Breaking the Stereotype
Kirania’s IB Journey to Universitas Indonesia via SNBT
“SVP and the IB programme helped me in this process by teaching me the skills that I would need, such as time and self management skills, thinking skills, etc.”
Being accepted to UI through SNBT was not something I expected, so when the announcement was made, you can definitely picture my excitement. I’m Kirania and I’m continuing my studies at UI’s Faculty of Law!
I originally wanted to go into the Faculty of Medicine, so that was actually my first choice. However, after talking to a couple of people regarding Law, I found out how Law graduates have a broad range of job prospects. This changed my whole view on Law as I used to always believe you’d have to be in court as a lawyer. Hence, it piqued my interest leading me to choose the Faculty of Law as my second choice. It was my second choice, but the further I did my research, the more I became inclined towards it, which is why I was really grateful that I got accepted to that major!
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What Is SNBT and Why She Chose It
SNBT is basically a test-based university application process that is open nationally. There is a wide misconception that IB students in Indonesia commonly do not take SNBT. I took the risk to do it, despite the misconception, because I believe that it could be an opportunity for me. On top of that, I wanted to stay in Indonesia due to my major, hence SNBT became something I could not miss.
How She Prepared for SNBT as an IB Student
I started preparing myself from the start of grade 12 by joining after-school classes. These classes teach SNBT materials and allowed me to familiarise myself with the overall concept. SVP and the IB programme helped me in this process by teaching me the skills that I would need, such as time and self management skills, thinking skills, etc. These skills were emphasized by the IB as I had various different tasks and responsibilities to handle. Self and time management was exercised through balancing academics, CAS, but also the student council, as I was a part of it.
I feel my thinking skills were mostly utilised during our Internal Assessment (IA) process. Completing the IA required brainstorming, research, and analysing, hence, those skills were greatly improved. IAs are where my perseverance was tested. Why? Because I had to change my topic quite a few times, in Math especially. On top of that, with my Chemistry IA, the experiment I did failed the first time. Thus, I had to start over and revise the procedure and fortunately, this time, it finally worked.
The Role of IB in Strengthening Her SNBT Readiness
Furthermore, the IBDP programme strengthened my self-discipline, encouraging perseverance instead of easily giving up. The IBDP programme is quite strict, especially with CAS, where I had to consistently do a certain activity for months. This required commitment and perseverance, especially since I was trying new things.
Her Advice for Fellow IB Students Considering SNBT
I had doubts on whether or not I was going to make it, especially seeing that SNBT was not something I was acquainted with. Thankfully, I had an amazing support system both in school and at home, keeping me motivated throughout my journey. My advice for students who are interested in public universities is: keep yourself open to the different pathways that are available. Try every option and don’t just limit yourself to one pathway; make more opportunities for yourself. One more thing, don’t be discouraged to aim for public universities as an IB student. Trust me, it gives you an advantage instead of a disadvantage.
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