My first year experience of Pakistani University. Is it really this easy, or am I at a terrible Uni?

[Major]

I have completed 1 year of my BBA from Bahria University Islamabad today.

I ended up scoring a good GPA, but i dont really understand if I really deserve it or not. AS i thought the whole year was very damn easy, as there wasn't any hardwork which i was expecting.

We had 2 semesters. 6 courses in each semester. Thus at the end of the year, i have completed 12 courses.

Now my GPA after semester 1:

Semester 1: 3.75
Semester 2: 3.5

CGPA: 3.62

My A and O levels were much harder than this. I was a student who passed with D grades in A levels just 2-3 years ago.

Now with getting a GPA amongest the highest i dont feel as if i have earned it, i thought that the marking was very damn easy along with the course that i dont feel as if i have struggled.

All year long, we only did exams, quizes(not surprise ones, we were told beforehand) small assignments and presentations.

We have not done a single research paper. Presentation content never mattered( you could talk about how your country's GDP grew while not even knowing what the actual term meant).

Only 1 assignment required actual research being conduct, which only I did, while mostly copied it from company websties.

At the end i dont i know if i have earned these grades or not.

1) Our examinations were based from lectures and slides we did in class. Never on the stuff that we learn through research

2) Examinations were soo simple that if we learned Sample A, the paper would be based on Sample A. Like if we covered 4 topics in the semester. The questions in the exam would be, q1 from topic 1, q2, from topic 2 and soo on.
In A levels, we were suppose to learn 5-8 topics, and the answer to one single question was based from the 4-5 topics we would learn. We were supose to combine all our knowledge in an essay form to answer a question.

Here I haven't experienced that.

3) quizes weren't surprise. We were told before hand that we have quiz on a particular day.

4) stuff we learned from each course, we didn't apply it practically.

Even my highschool courses in Canada were much tougher than this.

SO what i'm trying to ask you guys is that is University really this easy? Or i'm just studying in a university that just really sucks?
Does it affect how i will be employed in future?

 

[Shaddy86]

Yes, first years are the easiest. It gets much tougher in the second and third year. I was also surprised of how easy my first year was and I hardly ever studied.

 

[Pakistanian]

Noah fence, why would you go to Pakistan to study if you're from Canada?

 

[CricketCartoons]

If it was so easy why didn't you score 4.0 CGPA. I wouldn't be showing off if I got your grades. At the least it should be 3.95.

 

[Mamoon]

As far as I am aware, pursuing a business degree from an American University is a piece of cake unless you to go an Ivy League University or something of that standard. Your experience sounds similar, looks like business schools in Pakistan follow the U.S. model.

 

[Belawal2014]

As far as I am aware, pursuing a business degree from an American University is a piece of cake unless you to go an Ivy League University or something of that standard. Your experience sounds similar, looks like business schools in Pakistan follow the U.S. model.

How are the medical schools in Pakistan? How do they compare to Canadian or US Med schools?

 

[Syed1]

I mean you went to Bahria what did you expect. Should have gone to LUMS or IBA for a harder BBA.

 

[Mamoon]

How are the medical schools in Pakistan? How do they compare to Canadian or US Med schools?

The main difficulty with studying medicine in America/Canada is the time factor. It takes ridiculously long to be a doctor because you have to complete an undergrad degree before enrolling in med school.

Once you get into med school, it does not vary much from country to country and school to school. The books that you will use are pretty much standardized across the board, and it is largely a test of your memory. it is not as hard as people think, but you will not survive unless you develop the right mindset for it, which most eventually do.

However, studying books is only part of becoming a doctor. Ultimately it all boils down to the practical experience that you gain after completing your MBBS. I don't know much about Canada, but the U.S. is the place to be for doctors.

 

[waqar goraya]

I mean you went to Bahria what did you expect. Should have gone to LUMS or IBA for a harder BBA.

He did not have requisite marks. Even in Islamabad NUST and FAST would have made his life a little challenging.

 

[Major]

I mean you went to Bahria what did you expect. Should have gone to LUMS or IBA for a harder BBA.

He did not have requisite marks. Even in Islamabad NUST and FAST would have made his life a little challenging.

this!
Nust was a bummer
But i got into Fast's Business Program.

Though i have heard about the rumours how its difficult to get a good grade there, which is why i intially didn't go there

Now i'm having regrets. Might be hard to score a grade, but atleast most probably it showed a students true actual worth.

 

[waqar goraya]

Major sahib Bahria is to chill, i had told you earlier. But no worries, it is not bad as BBA is generally easier in initial stages. You are currently studying Principles of your subjects. Late semesters will be more challenging.

Enjoy yourself here and start preparing yourself mentally for GMAT for MBA from LUMS or IBA.

 

[Major]

If it was so easy why didn't you score 4.0 CGPA. I wouldn't be showing off if I got your grades. At the least it should be 3.95.

I'm not trying to show off, maybe it has been made to be looked that way. i just want to know what am i suppose to expect.

Even with a 3.62 i'm in the top 5 amongest 300

 

[Major]

As far as I am aware, pursuing a business degree from an American University is a piece of cake unless you to go an Ivy League University or something of that standard. Your experience sounds similar, looks like business schools in Pakistan follow the U.S. model.

they are trying to bring in the flipped class room model in our department. Where we learn stuff from online lectures and have to do group discussion.

Another thing that i would point out is that of the 12 courses, only 1 course had proper group work where we needed to do discussions. Infact, the teacher made us do activities aswell for team building. That particular lecturer had studied from the US.

I have seen that in our Uni, from where our lecturer has studied from and how eager he or she was to bring in those concepts here in Pakistan also mattered alot.

 

[Major]

Major sahib Bahria is to chill, i had told you earlier. But no worries, it is not bad as BBA is generally easier in initial stages. You are currently studying Principles of your subjects. Late semesters will be more challenging.

Enjoy yourself here and start preparing yourself mentally for GMAT for MBA from LUMS or IBA.

Yup, do remember your post from earlier last year.

It feels as if i'm back in highschool again over here.

 

[CricketCartoons]

I'm not trying to show off, maybe it has been made to be looked that way. i just want to know what am i suppose to expect.

Even with a 3.62 i'm in the top 5 amongest 300

So you are not even among the 99th percentile. Instead of thinking about the 4 students who did better than you who are looking at the 294 who did worse than you. Don't lament about standards if you don't have high standards yourself.

 

[gkb101277867]

I have completed 1 year of my BBA from Bahria University Islamabad today.

I ended up scoring a good GPA, but i dont really understand if I really deserve it or not. AS i thought the whole year was very damn easy, as there wasn't any hardwork which i was expecting.

We had 2 semesters. 6 courses in each semester. Thus at the end of the year, i have completed 12 courses.

Now my GPA after semester 1:

Semester 1: 3.75
Semester 2: 3.5

CGPA: 3.62

My A and O levels were much harder than this. I was a student who passed with D grades in A levels just 2-3 years ago.

Now with getting a GPA amongest the highest i dont feel as if i have earned it, i thought that the marking was very damn easy along with the course that i dont feel as if i have struggled.

All year long, we only did exams, quizes(not surprise ones, we were told beforehand) small assignments and presentations.

We have not done a single research paper. Presentation content never mattered( you could talk about how your country's GDP grew while not even knowing what the actual term meant).

Only 1 assignment required actual research being conduct, which only I did, while mostly copied it from company websties.

At the end i dont i know if i have earned these grades or not.

1) Our examinations were based from lectures and slides we did in class. Never on the stuff that we learn through research

2) Examinations were soo simple that if we learned Sample A, the paper would be based on Sample A. Like if we covered 4 topics in the semester. The questions in the exam would be, q1 from topic 1, q2, from topic 2 and soo on.
In A levels, we were suppose to learn 5-8 topics, and the answer to one single question was based from the 4-5 topics we would learn. We were supose to combine all our knowledge in an essay form to answer a question.

Here I haven't experienced that.

3) quizes weren't surprise. We were told before hand that we have quiz on a particular day.

4) stuff we learned from each course, we didn't apply it practically.

Even my highschool courses in Canada were much tougher than this.

SO what i'm trying to ask you guys is that is University really this easy? Or i'm just studying in a university that just really sucks?
Does it affect how i will be employed in future?

How come you went to pakistan for uni when you went to school in Canada?

 

[Napa]

So you are not even among the 99th percentile. Instead of thinking about the 4 students who did better than you who are looking at the 294 who did worse than you. Don't lament about standards if you don't have high standards yourself.

I would think that being in the top 5 or even the top 20 in a class of 300 students is quite creditable.

 

[Abdul]

I'd be happy if everything was easy for me. What's the problem?

 

[Major]

I'd be happy if everything was easy for me. What's the problem?

it makes me question the value of the thing that i have achieved and makes me have a regretful feeling.

 

[slipcatch]

The main difficulty with studying medicine in America/Canada is the time factor. It takes ridiculously long to be a doctor because you have to complete an undergrad degree before enrolling in med school.

Once you get into med school, it does not vary much from country to country and school to school. The books that you will use are pretty much standardized across the board, and it is largely a test of your memory. it is not as hard as people think, but you will not survive unless you develop the right mindset for it, which most eventually do.

However, studying books is only part of becoming a doctor. Ultimately it all boils down to the practical experience that you gain after completing your MBBS. I don't know much about Canada, but the U.S. is the place to be for doctors.

My professor used to say, “ bring me a donkey and I’ll make him a doctor, too”. It boils down to putting in hours and not giving up, read and repeat.

 

[Pakistanian]

My professor used to say, “ bring me a donkey and I’ll make him a doctor, too”. It boils down to putting in hours and not giving up, read and repeat.

That may be the case in Pakistan but in America it's incredibly difficult to get into medical school. You need a near perfect GPA with no retakes, high mcat scores, hundreds if not thousands of hours of volunteer work, shadowing a doctor/working in a clinic or ER room, extracurriculars like being involved on campus and in leadership positions, letters of recommendation and some research work.

 

[Abdul]

How are the medical schools in Pakistan? How do they compare to Canadian or US Med schools?

How's Computer Science going for you?

 

[Itachi]

The main difficulty with studying medicine in America/Canada is the time factor. It takes ridiculously long to be a doctor because you have to complete an undergrad degree before enrolling in med school.

Once you get into med school, it does not vary much from country to country and school to school. The books that you will use are pretty much standardized across the board, and it is largely a test of your memory. it is not as hard as people think, but you will not survive unless you develop the right mindset for it, which most eventually do.

However, studying books is only part of becoming a doctor. Ultimately it all boils down to the practical experience that you gain after completing your MBBS. I don't know much about Canada, but the U.S. is the place to be for doctors.

Doesn't US has very high fees for medical schools?

In my years, except pharmacology, I found other subjects easy. But pharmacology.... Totally hated it. And co incidentally, my gf at that time, who was weak in every other subjects, used to top in this very subject. I probably failed to decipher the mindset for it I guess.

 

[Itachi]

it makes me question the value of the thing that i have achieved and makes me have a regretful feeling.

.... Or you could be that prodigy who finds it piece of cake though the curriculum is of great standard. Be positive.

 

[Slim]

There is a difference between a 3.6+ holder from LUMS and a 4.0 from Bahria. The former is far superior in terms of everything. I am sorry but your university defines you, not your GPA.

You cannot generalize your experience of a Tier 2/3 university as a Pakistani university experience.

 

[Slim]

I mean you went to Bahria what did you expect. Should have gone to LUMS or IBA for a harder BBA.

Honestly, i was shocked to read the OP but then i understood why after reading your post.

 

[Varun]

Just grin inwardly and use the leverage to be king.

Nothing else.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Insha Allah I will be going to IBA or CBM this year.I hope my first year is as easy as yours was!

If I fail to get admission in these universities,I will do ACCA.

 

[DRsohail]

The main difficulty with studying medicine in America/Canada is the time factor. It takes ridiculously long to be a doctor because you have to complete an undergrad degree before enrolling in med school.

Once you get into med school, it does not vary much from country to country and school to school. The books that you will use are pretty much standardized across the board, and it is largely a test of your memory. it is not as hard as people think, but you will not survive unless you develop the right mindset for it, which most eventually do.

However, studying books is only part of becoming a doctor. Ultimately it all boils down to the practical experience that you gain after completing your MBBS. I don't know much about Canada, but the U.S. is the place to be for doctors.

Have you taken USMLE? you told me that you were in USA??

 

[DRsohail]

My professor used to say, “ bring me a donkey and I’ll make him a doctor, too”. It boils down to putting in hours and not giving up, read and repeat.

No practical experience is different.you have to have thinking process to diagnose a disease.It may look like just studying the diseases but you have to know the pattern and variation and apply your knowledge in a good way, i find the practical side very easy as compared to pakistan.

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

I don't study at a Pakistani University but I can definitely say my first year at uni has been really challenging and has been eye-opening in many ways. Time management is key and so is attending lectures

 

[Little Master]

Bro, nobody goes to Bahria to study. People go there to chill out and have a good social life.

 

[Major]

Bro, nobody goes to Bahria to study. People go there to chill out and have a good social life.

Thats a very big misconception.

90 percent students in bahria batches arr those who couldnt get into good unis due to low grades. Includes me aswell.

If people cant meet the criteria of bahria then they go to fauji foundation whos criteria is even lower.

Most of the bahria students are the ones from outsiders, there are very few actual islamabadis.

 

[Yossarian]

Thats a very big misconception.

90 percent students in bahria batches arr those who couldnt get into good unis due to low grades. Includes me aswell.

If people cant meet the criteria of bahria then they go to fauji foundation whos criteria is even lower.

Most of the bahria students are the ones from outsiders, there are very few actual islamabadis.

Here's my take on 'good' or 'bad' universities (I studied in England at one of the Russel Group universities).

Your 'A' levels determine which university offers you a place on the course you wish to study.

Once you've started your course, nobody gives two hoots as to what grades you achieved to get there. What counts is the course you're studying.

Your degree subject, final grades, and from which university, (along with your performance at interviews) is what decides which employer is willing to give you your first professional job, at what salary and at what seniority level, in your chosen profession.

Once you have started in that first career job, then how you got there (what degree, which university etc) becomes irrelevant. From then onwards, it's your job performance that counts, and what determines further pay rises and/or promotions.

Once you have a few years experience and wish to change employers, then, generally speaking the new potential employers base their decisions on hiring / not hiring you primarily on your experiences (and seniority) of the last few years, in your last job or two, and how you made a difference (perhaps managed a successful project or two, saved the company a large amount of dosh by introducing new procedures, reorganisation, etc.). Generally speaking, your 'A' levels, even your university/degree are largely irrelevant if you finished your studies many years ago. What counts are your recent work experiences and qualities that you can bring to the new employer.

ie Each time you've managed to open the door and actually entered a new (higher level) 'room', your previous 'room', or 'rooms', that you've been in become irrelevant. From then on, what counts is what you do in the current 'room' you're in.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Thats a very big misconception.

90 percent students in bahria batches arr those who couldnt get into good unis due to low grades. Includes me aswell.

If people cant meet the criteria of bahria then they go to fauji foundation whos criteria is even lower.

Most of the bahria students are the ones from outsiders, there are very few actual islamabadis.

You should be happy you are at a place where you are one of the best. Many of us developed permanent damage to our self esteem after being surrounded by people more intelligent than us. You end up disowning your more successful and intelligent friends because it reminds you of your mediocrity and you mingle with the average folk so that you can have some modicum of self respect. So consider yourself blessed.

 

[Greenstorm]

Thats a very big misconception.

90 percent students in bahria batches arr those who couldnt get into good unis due to low grades. Includes me aswell.

If people cant meet the criteria of bahria then they go to fauji foundation whos criteria is even lower.

Most of the bahria students are the ones from outsiders, there are very few actual islamabadis.

Do not settle for mediocrity. If you want to get a BBA degree, get it from the best institutions in Pakistan. If you have to sacrifice 2 or even 3 years for a better university, so be it. If you have free time now and there is atleast a month left before entry tests of top universities, you better prepare hard in this month and move to a better university.

 

[Little Master]

Here's my take on 'good' or 'bad' universities (I studied in England at one of the Russel Group universities).

Your 'A' levels determine which university offers you a place on the course you wish to study.

Once you've started your course, nobody gives two hoots as to what grades you achieved to get there. What counts is the course you're studying.

Your degree subject, final grades, and from which university, (along with your performance at interviews) is what decides which employer is willing to give you your first professional job, at what salary and at what seniority level, in your chosen profession.

Once you have started in that first career job, then how you got there (what degree, which university etc) becomes irrelevant. From then onwards, it's your job performance that counts, and what determines further pay rises and/or promotions.

Once you have a few years experience and wish to change employers, then, generally speaking the new potential employers base their decisions on hiring / not hiring you primarily on your experiences (and seniority) of the last few years, in your last job or two, and how you made a difference (perhaps managed a successful project or two, saved the company a large amount of dosh by introducing new procedures, reorganisation, etc.). Generally speaking, your 'A' levels, even your university/degree are largely irrelevant if you finished your studies many years ago. What counts are your recent work experiences and qualities that you can bring to the new employer.

ie Each time you've managed to open the door and actually entered a new (higher level) 'room', your previous 'room', or 'rooms', that you've been in become irrelevant. From then on, what counts is what you do in the current 'room' you're in.

I agree with that but you are simplifying it. Usually (more often than not), good university means a good first job followed by better career prospects on back of a good first job. On the other hand a mediocre university means, an ok first job and the opportunities that would follow would be based on profile of that "ok" job. Of course, exceptions are always there but what I am talking about is the norm.

 

[Slim]

Insha Allah I will be going to IBA or CBM this year.I hope my first year is as easy as yours was!

If I fail to get admission in these universities,I will do ACCA.

Dont do that. You will ruin your chances in Pakistan.

Why havent you applied to LUMS?

 

[Little Master]

Insha Allah I will be going to IBA or CBM this year.I hope my first year is as easy as yours was!

If I fail to get admission in these universities,I will do ACCA.

Go for CA if you want to pursue an accounting qualification. Shouldn't be relying on half measures.

 

[Syed1]

One thing I have an issue with is that majority of folks in Pakistan do BBA without any care or concern for job prospects or worth of the degree in the market. Why not diversify and pursue a field in sciences.

 

[slipcatch]

That may be the case in Pakistan but in America it's incredibly difficult to get into medical school. You need a near perfect GPA with no retakes, high mcat scores, hundreds if not thousands of hours of volunteer work, shadowing a doctor/working in a clinic or ER room, extracurriculars like being involved on campus and in leadership positions, letters of recommendation and some research work.

Those are the requirement, every career has different requirement, I do not find them tough but need to do more to get where one wants to get.

And if you want to avoid that and loans then go to Pakistan

 

[Yossarian]

I agree with that but you are simplifying it. Usually (more often than not), good university means a good first job followed by better career prospects on back of a good first job. On the other hand a mediocre university means, an ok first job and the opportunities that would follow would be based on profile of that "ok" job. Of course, exceptions are always there but what I am talking about is the norm.

It's not dissimilar to sports. What counts is your last few performances, not whether you were scoring centuries every innings and taking 10 wickets every match yonks ago.
Of course you had to be scoring centuries and/or taking big wicket hauls in top league club matches and competitions in order to be noticed by the selectors in the first place. But once you're selected what counts from then on are your performances and not which club you play/ played for.

And it's similar as regards professional career progression. (I'm talking about in the real world where one's progress is usually based upon one's abilities and performances, as opposed to some sifarish type environment where it's a case of who one knows and who's a*s* one licks)

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Dont do that. You will ruin your chances in Pakistan.

Why havent you applied to LUMS?

Didn’t have the grades nor the SAT.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Go for CA if you want to pursue an accounting qualification. Shouldn't be relying on half measures.

Yeah I’m not to sure whether to do CA or ACCA.I did some research into ACCA and nowadays job prospects are better for it compared to CA.

I still have some time to decide though.

 

[Slim]

Didn’t have the grades nor the SAT.

If you dont mind telling, what were your grades in O/A Levels?

IBA is a very good school. I hope you get in it. CBM is a Tier 2 university however chances are still bright because of its vicinity to Karachi's MNCs - which means you wont get hired as a Management Trainee but you can through your job experiences.

 

[Slim]

Yeah I’m not to sure whether to do CA or ACCA.I did some research into ACCA and nowadays job prospects are better for it compared to CA.

I still have some time to decide though.

CA is long game. The article ship is probably the worst part about it. ACCA is only good if you are planning to go abroad. I also would advise you to start with CFA as well. Having a combo of ACCA and CFA is brilliant. I am myself going to appear for CFA Level 1 next year even though i am currently working for a MNC.

 

[shaz619]

Not sure about Pakistan but in the UK, the work tends to be so much tougher in the top 10 ranked unis in the country. Mid to lower ranked unis have an easier work load hear and they don't go through as much depth, the benefit though is you have more time for extra curricular activities and social societies / sports clubs.

 

[shaz619]

One thing I have an issue with is that majority of folks in Pakistan do BBA without any care or concern for job prospects or worth of the degree in the market. Why not diversify and pursue a field in sciences.

It comes down to interest as well, many people just don't enjoy science. You could always gain experience in Business without having completed a degree but having one keeps your options open in the corporate world although it is very competitive. The other advantages of doing the BBA is that you can apply what you learned to your own business idea or company which you intend to set up.

I wouldn't recommend it though personally but if it's someones passion and they really want to do it then you can't stop them plus these courses are quiet long and you need to be motivated until the very end.

 

[shaz619]

[MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION] Also, Misbah did his Bachelors in Maths and Physics.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

I am from FSc background and I got 3.47 CGPA in NUST (arguably the best engineering uni in Pakistan) and hardly studied before the last day of exam and that too not many hours. And I will admit i am not a genius etc. Its just that some people find it easy to crack exams and good in solving exams and quizzes in Pakistani system. Some of my friends were more intelligent and more hardworking than me but didn't get the art of solving exams/quizzes.

 

[Little Master]

Yeah I’m not to sure whether to do CA or ACCA.I did some research into ACCA and nowadays job prospects are better for it compared to CA.

I still have some time to decide though.

Trust me ACCA is useless, even abroad there is very little value for it without any work experience and getting a proper accounting job after ACCA is a big challenge in itself so work experience bit always remains a question. At least with CA because of article ship you make a lot of connections within your clients and gain practical experience.