6. Frequently Asked Questions about Careers in Kenya

Question 1: 

What is the cut-off point in admission to university?

The cut-off point refers to the least points required for one to be admitted to public universities under government scholarships. The points are fixed by the public universities "Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service(KUCCPS)". In the last two years, the cut-off points have been 67 for boys and 65 for girls. The points, however, vary depending on the government-sponsored slots available in the specific year and the performance in the KCSE examination for the year.

Question 2: 

Can I get university education if I don’t meet the Joint Admissions Board cut-off points?

Anybody who scores grade C Plus and above qualifies to join either private or public universities under the self and government sponsored programmes.

Question 3: 

What is bridging?

A bridging course is a short pre university programme in which students uplift their cluster subjects that they did not do well in KCSE prior to joining the self sponsored degree course. For example, the four cluster subjects for enrolling in any degree course. The minimum score in each of these four cluster subjects is C Plus. Bridging will be recommended in a subject where the score is less than C Plus.

Question 4: 

Can I ever get into university if I score less than C Plus in KCSE?

Yes, you can but you will follow a different route from those who score the minimum university entry grade. Some professionals with the highest level of university education today started with certificate courses. They then upgraded their skills by going through diploma and degree courses. If you may have to follow this route, the only limitation in getting into a university is you.

Question 5: 

I want to be a doctor. I am good in science subjects but very poor in mathematics. Can I qualify?

You have a big task ahead of you. The cluster subjects for doing medicine are Maths / Physics, Biology and Chemistry. Other subjects are English or Kiswahili or any other that you will have performed well, but to get admitted to university in the first place you need some minimum aggregate points from the seven subjects that will be counted in your KCSE. And the counting takes into consideration the following seven subjects:

• Mathematics
• English
• Kiswahili
• Two science subjects
• One humanity subject
• Any other subject you have done well (a second humanity or a third science or business studies or a technical subject or a foreign language).

Note that the score in Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, two science subjects and at least one humanity subject must be counted even if you score grade E in them. These are the core subjects. This is how a low score in Mathematics can harm you and deny you the raw cluster points for pursuing Medicine. Dedicate yourself wholeheartedly to Mathematics and score at least a C Plus grade in it and in the other three subjects of the cluster.

Question 6: 

Which subjects are known as boosters?

These are the non-core subjects in your KCSE grading. Actually a booster

is the seventh subject that is counted while the Kenya National Examinations Council is computing your mean grade. So, work hard in that booster subject for it to improve your overall mean grade.

Question 7: 

When choosing a career, am I supposed to base it on my Interests or on the subjects that I do well?

You need to consider both your interests and the subjects that you do well in your career decision. But at times your interests may be at variance with the subjects required to pursue certain courses. In such cases, you have to change your mind and go where your academic abilities lead you.

Question 8: 

I am fairly good in all subjects but the problem is that I have never been able to pinpoint what I can do. What career should I follow?

At this level of secondary school, you can think of a few careers. Make an honest soul search and write down at least four careers you think you can do. Examine each in turn by speaking with people in it, visiting the actual workplace and reading all information about the job. This way, you can narrow down your choices to one or two.

Question 9: 

Can I study Medicine with Physics and Chemistry only without Biology?

No! All careers dealing with living things, such as Medicine, forestry and fisheries require one to have studied Biology at secondary school level. In the same way, all kinds of engineering require Physics.

Question 10: 

Can I pursue two careers at the same time in university?

Why would you need to do so? To study two careers, for example, Law and Bachelor of Commerce would be a hard and an unnecessary task.

Question 11: 

I have realized that to study history or a foreign language in university a good grade in Mathematics is always a requirement. Why is this so?

The law of demand and supply is in operation here. Scores of students qualify to join institutions of higher learning every year yet the vacancies are always few. So, the institutions have devised methods of elimination so that they can only enroll the very best every year. It is a requirement to score highly in core KCSE subjects, which include Mathematics.

NOTE: Due to tremendous changes taking place at the ministry of education some of the responses given here may have been revised.