DSA 2022

[AHsDad]

Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2056771\" time=\"1643033873\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2056771 time=1643033873 user_id=58173]
Perhaps if you don’t mind, do share what was her leadership profile like, that got her to a waitlist and eventually convert. Was she a head prefect, did fund raising, CCA leader, etc.[/quote]

Sure. Vice-head prefect. Chairperson Art club. Community service activities only those done within school period. For P5 and mid-year, both AL7. In the DSA submission (RGS Leadership and RGS Visual Art), kiasufully filled up the max 10 “non-school achievements”. Intent was to exhibit being an all-rounder, so all her arts, music, sports, debate, etc, we just laid it out on the table 😂 also the ECHAs and EAGLEs awards should count for something too

[Lavanya123]

Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2056773\" time=\"1643034221\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2056773 time=1643034221 user_id=58173]
I would like to recommend NJC, as the schools fees are relatively more affordable as compared to the independent IP schools. And unlike SAP schools, I think it is slightly more accommodating to have a less than perfect Chinese score.

All the best![/quote]

@Zeal mummy, can you let me know what you think of NJC for STEM DSA, I am thinking of this one of the choices for my son who will be trying DSA this year.

[Lavanya123]

Rio\" post_id=\"1916061\" time=\"1561598302\" user_id=\"788:

As of now, about 80+ P6 students are already given the offer to do NUSH Year 1 Maths module via e-lessons, allowing them to earn module credits n qualify for exemption of these modules n may be placed in Year 2 or higher for mathematics if they decided to join NUSH, n of course, depending on their test results. Next week will b the test for 1st module.

Had to admit this does takes lots of self discipline n love for the subject to do self learning amid the preparation for PSLE from the student. But NUSH does prepare the student early once they identify their potential n is ready to stretch them further. I personally felt this is a huge + point of NUSH.

@Rio, can you help me understand a bit more on what you meant here? as in these students got a chance to be a part of NUSH before the DSA process?

[Lavanya123]

Dear parents whose kids got CO from nush can you provide insight into the application and selection process, my son is keen on nush and i too feel it would be the best fit for him.


And I am also curious what other schools you chose for the other two options, I have narrowed down to Nush and NJC, not yet sure of third choice, hence would love to hear from those who applied for nush of their other choices!

[JHG]

AHsDad\" post_id=\"2056776\" time=\"1643039844\" user_id=\"172457:

Sure. Vice-head prefect. Chairperson Art club. Community service activities only those done within school period. For P5 and mid-year, both AL7. In the DSA submission (RGS Leadership and RGS Visual Art), kiasufully filled up the max 10 “non-school achievements”. Intent was to exhibit being an all-rounder, so all her arts, music, sports, debate, etc, we just laid it out on the table 😂 also the ECHAs and EAGLEs awards should count for something too

I thought I could throw in one more data point in case it's helpful to anyone...

My daughter had a very similar profile to AHsDad's kid. The one exception was that she only scored AL10 for her P5 SA2 (which was below the norm for her). She didn't get an interview at RGS and we suspected it's because her P5 score fell below some sort of cut off they had.

We had a similar experience at NYGH where she was interviewed but did not get an offer, while a classmate with a weaker leadership portfolio did get a CO. The other girl just so happened to be the school's top scorer at P5.

All ended well for us because she later scored AL5 at PSLE and had the pick of the schools. But we definitely took away that leadership DSA at the top schools isn't just about leadership.

[Imp75]

It never was the only factor schools take into consideration esp qualitative dsa like leadership. By the way, nygh does not hv a leadership dsa per se so which dsa category she applied for?

For sports, yes if you are highly recommended or in national team, I think the schools will welcome you with no other factors like acad to be considered.

[AHsDad]

Congrats, JHG, on your girl’s achievements


For RGS, it appears my daughter has no obligations at all for the DSA (as yet). believe academics would be a key criteria, alongside leadership and community background. It’s just like an “open” category to chope some girls. I have no idea how many girls were accepted via this domain, but doubt many

[bbbay]

My view:


There is nothing to lose to try out DSA. And I read somewhere , there were 30K student (correction: 30K domain/school applications. 12K unique applicants https://www.moe.gov.sg/news/parliamentary-replies/20220110-direct-school-admission-secondary-exercise) applied for DSA. Almost 1 out of every 3 P6 students tried out DSA.

And when academic result does not matter in DSA, why not try DSA into the most popular schools? RGS/ NYGH/RI/HCI are the obvious choices. Say only half of the 12K students go for these 4 ideal choices: 6K students go for 4 schools. And assume each student apply only 1 of the 4 schools. Each school will then receive 1.5K DSA applications.

When each school has 1.5K DSA students to select from, for say 100 DSA places, how will school make their choices?

students that are very rare breed like junior champion, or did something no one else has done before, will be admitted. Rare breeds are rare. Next in considerations will be those with eye catching performance but not as rare. They may be admitted next. Next will be those very good in their domains. Good can be relatively common. If there are 20 equally “good” students to choose from to fill the 5 remaining DSA places, how to differentiate them? Academic results may be the deciding factor.

Due to nothing to lose in trying out DSA, and why not the best school, and top schools have too many students to chose from, and unless the student is of rare breed or have eye catching performance, among the “good” performers too many of them vying for limited places. We may end up still using academic performance to decide among DSA applicants.

After PSLE, the number of students applying for top schools are the 4 to 7 maybe some 8 pointers, one thousand+ of them. a small number compared to 6K DSA applicants for top 4 schools.

Assuming the analysis is correct, DSA application to 2nd tier schools may yield higher chance of acceptance.

[Zeal mummy]

Lavanya123\" post_id=\"2056784\" time=\"1643070120\" user_id=\"143620:

@Zeal mummy, can you let me know what you think of NJC for STEM DSA, I am thinking of this one of the choices for my son who will be trying DSA this year.

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Aesthetics & Mathematics) (will be required to be engaged in and lead STEAM-based activities for 4 years in Junior High)

Source: https://nationaljc.moe.edu.sg/admissions/ip-dsa/

[Zeal mummy]

AHsDad\" post_id=\"2056776\" time=\"1643039844\" user_id=\"172457:

Sure. Vice-head prefect. Chairperson Art club. Community service activities only those done within school period. For P5 and mid-year, both AL7. In the DSA submission (RGS Leadership and RGS Visual Art), kiasufully filled up the max 10 “non-school achievements”. Intent was to exhibit being an all-rounder, so all her arts, music, sports, debate, etc, we just laid it out on the table 😂 also the ECHAs and EAGLEs awards should count for something too

Congrats AHs, on your girl’s achievements.
Could you share more on the community service activities done within school period? Also if you don’t mind, what were the 10 “ non-school achievements.”