KCSE SUBJECTKCSE SUBJECTKCSE SUBJECTKCSE SUBJECT CHOICESCHOICESCHOICESCHOICES July 2014

Subjects done in Form 1: MMMMathematics; EEEEnglish; KKKKiswahili; GGGGeography;

CCCChemistry; PPPPhysics; BBBBiology; FFFFrench; HHHHistory; CCCComputers; RRRReligion.

End of Form 1: Students must choose ONE subject from the following: FFFFrench; HHHHistory; CCCComputer Studies. Students drop two of these.

Form 2:  Students start with 9 subjects and proceed with these into Form 3;  Religion is dropped at the end of Form 3, leaving students with 8 subjects.

All subjects mentioned so far give access to almost ANY COURSE offered in Kenyan Universities.

Form 4:  At the beginning of the year, a student can decide whether to proceed with 7 or 8 subjects.  Some subjects remain compulsory; others are not.

Compulsory subjects: Subjects that cannot be dropped are:  Mathematics;  English;  Kiswahili;  Geography: Those also taking History can drop Geography. Those also taking History can drop Geography.

Non-compulsory subjects: A student can drop ONE of the following subjects: CCCChemistry; PPPPhysics; BBBBiology; FFFFrench OR History OR Computers.

Warning:  A student must strive to perform extremely well in all the subjects eventually taken.  This performance tends to guarantee acceptance into the university career course of choice. Warning:  A student must strive to perform extremely well in all the subjects eventually taken.  This performance tends to guarantee acceptance into the university career course of choice.

Career considerations:  Before dropping a subject, a student needs to consider the career he wants to go into.  This career will be determined by the course he studies at university.

AAAAs much as possible, the career chosen should suit the following: The student’s talents; The student’s likings.

Is your son oriented towards the SCIENCESor HUMANITIES?

For a Science orientation: SSSStudents are strong in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, etc. TTTThey have the ability to do a course in Engineering, Architecture, etc.

Characteristics of a Science student: Science students are: LLLLogical in analysis; GGGGood with numbers.

For a Humanities orientation:  Students are strong in the Languages, or in Geography, or History;  They have the ability to do a course in Law, Commerce, Economics, Education, etc.

Characteristics of a Humanities student:  Likes theoretical arguments;  Writes logically and well;  Likes relating to people;  Seeks the reasons behind people’s actions, etc.

On subject combinations:  It is necessary to be aware of certain implications BEFORE dropping any subject.  What effect does dropping a non-compulsory subject have on university course choices?

Chemistry: Allows a student to do ANY science-related course.

The dropping trend for Chemistry  2010  /74  2011  /79  /81  2013  /78  /82

Physics: Allows a student to do:  All Engineering courses;  Computer Science;  All Earth sciences like Geology, Meteorology;  Surveying;

 Water technology;  Architecture;  Analytical Chemistry;  Astronomy/Astrophysics;  Mathematics;  Information sciences;  Computer science;

The dropping trend for Physics  2010  /74  2011  /79  /81  2013  /78  /82

Biology: Gives access to courses directly related to human and animal health, e.g.: MMMMedicine; NNNNursing; DDDDentistry; FFFFood Science and nutrition;

AAAAgriculture-related courses; DDDDisaster management; FFFFood and nutrition related; FFFForensic science; BBBBiochemistry;

 Veterinary Medicine and Animal health courses;  Food Service Technology;  Environmental courses;  Agricultural courses;  Community development courses.

The dropping trend for Biology  2010  /74  /79  /81  /78  /82

French, Computers, History These give access to all Arts- related courses, namely: BBBBachelor of Arts; BBBB.Ed. Arts; AAAAnthropology; SSSSocial Work;

 Journalism and Mass Communication;  Criminology;  Development Studies;  International Relations & Diplomacy;  Political Science;  Cultural studies.

Class sizes over the years Computers: 2222010–24/74 2222011–24/79 2222012–16/81 2222013–27/78 2222014–24/82

French:  2010 – 12/74  2011 – 19/79  2012 – 13/81  2013 – 24/78  2014 – 12/82

History:  2010 – 21/74  2011 – 26/79  2012 – 40/81  2013 – 32/78  2014 – 32/82

Who should take 7 subjects? Criteria used: 1. A student is very weak in 2 or more subjects. A student can drop one of the subjects without significant loss.

2. A student is very weak in a compulsory subject. Sacrificing one subject will translate to more time available for the remainder. Sacrificing one subject will translate to more time available for the remainder.

Who should take 8 subjects? TTTThose who have been doing well consistently in all subjects; TTTThose already doing very well in the compulsory subjects; TTTThose who are undecided on their career choice;

 Those who relish hard work;  Those who perceive that retaining all subjects would boost their performance.

Students taking Year Year 7 subjects subjects 8subjects

Procedure for dropping a subject: Student should do the following: 1. D iscuss with Parent; Tutor; Subject teacher.

2. Fill up a school form to propose the subject to be dropped; 3. Have the form signed by parent; 4. Return the form to school.

Contents of school form: SSSSubject to be dropped; RRRReasons for dropping the subject; FFFForm 3 performance in the subject to be dropped; PPPParental consent.

UNIVERSITY OPTIONSUNIVERSITY OPTIONSUNIVERSITY OPTIONSUNIVERSITY OPTIONS2014

Public Universities in Kenya Degree programmes offered: RRRRegular degree programmes; PPPParallel degree programmes.

 Regular degree programmes: Less expensive; Less expensive; More competitive; More competitive; Some long holiday breaks; Some long holiday breaks; Could take longer to finish. Could take longer to finish.

PPPParallel degree programmes: More expensive but cheaper than going abroad (South Africa and India not cheaper); One saves time; Lower cut-offs.

Private Universities in Kenya: SSSStrathmore; CCCCatholic; DDDDaystar; BBBBaraton; AAAAfrica Nazarene; RRRRiara;

Private Universities in Kenya: UUUUSIU; KKKKabarak; SSSSt. Paul’s University; MMMMt. Kenya University; IIIInoorero; KKKKenya Methodist.

Strathmore University Currently offers the following undergraduate degree courses:  Bachelor of Business Information Technology (BBIT);  Bachelor of Commerce;  Bachelor of Leadership and Management;

 Bachelor of Hospitality Management;  Bachelor of Tourism Management;  Bachelor of Science in Informatics;

 Bachelor of Business Science in Finance;  Bachelor of Business Science in Financial Economics.  Bachelor of Business Science in Actuarial Science;

United States International University (USIU)  USIU has 2 charters. Their degrees are both Kenyan and American.  It however offers a US-type education.

US Universities These require results in the following:  Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT);  Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

FFFFor a “Top 100” University, one should score above 1800 (out of a maximum of 2400) in the SATs. AAAA higher score becomes mandatory if hoping for a Scholarship.

Ivy League Universities  These are: Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Brown, etc;  Require SAT scores above 2200, impeccable extra- curricular record, etc.;  Offer limited ‘International Students’ places.

SATs: Form 3 or Form 4? FFFFor Form 3 candidates: Can realistically apply for admission in September of the year after Form 4. FFFFor Form 4 candidates: It is very difficult to begin University the next year.

Foreign university requirements 1. A good study record; 2. E vidence of the following: Being an all rounder; Sports engagements; Reading widely; Community service, etc.

England, Australia or South Africa A student needs A-levels OR a year of Foundation Studies.

In South Africa: OOOOne-year Foundation course called Matriculation (Matric) needed; Matric is exclusive to South Africa; A-levels and the International Baccalaureate (IB) are acceptable in some cases.

SSSStudents can apply to a Matric school using KCSE Mock results; EEEExamples of schools in Cape Town are: Rosebank College; Abbotts College; (Some of our past students have studied in these 2).

THE END (Almost) Questions?