DSA 2022

[floppy]

bammama\" post_id=\"2071895\" time=\"1656290191\" user_id=\"198444:

Is it true that all the elite schools (RI, vs, acsi etc.) look at the student's academic results first instead of the talent when they choose for shortlisting?

Eg. Student X is the best in the sport (podium finishing, national levels etc) but results very average. Student Y not very outstanding in the sports but results good. Edusave awards etc.

Which student will the school choose??

The schools are looking for both talent in the talent area, as well as academic results that suggest that they will be able to cope in the stream or in the IP.

The first student is likely to stand a better chance depending on how “average” is “average”. As for the second student, if he / she has chosen to DSA in sports, he / she has picked the wrong talent area.

[zac's mum]

bammama\" post_id=\"2071895\" time=\"1656290191\" user_id=\"198444:

Is it true that all the elite schools (RI, vs, acsi etc.) look at the student's academic results first instead of the talent when they choose for shortlisting?

Eg. Student X is the best in the sport (podium finishing, national levels etc) but results very average. Student Y not very outstanding in the sports but results good. Edusave awards etc.

Which student will the school choose??

Hearsay the schools which select Sports/Music DSA candidates based on academic results first are: HCI, DHS, NJC.

[bammama]

Thank you for the fast reply! I was just wondering out loud becos I was reading the past years DSA threads and got confused. Sounds like the schools value academic results over the talent areas. Made me question the point of DSA. If the schools still emphasize on good academic results before shortlisting. 😅

floppy\" post_id=\"2071897\" time=\"1656290777\" user_id=\"97579:

The schools are looking for both talent in the talent area, as well as academic results that suggest that they will be able to cope in the stream or in the IP.

The first student is likely to stand a better chance depending on how “average” is “average”. As for the second student, if he / she has chosen to DSA in sports, he / she has picked the wrong talent area.

[Mr.025413Clumsy]

This is my first time on the merry-go-round so I may be mistaken. I believe that most schools will assess the student’s academic results first as part of the initial shortlist. I suspect that the schools know what their DSA cut-off AL score is like and if the student is unlikely to meet that score (based on P5 YE and P6 MY results), then the student is less likely to be shortlisted regardless of their talent.


This is also because there is not much else that the schools can go on since the initial DSA submission (which has the 10 entries for achievements) is quite basic and unverified (unlike academic results which are in the MOE system and verifiable). This is not to say that the talent achievements etc. are disregarded but rather that the first round of shortlisting is likely based more on academic performance.

My 2c.

[alie]

To be far, "good" academic means being able to "survive" in some of these schools. DS3 is having PSLE this year and DS1 is in JC1 IP in one of more sort after schools mentioned here. Allow me to share a bit of what I feel.

DS1 started in a sports not in his school CCA. He is very academic person and I felt he needs to learn to be flexible and such, we "push" him into a sports since P1. Didnt know or plan for him to DSA eventually.
So come P6, DS1 was not the top in this sports, ie. not a Nat player. But perform consistent at "below cloud level". By some coincident, he was invited to a Math Camp by one of the IP school, and the rest we just followed instructions after being introduced to DSA from there.
For the sports that he was in, we never thought of DSA him. Although we found out later that one of the IP school coach actually submitted DS1 name in for DSA. We heard he was "angry" after that as he assumed everyone would have submitted to his school. To clarify, the coach knows that academic must be a baseline, according to the principal, and he cannot admit even the top Nat player if academic baseline is not met, of course the "good" academic for DSA is not the "good" for the real PSLE results for those who can get in by results to those schools.
So DS1 got in by Academic domain (Maths), J1 now
DS2 got into a SAP school, OP by PSLE results, Sec 2 now
DS3 now trying to DSA
From DS1 and DS2 experiences, IP syllabus is very "independent". DS1 still in contact with those in his sports as he also represented his school until Sec 2 (in addition to his other CCA but he continue to pursue in this own time 2 days weekly) before he told me he wants to "retire" Sec 3 onwards cos academic getting heavier. Believe me, most of this DSA friends is not enjoying secondary school life, and a few actually did not continue to year 5 but went Poly.
For DS2, his is SAP OP track, so IMO, the syllabus very clear and structured to me. Very steady and also allows you to see and plan, or even catch up if need to. DS1 IP very difficult to catch up because its all over the place.
Just sharing the above, no right no wrong, but some after thoughts. We also dont know what is right or wrong for DS3, but just let him DSA and let things take its course. Important, they have tried their best.

[bammama]

Hmmm I guess in conclusion,


- if the student doesn’t meet the ‘baseline’ academic requirements for the school, the students chances will be very low. Regardless of his achievements. Esp for the elite schools. Cos the student may end up struggling to keep up with the curriculum in the school if selected.

Am I right?

[Daddy with one son]

bammama\" post_id=\"2071912\" time=\"1656295781\" user_id=\"198444:

Hmmm I guess in conclusion,

- if the student doesn't meet the 'baseline' academic requirements for the school, the students chances will be very low. Regardless of his achievements. Esp for the elite schools. Cos the student may end up struggling to keep up with the curriculum in the school if selected.

Am I right?

The follow question is… what is the baseline of each school? Maybe 3-4 AL above their PSLE AL cut off?

[alie]

bammama\" post_id=\"2071912\" time=\"1656295781\" user_id=\"198444:

Hmmm I guess in conclusion,

- if the student doesn't meet the 'baseline' academic requirements for the school, the students chances will be very low. Regardless of his achievements. Esp for the elite schools. Cos the student may end up struggling to keep up with the curriculum in the school if selected.

Am I right?

Yah, especially IP, where the students cannot \"bailout\" during sec 4...but not sure how some of DS1 classmate managed to go Poly and overseas.

[phtthp]

Daddy with one son\" post_id=\"2071913\" time=\"1656295946\" user_id=\"102861:[quote=\"Daddy with one son\" post_id=2071913 time=1656295946 user_id=102861]
The follow question is… what is the baseline of each school? Maybe 3-4 AL above their PSLE AL cut off?[/quote]

DSA baseline

If is IP school :-
( 2 to 3 ) points, away from PSLE AL Cut off point, for that DSA school applied for. The more \"atas\" the IP school is, the stricter they are.

They will study your (past years' Report card results, the standard of your primary school which u come from), and gauge (estimate) from there, what your projected actual AL PSLE score, likely to be.

If is O-level school :-
can exceed 2 points, from that DSA school's PSLE AL Cut off point.

[zac's mum]

Technospaz\" post_id=\"2071904\" time=\"1656293335\" user_id=\"135989:

This is my first time on the merry-go-round so I may be mistaken. I believe that most schools will assess the student's academic results first as part of the initial shortlist. I suspect that the schools know what their DSA cut-off AL score is like and if the student is unlikely to meet that score (based on P5 YE and P6 MY results), then the student is less likely to be shortlisted regardless of their talent.

This is also because there is not much else that the schools can go on since the initial DSA submission (which has the 10 entries for achievements) is quite basic and unverified (unlike academic results which are in the MOE system and verifiable). This is not to say that the talent achievements etc. are disregarded but rather that the first round of shortlisting is likely based more on academic performance.

My 2c.

Speaking specifically for SJI Visual Arts, my son neither has fantastic academic results nor any training in those Art enrichment schools. Yet we received the email invite to submit his Art portfolio. Thus I am extremely grateful that they gave him a chance at all. Will see if they cut him off at this point due to poorer calibre of artwork compared to the highly experienced ones, but any further chance (for interview) will be a bonus not a given. I told him to just continue revising and assume nothing else.