NUS High School of Mathematics and Science (Diploma)

[turquoise]

I understand that during the high tea session NUSH did a very good job of convincing the successful DSA applicants to choose NUSH over other schools. Can someone share what was discussed? Thanks.

[justbehappy]

CuttleFish31:

Firstly, i would like to thank you for sharing this information with us, but from many of your seniors, i've heard that in NUS High school, your life will only be slack if you choose a \"slack\" path (meaning you only take the bare minimum required for the graduation diploma, no electives, no honors; according to their principal, you can graduate with 4 honors, which requires 10-15 hrs more of lesson time per week for each extra honor subject). After you reached secondary 4, your commitments and module requirements increases. In their JC1 level, which is their year 5, they have certain compulsory external projects with established labs in Singapore (such as TLL, DSTA, A*STAR, NUS, NUH, NTU), combined with olympiad trainings (which can lasts till 5-10 hrs per day) i heard is not slack at all.

I tend to agree. As NUS High has a modular system, it's up to the students to decide which Elective and Enrichment modules they want to take. Students who are more adventurous or have passion to take up more modules will have a heavier workload as compared to those who just take the Core modules only. And, those who take up 4 Honours (I think this is the max allowed) apparently will be less slack than those who take the bare minimum 3 Majors without Honours.

[holyaxile]

"Students who are more adventurous or have passion to take up more modules will have a heavier workload as compared to those who just take the Core modules only." -QFT


If a person WANTS to percieve NUS High as a high-stress school, nothing I say will alter that person’s perception. Like I’ve said, from what I’ve heard and noticed from the seniors, they don’t have too much to do. Of course, one could take every single module offered and get 4 majors with honours. I’ve said what I know, if you are less than convinced(which indeed I believe you are), you could ask other students for their opinions.

[Jennifer]

Holyaxile, is CCA compulsory in NUSH?

[justbehappy]

holyaxile:

If a person WANTS to percieve NUS High as a high-stress school, nothing I say will alter that person's perception. Like I've said, from what I've heard and noticed from the seniors, they don't have too much to do. Of course, one could take every single module offered and get 4 majors with honours. I've said what I know, if you are less than convinced(which indeed I believe you are), you could ask other students for their opinions.

While most students prefer a more relaxed environment, most parents would want a more balanced environment for their kids, not too slack and not too pressurised, a school where the kids can enjoy studying in and yet time is adequately spent. If students in NUS High are so slack and don't have much to do like you said, I think many potential parents of NUS High students will be scared away.

[turquoise]

I was told by someone in NUSH that the first two years are rather relaxed and the kids really enjoy the syllabus. The pressure kicks in in Year 3 and some of the weaker kids have problems coping.

[holyaxile]

turquoise:

I was told by someone in NUSH that the first two years are rather relaxed and the kids really enjoy the syllabus. The pressure kicks in in Year 3 and some of the weaker kids have problems coping.

Well, that depends on your definition of the term \"weaker kids\". If you refer to students who have been scoring pretty low in Years 1 and 2, then they can consult teachers or classmates or study by themselves. If, on the other hand, you refer to students who cannot understand basic concepts or theorems, I don't think they would have made it past Year 2.

However, as I am only in Year 2, I cannot speak from experience yet. The paragraph above was based on conclusions drawn from observation and questioning of fellow schoolmates. For personal experience, I can only provide it from next year. If you feel like this: :stupid: then sorry but there's nothing else I can do for now.

Cheers,
Holyaxile

[turquoise]

holyaxile:

turquoise:

I was told by someone in NUSH that the first two years are rather relaxed and the kids really enjoy the syllabus. The pressure kicks in in Year 3 and some of the weaker kids have problems coping.

Well, that depends on your definition of the term \"weaker kids\". If you refer to students who have been scoring pretty low in Years 1 and 2, then they can consult teachers or classmates or study by themselves. If, on the other hand, you refer to students who cannot understand basic concepts or theorems, I don't think they would have made it past Year 2.

However, as I am only in Year 2, I cannot speak from experience yet. The paragraph above was based on conclusions drawn from observation and questioning of fellow schoolmates. For personal experience, I can only provide it from next year. If you feel like this: :stupid: then sorry but there's nothing else I can do for now.

Cheers,
Holyaxile

What do you mean by they wouldn't have made it past Year 2? Are they retained and made to repeat Year 2?

btw, I'm not asking for your experience, so there's no need for you to apologize.

[holyaxile]

I’m not really sure but they need to be VERY bad in studies to be retained. So I don’t think you need to worry about that. What I meant was, if the concepts are too hard, I marvel that he could get past Year 2 because he would not understand a word the teachers said. That’s all.


Cheers,
Holyaxile

[CuttleFish31]

One friend of mine, who is a senior, expressed the opinion that those year 5s that an earlier poster mentioned are probably those who only take 2 majors, the bare minimum.


"Those year 5s who said they are slack, let them take a few honours, olympiad training, and a good ARP before they dare to say they are slack."