KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Hi, anyone in NUSHS or HCI ? Need to understand what do you think of the two schools ? Can anyone share your opinion or experience with the school ? E.g. Choice of study, ECA, Need to make a choice between the two very soon as the DSA option is due by 2 weeks from now ... Thanks a lot !

papaya99 wrote:Hi, anyone in NUSHS or HCI ? Need to understand what do you think of the two schools ? Can anyone share your opinion or experience with the school ? E.g. Choice of study, ECA, Need to make a choice between the two very soon as the DSA option is due by 2 weeks from now ... Thanks a lot !

My RGPS GEP DD in 2010 has to choose between RGS and NUSH. In the end she choose NUSH b'cos (1) she does'nt missed all her frens in RGS (2) the modular system fits her well (3) she don't mind not taking national exam "A" level (an advantage) (4) she like the ideas of advance research provided by NUSH curriculum. (5) She is the academic type and doesnt believe in the "crazy CCA" which take up her time and energy as in most IP-School. NUSH won't kill you by draining you dead in CCA.

FYI, though NUSH has emphasis for triple science from day 1 foundation class, it also emphasised humanities, art and music along the way. You would not lose much in these areas. NUSH high students also have other choices other than science/engineering

How importance is MT development to you ? If it is very important to you, HCI is a natural choice. How importance is the HCI branding to you compared to NUS High. Having said that I believe more and more students are beginning to accept NUSH brand becos they do see certain "prestige" and advantage of NUSH school system over the others.

If you are interested in science and research, I would say just go ahead with NUSH. Lastly if you are a girl, be prepared that there are almost 4/5 boys to 1 girl in NUSH environment currently. But I believe the ratio may be 3:2 in near future as more girls see the advantage of NUSH system and more girls are willing to opt out of the traditional RGS/NYGH route.

Good luck to you !.

also consider possible back door exit strategy (in case made wrong decision). example:-

- suppose after 1 year NUSH you din like - feel like going back HCI (assume you can maintain academic standard at NUSH), any possible lobang ? or

- the other way round.
suppose after 1 year HCI you din like - feel like going back NUSH (assume you can maintain academic standard at HCI), any possible lobang ?

for this, maybe :-
- can ask personnel in authority who can help answer you this, or

- attend parents networking sessions in both schools, whereby you can obtain readily first hand information & tips at your finger tips, by talking to other parents, at grassroot level. Ask them all the concern(s) that you've. Find out how & when to join parents networking alumni nights, from both schools. In life, WHO you know that counts is very important, besides WHAT you know that counts, initially.

which means remember to be diplomatic, esp. to the school offer that you going to turn down. Say something nice, be humble, even for rejection (time being). Keep this option open. Do not burn any bridge(s). In case one fine day you wish to go back, the door still remains open ... you never know (this world very small, and delicate human relationship matters a lot)

matadorepy wrote:

papaya99 wrote:Hi, anyone in NUSHS or HCI ? Need to understand what do you think of the two schools ? Can anyone share your opinion or experience with the school ? E.g. Choice of study, ECA, Need to make a choice between the two very soon as the DSA option is due by 2 weeks from now ... Thanks a lot !

My RGPS GEP DD in 2010 has to choose between RGS and NUSH. In the end she choose NUSH b'cos (1) she does'nt missed all her frens in RGS (2) the modular system fits her well (3) she don't mind not taking national exam "A" level (an advantage) (4) she like the ideas of advance research provided by NUSH curriculum. (5) She is the academic type and doesnt believe in the "crazy CCA" which take up her time and energy as in most IP-School. NUSH won't kill you by draining you dead in CCA.

FYI, though NUSH has emphasis for triple science from day 1 foundation class, it also emphasised humanities, art and music along the way. You would not lose much in these areas. NUSH high students also have other choices other than science/engineering

How importance is MT development to you ? If it is very important to you, HCI is a natural choice. How importance is the HCI branding to you compared to NUS High. Having said that I believe more and more students are beginning to accept NUSH brand becos they do see certain "prestige" and advantage of NUSH school system over the others.

If you are interested in science and research, I would say just go ahead with NUSH. Lastly if you are a girl, be prepared that there are almost 4/5 boys to 1 girl in NUSH environment currently. But I believe the ratio may be 3:2 in near future as more girls see the advantage of NUSH system and more girls are willing to opt out of the traditional RGS/NYGH route.

Good luck to you !.

Hi matadorepy,

Thanks for your sharing your opinion. DH & I really can't decide which school we should encourage him to go. In fact, we received a call from HCI this morning, asking us to put HCI as 1st choice as he's among the top 50 on WL, saying it's as good as a CO. On one hand, we know NUSHS is DS's dream school as he has great interest in Maths & Science and he excels in both subjects, he's like your DD in terms of (4) & (5). But on the other hand, seems like NUSHS requires students to be very consistent in their work as they do not take "O" & "A" levels. So if he doesn't make it, he may end up without even an "O" cert. We are also worried that he will be specialising at such a young age, so that his future career path may be limited only to those related to Maths & Science. Can anyone share their experience on any possible career path that he can take if he choose NUSHS as his choice ? We also heard that HCI does not offer triple Science ? Is that true ? DS really wishes to take triple Science. Thanks a lot.

even for HCI, there is also a need to be consistent with daily work, else face challenges in promotional exam and if year 1 to 3 are not satisfactory then year 4 may be transferred to special 'O' level class which will also affect self esteem ..... the best policy is to maintain a high level of consistency with the right amount of motivation to sustain the 6 years and don't get burnt out prematuredly

dagong99 wrote: DH & I really can't decide which school we should encourage him to go.

we know NUSHS is DS's dream school as he has great interest in Maths & Science and he excels in both subjects

Hi dagong99,

NUSH is not just about Maths and Science, though they bring out the best of those who excel in those subjects.

in my opinion, if this is DS's dream school, and IT IS a very good school ( highest minimum Tscore cut-off last year at 264 ), I would let him follow his heart. At least he will be happy and contented, thus enabling him to work hard and happily in the next 6 years.

Personally last year, I did not want my DS to go to his dream sch at first, especially when they only gave him a WL during DSA. I was quite adamant about choosing the sch FOR HIM, but after much consideration and advice from some KSPs here ( eg Phankao, fruitplus ), I let him follow his heart, and he has been very happy since. It is also DS's life route, so if he had gone to a sch which he did choose and if he was UNHAPPY there, then you know - I will be at fault - both of us will be suffering inside.

again, just my opinion.

Hi dagong99,

regarding HCI Triple Science, i had pm you.

hi dagong99,

regarding your son's strong, keen interest for Triple Science, here is HCI info:-

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Yes, HCI (Junior College section) does offer Triple Science subjects combination at A levels - (i.e. H2 Biology, H2 Chemistry, H2 Physics, H2 Mathematics, H1 Economics, PW, GP & H1 MTL).

please note that these subject combination would mean the maximum academic units (i.e. 12 AUs) allowed for a student in his/her two years in Junior College.

do note that there has been a change to the JC curriculum, since 2006. Students are required to take a contrasting subject. That is, a Science student will need to take a Humanities subject (e.g. Economics).

you may refer to the following link for more information:
http://www.hci.edu.sg/ContentPage.asp?SID=141

this provides information on subject combination and special programs for 2011 JC 1 (Yr 5) - which you can use for reference for 2012.

HCI school will be updating the information soon, within the next two weeks for 2012 JC 1.

list of subjects offered, CCAs, COP:-
http://app.sis.moe.gov.sg/schinfo/SIS_S ... rCode=0806

when is the next HCI Open house ?
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum ... 20#p607320

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