Is anyone in the situation of despite having new maid application approved, the entry to Singapore is still subjected to MOM’s approval…


I’ve tried it 10 times with decent 2-3 weeks lead time for FDW to travel in and they are still rejecting. This is getting really very frustrating and inefficient. Why can MOM release slots for people to book??? It’s not as though some kiasu people will block since it comes with commitment for the FDW to travel in on specific date and cost… I felt that I am trying my luck everyday…

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1993432\" time=\"1598950502\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1993432 time=1598950502 user_id=53606]
MMM, just curious, did you have to spend $$ on external private lessons for your kids’ instruments?

I also heard one other person mention that MBS has a very good Band. That person was a staff at the Band shop at Esplanade.

Does the reputation of the CCA itself give a higher chance for DSA CO? Or need external lessons/ABRSM cert? Or is it more of luck, like whether the secondary school needs a certain instrument player that year?[/quote]

I put them through piano classes only since they were young but they sort of gave up around P4. They only play the piano on a leisure basis now. So when my kids dsa, they didn't have any ABRSM grading (theory or practical). But yes they had to compete with others who are grade 8 (piano, etc..) and very limited places (usually only 1 slot for band), they were offered by more than 1 schools and frequently gave the feedback that they had very nice tone, etc...

But they did a lot of performances (Istana, SYF, overseas competition, etc... and at that time, MOE also had a special band talent development program which my 2 elder ones attended. This has been scrapped for a few years now.

MBS and Bendemeer primary have really good bands. It's like probably best in Singapore for primary school and they are potentially better than secondary schools too... As my kids join the band in P1/ P2 till J2, we attended lots of concerts and MBS band performance is just amazing... the type that touches you during the performance...None of their secondary/ JC school band can ever give me that feel till date... It's just so powerful although they are P4 to P6. Mr Quek is really good and humble instructor and he has inspired alot of them.

Besides the reputation/ the training or exposure they went through helps. When my kids went for DSA audition, I could hear their playing vs other kids and they really stand out. I could hear the difference (I am not music trained).

MerlionInGermany\" post_id=\"1993386\" time=\"1598929339\" user_id=\"2964:

Just to add, which is actually saying the same thing, that a popular pri sch does not guarantee the student would turn out good. I know a boy who did 6 years in Maha B, and 6 years in Manjusri (NA plus one year repeat). Got into MBS through 2C balloting. Another one from HW, ended up in Manjusri NA also.

Choose the pri sch because of other things it can offer, eg Chinese culture related activities, values, accessibility, certainly not by its registration popularity. Or if it is by its popularity, that’s fine, but not get into the illusion that popularity equals good results.

My kids were from Maha Bodhi and yes, a fair share of students do eventually join Mansjusri. I was from Maha Bodhi too and during my era, going to Mansjusri don't seem to be a wise choice hence I had my own bias too (hoping none of my kids go there).

But in the last 10 years, this has changed and I am sharing based on feedback from other parents whose kids went to Mansjusri. While it may not be a \"popular\" secondary school as the COP is relatively low, I do observed that Mansjusri sec school is a decent choice actually (relative thing). If I look at some of my kids' classmates who went there, they also turn out decent. There are many routes these days. There are those who did well and still choose poly routes so no one route is more superior than the others. I think it's all about knowing what they have passion for that is more important.

For us, Maha Bodhi has a great school band and it has helped my kids got secondary school places through DSA. But Bendemeer primary school shares the same band conductor (Mr Quek Boon Hui) as Maha Bodhi and they are very good too

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1993375\" time=\"1598925836\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1993375 time=1598925836 user_id=53606]
2018 registration was for Dragon babies. Therefore expect similar level of competition for SG50 babies.

You can apply any school you want in 2CS. But in Toa Payoh, Kheng Cheng may not have seats left in 2CS. Left with First Toa Payoh Primary, you want? Bendeemer still better.[/quote]

Had a colleague whose ds went to First Toa Payoh. He made it to NUS High. Another friend whose dd went to normal neighborhood school but went on to St Nics. My dd went to a \"good\" primary school but she struggled at PSLE. Hence, it's really child dependent. With good family support and child's potential, they can do well anywhere. So don't feel sad if you didn't manage to put your child in the most ideal school. It is really ok.

We stayed in hougang and happened to have 4 buses from our place to Maha Bodhi. My kids used to have friends who stayed in SK/ Punggol area.


Used to see students staying at punggol/ sengkang area taking bus no. 51, alighting at our place to change bus to their place. Separately wondered with the Ubi? MRT will that help?

MerlionInGermany\" post_id=\"1992388\" time=\"1598238575\" user_id=\"2964:

Imp75\" post_id=\"1992385\" time=\"1598237589\" user_id=\"2358:

[quote=MerlionInGermany post_id=1992384 time=1598236357 user_id=2964]I think NTU Accountancy was AAA then, because it was the only place to get a degree in accountancy. NUS did not have accountancy before, and SMU did not exist then.

For NTU Business (NBS) vs NUS BizAd, even last time, it was harder to get into NUS than NTU.

So I guess it is not surprising that the moment NUS started offering Acct, it gradually became more popular than NTU’s accountancy.

So am wondering why did NTU Acc become so \"unpopular\" over the years? Granted its intake is the biggest (600+), is that the sole reason for the lowest IGP amongst the 3? For those who wanna be hard-core auditors, they shd still go NTU yah?

Not sure what is the main reason but I guess all these factors contributed to the drop? Such as
1) there are now 3 places to get an accountancy degree
2) nus traditionally has a better reputation than ntu
3) smu is seen as a cool University which contributed to its popularity, and as we all know, popularity has a positive effect on cop, in this case, igp.
4) plus maybe accountancy is not a cool/stable career anymore, so if affects both ends of the spectrum, the ones who prefer cool and dont mind ever changing, and the ones who prefer stability and dont mind boring/repetitive/long hours.[/quote]Interestingly, ntu accountancy is 3 years programme vs SMU which is 4 years I think. Accounting as a profession is evolving with data analytics. I am glad our universities are stepping up their syllabus in this space. My dd ended up doing double degree in accounting and business. Her goal was to do business analytics but unsure if that will change eventually... After going through the duration and syllabus, she only applied for NTU and SMU in the end. She didn't apply for NUS at all as it doesn't fit what she wants. She had scholarships offer from both. In the end, SMU came across as more appealing overall. dh was like... you can graduate earlier if you go to NTU....

In my course of work, I have contacts with grads from these 3 unis and generally, they have good technical knowledge. SMU ones come across as more well-articulated but technically strong as well. Frankly, I don't mind taking into anyone from any of these 3 unis. From a talent viewpoint, they are comparable.

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1992398\" time=\"1598240542\" user_id=\"28674:

She decided against SMU because, after hearing my nephew who is in SMU describe the system, she decided it was too competitive in that showy, must-speak-up-a-lot type of way which she didn't really like the sound of (more US style!). Her nature is more collaborative, and she doesn't like to have to compete in that kind of way. But my nephew likes it, and to each his own.

Yes i agree everyone is different. My dd is also the collaborative and don't need limelight to survive type (very typical of dh and myself) but I strongly encourage her to go to SMU in the end.

In my team, I 'have a couple of SMU grads and they tend to be well-articulated. I also spoke to young grads from other unis and they shared the same observations about SMU grads. dh was from NTU and had strongly sell NTU to dd For us, I think the ability to speak up in a skill that is really necessary in corp life (fortunately or unfortunately) hence, I am hoping that SMU will transform her to be someone well-articulated and daring to speak up in the future. To me, it's more of building a skill set.

In my current role, I constantly remind the young ones to speak up.... If you don't have that visibility... no one will be aware that you actually exist. if you are quiet about it, no one will ever know the good work you are doing.... It was difficult for myself initially as well as I believe my bosses will have clear eyes to see what I did. But when I had to manage a big team, it was different.... if I was quiet, no one will ever know the good things my team did. Maybe that is very US corp culture. So I give them the opportunity and encourage them to do so.

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1991876\" time=\"1597822636\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1991876 time=1597822636 user_id=53606]
IMO Scientists ending up washing test tubes is Philip Yeo’s fault. He condemned all those Biochem grads to lowly washing test tubes role. U need a minimum PhD to be paid well in this industry. If parents aren’t prepared to pay all the way till PhD, then no point.

None of mine or DH coursemates are in this industry anymore. All of us have moved to 2nd career already.[/quote]

I used to be in a role where I have visibility on all the scientists' salary... it made me wonder at the financial value of the PHD. Yes... Dr so and so sounds \"glam\" but the pay is ....

Imp75\" post_id=\"1991815\" time=\"1597804574\" user_id=\"2358:

MyPillow\" post_id=\"1991809\" time=\"1597801730\" user_id=\"70594:

[quote=ngl2010 post_id=1991736 time=1597746218 user_id=40978]DS took PCME. He was neither particularly strong in science nor has interest in it but he thought he will get good grades as long as he do a lot of practice questions. He said it is harder to do practice questions for humanities as the commercial answer keys may not be correct so need teacher to check. After A levels, he said Physics was the easiest and Chemistry was the hardest. He was happy he didn’t take Biology as he said he saw his friend’s Bio notes and the thickness is frightening!

mine also taking pcme, now i see no particular strong in sciences too. can share what your ds will be studying in uni next time ? ds is no keen in sci areas, zero in engineering too, the possible route more suitable for him is IT (which is wide too, this one he will need to explore himself when time come)

Same some so I think my 3 gals will end up Accounting/Finance like their parents.[/quote]My dd1 took BCME. She has been the strong in math and science type... At one point, we thought she could take up the science route (eg. becoming a scientist, doctor since she likes bio?, etc...). But along the way, she had teachers who did the scientist route and told them that they end up washing test tubes in lab and is now teacher. She sort of drop that thinking at JC2... After her results... we asked her to think about medicine, law, etc... and she was clear no... She is now doing her Year 1 double degree in accountancy and business. The intention was to do business analytics and she wants to be a consultant in the future. Let's see what the next 4 years will bring.

lee_yl\" post_id=\"1976273\" time=\"1589681112\" user_id=\"17023:

Hubby’s nephew took the bond free scholarship from NUS. I quite like the idea because when the kid graduates, they do not need to discharge their bond obligations and I do not need to fork out money for their university studies.

But I was quite shocked when hubby replied he didn’t think too highly of such scholarships as he considered these as “financial assistance” rather than “scholarships“ In the traditional sense.

I guess it has something to do with hubby’s nephew’s experience. He received Second Upper Honours from NUS Chemical Engineering, but due to the poor economy back then, the nephew could not find a suitable job for a long time. When he finally found a job, it was not related to Chemical Eng. Thus, hubby’s impression is that Uni scholarships offer little value when it comes to employment.

Given your DD’s excellent A level results, if she is later offered a better scholarships, do reconsider.

Thanks for sharing!

Frankly I spoke to many of the young graduates in my team of which some are ex-scholars too. In moment of COVID situation like this, it would be great to have a job waiting for them. But if we look at 4 years down the road, hopefully when things are back to normal, it's good. :xedfingers: Also young people these days also have different thoughts about bonds. It's like should you hedge your position now?

Through this journey, we also realized that there are also many types of scholarship. dd was very fortunate to be offered SMU Global impact scholarship which is really very attractive such as full fees, living allowance, laptop allowance, overseas allowance, staying in prinsep st hostel, masters programs funding and lots of other opportunities. Hence we came to a point that we told her to not waste time on other scholarships, accept it and look forward. BTW, the dateline was 8th May and it comes with a penalty of 2K if she was to reject it later. But I am glad we are at that juncture where we think it's indeed too good an offer to reject and hope that SMU truly add value in her throughout this journey.