JC or Poly?

[phtthp]

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[phtthp]

octoberbaby:

For poly students to enter uni has to be top 5% whole cohort one. Otherwise CMI. Stuck at diploma level. Pursuing degree wil be depend on parents $..

Agree

If go Poly after that so easily can enter into NUS, NTU, then why are there still so many Junior Colleges, around ?

[sharonkhoo]

phtthp:

octoberbaby:

For poly students to enter uni has to be top 5% whole cohort one. Otherwise CMI. Stuck at diploma level. Pursuing degree wil be depend on parents $..

Agree

If go Poly after that so easily can enter into NUS, NTU, then why are there still so many Junior Colleges, around ?

I think that's a rather narrow view of the differences between A levels and poly. There isn't any magic that makes it easier for someone to go to university by taking A levels rather than going to poly, or vice versa. The poly students who make it to university are probably the ones who would have made it through A levels anyway; and the ones who did well at A levels would probably have done well in poly too. There will be exceptions either way, of course. You make it sound as if most people would choose the poly route over JC if it were perceived to be easier to get to university that way; I think there are many who prefer the more traditional academic route over the more hands-on and practical even if it seems tougher.

[jtoh]

phtthp:

octoberbaby:

For poly students to enter uni has to be top 5% whole cohort one. Otherwise CMI. Stuck at diploma level. Pursuing degree wil be depend on parents $..

Agree

If go Poly after that so easily can enter into NUS, NTU, then why are there still so many Junior Colleges, around ?

According to 2016 statistics, 34% of local uni admissions were polytechnic students, and 20% of poly students got a place in uni. These are 2016 stats. Numbers may have changed in the last two years.

No doubt the numbers are boosted by expansion in intake by UniSIM and SIT, but it still means that more poly students are getting a degree after their poly diplomas.

[lee_yl]

Heard it is getting more competitive to get admitted into a full-time course in NUS/NTU via Poly nowadays. A few diploma holders in DH’s office had good Poly results but could only get admission into full time courses in SIM/SIT/SUTD or part-time degree courses in NTU/NUS. Don’t say the govt never give you a chance to study in the Uni hor.


From a statistical perspective, the JC route is definitely easier to get into NTU/NUS. But again, the A level route is also not easy as you will be fitting the A-level curve with the TOP students. Like two of my relatives, they didn’t do well enough at A levels and had to go back to the Poly did well before moving on to Uni.

[floppy]

lee_yl:

Heard it is getting more competitive to get admitted into a full-time course in NUS/NTU via Poly nowadays. A few diploma holders in DH’s office had good Poly results but could only get admission into full time courses in SIM/SIT/SUTD or part-time degree courses in NTU/NUS. Don’t say the govt never give you a chance to study in the Uni hor.


From a statistical perspective, the JC route is definitely easier to get into NTU/NUS. But again, the A level route is also not easy as you will be fitting the A-level curve with the TOP students. Like two of my relatives, they didn’t do well enough at A levels and had to go back to the Poly did well before moving on to Uni.

The competitiveness isn’t caused by less places in local universities being offered to poly students, that’s for sure. Over years, more places are being opened up to poly students and 1 in 5 today can qualify for a university placement (the assertion of 5% isn’t statistically right).

What happen is a change in the general landscape - where the perceived ‘value’ of a diploma is higher than the A Level route. As a result, we see COP of diploma courses coming down so much that the quality of the intake in some courses are better than our JCs. In addition, people realize that gettting into JC is not a ticket to university, especially if you are not among the top JC. The curve like you said, has a lot to play with it. Hence, demand for mid to low tier JC has been falling over the years, so much so that a few has to merge.

I agree with slmkhoo. Most that got thru to university via poly could have done so via JC as well, and most who have done well in JC could have done well in poly. It’s a personal choice. As more abled students seek poly placement, the same curve will apply to diploma courses - some good students would not be able to secure a place because there are better students around.

The edge that poly provides, IMHO, is options while A Level is one track only: Get into university or head no where. Even what course you can choose in university is uncertain. For a top student, that’s not much of a worry but if you are middle of the road type, big challenge. Diploma is more free form - work, study or work then study, are all possible options. Thus, the greater appeal these days.

[Funz]

I was just talking to my staff whose son just got his results. During our time, poly is for those who score in the high teens or even 20s for their L1R5. Now to qualify for most of the poly courses, L1R2B2 have to be in the single digits.


A relative of mine did that. She was a 2 pointer, instead of heading for the top JCs, she went to poly with the intention of heading overseas for her degree. By doing that she shaved 1 year of her degree and saved on overseas fees and expenses. Started working with a company and is being sponsored for further studies in UK. Hers is not the only case that I know of.

I believe this is the kind of competition among the poly students these days.

[doodbug]

JC can be extremely painful for students who are weak in or dislike GP and PW. Both GP and PW grades must be included in the UAS for entry to most local universities. Practically every subject you take in JC counts in the UAS (you can’t drop lousy subjects in the same way you drop weak subjects for L1R5 computation).

[janet88]

doodbug:

JC can be extremely painful for students who are weak in or dislike GP and PW. Both GP and PW grades must be included in the UAS for entry to most local universities. Practically every subject you take in JC counts in the UAS (you can't drop lousy subjects in the same way you drop weak subjects for L1R5 computation).

GP and project work are reasons why son didn't want to take A levels.
he's a hands on person, so going through A level route would be a repetition of the o level nightmare.
many single digit o level students are taking poly route, so that really increases competition. even though there is English language in poly, it's not as gruelling as o level standard. biology is more interesting too.

[floppy]

Funz:

I was just talking to my staff whose son just got his results. During our time, poly is for those who score in the high teens or even 20s for their L1R5. Now to qualify for most of the poly courses, L1R2B2 have to be in the single digits.


A relative of mine did that. She was a 2 pointer, instead of heading for the top JCs, she went to poly with the intention of heading overseas for her degree. By doing that she shaved 1 year of her degree and saved on overseas fees and expenses. Started working with a company and is being sponsored for further studies in UK. Hers is not the only case that I know of.

I believe this is the kind of competition among the poly students these days.

I think the trend started in the 1990s. I remember in those times, a number of my friends headed to the poly instead of JC (I had the same intention, but after the first 3 months in JC, decided to stay on). There was quite a big hoohaa about 6 to 10 pointers choosing poly over JC back then but today, barely a blip if a 2 pointer wants to pick the poly route.