2009 DSA(Direct School Admission)

[Fairy]

MdmKS:

Fairy:

I have both GEP and non-GEP children. They are equally intelligent. However, the one who is in the GEP programme does exhibit some X- factor in his analytical thinking and the way he processes information since he was a todler. Intelligence may not always translate into good grades (IQ scores, maybe) since many other factors like deligence are at play.

Your mainstream kid may be just out of the 500 selected. I believe he got into the second round? I also understand the screening test is mainly multiple choice and English is a key factor to be able to understand the questions well. Well there are people who choose not to take part in the screening test at P3.

I like the HCI way of doing away with the name \"GEP\" and mix them with \"mainstream\" students while they all have chance to do advance learning.

Yes. My younger child went for the selection tests. I did not ask both my kids what was tested. I remembered asking them whether they could answer those questions. Child 1 said they were 'easy'. I did not put much thoughts into his reply. Child 2 said they were 'ok' but was unsure if some questions were correctly answered.

Yes, one of child 1's classmates was selected for the program but decided not to join. One of child 2's current classmates was successful in securing a place in the program but had stayed in mainstream.

[joconde]

phankao:

My younger boy (p4 only) has his eyes set on HCI (don't know why he has such a good impression of it). He's talented in chinese music, but I do wonder if it would even be an avenue for HCI. I also notice they don't have a special music programme, unlike Nanyang or RI. And he's actually not interested in RI even tho' they have the Music Option, bc he says RI is \"not good\" in Chinese music. LOL. The thoughts of a young p4 boy!

So ur boy plays chinese instrument ? I think DHS chinese orchestra troupe can be considered one of the best, RVH also good. Although these may not be most parents first choice

[phankao]

joconde:

phankao:

My younger boy (p4 only) has his eyes set on HCI (don't know why he has such a good impression of it). He's talented in chinese music, but I do wonder if it would even be an avenue for HCI. I also notice they don't have a special music programme, unlike Nanyang or RI. And he's actually not interested in RI even tho' they have the Music Option, bc he says RI is \"not good\" in Chinese music. LOL. The thoughts of a young p4 boy!

So ur boy plays chinese instrument ? I think DHS chinese orchestra troupe can be considered one of the best, RVH also good. Although these may not be most parents first choice

Yes. DHS clearly states they take in under CO. I think by p6 year, my boy shd be able to. Only thing dhs so far away for us \"northlanders\". He prefers HCI tho. Not even thinking abt RVH.

[phankao]

kiasuson:

If your child is a GEP student and meet the minimum criteria, you will not have all this concerns.

Yes we know, KS-son. Our kids are dumbos. :stupid: :stupid: :stupid:

Your kids are not dumbos. You will not even have a chance to go for DSA if your kids are dumbos. I believe every details has to be taken care if we do not have the privillige of skipping GATs..

But anyone, including the v worst CAN go for DSA. Just whether they will be offered is another matter, right?

[csc]

phankao:

kiasuson:

If your child is a GEP student and meet the minimum criteria, you will not have all this concerns.

Yes we know, KS-son. Our kids are dumbos. :stupid: :stupid: :stupid:

Your kids are not dumbos. You will not even have a chance to go for DSA if your kids are dumbos. I believe every details has to be taken care if we do not have the privillige of skipping GATs..

But anyone, including the v worst CAN go for DSA. Just whether they will be offered is another matter, right?

I don't understand what you mean by v worst. Some kids may not excel academically but they may be exceptionally good in a sport, art or musically inclined so DSA gives them a chance or an opportunity to tap on their talents and develop their potential.

Also , it's not the end of the world if the child is not offered DSA. From those I know, many kids who were not offered DSA still went on to achieve excellent results to get into their dream schools.( or is it their parents' dream schools?)

[phankao]

csc:

phankao:

[quote=\"kiasuson\"]
If your child is a GEP student and meet the minimum criteria, you will not have all this concerns.

Yes we know, KS-son. Our kids are dumbos. :stupid: :stupid: :stupid:

I don't understand what you mean by v worst. Some kids may not excel academically but they may be exceptionally good in a sport, art or musically inclined so DSA gives them a chance or an opportunity to tap on their talents and develop their potential.[/quote]Yea i know.... no biggie ... .. just that by that statement, kiasuson seemed to tell us that we are worrying(concerns) only bc our children do not perhaps \"meet the minimum criteria\" and they shd not even be considering DSA. That's the general feel i get from that.

[lizawa]

phankao:

joconde:

[quote=\"phankao\"]
My younger boy (p4 only) has his eyes set on HCI (don't know why he has such a good impression of it). He's talented in chinese music, but I do wonder if it would even be an avenue for HCI. I also notice they don't have a special music programme, unlike Nanyang or RI. And he's actually not interested in RI even tho' they have the Music Option, bc he says RI is \"not good\" in Chinese music. LOL. The thoughts of a young p4 boy!

So ur boy plays chinese instrument ? I think DHS chinese orchestra troupe can be considered one of the best, RVH also good. Although these may not be most parents first choice

Yes. DHS clearly states they take in under CO. I think by p6 year, my boy shd be able to, since he is \"shou xi\" for his co. Only thing dhs so far away for us \"northlanders\". He prefers HCI tho. Not even thinking abt RVH.[/quote]Hi phankoa,

Although HCI doesn't have a special music programme, their Chinese Orchestra is very very strong. They have been getting Gold with Honours awards for SYF. So I would think that ur boy will stand a good chance if he can play one of the instruments well. This year, Nanyang and Catholic High also achieve Gold with Honours.

[phankao]

lizawa:

Although HCI doesn't have a special music programme, their Chinese Orchestra is very very strong. They have been getting Gold with Honours awards for SYF. So I would think that ur boy will stand a good chance if he can play one of the instruments well. This year, Nanyang and Catholic High also achieve Gold with Honours.

haha - think my boy's application will be thrown out from nanyang the moment they see \"Gender: M\". haha. Yeah - CHS quite likely can . Am thinking ahead ... and see how he can further develop himself

[lizawa]

phankao:

lizawa:

Although HCI doesn't have a special music programme, their Chinese Orchestra is very very strong. They have been getting Gold with Honours awards for SYF. So I would think that ur boy will stand a good chance if he can play one of the instruments well. This year, Nanyang and Catholic High also achieve Gold with Honours.

haha - think my boy's application will be thrown out from nanyang the moment they see \"Gender: M\". haha. Yeah - CHS quite likely can . Am thinking ahead ... and see how he can further develop himself

Haha,,, not asking your boy to apply for NYGH !
Saying that becos' when they enter Year 5 / 6, they will belong to the same CCA for the JC section.

[kiasuson]

phankao:

csc:

[quote=\"phankao\"]
Yes we know, KS-son. Our kids are dumbos. :stupid: :stupid: :stupid:

I don't understand what you mean by v worst. Some kids may not excel academically but they may be exceptionally good in a sport, art or musically inclined so DSA gives them a chance or an opportunity to tap on their talents and develop their potential.

Yea i know.... no biggie ... .. just that by that statement, kiasuson seemed to tell us that we are worrying(concerns) only bc our children do not perhaps \"meet the minimum criteria\" and they shd not even be considering DSA. That's the general feel i get from that.[/quote]To clarify, I am trying to say that for GEP students they will not have any concerns as long as they meet the minimum criteria.

By the way, my son is not an GEP student and also not an award winner. He was posted to a top school in Singapore thru DSA. He also has offers from another 3 IP schools. There are no shortcut for him. He went thru all the test. He is also not the top 10 students in his primary school which is not GEP school but a SAP school. I hope this give some motivation let their kids go for the DSA and not to give out.