Networking Group - JCs General

[sharonkhoo]

doodbug\" post_id=\"2095384\" time=\"1674012528\" user_id=\"13281:

JC is the LAST chance for a school environment, and having form classes and form teachers.
and all.

Don't forget MI! And that's 3 more years of the school experience. In fact, it's much more 'school' than JCs as it has more of a classroom system. We chose MI over JC for my older girl for that reason.

[SG_KP1]

For many of the reasons listed by others, I feel that at each point in time it is best to keep moving forward with whatever is available vs. trying to backtrack to get another shot at the same original goal.


There are just many ways to advance oneself, make the most out of what you have, etc. At every level, the filter keeps getting tighter. I.e. even if you make it to your JC and uni of choice, what happens when you can’t get the job you want? Sit out a year or take another degree? Even if you get the job, then what if not promoted to associate, director, VP, COO, CEO, etc? At some point, most people are going to face some type of rejection / coming up short. It’s what you do next that matters more in my mind.

[sky minecrafter]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2095371\" time=\"1674006563\" user_id=\"43981:

Ok thank you..

If IB and Poly, which one would you choose?

Hello Mks, try this? :-
https://nationaljc.moe.edu.sg/career-diagnostic-quiz/
You can complete it based on your understanding of your dd; get her to try it herself as well, then the options may become clearer? From there, perhaps list down the possibilities, & work backwards on what steps can be taken to achieve those goals. A general direction is good, don't over- worry alright

[sharonkhoo]

SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2095398\" time=\"1674015450\" user_id=\"188234:

For many of the reasons listed by others, I feel that at each point in time it is best to keep moving forward with whatever is available vs. trying to backtrack to get another shot at the same original goal.

There are just many ways to advance oneself, make the most out of what you have, etc. At every level, the filter keeps getting tighter. I.e. even if you make it to your JC and uni of choice, what happens when you can't get the job you want? Sit out a year or take another degree? Even if you get the job, then what if not promoted to associate, director, VP, COO, CEO, etc? At some point, most people are going to face some type of rejection / coming up short. It's what you do next that matters more in my mind.

Yes, truly agree with this. We told our girls to choose the best of what offers at each step, even if it wasn't necessarily their first choice. A positive attitude makes a lot of things 'ok', and over time, sometimes it grows on you and you discover you like it. Or after a while, another path will open up and so you move on.

[MrsKiasu]

Really appreciate this discussion, thank you to all!

[MrsKiasu]

Slmkhoo, for MI 3 years route to A level seems not a bad idea too. If you don’t mind, during dd’s time how is the mix of kids there? Are they those kids that can still enter JC but the lower range ones? There is an entrance bar also I believe.


One of the response I got fm dd is that she still wants more time in the formal education system. I find it so fast already finishing secondary…really would like her to be by my side for few more years.

[sharonkhoo]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2095425\" time=\"1674027734\" user_id=\"43981:

Slmkhoo, for MI 3 years route to A level seems not a bad idea too. If you don't mind, during dd's time how is the mix of kids there? Are they those kids that can still enter JC but the lower range ones? There is an entrance bar also I believe.

One of the response I got fm dd is that she still wants more time in the formal education system. I find it so fast already finishing secondary..really would like her to be by my side for few more years.

I believe there is a minimum of 20 points for 5 subjects - but this info is from 2014, so better to check again. Mix of kids - well, as you can imagine, there's a much wider range of the \"lower\" end of the achievement range. Those who are there by choice (as opposed to going to poly, or getting a job) are fairly determined to work hard. And of course, there a quite a no. who are not used to working hard! Some will be there because ill-health or learning disability made it hard for them to do well, or because they decided that they preferred the slower 3-yr programme rather than a 2-yr one. My daughter was offered a place in 2 JCs (through SPERS), but we chose MI.

Because MI takes in lower achievers, the dropout rate is high, especially in the first year. Some do eventually choose to go to poly for various reasons and leave in Y1 or Y2, some go overseas, some get jobs. Some don't make it to Y2 because they failed too many subjects. But about 30% go to local university in the end.

What was good about MI was that the kids were less competitive and more collaborative. Many had been regarded as 'stupid' in their sec schools, but blossomed when they were able to take on more leadership roles. There were the playful students who didn't obey rules, but I saw a lot of good kids among my daughter's classmates. They weren't the top student type, but they were responsible, hard workers, polite and respectful. My daughter is not easily influenced, so I didn't have any issues with her picking up any bad behaviour.

The teachers in MI are supportive and encouraging, and there is more teaching and classroom time than JC.

[MrsKiasu]

Thanks slmkhoo.

[phtthp]

doodbug\" post_id=\"2095361\" time=\"1674004741\" user_id=\"13281:

I agree. Those who are well resourced, will have more options (this is a general statement about life really - from stocks portfolio to cars and housing etc.) When the time comes, we each make decisions based on our current financial standing, how much we are willing to expend or sacrifice for our kids.

Admission to ACS Intl, SJII and HCIS is not a given at Year 5. If I am not wrong, SJII was full for quite some time and this year's batch who just collected O level results, I don't think they could apply for SJII at all. Even at the Sec School stages, I've had friends whose kids were on the waiting list at SJII. I am not sure what the requirements are to enter ACS Int'l or HCIS - I'm sure there is some grades requirement, even if it is not very demanding.

As for degrees in Australia, I am not sure about the costs but the costs differential especially for science courses have narrowed so much between UK and Australia that more Singaporeans have been choosing the former. Plus many Singaporeans had a very bad experience in Australia during the Covid period, not able to enter Australia to resume studies and all.

You give very good advice too, doodbug. Much appreciated.

The problem with going to Poly I see is ... the discipline part.

In Poly,
u don't wear school uniform anymore. There's a lot of free time or freedom to do whatever u want, inside the Poly. You can skip lecture, nobody bother. You can wear singlet / flip flop into the lecture theatre, nobody care.

Because a lot of free time inside the Poly, girls tend to doll themselves up. Put on make up, lip stick, look pretty, before enter lecture theatre. They are teenagers. Normal lah ! Who doesn't want to look pretty, right ? That day went Republic Polytechnic Open House, saw some pretty girls around, they applied make up.

Towards the end of Year 3 Poly, u get to do FYP (Final year project), followed by an Internship (6 to 9) months attachment period, working in some company. So as to get some relevant working experience, in that field (specialization) of Diploma which u have chosen to study, for the past 3 years.

If failed to maintain a good GPA, that's it. Poly require u to maintain a consistent GPA, in your studies. If your Semester 1 go wrong / hey-wire, u come under pressure to \"must really catch up hard, pull up your socks\" in Semester 2. Otherwise, your GPA impacted !
After work one or two years, be prepared to go overseas uni study.

Whereas
If go Junior College, it still operate like a typical familiar Secondary school environment, with the classroom structure, Teachers, etc. How to say (describe) ?
The discipline part ... is already auto \"built in\", inside a JC. There is this tidal wave, at regular check point interval set by your JC class Teachers, to test u those core A level H2 subjects.

[doodbug]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2095435\" time=\"1674028971\" user_id=\"28674:

I believe there is a minimum of 20 points for 5 subjects - but this info is from 2014, so better to check again. Mix of kids - well, as you can imagine, there's a much wider range of the \"lower\" end of the achievement range. Those who are there by choice (as opposed to going to poly, or getting a job) are fairly determined to work hard. And of course, there a quite a no. who are not used to working hard! Some will be there because ill-health or learning disability made it hard for them to do well, or because they decided that they preferred the slower 3-yr programme rather than a 2-yr one. My daughter was offered a place in 2 JCs (through SPERS), but we chose MI.

Because MI takes in lower achievers, the dropout rate is high, especially in the first year. Some do eventually choose to go to poly for various reasons and leave in Y1 or Y2, some go overseas, some get jobs. Some don't make it to Y2 because they failed too many subjects. But about 30% go to local university in the end.

What was good about MI was that the kids were less competitive and more collaborative. Many had been regarded as 'stupid' in their sec schools, but blossomed when they were able to take on more leadership roles. There were the playful students who didn't obey rules, but I saw a lot of good kids among my daughter's classmates. They weren't the top student type, but they were responsible, hard workers, polite and respectful. My daughter is not easily influenced, so I didn't have any issues with her picking up any bad behaviour.

The teachers in MI are supportive and encouraging, and there is more teaching and classroom time than JC.

Interesting, slmkhoo. So your daughter qualified for JC and was offered places at two JCs, but elected to pursue the MI pathway instead.

I am all for a more diverse, variegated educational landscape. Very glad to read of how MI has worked out for kids who had found a viable option in MI, even if they are not regarded as top students, or university-bound students by others. It offers a chance for students who do not qualify for JC, to have a shot at the A levels.