DSA 2023

[gigi20]

oregene\" post_id=\"2107966\" time=\"1683557027\" user_id=\"105875:

I always hold the view that DSA can be a dangerous thing. If a student DSA into a school base on CCA alone, there is a pretty high chance that he/she will spend alot of time on the CCA, and neglect their studies. I have seen too many such cases already. The school brings the child in to win awards of the school. But at the end of the day, the student does not do well for their national exams, and wasted many years of their life.

Depends on school... my daughter did not went into her sch with dsa but they all had the same amount of training sessions with those dsa students...
And if I am not wrong schools these days still do look into the academics of the kid to make sure they are not too far off from their AL to make sure they eventually can manage both cca and academics..

[gigi20]

Djazz\" post_id=\"2107762\" time=\"1683390944\" user_id=\"201598:

Hi parents, woukd like to have some advices.
DD is in sports CCA, sch clinched 4th in NSG this yr, 1st for Zonal NSG last yr. Took a couple of competitons for nothing fantastic in her personal ranking.

She has been learning ballet for many years (since 2 yrs old), received grade 4 RAD cert and will not be in time to receive grade 5 by the time of submission of DSA. She truly loves dance and wants to pursue further in sec sch and she is aiming for DHS. however, other than RAD certification, she does not has any further competitions or performances achievements. She is working on her 1 min dance video for application.

Her p5 results ain't great as she was too busy with CCA and external trainings & competitions for her sports, and was around AL15. This year her results improved greatly, but there is no WA nor mid year..

A few qns here:
1) based on the above, should she try for sports DSA as 1st option, or dance?

2) without performances or competition achievements, what are her chances to DSA into DHS dance? I had gone thru the entire chat but seems like only 1 parent brought up on dance DSA for DHS- is it a less popular choice so higher chances of being shortlisted?

3) read in this thread that DHS will first filter students out based on P5 grades. Does that mean she stands almost no chance as she scored AL15 last yr?

Thanks for all advices!

Couple of years ago, my daughter's classmate was offered a CO by DHS dance domain. Her results were average for P5, in her 70s each subject. Never try never know

[Tick16]

Djazz\" post_id=\"2107762\" time=\"1683390944\" user_id=\"201598:

Hi parents, woukd like to have some advices.
DD is in sports CCA, sch clinched 4th in NSG this yr, 1st for Zonal NSG last yr. Took a couple of competitons for nothing fantastic in her personal ranking.

She has been learning ballet for many years (since 2 yrs old), received grade 4 RAD cert and will not be in time to receive grade 5 by the time of submission of DSA. She truly loves dance and wants to pursue further in sec sch and she is aiming for DHS. however, other than RAD certification, she does not has any further competitions or performances achievements. She is working on her 1 min dance video for application.

Her p5 results ain't great as she was too busy with CCA and external trainings & competitions for her sports, and was around AL15. This year her results improved greatly, but there is no WA nor mid year..

A few qns here:
1) based on the above, should she try for sports DSA as 1st option, or dance?

2) without performances or competition achievements, what are her chances to DSA into DHS dance? I had gone thru the entire chat but seems like only 1 parent brought up on dance DSA for DHS- is it a less popular choice so higher chances of being shortlisted?

3) read in this thread that DHS will first filter students out based on P5 grades. Does that mean she stands almost no chance as she scored AL15 last yr?

Thanks for all advices!

Hihi,
If it is a school she wants, then suggest to put both domains for one school. Example: Sports + Dance in DHS.

However, she really needs to commit to 4 years of what she chooses. So decide carefully.

We wanted to put in leadership + sport back then, but end up just sport because she cant bear doing other things other than sports for the 4 years of sec school. (Sports: school was 1st in zonal. Last year there was no nationals for her sport)

Also, my daughter’s acad results were similar to yours at P5, and it got even worse for prelims (AL16) but she managed to pull through close to the school’s COP which is similar to DHS.

Dont lose hope. 💪🏻

[lakaik]

oregene\" post_id=\"2107966\" time=\"1683557027\" user_id=\"105875:

I always hold the view that DSA can be a dangerous thing. If a student DSA into a school base on CCA alone, there is a pretty high chance that he/she will spend alot of time on the CCA, and neglect their studies. I have seen too many such cases already. The school brings the child in to win awards of the school. But at the end of the day, the student does not do well for their national exams, and wasted many years of their life.

There isn't much of a difference in the commitment levels between a student who enters the school through DSA and one who does not, even if they are in the same CCA. Once a student is enrolled in the school, the only difference between the two is that DSA students start their CCA sessions from week 2 or week 3 onwards while others go through CCA orientation and auditions.

Within the CCA, people do not typically care about how a student entered the school, as the selection process for representing the school is based solely on merit. Therefore, regardless of how a student enters the school, they will be expected to commit equally to their CCA.

[Hfgaga]

any parents applied SSP and got a reply from them for second trials?

If yes can just update here please Thank you

[kaisuism]

lakaik\" post_id=\"2108042\" time=\"1683616741\" user_id=\"137619:

There isn't much of a difference in the commitment levels between a student who enters the school through DSA and one who does not, even if they are in the same CCA. Once a student is enrolled in the school, the only difference between the two is that DSA students start their CCA sessions from week 2 or week 3 onwards while others go through CCA orientation and auditions.

Within the CCA, people do not typically care about how a student entered the school, as the selection process for representing the school is based solely on merit. Therefore, regardless of how a student enters the school, they will be expected to commit equally to their CCA.

I think what oregene was trying to say is about those who DSAed but their academic results may not match the school's. So referring to your point on the commitment level whether student DSAed or those who didn't, those who didn't maybe better at handling the academic side even when they spend a lot of time on CCA. Where else those who DSAed and their AL did not match the school's COP, may suffer as a result of putting in the same commitment.

[MissPPP]

While I noted that some top schools these days make it a point to emphasise on their websites or during open house that academic results are important as well, it doesn’t seem to be practised. Still see sportsmen with great disparity in academic results (eg AL 15-20 Vs COP of 6-8) entering such schools, worse if the schools are pure IP schools. Some of these schools are very hungry for medals and the parents, in exchange, are very hungry for the “brand names” without really considering if their kids can survive. If these kids already depend on tuitions in pri sch and still are at this level, it will only get worse in sec with the higher intensity of trainings and academic demands. Can’t possibly tuition all subjects like in pri? These schools and parents have twisted the intent of DSA, which is meant for kids with talents and yet with academic results not too far off from the standards of the schools, without requiring much external help.

[guoloong]

MissPPP\" post_id=\"2108444\" time=\"1683880790\" user_id=\"200335:

While I noted that some top schools these days make it a point to emphasise on their websites or during open house that academic results are important as well, it doesn’t seem to be practised. Still see sportsmen with great disparity in academic results (eg AL 15-20 Vs COP of 6-8) entering such schools, worse if the schools are pure IP schools. Some of these schools are very hungry for medals and the parents, in exchange, are very hungry for the “brand names” without really considering if their kids can survive. If these kids already depend on tuitions in pri sch and still are at this level, it will only get worse in sec with the higher intensity of trainings and academic demands. Can’t possibly tuition all subjects like in pri? These schools and parents have twisted the intent of DSA, which is meant for kids with talents and yet with academic results not too far off from the standards of the schools, without requiring much external help.

I guess as parents, we have to know what is our kid's capability and level of resilience and not to force things upon them. For me, I always view DSA as an opportunity to get into a \"good\" school which my kids may not get based on results alone. We have to weight between the benefits getting into a \"good\" school vs the potential negative effects of not able to cope academically.

As for the schools, I believe most top schools are very experienced in accepting student via DSA. The teachers are usually very experienced in detecting whether a student is resilient or confident enough to cope with the pace of their respective school during the interview. Not 100%, but teachers in top schools will have a good feel. I do not think that they are just hungry for medal without considering whether the students can survive.

Also, we do not need to worry that DSA students need to train harder/longer than others for their respective CCAs. The only difference between DSA student and non-DSA student is the former has a confirmed place in the CCA while the latter has to go through a trial. Once training starts, everyone has equal treatment and they still need to work hard to get selected or play in the first team.

[00skyblue00]

guoloong\" post_id=\"2108494\" time=\"1683964758\" user_id=\"143754:

I guess as parents, we have to know what is our kid's capability and level of resilience and not to force things upon them. For me, I always view DSA as an opportunity to get into a \"good\" school which my kids may not get based on results alone. We have to weight between the benefits getting into a \"good\" school vs the potential negative effects of not able to cope academically.

As for the schools, I believe most top schools are very experienced in accepting student via DSA. The teachers are usually very experienced in detecting whether a student is resilient or confident enough to cope with the pace of their respective school during the interview. Not 100%, but teachers in top schools will have a good feel. I do not think that they are just hungry for medal without considering whether the students can survive.

Also, we do not need to worry that DSA students need to train harder/longer than others for their respective CCAs. The only difference between DSA student and non-DSA student is the former has a confirmed place in the CCA while the latter has to go through a trial. Once training starts, everyone has equal treatment and they still need to work hard to get selected or play in the first team.

Also to add, in sec sch, there will be CCA stand down period before exam or WA period.
I do agree, in general, kids who have performed outstandingly in sports have the attributes which are required to do well in studies also in long run: discipline to do regular practice, keep changing to improve, never give up and keep going even when facing obstacles. If they press on, will see some results in the end. Heard quite a few such cases, still failing in prelim, got As in A levels or 20+ to 9 raw for O.

[zac's mum]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2108502\" time=\"1683968999\" user_id=\"143605:

Also to add, in sec sch, there will be CCA stand down period before exam or WA period.
I do agree, in general, kids who have performed outstandingly in sports have the attributes which are required to do well in studies also in long run: discipline to do regular practice, keep changing to improve, never give up and keep going even when facing obstacles. If they press on, will see some results in the end. Heard quite a few such cases, still failing in prelim, got As in A levels or 20+ to 9 raw for O.

My kid’s school does not have CCA stand down prior to WAs. Only for EOY. So some of the kids taking part in NSG and SYF were having important CCA events concurrently with WA preps. This is something to consider very carefully, no matter whether DSA in or S1 posting in to those CCAs.

If the kid needs the CCA bonus points for O level route, then lots of discipline and maturity in juggling everything (including revision, travel time & sleep) is required.

I would say the IP route has a longer runway to the next national exam, and hence has more breathing space to master the balancing act thru trial and error.