An inspiring story emerged from the graduation ceremony at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). Among the 3,627 graduates of UGM’s Undergraduate and Applied Undergraduate programs, some graduated with near-perfect GPAs.
One of them is Shalsadilla Nadya Prameswary (21), a student of the International Undergraduate Program (IUP) in Management at the UGM Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB UGM).
She graduated with a GPA of 3.93 and was named the best graduate of FEB UGM for the fourth academic period of 2023/2024 during the graduation ceremony held on Aug. 28, 2024.
Shalsa, as she is commonly called, completed her undergraduate studies in less than four years, precisely in three years, ten months, and ten days.
This achievement is a proud milestone amidst the busy academic schedule she undertook through a dual degree program at FEB UGM and the University of Groningen, Netherlands, majoring in International Business.
Despite her rigorous academic schedule, Shalsa remained actively involved in various non-academic activities, such as in the Association of Management Students (IKAMMA) at FEB UGM, the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) at UGM, and PPI Groningen.
She also interned at Nike European Headquarters in the Netherlands and 180 Degrees Consulting UGM and volunteered in several student activities on campus.
“In my opinion, the best thing I gained from my studies, aside from knowledge, is friends, community, and networks. I always prioritize academics but never disregard extracurricular activities such as organizations, events, and competitions,” she explained when contacted on Tuesday (Sep. 17).
Despite her packed routine, Shalsa still prioritized her studies. She emphasized efficient learning. Shalsa revealed that her success was largely due to the learning principles she adhered to.
“My main principle in studying is that it must be efficient. This means that the effort and time allocated for studying should be well-targeted,” Shalsa explained.
So, how can one study efficiently? Shalsa outlined the first step as recognizing a learning style that suits each individual. Whether it’s self-study, group study, extensive reading, or active listening, the most suitable method will vary for each person.
Next, it’s important to assess the difficulty level of each subject from the beginning of the semester. Shalsa also advised being active in class and not hesitating to ask questions when the lecturer’s material is unclear.
During her studies, Shalsa mentioned that she struggled to build confidence in her class to voice her opinions and ask questions. However, she managed to overcome her insecurities.
“I believe that dedication, resilience, and the support of my family to keep learning strengthened me throughout my academic journey,” she explained.
With determination, Shalsa successfully overcame her lack of confidence. As proof, she won various awards, such as the McKinsey Awardee Consulting Fellowship Program (2024) and the NUS Business School Summer Program (2024).
Also, her achievements were 1st Winner of the Ganesha Business Festival International Mini Case Competition (2023), 2nd Runner Up at the IESC Summit Business Case Competition (2022), and 1st Winner of the Mini Case Challenge Branding Competition (2022).
Shalsa admitted that her current success is also due to the values instilled by FEB UGM, one of which is academic freedom. This value of academic freedom encouraged her to keep exploring.
“That point supported me in continuing to explore and be curious. Curiosity about something new is important because I believe it serves as the gateway to learning,” Shalsa explained, adding that FEB UGM also provides space for its students to be creative and grow together.
Reporter: FEB UGM/Orie Priscylla Mapeda Lumalan
Author: FEB UGM/Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afif