IP vs O level

[AppleCrumble]

friend was worried child couldn't do well enough to enter RI and felt o level would be more stressful...so brought the son for this and that interview to secure a place. honestly, this boy is really very intelligent and hardworking. if my friend had not pushed him so hard, he would have done very well for o levels.
when the psle results were released, she tried to 'unlock' him from the school which gave him a vacancy.

after entering the IP school, the poor boy was really very unhappy with the workload and 3rd language...there was simply no breathing space. he snapped.

From the way you described, it seems that your friend is doing all the decision making regarding DSA and her boy just went along with it. He did not own the decision in choosing the IP school where he accepted the CO. From the sounds of it, his dream school is RI.

As it is, he was 'so-so' in accepting the DSA offer. When the PSLE results were released, he began regretting accepting the DSA offer as it prevented him from entering his dream school. The resentment had already started since the release of PSLE results. It just grew increasingly when the workload becomes heavy in Yr 1 in the DSA school because his heart was not there in the first place. So instead of being motivated to overcome the challenge, he becomes even more resentful about it. Things just come to a boiling point and he snapped.

So, parents, please give due consideration to your child's well-being by having an open and honest conversation with him on the school of choice. Being motivated to go the particular school is a critical factor for he is the one going to it daily, NOT you.

[Dazzle]

Totally agree with what AppleCrumble said a few post back that parent should make the decision together with their child. Afterall it is the child who is going to study, not the parent. But as parent, it is important to guide the 12 year old (still wet behind the ears) in decision making, so that the child will make an INFORMED choice. I think that is the key.
For the boy with 277 score, though it is unfortunate he or his parent decided on accepting DSA to non-RI school, he has to change his attitude. It is regrettable that he cannot go to RI with his stellar result but he need to learn to move on (live with the decision) and give his best. He probably can ace the non-RI IP school and come up top if he put in effort and put away resentment. Why not strive for being the top in his current school? It will be an achievement /target he can work towards. Going to RI may be even more stressful for him.
As for O level or IP, if the child can make the grade to IP, why not? Of course, the child must also want it. If unsure, good to check out the schools which offer dual tracks. In my son's school, O level and IP track study the same thing in first 2 yrs, except IP need to do some projects. Then if the child does not feel he/she is suitable for IP, it is easy to just switch to O level track. So there is an 'escape' route. I tend to agree with some forumer that some top tier IP school is tough and have heavy workload. Not all kids can take that sort of stress so parents really need to observe and judge whether their child need help (tuition, counselling) or need to switch out of IP. Bottom line is that the child can cope. I hope not to hear of any student committing suicide because of study stress. It is very sad.

[MaryDaisu]

I shared the same sentiments as Imp75 - "Do not discount your child too soon". We parents always placed super high expectation on our dc, & always think that "My child is NOT GOOD ENOUGH for that top school."; & always give them death penalty at the age of 12-"aiya! My child sure cannot make it if go to that top school!"

Be it DSA via Academics/Sports or through Sec posting, if your dc is successfully accepted by any of the IP schools, I think the God has already open a door for your dc to prove his/her worth. Whether your dc will survive or even make it through in that school, it highly depends on how desire he/she wanted to stay in that school. Do not too underestimate them too early. If they really really want to stay in the desire school, be it particular passion in sports or other domains, they will overcome any problems & make it through. If their desire to stay in the school is not strong, they will give up easily in whichever setbacks they face. They are human afterall!

Frankly speaking - I always doubt my dd's capability. Even when we decided to dsa a couple of IP schools, one of the Top Girls' school was just my "try-out-play-play" option. DD strongly reject my application to the school as she highly believe that she's not the creme of the crop, as she's not top 10% cohort in school all the while. She said:"Please lah, mummy, I think I will not even shortlisted by the school! Save your $30/- for good food instead." Actually I also think that she would not even shortlisted, based on her pathetic 1 Bronze award at P5, and her P5 & P6's results. Not fantastics right, parents?? Parents out here must be thinking at least need to showcase 8 awards in order to get the school noticed the child's talents, ya? Well, anyway I still submit her application, & jokefully told my dd:" hehe, mummy know your standard lah! Anyway DSA opens to all students. Mummy just see where you stand in the eyes of Top girls' school. I know they wouldnt take a second look on your application." Strange enough, my dd was called up for interview & sat for their selected tests, & to our "horror"-- yes, I used the word "horror", bc my dd was successful in the Bilingual domain! And when I said "horror", I did not think my DD's chinese was that good to even passed their selection criteria of Top girls' school, which emphasize alot on Chinese. But on second thoughts, I thought my DD must be "good enough" to even get a Confirmed Offer from a top girls' school- the selection criteria to get CO should be stringent enough since the admission was tightened to 35% as compared to the previously 50%, ya? They must be selecting the candidates who have the talent & potential in this domain...

My DD of course was over the moon, & believe her potential in Bilingualism talent. I asked her if she wants to accept the school offer, since it's not going to be a smooth route. She told me:"Since god believe me & has opened a "impossible" door for me, I will make it happen! Anyway, who don't want to be in Top notch IP school? I believe I can do it!" I BELIEVE HER. I know IP route is going to be tough, but I will not crash her hope. I felt her desire to get into this school. It has always be our "impossible" school to get in.

Thank you for reading my long post. What I'm trying to say to parents here is - Hear your DC' s voice. Feel how enthusiastic or passionate he/she for the school that you are aiming for , & much better still-- that he/she desired for. I believe in fate, though. What is yours will be yours, what is not yours, will not be yours. Opportunity arises, door opens once, but desire & grit counts for which ever path your dc choose.

^-^

[janet88]

i took grab today. the uncle told me he has 2 kids...one in Year 4 taking O level Chinese. he regrets letting his daughter enter IP school because it is painful not knowing if she will do well for her A levels. it is study study study all day...with no life. for his younger one, he will not allow him to enter IP school.

[slmkhoo]

i took grab today. the uncle told me he has 2 kids...one in Year 4 taking O level Chinese. he regrets letting his daughter enter IP school because it is painful not knowing if she will do well for her A levels. it is study study study all day...with no life. for his younger one, he will not allow him to enter IP school.

I hope it's because he knows the son will not cope, not just based on the sister. Some kids are suited for the programme, and it would be a pity not to let them experience it if they can benefit from it. I have a daughter who has thrived in the IP, enjoyed it very much, and has not had to "study study study all day...with no life". But I would not have put my other daughter in the programme as she would have not coped, and she has thrived in a different system.

[TheAnswer]

There are some parents who try to sway their kids towards a certain school which is kind of sad. Sometimes it may seem like it’s the child’s decision but actually it’s the parent’s decision. Janet’s friend is one good example. In fact among my friends, quite a few such examples. I have a friend who is choosing a school which is like 90 mins away from home just because it’s a IP school leading to a TOP JC. Trying being that kid, day in day out travel like that.

[TheAnswer]

Oh ya by the way, my friend told me that her kid can’t stand stress well. Yet she is signing him up for DSA to IP school. I honestly do not get it.

Distance plus stress together. It’s really good luck!

[Nebbermind]

There are some parents who try to sway their kids towards a certain school which is kind of sad. Sometimes it may seem like it’s the child’s decision but actually it’s the parent’s decision. Janet’s friend is one good example. In fact among my friends, quite a few such examples. I have a friend who is choosing a school which is like 90 mins away from home just because it’s a IP school leading to a TOP JC. Trying being that kid, day in day out travel like that.

Well, as long as the child enjoys school, I donch see the travelling time being an issue. My boy used to have quite a few classmates living in Sengkang which is diagonally across SG from the school.

[Imp75]

We also don't see travelling a problem. We also stay v far away from sch...

[php]

i took grab today. the uncle told me he has 2 kids...one in Year 4 taking O level Chinese. he regrets letting his daughter enter IP school because it is painful not knowing if she will do well for her A levels. it is study study study all day...with no life. for his younger one, he will not allow him to enter IP school.

I hope it's because he knows the son will not cope, not just based on the sister. Some kids are suited for the programme, and it would be a pity not to let them experience it if they can benefit from it. I have a daughter who has thrived in the IP, enjoyed it very much, and has not had to "study study study all day...with no life". But I would not have put my other daughter in the programme as she would have not coped, and she has thrived in a different system.

serious??? "study study study all day...with no life" .... not true la ... majority is ok, just a few struggle ...so far, my girl enjoys the IP programme so much even without tuition and they have so much fun in school ...