NUS High School of Mathematics and Science (Diploma)
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walterp:
To get into NUS medicine, the most important thing is to convince the panel during the interview why you are suitable to be a doctor, or rather why you are a suitable candidate to read medicine at NUS.
I can boldly say that those NUSHS students who did (advance) research in life sciences including medical related areas would clearly have an advantage over their \"A\" level counterparts in seeking medicine or dentistry in NUS or NTU. That's the obvious advantage of NUSH over others.phtthp:
hi happymum8,
can students from NUSH enter Dentistry ?
Knowledge/results are not that important.
As for Dentistry, the most important is similarly to convince the panel that you are a suitable candidate and shows that you have the dexterity to do it.
Dentistry really depends a lot on your hands.
There is no point if you have the knowledge but you hands are just not skillful enough. -
I think the concern is not with the top students in each cohort. We know that there are students who will, with minimal guidance, continue to excel. A school winning awards in some isolated competitions which only requires a select few to shine does not reflect the overall picture. A school is as good as its weakest student and teacher. Of course that may be a bit heavy, but you get the idea.
And for interviews, we are not concerned with awards for essay writing as an indicator. Scholarship offers are what counts. How one manages to impress the panel with his or her CV (substance) has to be backed up with a solid interview (selling oneself with substance). For me, it is clear that in general, RI and HCI students win hands down in this aspect. This year's scholarship numbers from various websites indicate so.
I think we should look closely at what a school can do to value add to an average/above-average student, not what the top students in each school are already capable of producing.
This may sound like a frustrated parent venting at a school for not being able to develop my DS the way I wanted, and of course, I take responsibility as well, but I think I have heard quite enough from the principal and the management during PTMs. In the last 6 years, I have heard enough talk, but not seen enough action.
I will tell you 6 years later whether I am pleased my younger DS's development. A bit too late to send my older DS to RI, but I have heard of a top yr 2 boy last year who went to RI after being disappointed with NUSHS.
I know it is unfair and impossible to compare a school with less than 10 years of existence against a tradition of excellence reaching 200, but with all the hype during its introduction, there is still certainly a long way to go.
And here is how to sell a school:
http://www.ri.edu.sg/files/PRI_-_RI_Founders_Day_Institution_Report_23.7.11.pdf -
francbat:
On the subject of scholarship acceptance rates, we do concede that NUS High produces fewer scholars compared to other top schools, but this does not reflect on interview skills.And for interviews, we are not concerned with awards for essay writing as an indicator. Scholarship offers are what counts. How one manages to impress the panel with his or her CV (substance) has to be backed up with a solid interview (selling oneself with substance). For me, it is clear that in general, RI and HCI students win hands down in this aspect. This year's scholarship numbers from various websites indicate so.
For one thing, the majority of NUS High students who apply for scholarships restrict themselves to selective and competitive scholarships such as A*STAR and DSTA scholarships, and tend not to apply for others. Consequently, the acceptance rate looks relatively low, but only because a large number are competing for a limited number of scholarships, not just with students from other schools but also within the pool of NUS High applicants.
Also, many NUS High graduates choose not to apply for scholarships. As an example, a recent graduate was offered a PSC scholarship to study at MIT, but decided to fund themselves rather than take up the government’s offer instead. Confidence in ability to obtain good career prospects after university is another factor to be taken into consideration, when NUS High alumni choose not to apply for scholarships because of the bond. -
For scholarship numbers, we may also need to look at size of cohort to have fair comparison. For example, PSC scholarship for 2011:
RI: 35 out of 1500?
HCI: 18 out of 1500?
NUSH: 3 out of 177?
Percentage wise, not a great difference actually. -
Yes, looking at percentage rather than relative numbers (and taking into consideration that several applicants who successfully obtained PSC and other scholarships decided to reject the offers) is more helpful in assessing how NUS High has produced graduates of comparable standard nationally.
ETA: Upon discussion, we recalled that the internal figure provided is that approximately one third of each graduating cohort is awarded a scholarship. This does not take into account the students who ultimately reject the scholarships. (Not sure whether this figure includes the students who are offered merit scholarships from their respective universities rather than a local scholarship body.) -
biiyeo:
well i certainly hope for the sake of my elder DS this is true. But like I said, the top students will still get their share of scholarships and university admissions. the student offered admission to MIT is a top student. However, given NUSHS is supposed to be the school for math and sciences, the admission to top universities worldwide pale in comparison to RI or HCI. Yes, you have that one going to MIT, one going to caltech etc, but at the opposition schools they have like droves.
For one thing, the majority of NUS High students who apply for scholarships restrict themselves to selective and competitive scholarships such as A*STAR and DSTA scholarships, and tend not to apply for others. Consequently, the acceptance rate looks relatively low, but only because a large number are competing for a limited number of scholarships, not just with students from other schools but also within the pool of NUS High applicants.
Also, many NUS High graduates choose not to apply for scholarships. As an example, a recent graduate was offered a PSC scholarship to study at MIT, but decided to fund themselves rather than take up the government’s offer instead. Confidence in ability to obtain good career prospects after university is another factor to be taken into consideration, when NUS High alumni choose not to apply for scholarships because of the bond.
10 out of 220 NUSHS graduands going to NUS medicine is embarassing compared to 130+- out of 1200 RI graduates. of course, we don't have numbers for those who actually applied, but what about ivy league and oxbridge?
I think I should stop comparing. it's frustrating. -
Possibly the disappointment stems from the expectation that NUS High will produce Medicine and other science students. Certainly there are always students who aim to read Medicine, but you will find that the majority of NUS High graduands and graduates do not intend to do so, nor do they preferentially apply to Ivies and to Oxbridge. We here are all High Distinction diploma candidates, for instance, but none of us want to pursue science-related subjects. Consider that of the PSC scholarship-holders from NUS High for 2011, only one is taking a pure Science course; the others are reading Law and Economics. If you measure the school’s quality by the number of Medicine candidates, the number of Ivies and Oxbridge students (when many NUS High students are either content with reading the well-respected courses at NUS, or applying to liberal arts colleges), and the absolute number of PSC scholarships, then of course disappointment will set in. Because the culture here is wildly different from that of your average ‘top school’, students’ own academic and career plans tend not to follow conventional expectations as well.
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Oh no! If you noticed, this started as a guide for parents for their additional views when choosing sec school.
There is NO need to compare each schools. All top schools have great curriculum to cater for different needs of students. It will never make one feel great to demote another school just to show how great one school is or how good they sell themselves.
Anyway selling points are different!! -
If parents seriously want to compare:
Specialization Vs Generalization
If you know what I mean…
Focus is different !
But all will still end up in Uni with students from different schools doing certain similar courses. -
happymum8:
I agree with happymum8. No school is perfect for everyone. Every school has her strengths and weaknesses, a child should go to a school which best suits him/her. As long as we set our expectation right, it should be fine. I have one child in RI and one in NUSH now, I am happy with what both schools have to offer them. My 3rd child is aiming for NUSH, and I support her all the way!Specialization Vs Generalization
If you know what I mean...
Focus is different !
But all will still end up in Uni with students from different schools doing certain similar courses.
A parent mentioned that RI did very well for the science and math olympiads. For this year's IPhO, IChO, IBO and IMO, out of the 12 Gold medals won (sorry I did not count the Silver & Bronze medals) by Singapore students, RI took 7, NUSH 3, HCI 1 and ACSI 1. I think for a small cohort and young school like NUSH, winning 3 international Gold medals is considered a very remarkable feat!
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