course in information management.

When asked what attracted him in his choice of subject, he simply said, "I don't know. My friends told me it would be interesting".

Ricky also said he had no idea if the subject would help him get professional work in a particular field in the future.

Like Ricky, many other students are also in the dark about their future studies. It is a common problem here, where most schools do not provide counseling for students who want to go to university.

Parents play a very important role in influencing their children's decision on which university to choose and subject of study.

Sandy Purnomo complained about his father's order to apply to a certain university and to enroll in a subject he really hates.

"My father forced me to apply for the marketing management course at a private university in Central Jakarta. He said, "If you don't go to that university, it would be better if you stopped studying and got a job," he groaned.

Sandy had hoped to take a hotel management course at a private university in Tebet, South Jakarta, after graduating from his vocational school in Kramat Raya, Central Jakarta, but his father's order made him drop his dream.

Unlike both students, Suryo Adinugroho, a student at a popular state high school in South Jakarta, knows exactly what he wants.

"I'll take a course in information technology at the Surabaya Institute of Technology (ITS)," said Suryo, who is very fond of computers.

He said he had applied to the ITS because he doubted he would be admitted to other popular universities, such as the Bandung Institute of Technology or the University of Indonesia.

"Also, my relatives live in Surabaya. I'll save a lot of money by studying there," Suryo said, adding that he had attended study guidance courses at his school to ensure he would qualify at his preferred university.

Suryo said his school provided counseling for students who wanted to continue their studies, but he had not joined these sessions, which were arranged upon request, because he already had his mind made up.

Rinaldo has another common problem: He cannot afford to pay for his tertiary education.

"I have no choice. I have to work. My parents can't afford it," he sighed.

Rinaldo said his family depended on donations from other relatives because his father could not work due to a serious heart problem. His mother is a housewife and as the eldest child he must now help feed the family.