2009 DSA(Direct School Admission)

[edanson]

[quote]Fairy wrote:


No leh. My younger child who is in a GEP school is P6 (mainstream) this year. Have not heard from the school regarding any DSA stuff. No help at all, so far. School is not even willing to release report book for DSA purpose until after SA1. Also have not receive any guidance from the principal on this so far. My elder child, a P6 GEP student from last year's batch had a different experience from the same school though. The teachers constantly talk about DSA to them, had a mock interview session with the cohort & etc by this time last year.


I notice that in our children's school too - a gep school. They are in mainstream. No training but those in gep have talks & preparation for dsa.[/quote]ok, there is reason why the school is spending all their time on the GEP and not the main stream yet, because the closing date for the application for DSA in some school (such as RE) for GEP students is next week - 27 May 09 and their interview will follow during the June school holidays. However, the closing date for main stream is in July. Probably that is why the teachers in schools are trying to help the GEP students first. The competition among the GEP students are very stressful too. Every school hopes that their GEP students will be offered a place in the school through DSA too. So don't worry, the teacher will probably talk to the main stream soon.

Hope the above helps.

[edanson]

Sorry, the example school in my earlier post should be R.I. and not RE ( Raffles Institution)

[phankao]

edanson:

[quote]Fairy wrote:


No leh. My younger child who is in a GEP school is P6 (mainstream) this year. Have not heard from the school regarding any DSA stuff. No help at all, so far. School is not even willing to release report book for DSA purpose until after SA1. Also have not receive any guidance from the principal on this so far. My elder child, a P6 GEP student from last year's batch had a different experience from the same school though. The teachers constantly talk about DSA to them, had a mock interview session with the cohort & etc by this time last year.


I notice that in our children's school too - a gep school. They are in mainstream. No training but those in gep have talks & preparation for dsa.

ok, there is reason why the school is spending all their time on the GEP and not the main stream yet, because the closing date for the application for DSA in some school (such as RE) for GEP students is next week - 27 May 09 and their interview will follow during the June school holidays. However, the closing date for main stream is in July. Probably that is why the teachers in schools are trying to help the GEP students first. The competition among the GEP students are very stressful too. Every school hopes that their GEP students will be offered a place in the school through DSA too. So don't worry, the teacher will probably talk to the main stream soon.

Hope the above helps.[/quote]Won't lah. The GEP students have been prepared and taught how to create & keep portfolios since p4. Even my dd in a non-GEP school was never given any talks/workshops formal/informal by the teachers.

[ApronMama]

phankao:

Won't lah. The GEP students have been prepared and taught how to create & keep portfolios since p4. Even my dd in a non-GEP school was never given any talks/workshops formal/informal by the teachers.

Another unfair treatment to mainstream students? :x

Any GEP students in the past not being offered DSA? I suppose if there was they are the minority. I heard DSA came about for the GEP students to help them get into the I P programme as they may not do as well as mainstream students in the PSLE. They stand a greater chance than the mainstream pupils to get a confirm offered in DSA. Most mainstream pupils who meet the DSA criteria, are usually put on waiting list, meaning when the offer are not taken by the confirm offer, they will then be considered. I know of one mainstream student who were eligible for DSA due to SMOPS (only a sliver, not plat) and managed to get into HCI thru DSA. But due to his performance at DSA he was put in the same group as the GEP students after he joined. His has been doing very well and now in their \"Excellence\" programme. I am always puzzled, what is the rational behind the GEP sytem now and the unfairness of treatments in DSA and then edusave scholorship in place. Just to ensure GEP implementation is successful ? :? But is the labelling of \"GEP\" healthly for those who are in it. Already yesterday, my son (in mainstream) came back from school (GEP centre) and said his GEP peers told them that GEP students are always smarter than mainstream high ability pupils even if they score 100 in maths. It is really sad that the GEP system has brought these kids such character from young age.

[Jenn]

AnnT2009:

Hi,


Thank you all for helping.

Is there more information for SST? Applied Science for this school? Applied sc means...? How about other sc, what science do they teach?

One friend told me not to as it might be to stressed for him coz' his languages are quite weak and he might not catch up with the those who enter the school with good grades. Being lag behind might demoralise him eventually. Friend said let him take his PSLE then based on his results to select suitable school.

By the way, how should a kid be prepared for the interview?

Sorry for the trouble.
Thanks a lot.

Hi AnnT2009,

If your son is strong in math and/or science and weak in languages, then the probable schools for DSA would be NUSH or SST. Other schools like RI and HCI DSA tend to admit students who are also strong in languages.

Students who are weak in languages also have a disadvantage in PSLE. Students who score 260+ in PSLE are likely to be good in both languages as well. And 260+ is the PSLE cut off for admission to these top IP schools.

Your example of a sec 3 student with low PSLE score and doing well in NUSH is not unusual in this school. There are a number of students there with low PSLE score admitted thru DSA and doing better than some students with 260+ admitted thru PSLE. Perhaps the curiculum or method of teaching/learning is more suited for these students. These students would not get into any IP schools thru PSLE if they had not attempted DSA.

I would not deprive him of a chance to try NUSH especially if he had expressed keen interest. I would let him try but set his expectation that the competition is very keen.

[Fairy]

ApronMama:

phankao:

Won't lah. The GEP students have been prepared and taught how to create & keep portfolios since p4. Even my dd in a non-GEP school was never given any talks/workshops formal/informal by the teachers.

Another unfair treatment to mainstream students? :x

Any GEP students in the past not being offered DSA? I suppose if there was they are the minority. I heard DSA came about for the GEP students to help them get into the I P programme as they may not do as well as mainstream students in the PSLE. They stand a greater chance than the mainstream pupils to get a confirm offered in DSA. Most mainstream pupils who meet the DSA criteria, are usually put on waiting list, meaning when the offer are not taken by the confirm offer, they will then be considered. I know of one mainstream student who were eligible for DSA due to SMOPS (only a sliver, not plat) and managed to get into HCI thru DSA. But due to his performance at DSA he was put in the same group as the GEP students after he joined. His has been doing very well and now in their \"Excellence\" programme. I am always puzzled, what is the rational behind the GEP sytem now and the unfairness of treatments in DSA and then edusave scholorship in place. Just to ensure GEP implementation is successful ? :? But is the labelling of \"GEP\" healthly for those who are in it. Already yesterday, my son (in mainstream) came back from school (GEP centre) and said his GEP peers told them that GEP students are always smarter than mainstream high ability pupils even if they score 100 in maths. It is really sad that the GEP system has brought these kids such character from young age.

I have both GEP and non-GEP children. They are equally intelligent. However, the one who is in the GEP programme does exhibit some X- factor in his analytical thinking and the way he processes information since he was a todler. Intelligence may not always translate into good grades (IQ scores, maybe) since many other factors like deligence are at play.

Not all GEPers are arrogant. From the time they are identified as a class at the tender age of 10, they have to learn to cope with not only a differentiated and accelerated learning environment, but to deal with the 'wrath' and unhappiness of their peers in the mainstream, the mainstreamers' teachers and parents. (no offense intended) The perceived arrogance may in fact be their defense mechanism from the harsh reality of being in the club. Membership does have its advantages. However, the screening for GEP is opened to all in P3. No one is denied a chance. I am aware that some Big-Shots' (politicians & other influentials) children did not qualify for the prgramme.

Yes, there are GEP students who are not offered a place via DSA. Those GEP students who were offered a place via DSA and who subsequently did not meet the school's cut-off point is in the minority.

HCI grouped the students under 4 consortiums. In the past, GEP students automatically get grouped under Isparks. However, there are also many non-GEP students in Isparks. Those who joined via DSA Sports are grouped together as their curriculumn are planned around their training schedules. I have friends, whose sons (non-GEPers) had very high PSLE scores but not placed under Isparks.

There are pros and cons of gaining admission via DSA. Some claimed that securing a place in a choice school beforehand will reduce the stress of taking the Exam. However, securing a place in a choice school could also make the child complacent and not work as hard for the Exam.

As a parent of a P6 mainstreamer, I have my fair share of anxiety as far as my child's chance of gaining admission to a choice school via DSA is concerned. I must admit such insecurity arises because I am not certain if my child can score well enough, relative to the cohort in PSLE to gain admission. Otherwise, why waste time on going through gruelling DSA selection tests and interviews? Aren't they be better off concentrating on preparing for the Exam?

By the way, how will the child have any idea which is the school of their choice? Let's hope all our kids can get into the school of their choice, or rather, their parents' choice.

[AnnT2009]

Hi Jenn and others,


:thankyou: sooooo much for sharing. Will check on the SST web site for more info.

Have a nice day.

[phankao]

Fairy:

HCI grouped the students under 4 consortiums. In the past, GEP students automatically get grouped under Isparks. However, there are also many non-GEP students in Isparks. Those who joined via DSA Sports are grouped together as their curriculumn are planned around their training schedules. I have friends, whose sons (non-GEPers) had very high PSLE scores but not placed under Isparks.
.

Hi,

Do you have any hearsay about whether there are boys who gain entry to HCI under other CCAs?

Phase I DSA for HCI states specifically Math & Sports. Phase II says academic excellence and \"other talents\". But it's quite unclear what the \"other talents\" are. At least for Dunman High, they are quite clear in what they want for DSA - all clearly outlined.

My younger boy (p4 only) has his eyes set on HCI (don't know why he has such a good impression of it). He's talented in chinese music, but I do wonder if it would even be an avenue for HCI. I also notice they don't have a special music programme, unlike Nanyang or RI. And he's actually not interested in RI even tho' they have the Music Option, bc he says RI is \"not good\" in Chinese music. LOL. The thoughts of a young p4 boy!

Let me know if you have heard or your boys in HCI have friends or know of?

TIA!

[MdmKS]

Fairy:

I have both GEP and non-GEP children. They are equally intelligent. However, the one who is in the GEP programme does exhibit some X- factor in his analytical thinking and the way he processes information since he was a todler. Intelligence may not always translate into good grades (IQ scores, maybe) since many other factors like deligence are at play.

Your mainstream kid may be just out of the 500 selected. I believe he got into the second round? I also understand the screening test is mainly multiple choice and English is a key factor to be able to understand the questions well. Well there are people who choose not to take part in the screening test at P3.

I like the HCI way of doing away with the name \"GEP\" and mix them with \"mainstream\" students while they all have chance to do advance learning.

[father_of_3]

Attended HCI Open hse last Sat. If I remember correctly, for Ispark, they will not admit non-GEP student.

Back to statistics, there are about 550 GEP students for this year P6 student. If I remember correctly, there are more than 300 boys. So mainstream boys may be at slight disadv for places. Hope this help you can work out the chances when you plan for DSA.