Students flock to college entrance exam registration

Students flock to college entrance exam registration

JAKARTA (JP): New senior high school graduates yesterday
crowded a registration center for the state university entrance
exam in Salemba, Central Jakarta.

The crowd on the second day of registration at a high school
on Jl. Salemba Raya included those trying their luck for the
second time to pass the entrance exam, to be held from June 17 to
June 18.

Registration centers are at the campus of the University of
Indonesia and at other schools. Students who graduated this year
can also get registration forms at their respective schools.

Since Wednesday, 6,921 registration forms priced between Rp
35,000 and Rp 50,000 have been sold.

The registration will last until June 13.

"We still see great enthusiasm among students wishing to
pursue higher education at state universities," said Budi
Sampurno, chairman of the registration organizing committee.

He said the committee had tried to produce as many
registration forms as possible to anticipate a larger demand for
the forms at the registration center and schools.

Some students at the center said they wanted to study at major
state universities in Java.

Among favorite universities are the University of Indonesia in
Jakarta, the Bandung Technology Institute (ITB), the Yogyakarta-
based Gadjah Mada University, the Bogor Institute of Agriculture
(IPB) and the Semarang-based Diponegoro University.

But some see it more realistic to choose universities outside
Java given stiff competition for the places in the major
universities.

"I will try first to choose UI's School of Economy," said
Santi, a graduate of a private Christian high school in Senen,
Central Jakarta.

"If I don't make it, I'll choose a different university next
year," she said.

To prepare for the test, she said, she had taken a special
course.

Roberto, another private school graduate, said he would choose
Sriwijaya University in Palembang, South Sumatra.

"I want to go to Sriwijaya's School of Law," said the student
of SMA Kanip in Kalimalang, Bekasi.

Several high schools in Jakarta have prepared additional study
material for subjects tested in the university entrance exam,
such as in English and math.

Abdulrachman Ibrahim, vice headmaster of state school SMU 8 on
Jl. Bukit Duri, South Jakarta, said, "Students have been taught
important subjects and strategies to pass the test."

Additional lessons were handled by teachers and alumni of the
school. Seventy percent of SMU 8 students passed the state
university exam, Abdulrachman said.

Rafli Rusli, headmaster of SMU 68 in Central Jakarta, said
additional aid was also available at the school to help students
prepare for the upcoming entrance exam. (03)