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)