Salsabila Sabrina Rasya (18) could not stop expressing her gratitude upon learning that she had been accepted into the Faculty of Economics and Business at Gadjah Mada University (FEB UGM) through the 2026 National Selection Based on Achievement (SNBP) scheme. The moment the results were announced on March 31, 2026, remains vividly etched in her memory. Overcome by fear of rejection, Salsabila even deliberately delayed opening the results until she eventually fell asleep. When her mother asked her to check the results, her tears welled up again out of anxiety. However, the atmosphere turned emotional when her mother, who had checked the results on her mobile phone first, spontaneously shouted, “Alhamdulillah,” signalling that she had been accepted into her dream university.
“At that time, I didn’t dare to open the results; I often cried because I was afraid of not being accepted. Eventually, Mum opened them and shouted ‘Alhamdulillah’. I felt both happy and sad because I would have to move away and be separated from Mum,” she revealed when met recently at her home in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.
Salsabila’s journey to gain entry to her dream university was no easy feat. For Salsabila, gaining entry to the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) at UGM was not a dream that came about suddenly. Her interest in economics, which began in her first year of sixth form, led her to take steady steps, from maintaining her academic grades and actively participating in competitions to preparing seriously for the SNBP pathway. These sustained efforts eventually saw her accepted into the Economics Programme at FEB UGM.
Salsabila’s joy grew even greater when she found out she had been awarded a 100% subsidised Excellence Scholarship (UKT), allowing her to study for free.
“I’m obviously happy and grateful to be able to study for free and ease the burden on my family, given that my mother is the sole breadwinner,” she said.
Salsabila was born an only child. She currently lives with her mother, who runs a small grocery shop to meet their daily needs.
The Journey to FEB
Salsabila admitted she was certain about choosing FEB UGM after frequently viewing various posts about campus life and students on Instagram. Through this, she felt familiar with the UGM environment even before she had actually set foot on campus.
Armed with this dream, Salsabila began preparing for it from the start of her sixth form. She focused on maintaining consistent academic results whilst continuing to deepen her interest in economics and accounting. Her dedication paid off through various national achievements, including a Gold Medal at the Gemanesia National Olympiad in Accounting and a Gold Medal at the Science Explorers Online Olympiad in Economics.
Despite her active involvement in achieving these results, Salsabila’s journey to the Faculty of Economics and Business at UGM was not an overnight success. She relied heavily on self-discipline in her independent study and only attended tuition classes for a single subject. For her, a consistent learning process was far more important than simply chasing the final result.
When the SNBP registration process began, Salsabila also actively discussed her options with her school’s guidance counsellor at SMAN 1 Balikpapan to ensure her choice truly aligned with her abilities. Interestingly, she selected only one university: UGM.
This decision was not made without careful consideration. From the very beginning, she had wanted to study at the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) at UGM and chose to trust the process she had built up throughout her secondary school years.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Salsabila is also known for her active involvement in religious activities. From a young age, she participated in Quran memorisation (tahfidz) and took part in several memorisation competitions from primary school onwards. Her proficiency in this field even enabled her to gain entry to high school through the tahfidz pathway. During her time at high school, she was also active in the religious student organisation (Rohis).
Salsabila also has a simple message for other students who are striving to get into their dream university.
“Don’t compare yourself to others, because everyone has their own journey,” she said.
Parental Support
Salsabila’s journey to FEB UGM also received full support from her mother, Sri Indah (48). As a parent, she had to face various challenges to ensure her daughter could continue her education through to university.
Sri Indah admitted she had been worried her daughter might not be accepted through the SNBP pathway. However, amidst these worries, she chose to continue supporting her daughter’s choice and trust in the efforts they had made so far.
“I am so happy and proud that Salsabila was able to enter FEB UGM without an entrance exam and with free tuition. This is the answer to the prayers I have been offering all this time,” she said, her eyes brimming with tears as she held back a mix of joy and emotion.
Sri Indah felt a sense of anxiety when she had to let her daughter leave her hometown to pursue her dream of studying at the Faculty of Economics and Business, UGM. Nevertheless, she continued to reassure herself and her daughter to remain strong throughout the process. She also urged Salsabila to always maintain her religious practices, particularly the five daily prayers, amidst the life of living away from home and the academic world she was about to embark upon.
As a mother, Sri Indah hopes her daughter will one day achieve success.
“My hope is that Salsabila will succeed in this world and the hereafter, that she will always be granted ease in every step, that her path in seeking knowledge will be made easier, and that she will always be under Allah’s protection,” she said.
Reportage by: Sulthan Thariq Firmansyah
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
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