From PSLE to University

[Fairy]

2ppaamm:

If you are looking at Medicine, the criteria is pretty stiff and you will need to prepare very early to get a head start.

Hi 2ppaamm,

Can you elaborate more on that? If my child hopes to be a doctor one day and we cannot afford to send her for an overseas education in this discipline, is there other alternative for us? Thanks.

[siak]

Jedamum wrote:

\"my take again is ...what's the point?
I do recognise the importance of an all rounded education and that being top in pri sch or at any level does not mean a guaranteed success in life (whichever way you define the term 'success').
my point of contention is .... why are we tracking these kids? do we want them to come in and see their names and how the people around SG are 'tracking' their 'performance growth' and then to feel that they have failed their parents if they had not progressed as 'charted'? try putting yourself in their shoes.. \"

Well said and indeed have some wisdom in it. we do not have to pinpoint other's drawback/mistakes to prove us right. What matters is that one's succes does not depend on being top PSLE or Ace in the school, but we should not be saying the other way around. For the sake of research / study to prove the hypothesis, we should keep the names anynomous, as it is sensivitive matter. And i believe it is not the original intention of why we want to track them up. Perhaps any graduate student or any one of us who is interested in the topic can develop further statistic.

I just came accross this very interesting topic which is quite eye opening. there are so many wonderful parents like 2ppamm whose story is very inspiring.
:goodpost:

[2ppaamm]

mummyjoyce:

No point tracking all these students at all (give a break!) - some will continue to blossom and some will not. It is the same the other side - poorer result students - some develop much later and they will blossom from there onwards. Please note that many successful people do not even have a good education or complete their education.

Ya hor, very mean hor, I will remove their names. But point is, they don't top their cohort again in 'A' levels. Not because they are no good, but others who mature later found a way to catch up.

[tired mom]

Hi 2ppaamm,


just read through the entire forum thread.

Though it's been said many times many ways, still want to say it :
:thankyou:

you are truly a very inspiring mum :udawoman:

your kids seem to be really independent and driven. Mine is really far off i think... though she's only P4 and hopefully will change. Nevertheless, it remains a great backup plan.

[mathsparks]

James Ang:

mathsparks:

[quote=\"James Ang\"]Some schools are already using O level textbooks in sec 1, why still spend 4 years on O levels or equivalent syllabus (even if the student is on IP) when they start doing O levels syllabus in Sec 1 (Year 1 for IP)?

Of course, these schools are not spending 4 years on O syllabus..They would likely cover the A levels as well, leaving the last 2 years for H3 subjects.

The fact is that the first 4 years of IP are separate from the final 2 years of IP by place of study (they either move to JC or to the senior high school in the case of DHS) and also there is an EOY exam at year 4 covering mostly O levels type of work before \"graduation\" to affiliated JC or senior high. Do you know of someone who does A levels syllabus in IP from Year 1 to Year 4?[/quote]Pls read clearly, James. I didn't mention anything about doing A levels in IP from Year 1 to 4. From year3, yes. that would be likely...and I mention to cover, I don't mean to complete the A syllabus by yr4.

In IP schools, most kids start with O level books (Maths/Pure Sciences/Pure Geog). Becos for those who come from the GE program, they would've covered parts of the lower sec maths and science, and dare I say even English too.

So why make them redo what they've already learned. And to quote from the Raffles Program..\"the key elements of the curriculum are advanced content knowledge, higher order process....is challenging and broad-based, developing analytical thinking ....\"

So, what's advanced content knowledge? Simply means doing what's beyond the O levels since they're not spending a full year doing ten year series. And where is this coming from?..likely from the A levels syllabus...can't be H3 right? And since these kids would've done parts of A levels in Yrs3/4, what do they do in Yr5?..H3 subjects..then Yr6, prepare for A levels.

While I don't know of anyone personally doing IP program who's able to compare it with O then A levels, I know for a fact that even tuition centres like aspen and the learning lab have different classes for IP students.

And for TLL, I can confirm for you that at sec4, they're covering GP topics as well.

But ask me a few years later and I can confirm for you. Coz my girl's doing A levels and son's doing IP...or you can always ask any of your existing IP students.

Or any kiasuparents out here have kids who've gone thru both IP and A levels can comment?

[2ppaamm]

Fairy:

2ppaamm:

If you are looking at Medicine, the criteria is pretty stiff and you will need to prepare very early to get a head start.

Hi 2ppaamm,

Can you elaborate more on that? If my child hopes to be a doctor one day and we cannot afford to send her for an overseas education in this discipline, is there other alternative for us? Thanks.

Hi Fairy,

Here's your page. http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/apply/international/admissionreq/BYA-admissionreq.html if you want to do medicine, bear in mind that the competition for admission is very stiff. Check the requirements, they are also not looking for straight As. To boost your chance for medicine school, I do sometimes suggest MCAT, too, though Yong Loo Lin does not ask for it. Many other medicine Us do. Your CCA is vitally important, and we are not talking about simply house practice, play play kind. Looking at state representatives etc. Too bookwormy may not be what they are looking for...

A bit early to plan hor? Just my 2 cents' worth. Hope this helps. Curious, how old is your kid?

[sleepy]

2ppaamm:

Hi Fairy,

Here's your page. http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/apply/international/admissionreq/BYA-admissionreq.html if you want to do medicine, bear in mind that the competition for admission is very stiff. Check the requirements, they are also not looking for straight As. To boost your chance for medicine school, I do sometimes suggest MCAT, too, though Yong Loo Lin does not ask for it. Many other medicine Us do. Your CCA is vitally important, and we are not talking about simply house practice, play play kind. Looking at state representatives etc. Too bookwormy may not be what they are looking for...

Students who chose to go NUSH, would that improved their chances to be accepted into medicine faculty?

[sleepy]

[Quote fairy]: I know someone whose children passes SAT at 9 yrs old & 10 yrs old and still managed to be at the 90th percentile of those taking the test. I understand they both went on to NUSH. Not sure if they are still there. Both also acquired their Degree in Mathematics via online studies with a renowned University for the gifted before they entered NUSH.



Hi Fairy

EPGY is a diploma course?

Any idea what's that online degree in Mathematics? from which renowned Uni? also EPGY (Standford)?

[2ppaamm]

sleepy:

2ppaamm:

Hi Fairy,

Here's your page. http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/apply/international/admissionreq/BYA-admissionreq.html if you want to do medicine, bear in mind that the competition for admission is very stiff. Check the requirements, they are also not looking for straight As. To boost your chance for medicine school, I do sometimes suggest MCAT, too, though Yong Loo Lin does not ask for it. Many other medicine Us do. Your CCA is vitally important, and we are not talking about simply house practice, play play kind. Looking at state representatives etc. Too bookwormy may not be what they are looking for...

Students who chose to go NUSH, would that improved their chances to be accepted into medicine faculty?

Hm... I don't know of any advantage. What did the admission folks from NUSH tell you guys? They are not supposed to give preferences, but maybe they do behind closed doors? We don't know yet because the first batch of NUSH grads are not out yet, right?

[sleepy]

2ppaamm:

sleepy:

Students who chose to go NUSH, would that improved their chances to be accepted into medicine faculty?

Hm... I don't know of any advantage. What did the admission folks from NUSH tell you guys? They are not supposed to give preferences, but maybe they do behind closed doors? We don't know yet because the first batch of NUSH grads are not out yet, right?

Ok, I rephrase Would NUSH provide them stronger foundation to medicine faculty?
For aspiring doctors, should they aim for NUSH to better prepare themselves?