DSA 2022

[mystique_j]

DSA also gives the opportunity for the kids to visit the school when they go for the test/interview and have a feel of whether they like the school, the students or teachers, considering now that a lot of schools are still doing e-open house.

That could serve as a motivation as well for them to study hard if they like a certain school.

My son’s target school changed after he went for the DSA test/interview.

[hellokitty082078]

jellyyee06\" post_id=\"2076235\" time=\"1658884664\" user_id=\"154612:

Thank you for all the clarification. I also has the same fear for psle (ours is next year), but I also feel that dsa is quite stressful, not sure my DD can go through the process, in addition to the possibility that need to face disappointments. So wondering whether we should spend time in dsa preparation or just put all time focus in psle preparation.

You may consider handling all the admin work for your DD. Check on emails, status of DSA can be very distracting. I did all the admin myself for my DD. She was only involved in filling up the DSA application form, with email contact to be me and her daddy. Subsequently, when there is interview or test approaching, then i just inform her and we prepare a few days in advance. Otherwise, she will still focus on her PSLE revision.

[Mr.025413Clumsy]

jellyyee06\" post_id=\"2076235\" time=\"1658884664\" user_id=\"154612:

Thank you for all the clarification. I also has the same fear for psle (ours is next year), but I also feel that dsa is quite stressful, not sure my DD can go through the process, in addition to the possibility that need to face disappointments. So wondering whether we should spend time in dsa preparation or just put all time focus in psle preparation.

I think it's worthwhile trying. As others have mentioned, there's a lot to learn from the process. It makes your child more accountable for his/her future (although mine was a bit lazy), and it helps introduce them to others and the competition they face. Many kids are insulated, especially if they're from a neighbourhood school. Once they see the bigger crowds, they realize that they need to work hard as everyone is eager to do well.

Ultimately, it may come to naught but the experience alone is quite rewarding.

[Susanna0_0]

jellyyee06\" post_id=\"2076216\" time=\"1658852262\" user_id=\"154612:

Sorry for my insensitivity and ignorance. For children with AL4-6, wouldn't it better to use psle score instead of DSA? They might be able to enter a \"better\" school with psle result? Actually they can choose any school with that result

DSA is truly a valuable experience for kids and parents even though it does take away lots of their times. It helps my dd to identify her strengths and weaknesses. When compiling the list, we salute what she has achieved during her primary school years, the resilience and hard work. The selection tests and camp also fortify her belief and love in the subjects. More important , the priceless interviews chances. DD enjoys it all and it takes some of her mind off psle preparation. Whether she gets any CO or not, she learn a lot during the whole dsa process.

[sapphiree]

For us, DSA is stressful as his talents are mostly his interests and his achievements are mediocre.

But if I were to go through this again, I will still apply via DSA. My son wants to further his interests in his secondary school curriculum, to me that is good.
Depending on the domain you are targeting, some domains require less preparation. The thing that is new to the child is interviewing.

[floppy]

jellyyee06\" post_id=\"2076235\" time=\"1658884664\" user_id=\"154612:

Thank you for all the clarification. I also has the same fear for psle (ours is next year), but I also feel that dsa is quite stressful, not sure my DD can go through the process, in addition to the possibility that need to face disappointments. So wondering whether we should spend time in dsa preparation or just put all time focus in psle preparation.

My suggestion is to focus on PSLE prep instead of DSA prep.
If your daughter has already been pursuing sports / arts for a long time, let it continue. Do not specifically tailor them to DSA. It's not worth it with only a year to go.
If your daughter is doing well in her studies and would like to pursue an academic DSA, again, let it continue. Do not try to load up on competitions / olympiads / what not in order to butter up the 'CV' for DSA.

[mystique_j]

jellyyee06\" post_id=\"2076235\" time=\"1658884664\" user_id=\"154612:

Thank you for all the clarification. I also has the same fear for psle (ours is next year), but I also feel that dsa is quite stressful, not sure my DD can go through the process, in addition to the possibility that need to face disappointments. So wondering whether we should spend time in dsa preparation or just put all time focus in psle preparation.

I didn’t think the process is stressful nor time consuming for my son. We didn’t prepare much. Only the day before the interview, told him to read up on the school website and gave him some QnA to prepare. We did not attend any course.

I told him, go there with an open mind, it’s a chance to see the school and talk to the teachers or student leaders. It’s a valuable experience.. can practice oral also. Haha. So it’s ok if you don’t get the CO, u get the experience. We also didn’t talk much about it there after. Its only me that is doing the refreshing of e-mails and waiting and waiting and stalking this thread. I don’t pass on that feeling to my son, so life is back to normal for him.

[jellyyee06]

Thanks all! Nice to hear the experiences, glad to know that most dd/ds enjoying it


My DD is interested in maths and science, but teachers said that she has less chance as this 2 domain are very competitive. Teacher suggest she can try bilingual, but even if she success in dsa bilingual (4 or 6 years commitment), can she still choose triple science in secondary?

[sapphiree]

Very true on what mystique shared.

i treat it as exercise for Oral which is today and tomorrow. I told him well done! good experience and hope you had fun.
today is back to the grind of prelims revision although i cut him slack yesterday.

i am also checking on emails. hoping to get an email from SST round 2. LOL!
such joys.

[Mr.025413Clumsy]

mystique_j\" post_id=\"2076242\" time=\"1658885446\" user_id=\"39431:

I didn’t think the process is stressful nor time consuming for my son. We didn’t prepare much. Only the day before the interview, told him to read up on the school website and gave him some QnA to prepare. We did not attend any course.

I told him, go there with an open mind, it’s a chance to see the school and talk to the teachers or student leaders. It’s a valuable experience.. can practice oral also. Haha. So it’s ok if you don’t get the CO, u get the experience. We also didn’t talk much about it there after. Its only me that is doing the refreshing of e-mails and waiting and waiting and stalking this thread. I don’t pass on that feeling to my son, so life is back to normal for him.

I guess much depends on the domain your child is applying for.

My DS was applying for Visual Arts and that was quite a tedious process. He had to compile his portfolio of artworks, prepare a description for each, compile the materials and bring them for the audition and interview. To make it trickier, he had sculptures and large pieces (A2 size).

That said, I think he enjoyed this part of the DSA as he could pick the pieces he wanted to include in his portfolio, talk about them and compile the lot. It was a fun experience and while I felt that he could have been more invested (I had to chase him to get stuff done), I think he enjoyed the experience.