2011 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[fruitteller]

[quote]That is one great comment there.....totally agree. [/quote]

2ppaamm:

random 99, this is what I ask my students to do when they want to get into medical school and cannot for some reasons. Ask yourself these:

1. why do I want to go to RI?
2. what can I do in RI that I cannot do in another school?
3. what if I cannot get into RI?

Write 5 points down for each question. Then you will realize it really does not matter. Getting into RI is just a bonus. I know that. I spent 6 years as a Rafflesian, and my son is also from RI. It is not so big a deal after many years. HCI or ACSI or any school is the same, as long as you are a great person. Work on the latter.

[Itaniwa]

For SAP schools, which student will be considered first when it comes to borderline case?

student A: 255+2(merit for HCL)
student B: 257

Need some advise as I wanted to have my 2nd dd into the same school as my 1st dd but worried that her score is the borderline case. She is in student A senario.

Can someone help?

[ngbrdad]

So far nobody compared the differences between independent and government schools.


Independent schools should have more teaching staffs and resources/fundings for various activities. However fees will be higher too.

On the other hand government schools have less teaches and maybe resources but fees much cheaper.

Anybody wants to add other differences ?

[tisha]

2ppaamm:

tisha:

Is there any advantage/disadvantage in applying for 3rd language? My ds does not wish to apply for 3rd language.

Then don't.

Thanks. Its as simple as that, rt. Sometimes we complicate things ourselves.

[tisha]

Chenonceau:

tisha:

Is there any advantage/disadvantage in applying for 3rd language? My ds does not wish to apply for 3rd language.

I'm not sure I am entirely right 'cos my perspective dates from 30 years ago... The 3rd language enriches life but has no other practical purpose. It offers deep exposure to another culture that opens your mind to new possibilities. You learn to think differently from the normal Singaporean. You also make life long friends in countries that few have a chance to know simply because you know the language and others don't. Once in a while, depending on socio-economic and political opportunities, you might make that language count at work.

On the scholarship form, it adds coolness.

On a daily and weekly basis, it is very hard work. You need to spend time travelling to the language centre for your classes and when you have a lot to do (as is the case in many top secondary schools from which the nation picks 3rd language talent), even the 2 hours of travel time has high opportunity costs. Some secondary schools offer a mind boggling buffet of enrichment and developmental opportunities that have nothing to do with grades... and one might end up staring at them, unable to indulge because one has no time.

In my opinion, if you love languages then go ahead. Your DS must have scored really well in BOTH languages to be offered this. He has aptitude. But if he scored but hates them... and has no curiosity whatsoever about the different cultures, then it is likely he'll give up.

Thanks chenonceau for you valueable inputs. I'm sure it is helpful for all those who are not sure whether to take up third language or not.
BTW, DS is just offered the third langs like MSP/CSP/arabic/BI... which I think is offered to all express and NA students, nothing glamorous abt it. He did get an A* for english though, but MT is not something he enjoys. So he straight away said no to one more additional language.

[tisha]

ngbrdad:

So far nobody compared the differences between independent and government schools.


Independent schools should have more teaching staffs and resources/fundings for various activities. However fees will be higher too.

On the other hand government schools have less teaches and maybe resources but fees much cheaper.

Anybody wants to add other differences ?

One difference I observe is that independent schools usually have a JC affiliation, but gov schools don't. I'm not sure abt this though. Would like to know more from other KSPs.

[Mummy Bee]

245, and staying in Seng Kang.


Our Choices are:

1) Nan Chiau High
2) Anderson Sec
3) Xinmin Sec
4) Dunman Sec
5) Ngee Ann Sec
6)???

Any comment or advice?

[Alchemist]

Congrats from me too, Kid!

SST is also my son's dream school but he didn't clear the dsa.

Hi vidhyalog, do you know what t-score is SST looking at for those who are appealing after PSLE? DS going to appeal too, any info on appeal requirements is much appreciated.[/quote]


Hi Bbee - They did not divulge the criteria for interview - but in the past they mentioned that the average Agg score of the kids is 240-245. At the interview it seemed they had targeted those who had 245 and above. I am not sure how many they interviewed - for my son there were 2 others with him.

We went to appeal immediately after the PSLE result. You have to fill in the application form that was filled for the DSA all over again. It has to be online and on the SST premise only. You need to bring EZ link card, P4-P6 results copy as well as any certificates etc that you want to support with. Of course PSLE result slip. I am not sure if the appeal process is a first come first serve basis. They have said can appeal upto to 21 Dec.

At the interview they asked a few questions about his hobbies and his interests, why he wants to apply to SST. Where else he is applying? They also interviewed me - to ask what his habits at home were, do we have any concerns about him being on computer for long hours - his study habits etc.

Right now they told us - that all the 200 places are taken up. But there may still be changes due to transfers etc. They cannot let us know with certainty when they can let us know. So we are trying to be very balanced in our expectation. We will do the S1 selection today and try and forget about this and go on holiday

Good luck to your son. My advice would be to appeal - but don't get your hopes too high. Also go to the other schools that he may be interested in and get a feel of it. One of the kids 2 yrs ago was on waitlist for SST - they gave him a CO in late Dec - but by that time his heart was already won over by TKSS. And I believe he is very happy there now.

[Alchemist]

:thankyou: Hope your son gets into SST ! U can ask me for more information on SST.

Let me share with you some information .
1)There will be an orientation camp taking place on the 5th of January and it is an overnight camp in school . Parents have to report to SST on 6th of January at 6pm till 9.30pm for the badge ceremony.

2)The learning device will cost around $2,000-$2,600. We also need to get the uniform and the books which cost about $250-$300 in total.

3)There are already assignments assigned to us on the SST blog for students of 2012. Not as easy (have to use our critical thinking skills).

4)We drove past the new campus and it's really cool and big. There is a sports complex , a football field in the middle of the campus and three more blocks on the other side. It's almost done and I saw some workers working on the flooring.

5)The footwear for SST students can be any footwear as long as it's a sports/track shoe worn with socks. There are different colours of the PE t-shirt which represent the house colour . Currently , we are not informed of our house colour yet until they have arranged the class list.

Hope you found the information above useful. You can ask me for more information regarding SST and I will try my best to answer you if I can.[/quote]

Hi Kid - Many thanks for the great information. We are trying to not get our hopes too high - so should he get in would definitely get in touch with you with more queries.

In the meantime - you had mentioned earlier there was some talk about a JC being built for SST etc - any further mention of that was made during the briefing at the registration?

Thanks

[Snow Crystal]

cestmoi:

Hi anyone knows how reliable is the information given by Edupoll :-

Edupoll’s Top 5 Girl Schools in Singapore ( by prestige ) are:
1.Raffles Girls’ Secondary School ( PSLE cut-off: 265)
2.Nanyang Girls’ High School ( PSLE cut-off: 262)
3.Singapore Chinese Girls’ School ( PSLE cut-off: 254 )
4.Methodist Girls’ School ( PSLE cut-off : 253 )
5.CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School ( PSLE cut-off: 250 )
My fren's dd is freaking out upon reading the above as her T-score is 256 & her dream school is RGS. Anyone has any input?

Cestmoi - please ask your friend to take this list with a huge pinch of salt Numbers 2-5 are all affiliated girls schools so a big chunk of their vacancies are taken up by affiliated girls. The COPs above are only S1 COP. We should look at their Affiliation COP together for the big picture. eg I heard girls with say 254 getting into SCGS via S1 are already in their top 1 to 2 classes. Their affiliated score is 220 and the affiliated girls form the huge majority of the Year 1 classes. So comparing this to say Crescent Girls - no affiliation and COP 243 ie last scorer is 243. Which school has higher quality cohort? - you decide :evil: Btw RGS COP 2010 is 260 and average scorer is 265. To have a fair comparison of quality of cohort, please compare sec schs with affiliation among themselves, and separately for those with no affiliation. Also, a better comparison of quality is their average scorer's score (including affiliated girls). Then you will see a totally different picture. However of course, some of the affiliated schools in above list have rich culture, tradition, history etc etc.
Btw, if you don't mind frank opinion, your friend's DD of 256 is low chance of getting to RGS :nailbite: