DSA 2017

[mommyNg]

typoerror:

Am I one of the rare breed here? My DD is the one who wants to go DSA route. I never believe in DSA. So I just make sure the school she applied is roughly within her standard, and prep her to be ready for rejection.

Haha, mine is the opposite, I would have liked her to try DSA, but she really wanted to go via PSLE results, so I let her be.

[Estéema]

ChiefKiasu:

Seriously, I admire parents who spent so much time and effort finding out about their children's desired schools and then going through the DSA process. Personally, I would never have bothered to go through the DSA process if not for the fact that the school my daughter wants requires DSA to get in, and not just PSLE results. I have always seen DSA as a shortcut a tad too short. Getting into the school via non academic DSA could result in a hard time for the child if he is unable to keep up with the super brainy kids who get in on the basis of their super PSLE results. There is no point in getting into an elite school only to be suffer for 4 or 6 years in low esteem.


My daughter related to me something that happened during her group interview where one of the girls was very quiet in the group. When asked why she wants to go to the school, she said simply that she didn't want to, and it was her parents who forced her to apply. I was shocked, not so much at her response, but at the fact the in this day and age, there are still parents who would try to bend their children to their will when it comes to selecting their own schools. We need to remember that it is not us, the parents, who have to spend 10 hours a day in the school for the next 4 to 6 years. It is our kids! Surely they should be the ones who have to make this choice themselves.

Agree. Thank you for sharing your DD's journey.

We explain to DS no need for training for DSA. Thankfully, there's not much extra work we hv (or code to) load on DS but send in online appln, sit & do usual exams prep. Was keeping track in this forum but didn't get into the initial daily watch & anxious chats till we heard fr one principal's call.

Hope parents stay calm & give DC the best of next one month plus for PSLE.

[kash313]

ChiefKiasu:

Seriously, I admire parents who spent so much time and effort finding out about their children's desired schools and then going through the DSA process. Personally, I would never have bothered to go through the DSA process if not for the fact that the school my daughter wants requires DSA to get in, and not just PSLE results. I have always seen DSA as a shortcut a tad too short. Getting into the school via non academic DSA could result in a hard time for the child if he is unable to keep up with the super brainy kids who get in on the basis of their super PSLE results. There is no point in getting into an elite school only to be suffer for 4 or 6 years in low esteem.


My daughter related to me something that happened during her group interview where one of the girls was very quiet in the group. When asked why she wants to go to the school, she said simply that she didn't want to, and it was her parents who forced her to apply. I was shocked, not so much at her response, but at the fact the in this day and age, there are still parents who would try to bend their children to their will when it comes to selecting their own schools. We need to remember that it is not us, the parents, who have to spend 10 hours a day in the school for the next 4 to 6 years. It is our kids! Surely they should be the ones who have to make this choice themselves.

I very humbly agree to disagree.
It is not as simple and straightforward as you have mentioned. As a parent you know your child better then anyone else and I am sure all the parents want the best for their child however the definition of \"the best\" might differ from person to person.
As mentioned by you, not every one opts for DSA because its a shortcut, parents opt for DSA for various other reasons. My son's academic performance is overall quiet good but we know he would not be able to go into top 5 through PSLE bcoz of his mother tongue. His mother tongue in school is Chinese and we are not Chinese so there is a limit to how much help he can get even though he has tutor and that's the only subject he has tuition for. He gets on and average 75 in Chinese which wont be enough for his T score. Hence we opted for DSA and he got CO from the school he wanted to go to
We know he has to work hard for next 6 years and he knows it too but he thrives under competitive environment so we think he will do good.
This is just my view from my personal experience.
Have a good weekend.

[Snsn]

typoerror:

Am I one of the rare breed here? My DD is the one who wants to go DSA route. I never believe in DSA. So I just make sure the school she applied is roughly within her standard, and prep her to be ready for rejection.

I'm with you on this. Our girl was the one who told us she wants to pursue the DSA option, even told us which schools she wants to apply for based on her preferred domain. So we support her to the best of our ability and also manage her expectations in case of rejection.

[taurbear]

We went DSA as DS wants to pursue Music as a subject and his mother tongue will pull his grades down to enable him to go to an MEP school… DS was introduced to the school and the process of MEP and filled up the forms, write his own statement and prep himself for the auditions and interviews.


Nontheless, each DC is unique and have different needs and experiences. No right or wrong views, just individual needs. DS schoolmate who is top 10 in school and a Math Olympiam does not want the stress of interviews, didnt even try for NUSH or any DSA.

[imbblim]

ckcdm:

Anyone knows whether njc sends out the email in batches?

I know the emails for AEP was sent yesterday evening. I also didn't receive so presume it's unsuccessful as the no of students for AEP is not many. NJ only have one class 25 students per year, so students selected via Dsa could be half or less than half of 25.

[miiniworld]

taurbear:

anyone here have receive email or snail mail from TJC?

nope. still getting standard replies from tjc about getting it before 31/8.

[Estéema]

taurbear:

kash313:

I very humbly agree to disagree.
It is not as simple and straightforward as you have mentioned. As a parent you know your child better then anyone else and I am sure all the parents want the best for their child however the definition of \"the best\" might differ from person to person.
As mentioned by you, not every one opts for DSA because its a shortcut, parents opt for DSA for various other reasons. My son's academic performance is overall quiet good but we know he would not be able to go into top 5 through PSLE bcoz of his mother tongue. His mother tongue in school is Chinese and we are not Chinese so there is a limit to how much help he can get even though he has tutor and that's the only subject he has tuition for. He gets on and average 75 in Chinese which wont be enough for his T score. Hence we opted for DSA and he got CO from the school he wanted to go to
We know he has to work hard for next 6 years and he knows it too but he thrives under competitive environment so we think he will do good.
This is just my view from my personal experience.
Have a good weekend.

We went DSA as DS wants to pursue Music as a subject and his mother tongue will pull his grades down to enable him to go to an MEP school.. DS was introduced to the school and the process of MEP and filled up the forms, write his own statement and prep himself for the auditions and interviews.

Nontheless, each DC is unique and have different needs and experiences. No right or wrong views, just individual needs. DS schoolmate who is top 10 in school and a Math Olympiam does not want the stress of interviews, didnt even try for NUSH or any DSA.

I'm learning fr both your sharing kash313 & taurbear.

Indeed, these are reasons tt possibly put some of us on the DSA trail. DS also weak in MT & discovered we had to step up effort since P3.

All parents wanna try provide the best in the way we know how. No right or wrong, just closing gaps the best we can & learning fr each other way it means & discern with our kids what fits within boundaries.

Thanks again for all your honest sharing mummies!

[bbcat]

We never intended DD to take the DSA route. Always thought it was only for GEP kids, national athletes or brilliant top scoring all-rounders - all of which DD doesnt fall under!


However MOE’S intention of scrapping GAT n focusing on individual talent made me sit up and take notice. Plus DD was showing signs of exam anxiety and we were worried she would not deliver under PSLE exam stress.

So long story short - here I am, biting my nails and waiting for the mailman everyday.

It’s been quite a ride but through it all, I learnt something abt my DD - that she is so much stronger and tougher than I ever thought she could be.

And that knowledge alone is worth the DSA journey.

[ckcdm]

imbblim:

ckcdm:

Anyone knows whether njc sends out the email in batches?

I know the emails for AEP was sent yesterday evening. I also didn't receive so presume it's unsuccessful as the no of students for AEP is not many. NJ only have one class 25 students per year, so students selected via Dsa could be half or less than half of 25.

Die Liao.... How do u know that the aep dsa emails were sent out yesterday?