I applaud all of you parents who have enabled pathways for your children. This is why we have threads like this - for prospective DSA hopefuls to learn and for the experienced ones to share. These are success stories for our children to have
possibilities opened up so I am thankful for the DSA pathway. Also, the key takeaway is to give the child autonomy and free choice ,despite helping them uncover possibilities.
In our case ( as with most success cases in NUSH), having been through the entire journey - this NUSH child was adamant he wanted to pursue only STEM. Forgo IB school (affiliate school) interview after the admissions test as it clashed with NUSH DSA camp day, chose NUSH over R (parent and grandparents alumni). Chinese too chiu to thrive in HC ( to disappointment of the other alumni parent and another HJC grandparent).
After arriving in the school, he found that humanes was as interesting and developed interest in literary works ( influenced from STEM classmates who read copiously). There is a resident poet teacher in the school too - go check the threads on the school. It is not all STEM as the children can pursue the humanes or music (Yong Siew Toh conservatory) to the highest levels at Uni level if they choose. Econs honours can be read at NUS for the 1XX-2xx series modules; they take the same tutorials and exams as the undergrads are marked agst their curve. Most do well as otherwise, they will not get back the extra fees charged by the uni. Motto of school is to Experiment, Explore and Excel. It applies to their entire culture and way of approaching life.
Out of Math, a number will embark on the Science/Informatics Olympiads with the free electives and reach National Golds and even national training team for International. Up until 1-2 yrs ago, R did not even offer CS as a core subject at As so it was doubly punishing to be pursuing CS and still having to clear your As with PCME combo.
MO at high level is not for everyone. By Y3-4, it would be clear who is cut out for it as very often, the students were taught WRONG as lower primary levels. The questions are meant for the alternate thinker who can find the most elegant solutions.
Also, the pursuit of research to the highest levels enabled many of them to have opportunities for multi projects at DSO/unis/ASTAR/hospitals/etc. Some went to professional internal congresses to present, a few interned at Ivy League labs and a number are published - see the convocation books for achievements of graduating classes . All were incidental achievements as most just followed their heart and passion in a school that fully enabled the opportunities and resources. If they propose a project, the school has the means to reach out to their partners and affiliates to find an external mentor who has been specialising in the research.
What you have when you match Passion and Discipline with Opportunities and Resources will be excellent and robust experiences - some call it “stacked portfolios”. Others thrive in leadership because the school , while small, has so many CCAs and interest groups that leadership opportunities are abundant. The culture too is self-leadership and to take charge of your own choices and care for your peers around you.
It is a bit too premature at PSLE but I do invite forward thinking parents to project 6 years on. What is the end goal here ? DSA in a good name school or exploring the best educational pathway for your child to stay engaged and happy? And then qualify for a stress free journey into university ?
Having been through the journey, the students end with amazing portfolios and "supra-curriculars" like university modules etc that stand out at university and scholarship admissions. I dare say a large percentage going to local Uni will be on faculty or Uni scholarship and get early acceptances. This will apply across to STEMM courses including CS, pre-med. 30-40% will go on to non-Stem like Econs, Law, Geography etc.
Something to note for forward thinking applicants to Ivy and Oxbridge and other foreign selectives is the timeline of applications at the end of each year - the Singapore A level and IB system puts pressure given most will be chasing prelims and the final national exams. Meanwhile, NUSH ends lessons ard Oct and the students then hv the bandwidth to DREAM, THINK, REFLECT on their university and career pathways. I always find it a shame that the A level kids have to choose their pathway or courses they are eligible for within weeks of results release. More often than not, they pick the best courses they can qualify for - and not what they will thrive in. Why are there so many disengaged adults in our workforce here ?
Meanwhile, grades are cumulative in NUSH, the student will be fully aware of what they need to do to get to the courses /unis they want , if they fall short, they are backed up by good portfolios to make an exceptional application. One hidden gem is the counsellor team in the school. The low student ratio makes it possible for those who seek them out to get the best and tailored advice. If you check with the big mainstream elites, you will find the students lamenting that they have to pay external consultants unless you are in the top 5% of the school( 50-60 out of 1200 per cohort).
The free access to opportunities where everyone is equal is the value add from NUSH. The hardest will be to make in into the school at 12 yrs old. The child is free to explore various pathways to the highest levels but the caveat is that he/she must have the natural aptitude for math and science to thrive in the core curriculum.
I also understand that at 11-12 yrs, not all will have a firm inclination. Thus, our role as parents is to uncover and research on possibilities.
Do not place the child in NUSH if they do not like math AND science.
A lot is discussed about the wows of elite mainstream but many are only aware the realities after the entire journey too. Recognise too R has become a “kinder” place. We come from a family where the first and second generation of nieces and nephews hail from R , HC ,SOTA and NUSH - all successful in Oxbridge, Ivy , pre-med, Law, NTU Nanyang , NUS Global Merit, PSC scholarships. We recognise the pros and cons of each to bring out the best in each child. Every school is a good school - only if the culture and opportunities match. Our job as parents is then to help the child do the necessary due diligence. Had we been adamant too child only go to our known alumni and join the well known brand , I dare say it would have been a disservice to his potential.
