JC or Poly?

[Funz]

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.

My time, it is a semi big hooha to choose poly if you qualify for JC. Not just 6-10 pointers.

[.010675zeit]

It’s the academic nature & depth of the H2 subjects that some students absolutely dread. Some teens just hate reading up on philosophical humanities articles, analysing ‘to be or not to be’ questions, debating about current affairs, solving higher order math and science probs that a vast majority of pp won’t be using much in their future working life…

[deardear07]

i realized that there are bonus points for entry via MSP/ CSP, or simply having pass in both EL and HMT if they choose JC as first choice before any poly/ ITE choices…seems that MOE is doing something to attract students to join JC…

[hercules]

Funz:

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.

My girl did similarly more than 10 years ago. I was quite hands free when come to kids' education and their choices (unless need special guidance like my grand niece).

When she looked through her JC/Poly choices and told me she wanted to go poly (think biomedical had a COP of 7 during her time and not sure how many points now), I supported her decision as I have faith in her knowing what she wanted (she wanted more hands on lab experiments).

If I remember correctly, more than 3/4 of her class went to NUS and NTU after poly graduation (since kids of the class were with COP of 7). NTU offered a one year exemption and NUS offered no exemption (wonder if this is still the same now).

*for Clara's case, my take is child ideally should opt for poly business courses but if child die die wants JC, then so be it coz it's her choice (not easy to fend off peer pressure). Whether JC or Poly also requires hardwork and hardwork may seem to be 'more enjoyable' if the interest is there, else can be torturing.

[floppy]

hercules:

...
When she looked through her JC/Poly choices and told me she wanted to go poly (think biomedical had a COP of 7 during her time and not sure how many points now), I supported her decision as I have faith in her knowing what she wanted (she wanted more hands on lab experiments).

If I remember correctly, more than 3/4 of her class went to NUS and NTU after poly graduation (since kids of the class were with COP of 7). NTU offered a one year exemption and NUS offered no exemption (wonder if this is still the same now).
...

NP's and SP's Diploma in Biomedical Science (N59) - COP for L1R2B2 is still 7. RP's COP is 13.

Local universities usually offers minimal credit exemption while overseas universities (even prestigious ones) are more generous.

[deardear07]

i knw this is abit off topic but for students who aspire to be medical doctors, do they choose jc or poly route? if they choose poly, which course is best?

[janet88]

if single digit o level holders choose to go to poly, then it’s increasing competition for many who have 11 or 13 points.

[hercules]

floppy:

NP's and SP's Diploma in Biomedical Science (N59) - COP for L1R2B2 is still 7. RP's COP is 13.

Local universities usually offers minimal credit exemption while overseas universities (even prestigious ones) are more generous.

Thanks for the fast update!

Of the about 3/4 of her classmates who made it to NTU and NUS, half went to NTU and half went to NUS even though to me the choice is apparent that should choose NTU coz of the one year exemption.

Those who chose NUS preferred it as 'NUS' sounds better than NTU. Then in first year of NUS, many kpkb that content was a repeat of the poly's stuff.

[hercules]

deardear07:

i knw this is abit off topic but for students who aspire to be medical doctors, do they choose jc or poly route? if they choose poly, which course is best?

in my girl's class, one made it to medicine and one to maybe dentistry or pharmacy (out of maybe 60 kids in my memory). Can research more on these statistics since my info should be outdated.

if intention is to aim for medicine, then may have to look at biomedical courses in poly.

[floppy]

hercules:

deardear07:

i knw this is abit off topic but for students who aspire to be medical doctors, do they choose jc or poly route? if they choose poly, which course is best?

in my girl's class, one made it to medicine and one to maybe dentistry or pharmacy (out of maybe 60 kids in my memory). Can research more on these statistics since my info should be outdated.

if intention is to aim for medicine, then may have to look at biomedical courses in poly.

You can refer to http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/apply-to-nus/Poly-subject-prerequisites.html for pre-requisite diplomas. For Medicine, generally the biomedical sciences / biomedical tech diplomas.