2010 DSA(Direct School Admission)

[jtoh]

traineeks:

jtoh:

Getting into NJC and NUSHS is definitely easier. Especially for NUSHS which is purely DSA Academic only. A Math Olympiad Gold or Platinum practically guarantees you a place.

In my opinion, getting into NJC and NUSHS is not necessary easier than other schools. It all depends on the strength and attributes of the child and how well they match those sought after by each of the schools. Both NJC and NUSHS also have a smaller intake compared to other IP schools.

By looking at the number of applicants and the number of places available, one can guage the chances of getting in. In NUSH, there are about 1800 to 2000 applicants vying for 170 places. In RI, there are about 1000 + applicants vying for about 450 places.

While a platinum in math olympics almost guarantee a place, a gold does not. A gold medal holder will still need to pass the first test given in NUSHS before he can move to the camp. The test consist of maths AND science. A gold holder in math may not necessary do well in science. There are some gold awardees who do not make it pass the first round..

There are only about 70 platinum holders each year. Most schools welcome them with open arms. You will find most of them in HCI / RI / NUSH. It is not easy to be a Platinum awardee. Many GEP students do not even get a bronze even though the GEP schools send the most candidates to the maths olympics.

For the GEP students, the chances of getting into HCI and RI is actually higher than NJC and NUSHS. This is because HCI and RI (and most IP schools) have a different route for GEP students from the mainstream ones. The GEP students do not need to sit for any test and go straight to the interview round. There are also more places preallocated to the GEP students in these schools. So you find that the GEP students applying to HCI and RI focuses on preparation of the interview and portforlios whereas the others need to pass the admission tests. I understand in NJC and NUSH, there are no special route for GEP and no preallocated places for GEP - they have to compete on equal footing with the other mainstream applicants.

If you take a look at the GEP primary schools, you will find that most of them have activities to prepare their GEP students for DSA. This is virtually non existent in the mainstream schools. Indeed many students and parents from the mainstream schools are not even aware of DSA.

You have raised valid points. When I wrote that NJC and NUSHS were easier to get DSA into, I meant for non-GEP students. The reason for this is as you pointed out, GEP and non-GEP compete on equal footing, and also, I believe most GEP students choose to DSA into RI/RGS/HCI/NYGH, leaving more places for non-GEP at the other schools.

Another reason why I say it is easier to get into NUSHS than RI/RGS/HCI/NYGH is because I know of 3 students who scored Gold/Platinum in Math Olympiad, who were rejected by RI/RGS/NYGH/HCI but were accepted by NUSHS. In fact, two of these Math Olympiad gold awardees didn't even get past the test round for RI/RGS/HCI/NYGH.

[clover18]

What about at the girls' school like RGS / NYGH? Do the non-GEP students compete on equal footing with the GEPers when it comes to DSA? My girl is not from GEP, and i was hoping she will do well in the Mths Olympiad to improve her chances of securing a place to RGS/NYGH via DSA academic. Reading what you have shared, it does not seem the olympiad results will help that much... :shock:

[verykiasu2010]

jtoh:

You have raised valid points. When I wrote that NJC and NUSHS were easier to get DSA into, I meant for non-GEP students. The reason for this is as you pointed out, GEP and non-GEP compete on equal footing, and also, I believe most GEP students choose to DSA into RI/RGS/HCI/NYGH, leaving more places for non-GEP at the other schools.

Another reason why I say it is easier to get into NUSHS than RI/RGS/HCI/NYGH is because I know of 3 students who scored Gold/Platinum in Math Olympiad, who were rejected by RI/RGS/NYGH/HCI but were accepted by NUSHS. In fact, two of these Math Olympiad gold awardees didn't even get past the test round for RI/RGS/HCI/NYGH.

reason for GEPpers to chose RI/HCI/RGS/NYGH is that these schools provide SBGE while NJC & NUSHS does not

[verykiasu2010]

clover18:

What about at the girls' school like RGS / NYGH? Do the non-GEP students compete on equal footing with the GEPers when it comes to DSA? My girl is not from GEP, and i was hoping she will do well in the Mths Olympiad to improve her chances of securing a place to RGS/NYGH via DSA academic. Reading what you have shared, it does not seem the olympiad results will help that much... :shock:

I believe the chances are even

From my conversation with the principals, a high proportion of DSA vacancies are reserved for NON-GEPpers !

Also, there are only about 500 GEPpers nationwide

If you combine the total vacancies from those schools like HCI, RI, RGS, NYGH, NUSHS, CHS, DHS.......you will realise that there are lots of places available

As I posted before elsewhere on this KSP website, they are looking for consistent good results from P4 to P6, if via DSA academic

[jtoh]

verykiasu2010:

clover18:

What about at the girls' school like RGS / NYGH? Do the non-GEP students compete on equal footing with the GEPers when it comes to DSA? My girl is not from GEP, and i was hoping she will do well in the Mths Olympiad to improve her chances of securing a place to RGS/NYGH via DSA academic. Reading what you have shared, it does not seem the olympiad results will help that much... :shock:

I believe the changes are even

From my conversation with the principals, a high proportion of DSA vacancies are reserved for NON-GEPpers !

Also, there are only about 500 GEPpers nationwide

If you combine the total vacancies from those schools like HCI, RI, RGS, NYGH, NUSHS, CHS, DHS.......you will realise that there are lots of places available

As I posted before elsewhere on this KSP website, they are looking for consistent good results from P4 to P6, if via DSA academic

That's comforting for non-GEP students. Do you know how much space is put aside for non-GEP students?

[clover18]

could you explain what is SBGE?

[verykiasu2010]

jtoh:

That's comforting for non-GEP students. Do you know how much space is put aside for non-GEP students?

Sorry for the typo above : the chances are even - for the DSA

at S1 posting, everyone is based on T-score

[verykiasu2010]

clover18:

could you explain what is SBGE?

SBGE= school based gifted education

GEPpers going to schools with SBGE will largely remain with the GEPpers cohort for at least sec 1 & 2

NJC does not have SBGE, so does not attract many GEP applicants, hence \"easier\" for non-GEPpers at DSA

(just personal opinion, does not represent any official source / data)

[jtoh]

verykiasu2010:

Sorry for the typo above : the chances are even - for the DSA

at S1 posting, everyone is based on T-score

Thanks for the information. But I seem to get a different impression from the people I speak to. That is, of the total number of students getting in via DSA Academic, a higher majority are GEP students. If you include DSA via Sports, Music and other talents, then maybe the number of GEP vs non-GEP is more even.

[traineeks]

verykiasu2010:

reason for GEPpers to chose RI/HCI/RGS/NYGH is that these schools provide SBGE while NJC & NUSHS does not

There are 7 SBGE schools:

ACSI, Dunman High, HCI, NYGH, RI, RGS, NUSHS.

Info can be found on MOE website:

http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/programmes/gifted-education-programme/gep-schools/

I think many choose RI/HCI/RGS/NYGH because they are more established schools. The pioneer batches of NUSHS still needs to establish consistent and proven paths to top universities and scholarships.