2009 DSA(Direct School Admission)

[kohjl]

wiimum:

After the PSLE result comes out, if the result is better that you expected but having been posted via DSA , you can still make an appeal and change schools. We did that and yes it is a hassle. First from the school that you are transferring out, you get remarks passed (why did you choose us in the first place... Many people would want to be here.....)
It would involved several trips to both schools to get documents processed, submitted etc. But it is possible just a bit troublesome. But for the sake of what we think is in the best interest of the child, it was worth it. And more importantly, for my child to get to his school that he really wants to be, based on his results.

Hi wiimum

Thanks for posting yr experience - it really helped to clarify that such an appeal process is possible. It certainly helped to lessen the stress for myself, and for other parents faced with the question of whether to accept a confirmed DSA offer that is not the first choice. I don't think this appeal route is documented anywhere in the MOE website (or did I miss it??).

This is the type of hassle I would GLADLY go thru! Good for your child that you went thru all that trouble. I am sure yr child will remember what you had done for him even after many years, and will always think you are the best (wii)mum in the world. Worth it!

[Jennifer]

wiimum:

Having had a child who went through DSA last year and subsequently transferred, perhaps I am qualified to give some advice here

wiimum, thank you for the sharing.

[luckystar]

I think when there are too many parents doing these apeals, it will to depends on the vacancy left. This is what I think.

[wiimum]

luckystar:

I think when there are too many parents doing these apeals, it will to depends on the vacancy left. This is what I think.

I shared my experience here not to encourage appeals. But I want other parents to know that it is a possibility and the DSA choice is not cast in stone. It also gives the child an option/motivation to work harder for the PSLE in case the DSA option was not really their first choice.
However in the event that the child really did not do well in the PSLE like few points below the cut off point of some IP schools, having made the choice during the DSA would save you the agony.
In fact, the reason I went through the trouble of DSA is because I am worried that with the \"bochap\" attitude, he will not make it to any IP programme based on his PSLE result. Although I know for sure that the IP programme would be the best for him and he is capable of it. He is just not the \"study hard \" and \"book smart\" type. If he doesn't go the IP way, I have additional worry at \"O\" Levels.

[wiimum]

turquoise:

If you have more than one confirmed offer, do you need to indicate 1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd choice etc in the DSA School Preference Form or can you just indicate your 1st choice? Thanks!

Yes you would have to indicate your first, second and third choice or 4th if any?!!!!

But naturally you will get your first choice.
in the event if you have 1 waitlist and 2 other confirmed choices, if you put the waitlist(your preferred choice) as first choice, your chances of getting it is also quite high.
HTHs.

[wiimum]

Jennifer:

kohjl:

I am asking about having a confirmed DSA offer and having selected that offered school at the DSA stage (which we all know will be in late Oct, BEFORE PSLE results are out), what happens if the child's PSLE is ABOVE the COP of a premier top school - can we still appeal AFTER getting the PSLE results to switch choices? To be able to guess with some accuracy, it must be based on some past experience and past empirical data, and hence my latest clarification using the words \"historical\" COP.

kohjl, thanks for posting this qn. I think I need such guide too.

One more point to add:
I believe the appeal process is based on merit as well as first come first serve. That is the child with the highest score gets considered first and also if you get there first. So if you really have to appeal, do so quickly.

[JHFMum]

If your child is on the waitlist for the first choice sch, you should put that as the 1st choice. My colleague was advised by the waitlist sch to do so last yr and her son got in. Unless it is the TOP SCHOOL that has no waitlist, chances are there will be people on the confirmed list that did not choose the school in the end. If you ask around, you’ll know that many kids, esp the GEPers, have at least two confirmed places.


Wrt whether you can change when you are assigned your confirmed sch, ideally and morally, you should not. But in reality, parent always want the best for their kids, and so it’s possible esp if your kid has done better than the yr’s COP for the sch.

[kohjl]

wiimum:

I shared my experience here not to encourage appeals. But I want other parents to know that it is a possibility and the DSA choice is not cast in stone. It also gives the child an option/motivation to work harder for the PSLE in case the DSA option was not really their first choice.
However in the event that the child really did not do well in the PSLE like few points below the cut off point of some IP schools, having made the choice during the DSA would save you the agony.
In fact, the reason I went through the trouble of DSA is because I am worried that with the \"bochap\" attitude, he will not make it to any IP programme based on his PSLE result. Although I know for sure that the IP programme would be the best for him and he is capable of it. He is just not the \"study hard \" and \"book smart\" type. If he doesn't go the IP way, I have additional worry at \"O\" Levels.

You have summarised the worries of all concerned parents succintly, and I certainly echo the same views. Except in my son's case, it's not a \"bochap\" attitude that I am grappling with; it's carelessness. And being careless is not a good thing to be in an exam!

[Jennifer]

kohjl:

it's carelessness. And being careless is not a good thing to be in an exam!

Same case here. His Maths has been like this for years. Badly for CA1, then catched up with SA1 and SA2.

The recent NUSH issue sort of wakes up him a little, full marks for the mock paper. I thought heng liao, finally woke up. Then yesterday told me he has 3 careless mistake in his prelim Maths. This time, he himself was upset.

[kohjl]

Jennifer:

The recent NUSH issue sort of wakes up him a little, full marks for the mock paper. I thought heng liao, finally woke up. Then yesterday told me he has 3 careless mistake in his prelim Maths. This time, he himself was upset.

We can shake hands here (or maybe together). But at least yr son has started his waking up process. I'm hoping my son will do so in time for PSLE.

For my son's prelim Maths paper, ALL the marks lost were due to carelessness. For Science prelims, he scored 95 out of 100, BUT 2 of the 5 marks lost were due to careless reading of the question. Sigh.