1. KCSE SUBJECTKCSE SUBJECTKCSE SUBJECTKCSE SUBJECT CHOICESCHOICESCHOICESCHOICES July 2012

2. Subjects done in Form 1: Mathematics; English; Kiswahili; Geography;

3. Chemistry; Physics; Biology; French; History; Computers; Religion.

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

5. Form 2: Students start with 9 subjects; Students start with 9 subjects; Religion is dropped in 2nd term; Religion is dropped in 2nd term; Students proceed with 8 subjects to Form 3. Students proceed with 8 subjects to Form 3.

6. All subjects mentioned so far (except Religion) give access to almost ANY COURSE offered in Kenyan Universities.

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

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

9. Non-compulsory subjects: A student can drop ONE of the following subjects: Chemistry; Physics; Biology; French OR History OR Computers.

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

11. As much as possible, the career chosen should suit the following: The students talents; The students likings.

12. Is your son oriented towards the SCIENCESor HUMANITIES?

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

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

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

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

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

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

19. The dropping trend for Chemistry 2008 2008 - 14/80 2009 2009 - 16/80 2010 2010 - 12/74 2011 2011 - 5/79 2012 2012- 10/81

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

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

22. The dropping trend for Physics 2008 2008 - 0/80 2009 2009 - 2/80 2010 2010 - 0/74 2011 2011 - 0/79 2012 2012- 0/81

23. Biology: Gives access to courses directly related to human and animal health, e.g.: Medicine; Nursing; Dentistry; Food Science and nutrition;

24. Agriculture-related courses; Disaster management; Food and nutrition related; Forensic science; Biochemistry;

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

26. The dropping trend for Biology 2008 2008 - 10/80 2009 2009 - 16/80 2010 2010 - 6/74 2011 2011- 6/79 2012 2012- 9/81

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

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

29. Class sizes over the years Computers: 2009–18/80 2010–24/74 2011–24/79 2012–16/81

30. French: 2008 2008– 10/80 2009 2009– 14/80 2010 2010– 12/74 2011 2011– 19/79 2012 2012– 13/81

31. History: 2010 2010– 21/74 2011 2011– 26/79 2012 2012– 40/81

32. 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.

33. 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.

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

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

36. Students taking Year Year 7 subjects subjects 8subjects 20085822 20095723 20103737 20112950 2012 3546

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

38. 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.

39. Contents of school form: Subject to be dropped; Reasons for dropping the subject; Form 3 performance in the subject to be dropped; Parental consent.

40. UNIVERSITY OPTIONSUNIVERSITY OPTIONSUNIVERSITY OPTIONSUNIVERSITY OPTIONS2012

41. Public Universities in Kenya Degree programmes offered: Regular degree programmes; Parallel degree programmes.

42. Regular degree programmes: Regular degree programmes: Less expensive; Less expensive; More competitive; More competitive; Long wait before start ( 2yrs: under review); Long wait before start ( 2yrs: under review); Some long holiday breaks; Some long holiday breaks; Could take longer to finish. Could take longer to finish.

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

44. Private Universities in Kenya: Strathmore; Catholic; Daystar; Baraton; Africa Nazarene; Riara;

45. Private Universities in Kenya: USIU; Kabarak; St. Pauls University; Mt. Kenya University; Kenya Methodist.

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

47. Bachelor of Hospitality Management; Bachelor of Hospitality Management; Bachelor of Tourism Management; Bachelor of Tourism Management; Bachelor of Science in Informatics; Bachelor of Science in Informatics;

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

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

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

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

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

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

54. 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.

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

56. In South Africa: 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.

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

58. THE END (Almost) Questions?