DSA 2024

[bbbay]

I emailed the few popular DSA schools , asking for their comments on parents’ concerns whether DSA student can cope with the rigorous curriculum , if there is a big gap between the student’s PSLE AL score and the school’s COP. And these are the replies from 2 of them. Reason I am sharing, so that parents can have some idea about these schools’ thoughts on this matter. They have seen many DSA students so their thoughts should be a good reflection of the situation. Or they could be official/standard reply



The decision to apply via DSA-Sec is a choice the applicant and her parents have to make after considering all factors. While she may be very able in her talent area, you also need to consider what is a ‘best fit’ choice for her knowing that the academic curriculum in <school> is for high ability learners. The PSLE-posted students will have a minimum of AL x (based on last year’s cut-off score). Thus, your daughter will need to be able to cope with the rigours of a challenging curriculum that is meant to stretch our students. It is advisable that your daughter is able to cope well with the curriculum and other school activities as we do not wish for her self-esteem to be negatively impacted when she is unable to cope.

If you feel that your daughter might not thrive in such a challenging environment, it might be better for her to apply to another school that offers the same DSA talent area. A secondary school which offers the GCE O level curriculum might be more manageable as the curriculum is familiar to you and you will be able to better support her. In this way, she may be better able to cope with doing well in her talent area as well as her overall school curriculum.

You know your daughter best.

Thanks & regards,
<1 of the top 4 schools> Admissions

—————

The panel members will review and assess all applications carefully based on their primary school results, achievements in talent areas, along with their performance in the DSA selection tests, trials, auditions, and interviews.


Best Regards,
<1 of the top 4 schools> Admissions

[phtthp]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2133958\" time=\"1715855678\" user_id=\"175278:

I emailed the few popular DSA schools , asking for their comments on parents’ concerns whether DSA student can cope with the rigorous curriculum , if there is a big gap between the student’s PSLE AL score and the school’s COP. And these are the replies from 2 of them. Reason I am sharing, so that parents can have some idea about these schools’ thoughts on this matter. They have seen many DSA students so their thoughts should be a good reflection of the situation. Or they could be official/standard reply


The decision to apply via DSA-Sec is a choice the applicant and her parents have to make after considering all factors. While she may be very able in her talent area, you also need to consider what is a ‘best fit’ choice for her knowing that the academic curriculum in RGS is for high ability learners. The PSLE-posted students will have a minimum of AL 6 (based on last year’s cut-off score). Thus, your daughter will need to be able to cope with the rigours of a challenging curriculum that is meant to stretch our students. It is advisable that your daughter is able to cope well with the curriculum and other school activities as we do not wish for her self-esteem to be negatively impacted when she is unable to cope.

If you feel that your daughter might not thrive in such a challenging environment, it might be better for her to apply to another school that offers the same DSA talent area. A secondary school which offers the GCE O level curriculum might be more manageable as the curriculum is familiar to you and you will be able to better support her. In this way, she may be better able to cope with doing well in her talent area as well as her overall school curriculum.

You know your daughter best.

Thanks & regards,
RGS Admissions

—————

The panel members will review and assess all applications carefully based on their primary school results, achievements in talent areas, along with their performance in the DSA selection tests, trials, auditions, and interviews.


Best Regards,
RI Admissions

To be honest,

if you (a P6 student) have been consistently scoring MORE than, or exceeded

AL 13 points,

in your 4 PSLE subjects,

from (P4 to P6) primary school years consistently,

you shouldn't be applying DSA into RGS nor RI. You will be better off in the long run, to apply for DSA in some other Secondary schools, instead.

Although on paper, the black & white says even if you do score AL 20 (in PSLE), you still can qualify for IP schools, via the acceptance of the DSA contract offer.

[iRabbit]

Nothing personal here but I feel that it’s not nice to share a school’s email reply verbatim in a public forum.


Nothing wrong if we paraphrase the reply and share though. No offence to anyone please.

[bbbay]

Reason I share because it is a reply to a question that many other parents also have. It has been discussed on public forum for the longest time. I assume the school would agree they are replying to a very common and important question that parents should take into consideration carefully. If my question is on very personal matter and the comment from the schools are also in the form of personal advice then I agree it should not be posted here because it will be between myself and the schools.


And i chose not to paraphrase because it will introduce some subjectivity; i could leave out something which is important in the eyes of other parents. I am giving original text to give credibility and also parents can interpret for themselves.

[sharonkhoo]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2133983\" time=\"1715900960\" user_id=\"175278:

And i chose not to paraphrase because it will introduce some subjectivity; i could leave out something which is important in the eyes of other parents. I am giving original text to give credibility and also parents can interpret for themselves.

Perhaps a middle way is to redact the name and feminine pronouns?

[bbbay]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2133984\" time=\"1715903931\" user_id=\"28674:

Perhaps a middle way is to redact the name and feminine pronouns?

Have changed to “replies from 2 of the top 4 schools” ….

[00skyblue00]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2133983\" time=\"1715900960\" user_id=\"175278:

Reason I share because it is a reply to a question that many other parents also have. It has been discussed on public forum for the longest time. I assume the school would agree they are replying to a very common and important question that parents should take into consideration carefully. If my question is on very personal matter and the comment from the schools are also in the form of personal advice then I agree it should not be posted here because it will be between myself and the schools.

And i chose not to paraphrase because it will introduce some subjectivity; i could leave out something which is important in the eyes of other parents. I am giving original text to give credibility and also parents can interpret for themselves.

Thanks. I like the first reply, more realistic.

I believe that DSA is about getting those children who have specific passion in non academic areas to schools which have resources and expertise to develop the children in those areas. Unfortunately many parents and students (influenced as children are born a blank canvas) only look at specific schools.

Realistic, can be schools just 2 or 3 ALs lower than children's average or score range. CO can help to remove the stress of one time performance determine all kind of stress. There are some children whose performance may fluctuate due to many reasons. With CO, these children may even do better because of the reduced stress.
I know one, after getting and accepted CO, he told his parents he would like to work hard so that his AL can qualify him through psle too. This kid improved 4 ALs in psle from p5 SA2 and p6 SA1. Was a surprise to parents and kid. But still 2 AL higher than cop.

Without CO by realistic sch, kids like that would never get a CO at all. Chances of CO by dream schools are low like nil. 12000 dsa applications, most want IP. Just do the math.

We are talking abt mid to high 10s, double digits. Also generally top sportsmen have qualities beyond the others, are not included as these qualities are why many have proven miracles are possible.

[Sheena_1]

Hi all!


I would like some advice on the DSA application.

For DSA leadership IP track, does any one know what is the process for TJC? How closely do they look at the child’s P5 results before short listing them for interview.

Mother tongue is my son’s weak point and that affects the total AL score.

Thanks 🙏

[jojojoe]

Hi all, does the sequence of the three DSA options impact the chances of being selected?

[coast]

jojojoe\" post_id=\"2134004\" time=\"1715946648\" user_id=\"198764:

Hi all, does the sequence of the three DSA options impact the chances of being selected?

No, it does not affect.

All the best.