2011 Request for Advice on Selecting Secondary Schools

[G38plus]

I PM u re financial aid.

[Pen88n]

Assabella:

Thanks for the reply! :thankyou:

I like debating and writing, and RGS has the debate and oratorical team and the editorial board. However, Nanyang does not have either. This year, the COD for Nanyang is 264 and RGS is 260. My friends keep saying that Nanyang is better, but Raffles still has it reputation. Besides, I still have transportation and financial problem. I do not qualify for the financial assistance in both Nanyang and RGS.

Both RGS and NYGH are good schools and you should decide where your heart tells you. Note that no doubt you are interested in a particular CCA in the school, but in some schools, it might be a case of the \"CCA choosing its members\" depending on whether you have past experience and record for this CCA. I know of cases whereby kids can't get into their preferred CCA in secodary schools because they do not have outstanding past record for that CCA. So you might need to have portfolio for these CCAs you are interested in.

With a score of 275, you should be able to qualify for EESIS (scholarship) that will help you take care of the school fee aspect from these indept schools. However, there are other aspects of financials you need to take care of beyond school fees (I understand there are material fees as well? and this is quite a substantial amount too) In case you still have some financial difficulty, you can consider NJC which is a government school and school fees is in the range of <$20 per month.

[jtoh]

Assabella:

Thanks for the reply! :thankyou:

I like debating and writing, and RGS has the debate and oratorical team and the editorial board. However, Nanyang does not have either. This year, the COD for Nanyang is 264 and RGS is 260. My friends keep saying that Nanyang is better, but Raffles still has it reputation. Besides, I still have transportation and financial problem. I do not qualify for the financial assistance in both Nanyang and RGS.

Hi Assabella,

If you score in the 260s/270s, you should qualify for EESIS which knocks off $2400 per annum from your school fees. You would still need to top up the difference in the school fees as well as misc fees though. NJC and Cedar would have lower school fees but I'm not sure how much the misc fees are. Maybe an NJC parent can advise.

Transportation-wise, RGS, NYGH and NJC are all a similar distance away from AMK. So distance shouldn't be much of a consideration in deciding among the 3 schools. I think you can take 132 from AMK to RGS. Similarly, it shouldn't be too difficult to bus it from AMK to NYGH/NJC.

RGS' debate, drama and editorial teams are very dynamic. If that's what you're interested in you should seriously consider RGS.

[VitoRelax]

Pen88n:

With a score of 275, you should be able to qualify for EESIS (scholarship) that will help you take care of the school fee aspect from these indept schools. However, there are other aspects of financials you need to take care of beyond school fees (I understand there are material fees as well? and this is quite a substantial amount too) In case you still have some financial difficulty, you can consider NJC which is a government school and school fees is in the range of <$20 per month.

Hi Assabella,

My personal opinion is that with a score of 275, it would be wasted if you did not goto RGS or Nanyang ....

Don't let $$$$ be a reason for not going to the top school you like. I know of a girl who is on Financial Aid & she is in Nanyang ...

With a score of 275 you should easily get financial assisstance to study in Nanyang (or RGS for that matter)

[Augmum]

jtoh:

Augmum:

[quote=\"VitoRelax\"]
Not sure how the GPA is calculated in DHS but GPA is by itself not a fair one, it is just a general guide .... so happen some school adopt this method ...

no vito.... some IP sch's GPA grading system is fairer than some others

for DHS, if one gets raw marks of 69/ 69.5,
the GPA will drop drastically fr 3.6 to 2.8,
shd he/she gets 70, GPA will stand at 3.6,
in other words, the drop is disproportional......
if yr grade drop from A* to A , a GPA difference of 0.4
but if yr grade drop from A to B or B to C, the difference is 0.8 ..... :evil:

So you'd better be a straight A/A+ student to do well. A single B or C will badly affect your GPA.[/quote]Yes, certainly ....
but for some subj, such as HCL , is tough to get A+ or even A
fyi, for every \"B\" grade need 2 \"A+\" to compensate for it. .... :evil:

****edited it is A+ not A * *****

[Augmum]

VitoRelax:

No system is perfect.

But I suppose which fence you are sitting on. If you always get A*/A you'll say it is good otherwise it is not good.... how many percent in DHS get A*/A ?

but sometimes, suay suay get a 1 mark or 1/2 mark less which is so unpredictable, right ??

no percent data for A+/A,
only state the pupils' overall GPA with percentile ranking.

[Augmum]

VitoRelax:

jtoh:

So you'd better be a straight A/A+ student to do well. A single B or C will badly affect your GPA.

Hopefully D+/D the gaps is not 1.6 ? :stompfeet:

haha, not 1.6 but 1.0

[WeiHan]

RGS will be shifting to Bishan which is nearest to AMK.

[OrangeJuice]

Assabella:

Dear all,

I am a P6 student this year and I am currently studying in a neighbourhood school. I got 260 for prelims and I was third in class. My target for PSLE is 275 and I aspire to get into RGS. My considerations are: 1) Raffles Girl's School 2) Nanyang Girls' School 3) National Junior College 4) Cedar Secondary School
I live in Ang Mo Kio so transportation is a problem. I have financial problems with the school fees and other necessary fees too. Many people tell me that Nanyang is better than Raffles but I like the debate CCA in Raffles. NJC seems enticing too. My father does not have expectations for me, which afterall, he doesn't know English. So, I have to be independent and do these things myself. Parents, can you share with me a bit of your love for your children?
Thanks,
Assabella

Hi Assabella, some info that may be useful to you...

COP for NYGH based on 2011 Sec Sch admission guide book indicated is 262 not 264, RGS is 260.

From AMK to NYGH/NJC, there is a direct bus from AMK ie service number 74 will bring you to the school, alight at HCI bus stop and cross the overhead bridge. To go home to AMK, just take the same service at the bus stop in front of school.

From AMK to RGS (Stevens Rd), there is also a direct bus service, take 132.

Hope the above helped and good luck to you !

[jtoh]

Augmum:

VitoRelax:

No system is perfect.

But I suppose which fence you are sitting on. If you always get A*/A you'll say it is good otherwise it is not good.... how many percent in DHS get A*/A ?

but sometimes, suay suay get a 1 mark or 1/2 mark less which is so unpredictable, right ??

.

Yah. That 1 mark or 1/2 mark is so precious. That's a problem with GPA. They should look at total percentages as well as GPA.

Do you know if they would round up if you get >79.5?