NUS High School of Mathematics and Science (Diploma)
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Jenn:
whether they consider additional criteria \"leadership\" \"Sport talent\" etc.. to make their offer? Do they accept \"appeal\"From what I heard, the waitlist in NUSH is pretty small. So chances of their waitlist getting in is very high. For some schools, their waitlist is as big as their confirmed list and chances of getting in is like 50% for the waitlist. In NUSH, while this is not made known, one would estimate that they make 150 confirmed offers and about 20 waitlist.
Out of the 150 confirmed offers, about 70 are maths platinum award winners. For this group of students, most of them will have multiple offers. It is estimated that about 30 of them choose NUSH and the rest going mainly to RI, HCI and RGS. -
When you fill in the online application, there is a section where you can put in the achievements for leadership and sports/cca. However, I am not sure if these would have any weightage. It may come in handy when child is in the boarderline cases for selection. This is only my guess. You could seek clarity in their admission talks.
CCA in this school appears to be more recreational than competitive. Given that they are rather small and new compared to other schools, they simply lack the numbers to compete with other schools on sports. But interestingly, they do have a school orchestra despite having smaller number of students. They also have some kind of leadership program in the school curriculum.
I am not sure how the appeal process works. But I do know that a few students who were rejected in the DSA camp were later called up for interviews. I think there were only 5 -10 of them. Similarly, a few who were rejected during the PSLE application stage were later offered places even though they have started a few days of school in other secondary schools. Note that the NUSH PSLE application is outside of the MOE process. So it means that PSLE students actually apply for 6 schools in the MOE process plus NUSH. Students admitted to NUSH thru PSLE are also given one of the 6 schools by MOE. They then choose one and this frees up space for others. -
Hi Jenn,
Between NUSH and the list of top schools below, given a choice, which is the natural choice for most as of today?
NUSH vs HCI/NYGH ---->
NUSH vs RI/RGS ------>
NUSH vs ACS(I) ------>
NUSH vs NJC ----->
Have I missed out any of above? -
Hi
These is the comments from my boys point of view.
Between NUSH and the list of top schools below, given a choice, which is the natural choice for most as of today?
NUSH vs HCI/NYGH ----> NUSH
NUSH vs RI/RGS ------> Undecidedable
NUSH vs ACS(I) ------> NUSH
NUSH vs NJC -----> NUSH
Have I missed out any of above?[/quote]
Yes, you never mention Dunman High! -
Different parents decide differently influenced by a variety of factors that is peculiar to them. I would think that the schools that most directly compete with NUSH for students are RI/RGS and HCI/NYGH.
These are my perception of some of the factors involved in making their decision:
1.\tSpecialisation vs Holistic education. The other schools will certainly advocate an all round education and also mention that they also have a strong math and science dept. What is different for NUSH is probably their focus on research.
2.\tSAP vs non SAP. Some kids easily fit into a SAP environment. Many others will stick out like a sore thumb. It is just not their natural inclination for Chinese language.
3.\tTradition and culture. Schools like RI/RGS, HCI/NYGH and ACSI have a history of strong tradition, unique culture and strong brand names. Students choosing NUSH are taking the path less travelled. NJC also has a strong history of achievement but I think they had lost some ground when they started their IP program late. So from last year they decided to admit students from year 1 instead of year 3. Some parents think they have resource and teething problems but will catch up eventually.
4.\tAffiliation. I do not know much about ACSI but I have the perception that most ACS primary kids are strongly affiliated to their school and would choose ACSI over all others. Indeed there are only probably 1 or 2 from ACS choosing NUSH each year. Some in Nanyang Pri also have a preference for HCI/NYGH. Kids in these schools are also influenced by the choice of many of their friends.
5.\tCo-ed vs single sex schools. NUSH is a mixed school. Some prefer this, others do not.
6.\tSpecial GEP classes. NUSH places GEP and non GEP in the same class. Some schools have special classes for GEP. Parents have asked about this during the open house – so I think it may influence some of them.
7.\t“A” level, IB or NUSH diploma. Some prefer the “A” level or IB because it is more known and makes it easier for ranking/comparison purposes. The NUSH diploma would be more unique and probably held by a smaller group of people. But it also makes it more difficult for comparison.
8.\tSchool fees. If your kid gets a scholarship then no problem. If not, the affordability factor comes in play. Schools like NJC, Dunman High and River Valley are not independent schools – so their fees are much lower. When NJC came into the picture last year, it suddenly opened another door for parents preferring lower fees and a non SAP environment.
Of course there are many other consideration and these are only some in my opinion. When you have multiple offers, choosing is not easy. Once you made a choice, you are probably stuck there for 6 years. -
As a parent, I think, ultimately the choice should boil down to your child's interest and aptitude in a certain subject area.
I would think that NUSH is for those students who not only have a very strong aptitude in Maths and Science but an equally strong interest in those subjects as well.
It has never been my intention to send my son to NUSH as I know that Maths and Sciences are not his 'cuppa' of tea though he is proficient in both subjects.
Similarly, HCI is also out of the question - cos he will stick out like a 'sore thumb\" in the very Chinese culture though again, he does well in the language too.
We know him well enough to know where his strengths and aptitude lie and thus choose a school that capitalises on his strength for humanities and languages. He is also not the 'mugging\" type - so the school culture must fit his personality. So far, he's doing fine in his sec school - a good balance of \"play' and 'work' . But I think he \"plays\" more than he \"works\" ! :lol: Anyway, he survived his first term!
So , parents, my advice is to put your child's interest , personality and aptitude first before any decision is made. Juz my humble opinion. -
Jenn:
Hi Jenn, should it be National Maths Olympiad which is hosted by NUSH ? rather then the one hosted by Hwa Chong? Or both?
2.\tOut of these 150 are students who did extremely well in Math Olympic competitions (like getting a platinum in the hwa chong math Olympics). They were offered guaranteed places in NUSH before the selection test. -
MdmKS:
i think the Maths Olympiad competition hosted by NUSH is open to P5 students. Hwa Chong Maths Olympiad open for selected P5 (likely the GEP class) and P6 students. And there is a World Maths Competition hosted by RI, which is only open to selected P6 students, nominated by the primary schools.
Hi Jenn, should it be National Maths Olympiad which is hosted by NUSH ? rather then the one hosted by Hwa Chong? Or both?Jenn:
2.\tOut of these 150 are students who did extremely well in Math Olympic competitions (like getting a platinum in the hwa chong math Olympics). They were offered guaranteed places in NUSH before the selection test.
The level of difficulty is in the same order.
Once you get a Platinum in the Hwa Chong Maths Olympiad, your chance of success in any DSA will be high. -
Hi MdmKS, They look at NMOS (which is conducted in Pri 5), SMOPS/APMOPS as well as the one conducted by RI. You see, the top scorers in each of these competitions then to be the same people.
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Hi Jenn
I disagreed with you.
My boy has a class mate take both NMOS & SMOPS last year because of his age. In NMOS his won gold & 5th position in the whole Singapore but in SMOPS his only won bronze.
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