Getting Into University

• Monika MartinHigh school pupils usually can’t contain their excitement at embarking on their university career.

Passing their final exams is very rewarding but many do not realise some of the challenges that lie ahead as they look towards gaining a place in a tertiary institution of their choice, as well as in a study field they are passionate about.

YouthPaper took time to talk to students at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) regarding how they went about the application process, and how they felt when they were accepted into university.

Some students had to endure more hardships than others while for some it was a much smoother and easier process.

Janet Shatiwa, a young student who resided at Tsandi and is currently working towards her bachelor of transport management at NUST says her plans for tertiary education didn’t work out exactly as she had hoped.

Initially all she dreamed of was becoming a radiographer and she had a strong desire to study at the University of Namibia (Unam) but it never worked out for her. Her response from Unam was that the course was full as it could only accommodate 20 people.

Then she had a problem getting into NUST too, who rejected her as well. Her last option was late registration.

“According to everyone’s opinion late registration always had ‘left over courses’ that people do not want at all.”

Shatiwa feared ending up in a course she was not interested in. Today, she laughs because as it turns out, her fear was unwarranted and she is finally studying a course she really enjoys and which she believes will take her to greater heights.

Her goal is to be a manager at a successful transport company one day and she says the course is providing the kind of grooming she’s searching for.

“In the end it’s always good fortune that finds us,” said the bright student.

Shilongo yaShalongo is one of those people whose university application process was much easier. Not only was he accepted into the course of his choice, he also managed to gain admission to the institution he really wanted, NUST.

Residing at Ongwediva at the time, he is a particularly distinguished at English, which is why he was a perfect candidate to embark on a bachelor degree with English as a major.

“I had many people who lent me a helping hand when I was busy with the application process as well as registration,” yaShalongo says proudly.

His reason for choosing to study English stemmed from seeing how lecturers often struggled with students at tertiary level because of their poor command of English.

His motive is to be able to help people that struggle with English most especially at secondary level.

One might question why he didn’t opt to study education. His fast answer is that when studying education one has to focus on English and a vernacular or another subject but for him all he wanted was to build and enhance his English skills.

Justina Andreas is a first year logistics and supply chain management student. Her parents had high expectations of her as their daughter, hoping that she would become a teacher. Unfortunately she was not granted admission to Unam because of a shortage of spaces.

Education and nursing have proven to be the courses that are in high demand in Namibia. For her, studying nursing was never an option at all.

Having also applied at NUST, Andreas was admitted to her current field of study during the pre-selection phase. She is now happily doing a course that she has genuinely learnt to love.

Her goal is to be a production manager. “The journey is not as easy as it seems. I went through trials and obstacles which almost blurred my vision but I pulled through just like every tough girl out there should always do,” Andreas concluded.

Mercy Koopman, the life skills teacher at Khomas High School, explained that they have programmes put in place to prepare their pupils for tertiary life.

“We train them to know their true identity and to accept themselves, as well as differentiate their strengths from their weaknesses. We also help them to identify their talents, potential and skills in various areas. Most of all, we discuss different career options and the jobs in high demand in the country.

“We take them to career exhibitions and give them tips on how to choose their careers wisely. It helps when the child knows what he/she wants to pursue from a younger age,” said Koopman.

“There are various facts that prevent the admission of students into universities,” said Nicolaas Fredericks, the head of department of communication at NUST. “One major cause is that sometimes students submit incomplete application forms or they may not submit all the required documents. Furthermore, some students apply for courses that they do not qualify for as these courses may have higher credit preference,” Fredericks explained.

“Besides, most programmes have limited spaces, and students tend to ignore this. But in the end pre-selection allows everyone to have a fair shot at entering the university,” he concluded.

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