NUS High School of Mathematics and Science (Diploma)
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Thanks happymum8 and walterp for your comments.
I was initially concerned with the comments on the “poor language skills” of NUSH students and no focus on English in NUSH. After reading your post, I am now relieved for my DS.
BTW, I did not have any problems with Yr6 students’ spoken English during last Sat’s Tea session. -
UncleLim:
Yes confirm is 10 succesfully got in Medicine out of 220+ for last year graduated batch!!
Is this true, happymum8 ?? :scared: :scared:happymum8:
Yes they can. They can apply any courses, cause ALL of them do Maths.
I understand that for such a small cohort of students, already 10 are admitted to Medicine at NUS for this recent year.
10 out of 100+ NUSH students were accepted by NUS for Medicine? Where can I verify this information?
I have the impression that at most 1 or 2.
They already went for their matriculation and finally 8 stay in the course with 1 went to Hong Kong Uni to read Medicine and 1 chose to read Dentistry.
This is really an impressive number! Understand that those got in are not really the top top ones. But I believe there will be more admitted to Medicine in the coming years! :xedfingers: -
happymum8:
Yes confirm is 10 succesfully got in Medicine out of 220+ for last year graduated batch!!
Is this true, happymum8 ?? :scared: :scared:UncleLim:
[quote=\"happymum8\"]
Yes they can. They can apply any courses, cause ALL of them do Maths.
I understand that for such a small cohort of students, already 10 are admitted to Medicine at NUS for this recent year.
10 out of 100+ NUSH students were accepted by NUS for Medicine? Where can I verify this information?
I have the impression that at most 1 or 2.
They already went for their matriculation and finally 8 stay in the course with 1 went to Hong Kong Uni to read Medicine and 1 chose to read Dentistry.
This is really an impressive number! Understand that those got in are not really the top top ones. But I believe there will be more admitted to Medicine in the coming years! :xedfingers: [/quote]Happymum8, that's great news indeed ! I always feel that NUSH students would have that extra edge over their \"A\" level counterparts since they are slightly ahead or way ahead b'cos the y5/Y6 advance research where they plong straight into their area of specialisation be it physics, chemistry or medical sciences.
I happen to \"kaypo\" at this year open house talk where Dr Hang was saying that Queens University (where ? , Australia ) has no \"quota\" on NUSH student intake for Medicine studies b'cos our student are really that good.
BTW, why is the graduating class strength of 220 last year ? Does it include year 3 intake? I was told it was also the first batch of students who did the full 6 years programme at NUSH. -
walterp:
Happymum8, that's great news indeed ! I always feel that NUSH students would have that extra edge over their \"A\" level counterparts since they are slightly ahead or way ahead b'cos the y5/Y6 advance research where they plong straight into their area of specialisation be it physics, chemistry or medical sciences.
This is really an impressive number! Understand that those got in are not really the top top ones. But I believe there will be more admitted to Medicine in the coming years! :xedfingers: [/color]
I happen to \"kaypo\" at this year open house talk where Dr Hang was saying that Queens University (where ? , Australia ) has no \"quota\" on NUSH student intake for Medicine studies b'cos our student are really that good.
BTW, why is the graduating class strength of 220 last year ? Does it include year 3 intake? I was told it was also the first batch of students who did the full 6 years programme at NUSH.[/quote]
Yes total from Year 1 intake plus Year 3 intake make up to 220+ last year.
As for University of Queensland (if I am not wrong), I also heard the same news and DD is also strong asked to join for next year attachment programmes for Year 6 students for a period of a few months!
The University is very impressed with NUS High acceralted programmes that they see a very bright future in the students and are willingly to take in the students as long as they meet their criteria. -
happymum8:
Wow, thanks happymum8 for this piece of information. I think many of us parents have no idea. NUS High certainly needs to put out some of these information out there to strengthen its attractiveness.
Yes confirm is 10 succesfully got in Medicine out of 220+ for last year graduated batch!!
They already went for their matriculation and finally 8 stay in the course with 1 went to Hong Kong Uni to read Medicine and 1 chose to read Dentistry.
This is really an impressive number! Understand that those got in are not really the top top ones. But I believe there will be more admitted to Medicine in the coming years! :xedfingers: -
happymum8, thanks for your post. My DD is very keen to get into NUSHS. She has been working consistently to get there. She has not shown an interest to consider any other school for DSA up till now & it would be terrible for me to dissuade her from aiming for NUSHS due to the ‘language skills’ perception.
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As NUS High students, we feel beholden to clarify certain misconceptions which have cropped up here.
The standard of English in NUS High is reflective of the standard of Singaporean English amongst the student population in the country in general. True, there may be less appreciation for the subject in the cohort, compared to enthusiasm for other academic subjects. However, you’ll find that our showing on this front is comparable to other top schools nationally. Some have mentioned presentations at the Pre-University Seminar; you will find that for all the years we have participated, teachers and other observers responded favourably towards the quality of our presentations.
In addition, NUS High students have won numerous accolades in speaking and writing. From the original Gavel Club members (Class of 2008) up to now, NUS High has acquitted itself well in public speaking competitions, including Champion in the YMCA Plain English Speaking Awards, and the Gavel Club, which includes the debate society, remains active on the local oratorical scene. Moreover, NUS High regularly obtains awards in the Royal Commonwealth Society Commonwealth Essay Writing Contest, including first place globally in 2009. Locally, we have had champions and award-winners in the Stanford University-NJC Creative Writing Competition and the A*Star Institute of High Performance Computing Science Chronicles fiction competition. NUS High students have also published work in magazines from smaller places like 14:59, to the Quarterly Literary Review Singapore and Ceriph magazine. At the Straits Times School Newspapers Competition, we have obtained the Best Writing award two years running, and also came in second last year. A quick check with NUS High productions such as Journal Watermark (http://journalwatermark.wordpress.com) and the College Talk blog (http://nushscollegetalk.posterous.com) should further dispel any doubts as to the capacity of NUS High students and graduates.
Another correction: the graduating class of 2010, which comprised the original 2005 Year 1 cohort and the 2007 Year 3 cohort, was 177 students. This year, the Class of 2011 has produced 209 graduands. -
walterp:
To get into NUS medicine, the most important thing is to convince the panel during the interview why you are suitable to be a doctor, or rather why you are a suitable candidate to read medicine at NUS.
I can boldly say that those NUSHS students who did (advance) research in life sciences including medical related areas would clearly have an advantage over their \"A\" level counterparts in seeking medicine or dentistry in NUS or NTU. That's the obvious advantage of NUSH over others.phtthp:
hi happymum8,
can students from NUSH enter Dentistry ?
Knowledge/results are not that important.
As for Dentistry, the most important is similarly to convince the panel that you are a suitable candidate and shows that you have the dexterity to do it.
Dentistry really depends a lot on your hands.
There is no point if you have the knowledge but you hands are just not skillful enough. -
I think the concern is not with the top students in each cohort. We know that there are students who will, with minimal guidance, continue to excel. A school winning awards in some isolated competitions which only requires a select few to shine does not reflect the overall picture. A school is as good as its weakest student and teacher. Of course that may be a bit heavy, but you get the idea.
And for interviews, we are not concerned with awards for essay writing as an indicator. Scholarship offers are what counts. How one manages to impress the panel with his or her CV (substance) has to be backed up with a solid interview (selling oneself with substance). For me, it is clear that in general, RI and HCI students win hands down in this aspect. This year's scholarship numbers from various websites indicate so.
I think we should look closely at what a school can do to value add to an average/above-average student, not what the top students in each school are already capable of producing.
This may sound like a frustrated parent venting at a school for not being able to develop my DS the way I wanted, and of course, I take responsibility as well, but I think I have heard quite enough from the principal and the management during PTMs. In the last 6 years, I have heard enough talk, but not seen enough action.
I will tell you 6 years later whether I am pleased my younger DS's development. A bit too late to send my older DS to RI, but I have heard of a top yr 2 boy last year who went to RI after being disappointed with NUSHS.
I know it is unfair and impossible to compare a school with less than 10 years of existence against a tradition of excellence reaching 200, but with all the hype during its introduction, there is still certainly a long way to go.
And here is how to sell a school:
http://www.ri.edu.sg/files/PRI_-_RI_Founders_Day_Institution_Report_23.7.11.pdf -
francbat:
On the subject of scholarship acceptance rates, we do concede that NUS High produces fewer scholars compared to other top schools, but this does not reflect on interview skills.And for interviews, we are not concerned with awards for essay writing as an indicator. Scholarship offers are what counts. How one manages to impress the panel with his or her CV (substance) has to be backed up with a solid interview (selling oneself with substance). For me, it is clear that in general, RI and HCI students win hands down in this aspect. This year's scholarship numbers from various websites indicate so.
For one thing, the majority of NUS High students who apply for scholarships restrict themselves to selective and competitive scholarships such as A*STAR and DSTA scholarships, and tend not to apply for others. Consequently, the acceptance rate looks relatively low, but only because a large number are competing for a limited number of scholarships, not just with students from other schools but also within the pool of NUS High applicants.
Also, many NUS High graduates choose not to apply for scholarships. As an example, a recent graduate was offered a PSC scholarship to study at MIT, but decided to fund themselves rather than take up the government’s offer instead. Confidence in ability to obtain good career prospects after university is another factor to be taken into consideration, when NUS High alumni choose not to apply for scholarships because of the bond.