JC or Poly?

[sharonkhoo]

lee_yl:

phtthp:

For IP students drop-out, although without any O-level certificate, they can still apply to various Polytechnic, using their \"End-of-Year 4\" results.


IP schools like (RI / RGS, Dunman High, National Junior College) use GPA scoring system, to grade Year 4 students.

Anyone know, for Year 4 IP students who wish to exit to the Polytechnic, what is the Year 4 (IP) GPA score requirement, to enter following Polytechnic -

- Diploma in Accountancy,
- Diploma in Applied Chemistry,
- Diploma in Biomedical Engineering
- Diploma in Mechanical Engineering ?

I have two relatives who opted to go poly instead of retaking A levels NOT because they suddenly felt they had a calling to join Poly but because they didn’t do well in their A level.

Am I right to say those who decide to switch lane half way, are those who aren’t doing well in IP?

So by end of year 4 if their results are already struggling type, even with Fs, can ALL be guaranteed a place in Poly?

I would guess that the majority of those who leave IP after Yr 4 and apply to enter poly are those who haven't been doing well in IP. I think their applications are probably assessed like all who apply with \"non-O level\" results - usually with some kind of test and/or interview. There is almost certainly (I don't know for sure, though) no blanket \"cut off point\" for such cases.

I do know of at least 1 case of a boy who chose to switch to poly after Yr 4 because he was really interested in a particular poly course and wanted to focus on that area early rather than spread his efforts over the wider range of courses in Yr 5 and 6. He had been doing well all along. His parents were doubtful, but as he was a strong student and quite mature in his thinking, they agreed in the end. He has continued to do well and I expect he will continue to university after his NS.

[sharonkhoo]

janet88:

what if the child can't continue in IP in year 2?

They will switch to an O level track, either in the same school if there is one, or another school.

[lee_yl]

slmkhoo:

lee_yl:

I have two relatives who opted to go poly instead of retaking A levels NOT because they suddenly felt they had a calling to join Poly but because they didn’t do well in their A level.

Am I right to say those who decide to switch lane half way, are those who aren’t doing well in IP?

So by end of year 4 if their results are already struggling type, even with Fs, can ALL be guaranteed a place in Poly?

I would guess that the majority of those who leave IP after Yr 4 and apply to enter poly are those who haven't been doing well in IP. I think their applications are probably assessed like all who apply with \"non-O level\" results - usually with some kind of test and/or interview. There is almost certainly (I don't know for sure, though) no blanket \"cut off point\" for such cases.

I do know of at least 1 case of a boy who chose to switch to poly after Yr 4 because he was really interested in a particular poly course and wanted to focus on that area early rather than spread his efforts over the wider range of courses in Yr 5 and 6. He had been doing well all along. His parents were doubtful, but as he was a strong student and quite mature in his thinking, they agreed in the end. He has continued to do well and I expect he will continue to university after his NS.

Can’t say studying Yr 5 and Yr 6 is a waste of effort right? I mean, if one is interested in computer engineering, for example, one can still do it at the university after A levels don’t need to exit half way to go Poly right? I may not allow my children to do that if they have excellent Yr 4 results. Quickly finish Yr5/6 and head on to Uni liao.

That boy definitely can go Uni after Poly because both my relatives are Uni graduates

I do know of a boy who is interested in a particular Poly course. With his PSLE tscore, he could have chosen to do IP but right at the beginning, he purposely chose the O level route so he can head straight to Poly to do that particular course. His parents agreed because they were from Poly and appreciated the hands-on training that Poly offered.

[ChiefKiasu]

I think 2 years may be too little to evaluate if one is suitable for something, especially during the stage of their lives when a sudden growth spurt may change things drastically. Realistically I think year 3 is more appropriate, although by then it may be too late for remedial actions.

[sharonkhoo]

lee_yl:

Can’t say studying Yr 5 and Yr 6 is a waste of effort right? I mean, if one is interested in computer engineering, for example, one can still do it at the university after A levels don’t need to exit half way to go Poly right? .

I don't think he feels that Yrs 5&6 are a \"waste of time\" - but since there was a course he particularly wanted to take at poly, that was his personal choice. He doesn't expect or advise other students to necessarily do what he did.

[floppy]

There are some courses that, traditionally, are offered in poly but not our local universities. Things are changing because our university also need to keep up with the needs of their clients (ie students and market) eg vet studies (NUS is starting to offer them those year), nursing (NUS started a feel years ago), maritime studies (none), industrial design (NUS started in 1999) etc. Some of these courses are “vocational” in nature and do not fit in well with how we define our local polys and unis. As our IHL adjusts to market demands, it’s a start of a process where the lines of polys and unis are becoming blur.


Some of these courses eg computer engineering, are of little difference whether you go to poly or university since your skills will be obsoleted by the time you start work / finish NS. Others, Eg industrial designer or engineer, a poly grad can be just as good as a uni grad. Today’s job market is based on what a person brings to the table and not merely of one’s qualification, unless one wants to be a politician or a career civil servant, then a university’s path is the right one to go

[lee_yl]

slmkhoo:

lee_yl:

Can’t say studying Yr 5 and Yr 6 is a waste of effort right? I mean, if one is interested in computer engineering, for example, one can still do it at the university after A levels don’t need to exit half way to go Poly right? .

I don't think he feels that Yrs 5&6 are a \"waste of time\" - but since there was a course he particularly wanted to take at poly, that was his personal choice. He doesn't expect or advise other students to necessarily do what he did.

Speaking for myself only, if my children have excellent Yr 4 results, I don’t think I would allow them to change track to go Poly after Yr 4. I would rather prepare them to do well in Yr5/6, and move on to do a similar course in university.

There’s a difference between A-level and Poly training, after all. The former is still generalist and trains the kid well in writing / communicating in English, not to mention about the in-depth training in core subjects like Maths and Physics which would serve the child well in Uni.

[lee_yl]

floppy:

... a poly grad can be just as good as a uni grad. Today’s job market is based on what a person brings to the table and not merely of one’s qualification, unless one wants to be a politician or a career civil servant, then a university’s path is the right one to go

I think Poly training is good if one is looking to learn a skill, a diploma is definitely “more practical” than an A level cert. However for higher value added jobs like R&D, a strong foundation in Maths and fundamental Sciences is still essential, so University or post-graduate training is still required.

Among my cousins who are Poly graduates, all of them did not stop at the diploma level as they continued studying to take a degree.

[floppy]

lee_yl:

floppy:

... a poly grad can be just as good as a uni grad. Today’s job market is based on what a person brings to the table and not merely of one’s qualification, unless one wants to be a politician or a career civil servant, then a university’s path is the right one to go

I think Poly training is good if one is looking to learn a skill, a diploma is definitely “more practical” than an A level cert. However for higher value added jobs like R&D, a strong foundation in Maths and fundamental Sciences is still essential, so University or post-graduate training is still required.

Among my cousins who are Poly graduates, all of them did not stop at the diploma level as they continued studying to take a degree.

At the end of the day, there’s no hard and fast rule, and not all “higher value added” rules follow the same set of rules.

I do agree that for R&D jobs, a postgrad qualification is probably a must. My friend in such field once told me in jest that a Master grad is only qualified to wash test tube in his organisation since the majority of his colleagues (as well as him) has a prefix other than Mr to their name.

Two of my cousins happen to be in higher value added jobs but don’t have a degree nor do they have intention to pursue one. So far, they haven’t ‘lost out’ in any sense; both are being paid their worth and holding management roles. One is in the technology sector while the other works in the creative field. Hence, a degree is not necessary superior to a diploma nor a necessary upward progression from a diploma in some industries.

The idea of poly being trained in skills and being more practical is rooted in the concept of poly being vocational training centers while universities are for more intellectual pursuit (aka smarter people). That was certainly true but times are a-changing. Firstly, today’s poly COP are frightening low - some students are better in terms of O Level results that JC students. So there are quite a lot of smart people around. Second, both IHLs are providing similar skill sets required for the modern world (and its hard to say who is doing it better). These skills go beyond our concept of vocational or intellectual training. Both my cousins above are in management roles, which means they handle people and needs to perform critical thinking. These are skills taught in both IHL but none will guarantee that their students will do it better than the other.

[pirate]

Many many moons ago, the UK got rid of all their polys… by renaming them universities. Just saying.