MAN WING-CHI never expected he would receive offers from four major local universities two years after he got straight Es in his A-levels.
'I was very depressed because of the poor grades. I felt so helpless when I got no offers from the Joint University Programme Admission System,' Mr Man said.
He is now a second year computer science major at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
'I considered repeating Form Seven but was put off because I thought there would not be a big boost in grades even if I retook [the exams]. And, most important of all, I didn't want to study the A-level subjects again.'
Following a friend's lead to attend seminars offered by the Community College of the University of Hong Kong's School of Professional and Continuing Education, Mr Man decided to do an associate degree in information technology and work his way into university. In two years, he discovered his area of interest - computer science - and re-established his self-confidence.
'My learning attitude changed greatly as I found the subjects very interesting and I was eager to know more.'
