NUS High School of Mathematics and Science (Diploma)

[octopusmum]

though he has done consistently well, i am not sure if he will do well enough to go to a good school. anything can happen during exams…besides he is now competing with all p6 kids in s’pore…

also, i am worried that his english/chinese may pull him down…
i can just imagine the dilemma that one faces during the time to exercise the option whether to accept the dsa offer. i was telling dh that going by dsa route is like a gamble. at least he can secure a place in a good school if he did not do well in the psle but what if he performs v well and can go to an even better school? i guess we must think thru carefully and choose the one which we know we will not regret whatever the results are.

[traineeks]

octopusmum:

thks for all the replies.

my ds is quite interested to go to NUSH, perhaps after hearing me saying that he can skip both O and A levels... His Maths and Science results r quite strong (as compared to his languages). which is why i think NUSH will be suitable for him. of course, he is also interested in the 2 subjects. headache now is to decide whether to go for DSA to NUSH or other schools (like NJC) or don't go for DSA at all. Though NUSH is a v good school, i am not sure if it is too early to \"confirm\" that he will not do well in humanities and thus put him to a school that is so specialised in Maths and Science only. Studying in mainstream schools will give him more choices in future, right? another thing to consider is the distance. i am staying in Toa Payoh so dh is concerned that ds has to travel quite a dist to get to NUSH should he be there....sigh!
also, there is another decision, should we go for DSA at all? though his results are okay, but he has no fantastic CCAs.....initially, i didn't consider DSA but now , i am worried what if he didn't do well in PSLE:(

regards
octopusmum

To apply for dsa or not?

If your child is above average, I would suggest to apply dsa for 1 or 2 schools. To rely solely on PSLE is like cutting off one avenue when you have 2 to get into a IP school. Relying only on PSLE is fine when child is strong in 3 or 4 PSLE subjects. It is known that someone strong in maths and science but weak in languages may not get PSLE score that meets the COP of IP schools.

I know of a number of students who entered via dsa and did not meet the PSLE COP of the schools. Many of them are now also doing better than others who entered with PSLE of 260+.

When you accept a school's dsa offer and then your PSLE score turns out to be higher than COP for another preferred school, you can always appeal to transfer to that preferred school. There were many such cases and many have gotten their transfer.

No fantastic CCA ?
I don't know about other schools, but I think for NUSH your CCA will have little weightage. It would help if he has maths olympic awards but many who entered also do not have such maths awards and other maths awardees have also been rejected by school.

Toa Payoh is far ?
You are lucky to be in Toa Payoh. It is like in the central of singapore. I know of students who travel to NUSH from hougang, sengkang, Simei, tampines and east coast. When circle line is complete, it will be easier to go from Toa Payoh to Bona Vista.

[octopusmum]

Hi traineeks


thks v much for your reply.
it sure helps to answer a few doubts i have…
i guess i will give DSA a try, most likely NUSH and NJC. do u know if NJC give a lot of weightage to CCA?

thks
octopusmum

[octopusmum]

just an update, have submitted the DSA application for NUSH last night.

heard that the test is v tough…

[Sun_2010]

octopusmum:

just an update, have submitted the DSA application for NUSH last night.

heard that the test is v tough....

Hi Octopusmum,

Sailing in the same boat as u. But waiting for report book before applying.
Ds is very interested in NUSH, ( a geeky girl if i may say so - maths and science are her core interests) . Hope she can get in.
But i just worry that even if she gets in, what if she changes her mind later, what if she finds it too stressful to cope... But location wise it is just nice realtively close.

Anyway, read ur questions, they reflected mine too. Yes lets rally for one another. :celebrate:

PS- u really have 8 arms, hehe

[Jennifer]

octopusmum:

just an update, have submitted the DSA application for NUSH last night.

heard that the test is v tough....

My boy went for the tests and camp last year. He enjoyed them. But unsuccessful.

About the DSA, we applied successfully at sch A. But my boy was not keen to attend this school (another story why we dsa with this sch). In the end, we waited for the central posting to end, then appealed to transfer to sch B. My boy PSLE score was 6 points above the cut off point of sch B.

The appeal process is simple. Get a release letter from the successful DSA sch, then go to the desired sch to submit appeal letter.

One sec sch allows appeal forms to be submitted on the same day PSLE result was released. Another sec sch only accepts the appeal form after the central posting is completed.

The sec sch we lodged the appeal with informed us that the result of the appeal would only be known in early Jan becos the closing date of the appeal is 28th Dec. In the end, we were informed before this date.

Hths

[MdmKS]

Jennifer:

octopusmum:

just an update, have submitted the DSA application for NUSH last night.

heard that the test is v tough....

My boy went for the tests and camp last year. He enjoyed them. But unsuccessful.


Hths

Hi Jennifer, can share what level of Maths and Science (examples of topics) will be the NUSH test

[mathsparks]

octopusmum:

just an update, have submitted the DSA application for NUSH last night.

heard that the test is v tough....

tough anot is subjective, I guess. ds made it thru' both camp and test while his classmate didn't clear the test.

from last year's test, one of the qn was whether the mass of a nail is the same after rusting..so, is this type of qn tough?

[xxjustakidxx]

mathsparks:

octopusmum:

just an update, have submitted the DSA application for NUSH last night.

heard that the test is v tough....

tough anot is subjective, I guess. ds made it thru' both camp and test while his classmate didn't clear the test.

from last year's test, one of the qn was whether the mass of a nail is the same after rusting..so, is this type of qn tough?

Should be lighter right?

[mathsparks]

ermm, idk :? go google the answer and share?