DSA 2012

[Dreamgear]

wonderm:

slmkhoo:

Another reason, I believe, is simply because there are too many applicants and it makes things easier to have a fairly large group that is admitted without too much admin load. However, I do feel that they should have a similar 'general academic' category for non-GEP students. What happens now is that applicants have to be either GEP (all-rounders or with specific abilities)or non-GEP kids who have to have a strong single subject/sport/skill. There is no category for non-GEP all-rounders (in those schools). I know that other schools do not practise this, and I applaud it.

Yes, I am with you on this!

This year i believe most schools have academic dsa with exception of RI

[ks2011]

slmkhoo:

HVR:

Read in the ST some parents are not happy with DSA, more specifically, they are not happy with GEP students applying for top schools via DSA. They think GEP students are depriving their children a chance to get into those schools. Any solution? Is this majority's view?

My daughter applied through DSA last year but was unsuccessful. I didn't get worked up about unfairness etc as you take the policies as you find them. However, if there is a change that should be made, I would advocate a level playing field for all kids when they face the DSA selection. When some schools have different criteria for GEP and non-GEP students , then it is not a level playing field. I am not referring to those who apply because of high ability in specific areas such as sports, dance, maths etc. However, for at least a couple of the popular schools, the 'general academic' entry is open only to GEP students; there is no similar category for non-GEP students. This works against kids who developed late, or chose to forgo the GEP selection or place, or in my daughter's case, only returned to Singapore just before the PSLE and never took the GEP selection test in the first place.

slmkhoo, my dd was one of them who failed to make it to interview stage during her RGS dsa. On hindsight, I felt that she should have applied for maths dsa instead of english. Perhaps, the general academic category would have helped but students in this category will anyway qualify through PSLE. Infact my girl qualified to her dream school as well through the PSLE route. The schools are looking for those students who will represent their school and win laurels at the olympiads and other international competitions.

I feel that academic DSA should be removed since they will be admitted by PSLE. DSA should only be for arts and sports in mainstream schools.

[Rational_Parent]

wonderm:

slmkhoo:

[quote=\"HVR\"]Read in the ST some parents are not happy with DSA, more specifically, they are not happy with GEP students applying for top schools via DSA. They think GEP students are depriving their children a chance to get into those schools. Any solution? Is this majority's view?

My daughter applied through DSA last year but was unsuccessful. I didn't get worked up about unfairness etc as you take the policies as you find them. However, if there is a change that should be made, I would advocate a level playing field for all kids when they face the DSA selection. When some schools have different criteria for GEP and non-GEP students , then it is not a level playing field. I am not referring to those who apply because of high ability in specific areas such as sports, dance, maths etc. However, for at least a couple of the popular schools, the 'general academic' entry is open only to GEP students; there is no similar category for non-GEP students. This works against kids who developed late, or chose to forgo the GEP selection or place, or in my daughter's case, only returned to Singapore just before the PSLE and never took the GEP selection test in the first place.

I think there are many people with children in mainstream hold similar view. My take on this just to share:

I believe only very few schools have different DSA (academic) admission process for GEP and mainstream. These could be the schools which have a substantial number of GEP students applying/entering every year.

Their reasons for having different processes? - I don't think it is to give GEP an \"unfair\" advantage, at least I don't think that's the intention. As GEP students had taken standard exams, it is possible for the Sec school to use their school results as a gauge of their academic standard. They can't really apply the same to mainstream schools today because of the varying standard of exams. I am sure you have heard about those killer papers set by some schoosl. It would be really unfair to students from those schools.

The 2nd possible reason could be that the Sec school believes that those GEP students who have met the bar (above 80%?) are most likely going to do very well and get selected anyway even if they are put through the same selection process as the other students. By not requiring them to go through the motion, they can save the time and effort for these students as well as save the school resources.

These are just my reasoning. I didn't hear it from the school or anywhere else. By the way, my DC were not from GEP. DS1 applied for 2 schools through DSA and was rejected by both. This part of the information is irrelevant to our discussion here, but just in case I am accused of trying to keep the \"un-equal\" playing field for my own benefit. [/quote]I concur with you on this.

My DC is from a non-GEP school. We applied for only one top school in the east and obtained a CO from that school.

I think the differentiation between GEP and non-GEP students serves some administrative purposes e.g. no need for GEPers to take GAT test, 80% total average for GEPers rather than 85% average for General and/or Academic application, etc. Of course different Sec schools have different requirements but I would like to think they will invariably work on the same premise.

Many already pointed out that GAT and other assessment tests and interviews also play a part in the final decision for a successful DSA.

Therefore, there is only a very slight advantage (e.g. guarantee an interview) for GEPers when applying DSA but nothing significant I think.

[ks2011]

wonderm:

slmkhoo:

Another reason, I believe, is simply because there are too many applicants and it makes things easier to have a fairly large group that is admitted without too much admin load. However, I do feel that they should have a similar 'general academic' category for non-GEP students. What happens now is that applicants have to be either GEP (all-rounders or with specific abilities)or non-GEP kids who have to have a strong single subject/sport/skill. There is no category for non-GEP all-rounders (in those schools). I know that other schools do not practise this, and I applaud it.

Yes, I am with you on this!

Also what is misleading is the fact that schools say that they have about many vacancies for DSA when more than half are taken up by GEP. Perhaps they can admit the GEPs through another Exercise. The real number of main streamers getting in every year will be then be clear.

[Nebbermind]

ks2011:

Also what is misleading is the fact that schools say that they have about many vacancies for DSA when more than half are taken up by GEP. Perhaps they can admit the GEPs through another Exercise. The real number of main streamers getting in every year will be then be clear.

Funny thing is that there are only abt 500 GEP and many DSA schools. If HCI and RI takes about half the GEP cohort, there will still be alot of vacancy available in the other DSA schools, right?

[ks2011]

There are many schools offering DSA. I was referring to schools which take in a high number of GE students. I am not contesting the fact that the GE students have to get into a secondary school which can provide them a similar env. What I am saying is that the schools should project a maximum intake for mainstream students. For mainstream academics, the number is quite small every yr.

[cluelessmama]

Nebbermind:

Funny thing is that there are only abt 500 GEP and many DSA schools. If HCI and RI takes about half the GEP cohort, there will still be alot of vacancy available in the other DSA schools, right?

same thoughts here.

[Nebbermind]

cluelessmama:

Nebbermind:

Funny thing is that there are only abt 500 GEP and many DSA schools. If HCI and RI takes about half the GEP cohort, there will still be alot of vacancy available in the other DSA schools, right?

same thoughts here.

Just hate to point out the reality, ie, it's not a DSA issue but rather the parents' attitude issue. If everyone believes there are only 4 good schools in SG, then of course the fight will be tough lah! While the parents want branded schools, the branded schools also want branded students mah.

Anyway, do they really set a figure for the no. of GEP to take in or it just happened that the GEP performed better than the rest for the selection and/or interview? :scratchhead: I'm out of touch.

And one question...which are the IP schools that give 'concession' to GEPpers...eg, can skip GAT/HAST/tests etc?

[ks2011]

Nebbermind:

While the parents want branded schools, the branded schools also want branded students

:rotflmao: true..true.

GEP students are exempted from GAT in most cases. They dont compete with non GEP students for DSA. I am just asking for more transparency in the maximum number of vacancies for the mainstream categories

[SHAmum]

slmkhoo:

cluelessmama:

[quote=\"Nebbermind\"]
Funny thing is that there are only abt 500 GEP and many DSA schools. If HCI and RI takes about half the GEP cohort, there will still be alot of vacancy available in the other DSA schools, right?

same thoughts here.

I agree that the schools can do anything they like since they have the right, and that there are plenty of DSA places in many schools. I just wish the schools would be a little more open about the numbers, or at least give a breakdown of previous years' intakes under different categories so applicants have a better idea of their chances.[/quote]
I think if parents want to know more, they can check with respective school that they are interested.

I am not sure about other school. The school that I asked, teacher-in-charge explained to me about estimate number allocated for different categories, and he clearly mention to me that they are not filling the place and they are recuriting talented ( academic/ sport/ music/ ect) student. He tried to say is that less people doesn't mean that you will get it.

fyi, My ds is non-gep.