Going to college in the Philippines

[thirdeye]

I didn't grew up in the Philippines so I'm just curious at a couple of things concerning colleges. For someone who went and graduated from a public school in Manila with average grades, what are the chances they could go to a good college? If they end up going to a college that isn't top 10 schools, how much does tuition cost per year?

[rabbaddal]

what are the chances they could go to a good college? ?

It depends on how you define "good college" and how much stress you're willing to put up with just to get into one. If you're targeting one of those elite Filipino universities, your chances will be determined by your performance in entrance exams and applicant demand vis-a-vis open slots. But does that necessarily make those schools "good"? Raul Concepcion once remarked that there seems to be a disproportionate number of applicants wanting to get into the elite universities without understanding whether such schools actually prepare the specific person for the kind of jobs that are available and fit for him / her. For example, an aircraft technology graduate of PATTS, a multimedia arts graduate of Benilde, a marine engineering graduate of FEATI or a computer engineering graduate of APC could hold his / her own against his / her peers from elite schools, especially if the person can land a decently-paying job sooner and use his / her earnings to invest in further skills development. Take the time first to understand your personal goals, skills and interests and see if there is a scool out there with a good fit for you.

[thirdeye]

I was asking because I'm trying to determine the future of my employee's kid. She's still in elementary right now, but it just made me wonder. Let's say she wants to study business or accounting, where would an average public school grad in Manila go get a degree for that?

[zacharaiolsen]

she can always apply for scholarships, both from elite and middle class/not-so-high-tuition schools. there are a lot of slots for scholarships offered.

for business/accountancy.. if she wont make it to UST, DLSU, etc.. PLM, PSBA are very good alternatives.

[twerpy_craphead]

It would be hard to think of business/accounting schools where average students go. The only business schools that are usually heard of are those of UP, La Salle and Ateneo. In the field of accounting, La Salle, UST and UP are the most commonly heard.

[twerpy_craphead]

It would be hard to think of business/accounting schools where average students go. The only business schools that are usually heard of are those of UP, La Salle and Ateneo. In the field of accounting, La Salle, UST and UP are the most commonly heard.

[rabbaddal]

I was asking because I'm trying to determine the future of my employee's kid. She's still in elementary right now, but it just made me wonder. Let's say she wants to study business or accounting, where would an average public school grad in Manila go get a degree for that?

Well, for one, it's really hard to tell at this early stage if the kid would really want to study accounting in college. That's why it would be wise to assess one's skills and interests every year to validate if these skills and interests match pre-stated career plans.

If the kid does decide to pursue accounting (in spite of the many knowledge-based alternatives that abound for those with the right skills), you can check the passing rates and CPA exam performances (passing rates, etc.) if you are concerned about whether the kid will have a hard time entering a school that is not "commonly heard". There may be a school out there that has a good passing percentage but is not commonly heard.

[mildseven]

Accounting - DLSU UST UP - nothing follows -
Business Ad - ATENEO UP UST DLSU - nothing follows -

[thirdeye]

how much do you think tuition will cost per semester?

[samantha_jones]

Anything from 40,000 above (for AdMU, DLSU and UST) for UP it's lower since its a public school din (State University), she'll have to pass the exams first. And going to a publick school for elemntary and highschool doesnt mean you cant get into one of the better universities.

[thirdeye]

how many semester per year? is it 3? Then for a 4 year degree, we're looking at P480,000.

[rabbaddal]

/\/\

Seems to be the case. Even in the non-top schools (outside of the Ateneos and DLSUs), 4-year technical bachelors degrees can cost up to half a million pesos. The only consolation is that with the right kind of program (ex., multimedia arts / industrial design in Banilde, aircraft technology in PATTS, marine engineering in FEATI, etc.), you could get value for your money without having the kid stress out with the competitive admissions process.

You could try augmenting the burden as early as today by getting a pre-need plan. Or you could lower the cost by having the beneficiary pursue a 2-year associate / diploma technical program in a school like AMA International Institute of Technology (AIIT) instead [http://www.amaes.edu.ph/aiit/]. At the rate outsourcing companies are hiring technically-skilled people, the beneficiary might not have such a hard time looking for work. Don Bosco also has a good post-HS technician program [http://www.dbtc.edu.ph/education/itc/itc.htm].

[samantha_jones]

Most schools have 2 sems a year. Ateneo and DLSU has 3 terms yata some like Mapua have 4. But having more sems actually has less required yeras of finishing a course. Depends on the school and course.

[athena2]

some schools have compulsory ROTC and/or uniforms, so be sure to check that out first.

[thirdeye]

I wanna help this girl out, but omg, P480,000 plus books, uniforms and supplies. We're look at nearly P1 million by the time she graduates. How does pre-need plan works? Are there any payment charts posted online?

[rabbaddal]

I wanna help this girl out, but omg, P480,000 plus books, uniforms and supplies. We're look at nearly P1 million by the time she graduates. How does pre-need plan works? Are there any payment charts posted online?

Yes, it's really an overwhelming amount. You might want to consider scaling back the kind of support you plan to give her into something more practical and within your financial means.

I don't know which pre-need firms post their payment charts online; if not, try calling up companies like Loyola Plans or Ayala Plans. Most companies no longer sell the open-ended plans, the kind that covers the entire college education cost regardless of price adjustment. Chances are you'll be availing of a fixed amount coverage. You can structure the financial support such that the excess of that fixed amount can be repaid to you by the beneficiary as soon as she lands a job after graduation.

[samantha_jones]

third eye: You know you dont have to send her to the expensive schools. If she passes UP then you dont have to spend much. What does she plan on taking up? PUP (Polytechinic Univ. Of the Phils.) is a fairly good school and it's cheaper too. You can also have her take 2 year diploma courses in computer. (AMA, or INFORMATICS). If shes a smart girl (as in valedictorian that sort of smart)her chances for getting into UP is good. She can also apply for scholarships.

[rabbaddal]

Here's an interesting item printed in a newspaper column today. Unfortunately, Dualtech Center admits only male students. Maybe there are similar institutions out there that take in females as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Supply and Demand
by Boo Chanco
Philippine Star

"Dualtech Center (www.dualtech.org.ph) is the only vocational school in the country with a training partnership with LTP. The school is certified by the European Aviation and Space Authority (EASA), the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and The German Aviation Authority (GAA).

At present, Dualtech Center has a total of 211 graduates working at the LTP facilities in Villamor Airbase and 83 more work—trainees in the pipeline. Among these very fortunate boys (starting salary P10,000/mo and some now making P21,000/mo) are High School graduates from the Payatas and the Del Monte garbage dumps.

We have about one hundred (100) satisfied training partner companies — among them Nestlé Phils., Ford, Honda, United Lab., SMC, Temic Phils and Panasonic. We consider the employment of our graduates a serious responsibility and many are already working even before graduation. But, above all the spiritual formation and work values of our boys are our priorities."

[Precious84]

UP Diliman has a course called B.S. in Business Administration and Accountancy (BAA). It's a 5-year course that will only cost you, for tuition, more or less P70,000 for the whole period (P7,000 more or less per semester), do the math.

But I think it's a quota course so competition to get into the course is pretty tough. So is survival. From what I heard, you have to maintain a grade per subject that is no lower than 2.25 or 2.5, something like that so it's easy to predict that students from that course are usually the Summa Cum Laudes, Magnas and Cum Laudes.

Getting into the university is another story. UP Diliman accepts only 3,700+ students from the more or less 60,000 students who take the UPCAT every August. Those 3,700 should have a University Predicted Grade (UPG - grades from 1st year-3rd year HS + grade in the UPCAT) of not less than 2.41, UP Diliman's absolute cut-off.

In the meantime, graduates of public schools are given greater opportunities in admission since UP is a state university. .05 is added, I think, to their UPG if they come from an underrepresented province or school (di ko sure kung kasama ang school).

But, notwithstanding UP being a state university, it doesn't mean to say that quality of education suffers. Sabi nga ng friend ko, kung hindi sa subsidy ng government, baka nasa P40,000 per sem ang tuition namin. :D

I suggest your friend's child should start early. What I mean to say is, make good of her first three years in high school and have UPCAT review sessions for practice.

[stepehenyan@12]

thirdeye>>>she's still in elementary what if she ends up not going to college and then you'll end up in dissapointment people change there minds when they grow up. are you really that determined. do you see in her that she has the determination to reach her goal, kids of this generation are different.

[samantha_jones]

^true...some kids now can only think of getting married and having children, what sort of nightmare is that?

[dagitab]

Most schools have 2 sems a year. Ateneo and DLSU has 3 terms yata some like Mapua have 4. But having more sems actually has less required yeras of finishing a course. Depends on the school and course.

Actually, Ateneo is semestral.

[rabbaddal]

Here’s a useful website to search for more affordable yet effective (as far as skills training and job placement are concerned) alternatives to the traditional college education.

http://www.tesda.gov.ph/tvi/default.asp

[samantha_jones]

Actually, Ateneo is semestral.

Oops sorry I stand corrected...I was misinformed. :D