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    Networking Group - JCs General

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Tertiary Education - A-Levels, Diplomas, Degrees
    3.9k Posts 434 Posters 980.2k Views 1 Watching
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    • sharonkhooS Online
      sharonkhoo
      last edited by

      00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2122744\" time=\"1700199099\" user_id=\"143605:

      Was told 45/45 also not enough for oxford/Cambridge. Must hv H3 and olympiad results.
      You mean not even interviewed? And H3 is an A level exam - IB students don't take those as far as I know.

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      • doodbugD Offline
        doodbug
        last edited by

        slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2122747\" time=\"1700201067\" user_id=\"28674:

        You man not even interviewed? And H3 is an A level exam - IB students don't take those as far as I know.
        You will need to do decently well in the admission tests like the TMUA, or LNAT, or ENGAA, or BMAT etc depending on what you are applying for. Singaporeans don't ace these exams that easily especially if you have no time to prepare for them, or if the tests are in the middle of your A levels!

        It really goes beyond the A levels and IB. You don't need perfect grades in those to be shortlisted.

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        • doodbugD Offline
          doodbug
          last edited by

          00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2122744\" time=\"1700199099\" user_id=\"143605:

          Heard 6 As got selected for oxford until 3rd round interview.
          Was told 45/45 also not enough for oxford/Cambridge. Must hv H3 and olympiad results.
          The interview invites are starting to go out for Oxbridge and Imperial College - for this year, there are applicants with no H3s and no Olympiads getting interview invites.

          There are many factors that go into the applications that we may not know how we have fared - ranging from school/teacher recommendations, to the quality of one's personal statement and choice of A level subjects, and how the university considers them.

          Also, the admissions test results. Nowadays, most of the top UK universities (even beyond Oxbridge) do require candidates to undertake assessments - it's a standardized way of comparing applicants.

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          • 00skyblue000 Offline
            00skyblue00
            last edited by

            slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2122747\" time=\"1700201067\" user_id=\"28674:

            You mean not even interviewed? And H3 is an A level exam - IB students don't take those as far as I know.
            Yes, that's what I was told.

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            • 00skyblue000 Offline
              00skyblue00
              last edited by

              doodbug\" post_id=\"2122749\" time=\"1700201658\" user_id=\"13281:

              The interview invites are starting to go out for Oxbridge and Imperial College - for this year, there are applicants with no H3s and no Olympiads getting interview invites.

              There are many factors that go into the applications that we may not know how we have fared - ranging from school/teacher recommendations, to the quality of one's personal statement and choice of A level subjects, and how the university considers them.

              Also, the admissions test results. Nowadays, most of the top UK universities (even beyond Oxbridge) do require candidates to undertake assessments - it's a standardized way of comparing applicants.
              The 6As case without H3 and extra, got through 2 rounds, but failed 3rd round interview.

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              • 00skyblue000 Offline
                00skyblue00
                last edited by

                Schootopia\" post_id=\"2122763\" time=\"1700212854\" user_id=\"143961:

                Those colleges can afford to just pick straight As for interviews. You don't really get a higher chance with more and more As.

                Their local public school kid may be taking 3 subjects only. Then, 3As is good enough.

                But they may be firing on 20% potential only. The type who can chill and support the bar on the night before exams. On the other hand, your 6As + extras may be squeezing blood from rock already..

                To be fair, the colleges won't give special considerations to \"extras\" that others (on a global basis) do not have opportunity for.

                The initial interview may just be a \"tell me about yourself\". The later one is the \"fit\" test. If you are not invited, you don't fit.
                quite illluminating to hear it from this angle, thanks.

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                • doodbugD Offline
                  doodbug
                  last edited by

                  The Oxbridge tutors must also be assured that you can sufficiently engage them and benefit from engagement in an Oxbridge-type of tutorial - I.e. 1 to 1 or 1 to 2 type of debates. They are after all the ones who will be your tutors.


                  There are also straight As kids who are rejected without interview. It’s the university’s prerogative. Fortunately for Singaporeans, the local universities are a viable and excellent option in many ways.

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                  • sharonkhooS Online
                    sharonkhoo
                    last edited by

                    One of the things I reminded my daughter when she was applying to universities overseas was that the no. of places in the most popular universities were always vastly oversubscribed. Besides grades (and there would be too many with excellent grades), applicants would be whittled down based on many more subjective factors such as personal essay, CCAs, other test results, other "interesting/impressive" personal factors, etc. Not being selected for an interview was not a slap in the face, but to some extent luck of the draw. We warned her not to be fixated on getting into a particular university or course and make a decision based on the offers she received. She was originally more interested in the US, but (to my relief) was rejected by her 2 top choices, so she went to the UK instead. She now says "no regrets".

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                    • doodbugD Offline
                      doodbug
                      last edited by

                      That’s the spirit!


                      Building resilience while being redirected!

                      No need to take rejections too personally.

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                      • 00skyblue000 Offline
                        00skyblue00
                        last edited by

                        Schootopia\" post_id=\"2122763\" time=\"1700212854\" user_id=\"143961:

                        Those colleges can afford to just pick straight As for interviews. You don't really get a higher chance with more and more As.

                        Their local public school kid may be taking 3 subjects only. Then, 3As is good enough.

                        But they may be firing on 20% potential only. The type who can chill and support the bar on the night before exams. On the other hand, your 6As + extras may be squeezing blood from rock already..

                        To be fair, the colleges won't give special considerations to \"extras\" that others (on a global basis) do not have opportunity for.

                        The initial interview may just be a \"tell me about yourself\". The later one is the \"fit\" test. If you are not invited, you don't fit.
                        True, their smart ones are really brilliant, not just book/exam smart.

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