Well, your last sentence is tricky because yes it does, but the qualification level below it of GSCEs/O-levels is not sufficient for DV which means that it’s A-levels or bust if that’s the school system one came through.
And you can get into just about any US college including the Ivy League with a GED, but it still isn’t acceptable for DV. So that is a guide but not definitive.
Unfortunately we see so few Malaysian selectees that we just don’t have useful info. I’d think your US college degrees would mean you’d be good for DV. Are there any local Malaysian forums (even general US immigration ones) that might help with info? And a favor, if you do find out anything useful or definitive, please come back and share that to help future posters who might have the same question.
Susie,
Thanks for your reply. I've been scouring the internet to find local forums. However, since winners from Malaysia are few and far between, hardly anyone posts about their experiences. Most will spam forums like this when they are selected but disappear once the case gets approved.
Yes, the A-levels is ONE option in Malaysia for pre-U university programs here and a popular one at that. But many also choose to do IB, Australian Matriculation, local matriculation program, government administered STPM (the A-level equivalent) or ADTP like me. There isn't a fixed program that everyone has to go through like in the US or any country with a compulsory grade system. It really depends on which country they aspire to further studies in as each program is tailored for a specific country. Students who aspire to study locally will usually enroll in a university specific foundation course, matriculation or STPM. Those who wish to study overseas with take the A-levels for UK, SAM/AUSMAT for Australia or ADTP for US, with A-levels being the most generally accepted across the board. They are all in the same category of Pre-University program, not vocational programs and it is a prerequisite for every Malaysian student who intends to pursue a tertiary education, local or overseas.
I think the government made this mandatory to match the British system since the SPM is technically the O-levels equivalent and students can choose to stop at that level like in the UK or pursue a higher level, in this case, a Pre-University program in order to get accepted for tertiary education. This gives students alternatives to the A-levels which can be expensive, only offered in private institutions in Malaysia and might be financially burdensome for certain families. Also, the high school requirement, as outlined by the official DV instruction is something along the lines of:
"the successful completion in another country of a formal course of elementary and secondary education comparable to a high
school education in the United States. Only formal courses of study meet this requirement; correspondence
programs or equivalency certificates (such as the General Equivalency Diploma G.E.D.) are not acceptable. "
All the programs I've mentioned above (local or international based) are formal programs that require a minimum of 1 year of studies(in the case of the Australian programs) with a structured in class curriculum. Students also receive a certificate of completion upon finishing as a needed proof when applying to universities. Based on my understanding, an applicant will be denied/disqualified IF their education stops at SPM (O-level) since every other route basically ensures the extra year of secondary education and beyond. I just don't know who well COs understands the education system here.
I don't know if this changes your understanding or your opinion of my chances getting approved with the ADTP program. I'd like to hear your input on this still. Thanks.
PS: I'm planning to call the US Embassy to confirm this. I've called them once a while back to inquire about my F-1 visa processing and they weren't too friendly then. So wish me luck!