DSA 2022
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bbbay\" post_id=\"2076291\" time=\"1658897129\" user_id=\"175278:
Nobody can stop some parents from getting completely wrong on what's good or bad for their kids. It's their own job to figure that out. Bad luck for their kids who have to suffer it.
But what if the intention is to get admitted into elite schools, because parents think elite schools environments are more conducive for academic excellence, and academic excellence will mean better chance of success in future? -
The fact that we are all on the KSP forum means that we parents are invested (probably too much) in our DC educational outcomes….and the label “tiger parent” may cut a little too close for comfort.
However I do think that we have to sort out the biases that we may carry from our own personal educational journey vs the reality of how different the current education system is, as it is currently evolving.
Kudos to our Ed Minister for trying to address the very real issues of mental health in our yout. Slowly bit by bit they are introducing steps to counter the over focus on academics at the expense of our youth mental health. They are also introducing steps to encourage more assimilation in school between races, religions and socio economic status. There are also steps in place to allow students of mixed abilites at the P6 stage to potentially bloom at later stages in good schools. The next batch of P1 registrants will likely find they will finish with friends from a much broader spectrum of the community which is much more like real life. There are students from NYGH for example who have shared that they feel like they are siloed as they have generally only had experiences mixing with just a select group of students that are mostly of one race, gender and religion. And within this subset of the students, they are then sorted by academic ability. There is a lot of judging and academic “sorting” that goes on at a student level. So you can imagine that those who enter these top IP schools via some non academic domains face enormous pressures. This is a result of the “sorting” system that happens from PSLE, and the desire to entire top IP schools with the notion that this is a better and more conducive environment for academic excellence.
Also, at the Uni level, Medicine in US is a postgrad degree now. No need for double science, and the second science is picked in the second degree or in the last year of the first degree. The same for Australia, most of Med courses are not requiring double science with a trend towards a more holistic profile of Med student. I have met Drs in SG that specifically tell me that they prefer students who come from a double degree as they have a more rounded approach to life sciences, are more mature and have a wider and more holistic approach to their patients. Hence the attraction for SOTA students who do IBDP where you can only do 1 Science because of subject groupings which have a compulsory Group 6 Art subject. Double science in SOTA (ie drop Art Form) is only available for a few students, is highly competitive to get into and as SOTA explains, is mostly NOT required for uni options unless for a specific purpose. Also I believe the only countries that require Triple science for Med is India and Holland.
Whilst DSA can be a way of securing a spot into a top IP school, be careful what you wish for. If your child is not going to cope academically in these top IP schools, the “conducive” academic environement may have a very negative affect on your child, and may exert an irreparable strain on your relationship with your child throughout secondary, as the child can not see way out and the blame game will begin as to why they are in that situation in the first place. There are many DSA kids that also end up really despising their coaches due to the pressure placed on them. What may start as a passion can also turn into a burden which can completely kill their joy. It might be wise to do some research on the ground for who the coaches are for the non academic DSA since they may even spend more time with your child each week than you, and bear a heavy responsibility for your child’s mental development, growth and confidence
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hewell\" post_id=\"2076297\" time=\"1658899731\" user_id=\"198034:
Agree. Ultimately parents are responsible for the decisions they make for their kids. There's no rights or wrongs. I also subscribe to the belief that a better placed school will have majority of the students doing well academically and in the future university and career placements. There are of cos outliers as well but bearing the unknowns, I tend to go with how the majority will fare in the school......of cos in all these things mentioned, the child must be a rather good fit for the school as well. Don't want the child to end up as an outlier in the school.
Nobody can stop some parents from getting completely wrong on what's good or bad for their kids. It's their own job to figure that out. Bad luck for their kids who have to suffer it. -
Notabene\" post_id=\"2076298\" time=\"1658899761\" user_id=\"36517:
I agree. The same can be said about GEP and yet, we have parents who send their kids for GEP classes and \"groom\" them into being GEP'able students. But that's a discussion for a different day.Whilst DSA can be a way of securing a spot into a top IP school, be careful what you wish for. If your child is not going to cope academically in these top IP schools, the “conducive” academic environement may have a very negative affect on your child, and may exert an irreparable strain on your relationship with your child throughout secondary, as the child can not see way out and the blame game will begin as to why they are in that situation in the first place. There are many DSA kids that also end up really despising their coaches due to the pressure placed on them. What may start as a passion can also turn into a burden which can completely kill their joy. It might be wise to do some research on the ground for who the coaches are for the non academic DSA since they may even spend more time with your child each week than you, and bear a heavy responsibility for your child’s mental development, growth and confidence
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An important point has been crystallised for me: “Good fit”. Tks parents.
Could the DSA interviews for the purpose of establishing whether the child can fit into the schools? Schools invite applicants with impressive respective domain profiles and P5/6 AL Scores not too far away from school COP or in worth considered range, for interviews. And interviews will give a sense of the child ability (character) to cope with the demand of that school - can they fit in the curriculum? -
sapphiree\" post_id=\"2076254\" time=\"1658886590\" user_id=\"33790:
Did not received any email from SST for the 2nd round yet.
anyone received round 2 email from SST for 13 Aug?
Look like the chances of getting into the 2nd round of selection is slim now.
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bbbay\" post_id=\"2076305\" time=\"1658901985\" user_id=\"175278:
Schools, generally, invite a wide range of applicants. For a AL6 school (t-score 260+), inviting students up to t-score 230 (AL12? Not sure how that would translate into AL these days since there isn't a lot of data points) and awarding them with a CO is not unheard of.
An important point has been crystallised for me: “Good fit”. Tks parents.
Could the DSA interviews for the purpose of establishing whether the child can fit into the schools? Schools invite applicants with impressive respective domain profiles and P5/6 AL Scores not too far away from school COP or in worth considered range, for interviews. And interviews will give a sense of the child ability (character) to cope with the demand of that school - can they fit in the curriculum?
Therefore, you are correct in saying that the purpose of the interview is to establish 'fit' based on both attitude and aptitude in the talent area. Having the credentials will get you through the first hurdle, the second one where you are being tested on your character is a bit harder to fake
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Ma3:
Selection is really unexplainable. This not only happens to dsa to secondary. It happens to shortlisting of PSC scholarship too. My child's classmate is a Student Council President with GPA4 for all subjects in a TOP school at Bishan. Unfortunately she's not selected.coast:
PSC Scholarship is for those intending to pursue a career in the Public Service. I know of some top students not intending to apply for PSC Scholarship as they do not see themselves as public servants (e.g, entrepreneurs, academic career, …).Ma3\" post_id=\"2076166\" time=\"1658827437\" user_id=\"198632:[quote=Ma3 post_id=2076166 time=1658827437 user_id=198632]not selected for interview. Yes, Y1 to Y4 GPA 4 and Y5-Y6 all As and also has additional H3 subject with strong VIA portfolio
If she has applied for PSC Scholarship, it is quite surprising that she was not selected for interview. Given her impressive portfolio and achievements, I think she has a very bright future ahead of her. Hope she got herself another scholarship.
Thanks for sharing. -
mom2girls\" post_id=\"2076280\" time=\"1658894844\" user_id=\"65744:
Good to know about Chem being the compulsory one , I was not aware of this
Triple Sci is not a requirement for Medicine at university level. As many parents have mentioned Chem is compulsory and you can choose bio or physics. In JC you can only choose two sciences in any case. However from what I understand is that if you choose for eg chem and phy is upper sec it will be easier to take chem and phy in JC level than to go for biology as there will be a steep learning curve.
Some kids are clear in not liking a particular science and choose to pursue either bio or physics (chem is compulsory). Some kids prefer to do all three as they like all sciences and are able to cope with the content.
Anyway in my case , I am trying to keep all options open for now as much as possible for my kid , he says he is generally fascinated by physics , quantum physics in particular, but you never know . In fact he said he started liking chem and bio after going to nush camp ha ha , he was surprised himself -
phtthp\" post_id=\"2076293\" time=\"1658897486\" user_id=\"35251:
Noted , thanks for explaining!
This one, not to worry
Because
By the end of Sec 2,
after studying Science and done all the Sec 1 & Sec 2 ( Term 1 to 4 ) Science (Assessments + Lab work) for past 2 years in Lower Secondary,
your children themselves
will know
whether they like or don't quite like (Physics + Bio).
They themselves will know whether they have a natural inclination, towards Bio or towards Physics, because
they are going to choose Sec 3 subject combination, come year-end October Sec 2.
Triple Pure Sciences combination -
whether u study in
(O-level or IP),
is very demanding, very heavy going.
1) Not all students, can handle Triple Science very demanding work load.
2) even if u want Triple Science, first, must be able to meet the school's internal academic criteria, set.
If one cannot meet, can still appeal.
Yes, we do have students appealing for Triple Science. Their 1st choice submission opted for, at end of Sec 2 (October), was \"Triple Science\" subject combination. But in the end, the schools allocated them \"Double Science\" instead. However, they rejected \"Double Science\" school allocation, and wrote in to appeal.
But,
whether the appeal can go through successfully or not, is another separate matter.
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And
for those who very much prefer to opt for \"Double\" Science\" instead, because they feel that they are in a better off position doing \"Double Science\",
to decide between dropping Physics or drop Bio :-
3) students who are inclined towards Pro-engineering future career, they will choose Sec 3 (Physics + Chem) combination, drop Bio.
4) students who are weak in Sec 2 (Maths and / or Physics) under the subject \"Science\" , they will tend to drop Physics because they have no confidence in Physics,
tend to opt for Sec 3 Bio instead.
Because
they know that if they already cannot cope with O-level Physics, what more, when they go up to JC, continue to take A-level Physics, which is a lot more tougher than O-level Physics ? Will be a disaster to them ! So, might as well cut the loss now, drop Physics at end of Sec 2, and go for Bio instead.
Any way,
when time passage reaches the end of Sec 2,
not to worry,
your kid will know what are his Science (strength & weakness),
your kid will know what to choose / drop ...
But yes for now we didn’t choose schools for dsa based on triple science being offered , just chose one that offers advanced stem programs 🙂 let’s see how it goes
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