DSA 2022

[mystique_j]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2067091\" time=\"1652239330\" user_id=\"175278:

Does it mean below average main stream schools would
have no DSA applicants even for student likely to qualify for N streams?

I’ve seen kids applied and got in via DSA for mainstream schools with PSLE score range of 11-17, 13-19.

[Shortribs]

ainunnajib\" post_id=\"2067232\" time=\"1652320823\" user_id=\"166513:

Hi! Thank you for your kind advice & detailed response!

I do been wondering if \"less than Gold/Platinum/top\" in NMOS, SMOPS, and RIPMWC stands any chance for DSA Math into RI/HCI. There's probably higher chance for NUSH due to their 100% DSA policy with cohort size of ~180 students. So your \"prima facie\" reply nailed it.

I guess I'll go for full transparency here as we need as much advice as we can get, and we do not have any friends who'd been in this similar DSA Math journey. We do have friends who gotten into NUSH but via SIE (after PSLE), and into RI via Sec 1 posting. But we're not confident with PSLE either due to mother tongue & English.

So here's my son's full DSA awards/activities list, would love to have suggestions & comments please 🙏 to maximize his chance getting into NUSH or RI or HCI or SST or NJC via DSA Math/STEM/Infocomm route: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CGLhSDwH0ejd13owa1B3ulMcCcsonQz-tTSp29xxOaQ/edit?usp=sharing

I would say in your 3 DSA choices, to put a top-tier school, a mid-tier school and one which is a sure-win. TBH, I think RI is a long shot as I understand the school has already reached out to a pool of target DSA candidates. Same goes for NUSH which typically invites NMOS gold medallists to attend their special classes in P6. They will probably select from this small pool first. The goal of DSA for most parents is to secure a confirmed offer at a good sch presumably so PSLE will be less of a worry later, so I think it might be best to include some slightly less competitive schs in the mix.

Your son has a strong portfolio and clearly you have been very diligent in exposing him to many math competitions. Would you consider ACS (Indep) as an option? I think your son has a good chance of DSA success there. NJC and Victoria School might also be good options. My 2 cents.

[phtthp]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2067091\" time=\"1652239330\" user_id=\"175278:

Does it mean below average main stream schools would
have no DSA applicants even for student likely to qualify for N streams?

\"below\" average mainstream schools sure have DSA applicants.

Every year, how many P6 students take PSLE ?
Not 1000, but
Several thousands of P6 students. Of course, \"below\" average (O-level and N-level) track schools will also have applicants.

Just that they keep low profile even when offered COs, won't share much here because

do u realise that
for so many past DSA batches, the questions posed are very skewed, always focussed on IP schools like (R*, H*, NUS High, etc. ) family ?
Year in, year out, you always see anxious parents always asking same old thing :-

Example (FAQ)
============


A)
Any experienced parent can share what are the DSA interview questions like, for (R * / H* / NUS High) interview or selection tests ?

B)
can share the profile of successful applicants for DSA (Maths / Science / English / Bilingualism), in (R* / H*) family, or what certificate(s) they possess ?

==========================

So,
maybe it is high time to create different thread for different clear segregation, then those Non-IP applicants will be more willing, to share more, that is :-

1) create one thread for
\"Apply DSA, into IP schools\"

And

2) create another separate thread for
\"Apply DSA, into O-level & N-level\" Mainstream schools

[floppy]

ainunnajib\" post_id=\"2067232\" time=\"1652320823\" user_id=\"166513:

Hi! Thank you for your kind advice & detailed response!

I do been wondering if \"less than Gold/Platinum/top\" in NMOS, SMOPS, and RIPMWC stands any chance for DSA Math into RI/HCI. There's probably higher chance for NUSH due to their 100% DSA policy with cohort size of ~180 students. So your \"prima facie\" reply nailed it.

I guess I'll go for full transparency here as we need as much advice as we can get, and we do not have any friends who'd been in this similar DSA Math journey. We do have friends who gotten into NUSH but via SIE (after PSLE), and into RI via Sec 1 posting. But we're not confident with PSLE either due to mother tongue & English.

So here's my son's full DSA awards/activities list, would love to have suggestions & comments please 🙏 to maximize his chance getting into NUSH or RI or HCI or SST or NJC via DSA Math/STEM/Infocomm route: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CGLhSDwH0ejd13owa1B3ulMcCcsonQz-tTSp29xxOaQ/edit?usp=sharing

Interesting list of awards / activities.

However, the ones that probably carry the most weight for DSA considerations in the first round are row 2 and row 4. The rest are nice to have, but matter very little, apart from giving the impression that this person likes math / science. A number of these activities and awards are external comps / activities which most schools don't take part (i.e. no basis for comparison), do not restrict participation (i.e. unable to assess level of participants / difficulty) and have a somewhat commercial angle (i.e. generally favour the well-off).

IMHO, the disclosure doesn't change the calculus:
1. Your best chance lies with SST.

2. NUSH is somewhat of a low probability iffy. Nevertheless, it should be included as one of the choices since DSA and SIE are the only options of entering the school.

3. You will probably struggle to stand out as an applicant in any of the IP schools, be it RI, HCI, NJC etc. Most, if not all applicants, will have a somewhat similar or better profile (especially, if you only compare row 2 and row 4). Hence, I will go with the \"die-die cannot let go otherwise you cannot forgive yourself\" option, whichever that may be. Do be realistic about your chances and don't be disappointed if you don't get a call up.

[Toomuchlaundry]

floppy\" post_id=\"2067316\" time=\"1652405937\" user_id=\"97579:

Interesting list of awards / activities.

However, the ones that probably carry the most weight for DSA considerations in the first round are row 2 and row 4. The rest are nice to have, but matter very little, apart from giving the impression that this person likes math / science. A number of these activities and awards are external comps / activities which most schools don't take part (i.e. no basis for comparison), do not restrict participation (i.e. fee payment) and have a somewhat commercial angle (i.e. generally favour the well-off).

IMHO, the disclosure doesn't change the calculus:
1. Your best chance lies with SST.

2. NUSH is somewhat of a low probability iffy. Nevertheless, it should be included as one of the choices since DSA and SIE are the only options of entering the school.

3. You will probably struggle to stand out as an applicant in any of the IP schools, be it RI, HCI, NJC etc. Most, if not all applicants, will have a somewhat similar or better profile (especially, if you only compare row 2 and row 4). Hence, I will go with the \"die-die cannot let go otherwise you cannot forgive yourself\" option, whichever that may be. Do be realistic about your chances and don't be disappointed if you don't get a call up.

Oof, honest but true.

My kid was in the top class of a popular SAP primary school 2 years ago, where almost the whole class applied for DSA. In the highly competitive academic domains, only one Olympiad Platinum winner (the only one in the school) made it.

My kid is herself really into Math and Science and spends a lot of time on them. But in the DSA interviews, including with NUSH, the schools were keen to separate real brilliance in the DSA domain vs. what I might have to call, for lack of a better term, parent-funded coaching.

Which may account for an odd statistic I've noticed in DSA admissions. The great SAP primary school my kid is from only saw 10 or so DSA admissions. But the two neighbourhood primary schools near our home actually saw about 20 DSA admissions, plus or minus 5 kids. I'm not sure if home address or parent-funded coaching is a factor in DSA admissions, or even that MOE will cop to it as a factor!

Similarly, I noticed Law faculty in NUS has widened admissions tests to all JCs and even Polys, excluding the middling ones in top JCs, and PSC scholarships are trying to diversify away from just Raffles and Hwa Chong. Worrying for me as my kid is headed to Hwa chong (hopefully)!

[Mima]

floppy\" post_id=\"2067316\" time=\"1652405937\" user_id=\"97579:

Interesting list of awards / activities.

However, the ones that probably carry the most weight for DSA considerations in the first round are row 2 and row 4. The rest are nice to have, but matter very little, apart from giving the impression that this person likes math / science. A number of these activities and awards are external comps / activities which most schools don't take part (i.e. no basis for comparison), do not restrict participation (i.e. unable to assess level of participants / difficulty) and have a somewhat commercial angle (i.e. generally favour the well-off).

IMHO, the disclosure doesn't change the calculus:
1. Your best chance lies with SST.

2. NUSH is somewhat of a low probability iffy. Nevertheless, it should be included as one of the choices since DSA and SIE are the only options of entering the school.

3. You will probably struggle to stand out as an applicant in any of the IP schools, be it RI, HCI, NJC etc. Most, if not all applicants, will have a somewhat similar or better profile (especially, if you only compare row 2 and row 4). Hence, I will go with the \"die-die cannot let go otherwise you cannot forgive yourself\" option, whichever that may be. Do be realistic about your chances and don't be disappointed if you don't get a call up.

Why is NUSH a low probability? This year they are inviting all the applicants for written test....want to know what kind of profile does NUSH look for?

[Shortribs]

Mima\" post_id=\"2067345\" time=\"1652415733\" user_id=\"194754:

Why is NUSH a low probability? This year they are inviting all the applicants for written test....want to know what kind of profile does NUSH look for?

Yes, there is a written test. But the sch has also already started its outreach months ago, selected p6 students have already been invited to attend classes there as part of their recruitment efforts. These include the following:

- IMSO maths and science national team members
- GEP math and science masterclass participants
- NMOS and SPSO gold recipients

That already takes up easily >100 of the slots in NUSH. Out of a cohort of 170-180 that's already more than half, so the odds are really not in your favour if you aren't in any of the above groups.

[zac's mum]

Shortribs\" post_id=\"2067352\" time=\"1652418469\" user_id=\"193978:

Yes, there is a written test. But the sch has also already started its outreach months ago, selected p6 students have already been invited to attend classes there as part of their recruitment efforts. These include the following:

- IMSO maths and science national team members
- GEP math and science masterclass participants
- NMOS and SPSO gold recipients

That already takes up easily >100 of the slots in NUSH. Out of a cohort of 170-180 that's already more than half, so the odds are really not in your favour if you aren't in any of the above groups.

…and I heard thru the grapevine (unverified) that they have already given out COs to the top handful even before the MOE portal opened.

So their seats are already confirmed and the written test is merely a formality.

[Shortribs]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2067353\" time=\"1652419193\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2067353 time=1652419193 user_id=53606]
…and I heard thru the grapevine (unverified) that they have already given out COs to the top handful even before the MOE portal opened.

So their seats are already confirmed and the written test is merely a formality.[/quote]

This is correct. The IMSO team (24 pax every year) will be the first to receive CO. This group is exempted from the test.

[zac's mum]

Shortribs\" post_id=\"2067356\" time=\"1652419295\" user_id=\"193978:

This is correct. The IMSO team (24 pax every year) will be the first to receive CO. This group is exempted from the test.

Thx for clarifying that they are exempted from the test.

Not all will take up the offer though. Basically everyone else just has to wait for the leftover seats. Odds not high is correct.