DSA 2012

[Zekezachzoom]

Dear all experienced mums & dad here…


Riding on kitty questions, I too am trying to figure out whether a DSA route is better for my DS. I am not sure to put him through sport or academic DSA. He is very strong is math & science (constantly in the 90+ range) but rather weak in languages (around 80 range). He is in the school track & field team and won medals for his school in team & individual events. He is also a school prefect and a exco member. I am worried that if I put him thru sport DSA, the school will have certain expectation on him to excel in his sport and the academic will be secondary. Since he is not bad in his study, I am thinking of trying academic route instead.

Please give me some advice if you have similar experiences with your DC. Thanks.

[jtoh]

Zekezachzoom:

Dear all experienced mums & dad here...


Riding on kitty questions, I too am trying to figure out whether a DSA route is better for my DS. I am not sure to put him through sport or academic DSA. He is very strong is math & science (constantly in the 90+ range) but rather weak in languages (around 80 range). He is in the school track & field team and won medals for his school in team & individual events. He is also a school prefect and a exco member. I am worried that if I put him thru sport DSA, the school will have certain expectation on him to excel in his sport and the academic will be secondary. Since he is not bad in his study, I am thinking of trying academic route instead.

Please give me some advice if you have similar experiences with your DC. Thanks.

If your son is strong academically and has demonstrated exceptional talent in one of the subjects, then you should DSA through academics. Reason being that if you DSA'd via sports, you're expected to keep up with your training and represent the school in that sport throughout his secondary school years.

Does your son have any outstanding certificates to show academically? For eg Math Olympiad Gold/Platinum certificates etc? Just scoring 90+ in school exams may not be enough to set him apart from the rest of the field. Of course he could perform exceptionally well in the DSA selection test but it's always good to have a certificate to boost his chances.

If your son does decide to DSA via academics, he can also include his sports achievements and leadership positions in the application. They will take note of these and view them favorably in his application if for example someone else is just as competent academically as him.

[Zekezachzoom]

Thanks jtoh for your sound advice.


My DS did went for the NUS high science competition last year but unfortunately just got in to round 2. His school is sending him for RI math thingy this year ( in fact I m not sure to let him join as he is already very busy with track trainings and prefect duties). So… The answer to your question is he does not have any shining certificate yet;)

I am actually thinking along the line of using the academic route just not sure about the chances though. Also, is it true that most schools will group the sport DSA in one class and typically do not have very high expectation academically for this class?

[jtoh]

Zekezachzoom:

Thanks jtoh for your sound advice.


My DS did went for the NUS high science competition last year but unfortunately just got in to round 2. His school is sending him for RI math thingy this year ( in fact I m not sure to let him join as he is already very busy with track trainings and prefect duties). So... The answer to your question is he does not have any shining certificate yet;)

I am actually thinking along the line of using the academic route just not sure about the chances though. Also, is it true that most schools will group the sport DSA in one class and typically do not have very high expectation academically for this class?

The RI Math thingy is notoriously difficult to score in. :scared: Have your son go for SMOPS. If he can secure a gold or platinum that would be good.

As for DSA sports students all being in the same class, this varies from school to school. Some spread them out, some (like RI) group them all in the same class. The reason being they want to work around their competition schedules and to give them more attention knowing that they sometimes have to miss classes bec of training or competitions. I don't think the schools would focus any less academically on these students though. Maybe parents whose kids have children in DSA sports can comment.

[Funx3]

Zekezachzoom:

Thanks jtoh for your sound advice.


My DS did went for the NUS high science competition last year but unfortunately just got in to round 2. His school is sending him for RI math thingy this year ( in fact I m not sure to let him join as he is already very busy with track trainings and prefect duties). So... The answer to your question is he does not have any shining certificate yet;)

I am actually thinking along the line of using the academic route just not sure about the chances though. Also, is it true that most schools will group the sport DSA in one class and typically do not have very high expectation academically for this class?

Not True for My Gal's Sch.

They Don't Have Sports Class. ALL the Sports DSA R Spread out over the Non-GEP Classes, grouped by Sports Domain tog. Within the Same Class there R kids who DSA thru Sc, Maths, English, etc as well as those who R posted in thru S1 Posting Exercise. And they R expected to perform Above Avg academically. But Sch has Various schemes in place to help the students who R strapped for Time due to, say, the intensive National Team training.

Anyway, I'm Quite Sure that During DSA, the Sch Would Assess the Suitability of the Applicants, if they can Fit academically into the Academic Stream they will be admitted to Before they accept those Who DSA thru Sports.

[Mom2003]

My daughter is in Primary 5, she is interested in going to SOTA, she is into modern dance and Indian classical dance any tips for her on how she must prepare herself? She is doing SYF this year, she is a prefect and scores on an average of 85% every semester

[Zekezachzoom]

Thanks jtoh & funx3. I guess I will weigh the options more carefully when is time for DSA.


Jtoh - ya.. I heard the RI math thingy is extremely hard and some schools prep their students since p4 but not my DS school. I don't want him to loose his confidence over math after taking it but DS wants to try. Understand that the school will prep them somehow but I don't think is gonna enough. Has prepared my DS mentally will check out the Smops. Maybe the school sends different team to take part in it.

[jtoh]

Zekezachzoom:

Thanks jtoh & funx3. I guess I will weigh the options more carefully when is time for DSA.


Jtoh - ya.. I heard the RI math thingy is extremely hard and some schools prep their students since p4 but not my DS school. I don't want him to loose his confidence over math after taking it but DS wants to try. Understand that the school will prep them somehow but I don't think is gonna enough. Has prepared my DS mentally will check out the Smops. Maybe the school sends different team to take part in it.

Yes, prepare your son mentally for the RI Math test. You still have time to prepare him for SMOPS. I think your school should be able to send all those who are interested for SMOPS. Check it out.

[Snow Crystal]

Zekezachzoom:

Dear all experienced mums & dad here...


Riding on kitty questions, I too am trying to figure out whether a DSA route is better for my DS. I am not sure to put him through sport or academic DSA. He is very strong is math & science (constantly in the 90+ range) but rather weak in languages (around 80 range). He is in the school track & field team and won medals for his school in team & individual events. He is also a school prefect and a exco member. I am worried that if I put him thru sport DSA, the school will have certain expectation on him to excel in his sport and the academic will be secondary. Since he is not bad in his study, I am thinking of trying academic route instead.

Please give me some advice if you have similar experiences with your DC. Thanks.

Hi Z, I share jtoh's views that having above 90s in Math n Science is really not enough to set him apart. From what I gather from your posts, I assume RI is the school you have set your eyes on. Firstly check the historical records on how many track and field boys are chosen for past few year's RI DSA. Maybe can check around with sports seniors for such information bcos doubt the Sch will disclose. Then, review: if in past years, only say 1-2 boys in his area of track n field is/are chosen by RI, then what is your son's national ranking? If he's Number 1-2, there's chance. Go for it. However if his sports are good but not outstanding as in top national positions, his chance of going through sports DSA is much lower. Don't be disappointed. Sorry for being frank but got to be realistic. I read in this forum (RI thread perhaps) that there is min COP (below 240s) before they are put them into sports class. This is infor to be confirmed.

Next, academic wise, for RI academic DSA, he will be pitting against the SMOPS Platinum and Gold winners etc or Science Olympiad winners or Math/Science geniuses who have High Distinction for ICAS Math/Science etc. After catering for GEPpers and sports talents, there are very few seats left for RI Mainstream Academic. Most mainstream boys will walk away being rejected in its DSA.

My personal view is assess your chances, go for it but be prepared to be rejected. At the end, may still be more sound to go back to basics - work hard and hope to enter via PSLE S1.

[Zekezachzoom]

Thanks snow crystal for your advice. Nope, I am not setting my eye on RI knowing that it is going to be tough and put unnecessary stress to my DS. My only concern is knowing that his weaknesses in his languages, he may not be able to attain good TScore for a tier one secondary schools. Hence, have to look for some viable alternatives for him.


I am not really keen on sports DSA as I do not want my DS to be just a \"work horse\" to be trained to bring in the medals to the schools and study becomes secondary