Tomorrow, I will visit the facilities of HAMK University of Applied Sciences in Hämeenlinna, Finland, marking a milestone in my lifelong learning journey.
I initiated my application process in 2008 to secure acceptance into a Professional Teachers Education program at a University of Applied Sciences. Originally, my primary choice was Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Pasila, Helsinki, Finland, with other similar institutions as secondary options.
Various study methods were available, ranging from full-time campus attendance to predominantly online learning with occasional on-site visits. I consistently favored the online study model.
In 2011, I was admitted to JAMK University of Applied Sciences in Jyväskylä; however, financial considerations led me to decline the offer. The program demanded approximately ten on-campus visits, each lasting several days.
In 2012, I missed the application deadline by one day, so that is the only year from 2008 in which I didn’t apply. Next year, I made sure that I would remember to apply on time, and when the time came in January, I did it during the first week.
Finally, when the results for the 2013 application came in April, the total score was a bit low, so I called the contact number. It turned out that one of my degrees was not taken into account, hence the score was increased by a few points. Having that fixed, I was accepted into the school which was my secondary option, namely HAMK University of Applied Sciences in Hämeenlinna.
Now, one and a half years later, I am receiving the certificate for being a Professional Teacher.
The points for passing and my scores for each year I applied:
- 2008, my score: 13, HAMK: 16, TAMK: 20
- 2009, my score: 14, Haaga-Helia: 26, TAMK: 23
- 2010, my score: 22, Haaga-Helia: 27, Secondary: 22
- 2011 (points not available), Haaga-Helia, JAMK
- 2013, my score: 20 (initially), Haaga-Helia: 25, HAMK: 20
Notably, the points computed by the online application form were consistently higher than the final scores determined by the primary school’s admissions office.