Singapore Kopitiam

We're clearly talking about different things. I was referring specifically to the Medicine admissions process.

It'd be nice to implement similar admission practices accross the board, but that just isn't feasible.

(I'll get round to responding to your individual points in a bit. I'm not crusading on behalf of NUS, btw. )

1. So medicine has two interviews? Was it for different stuff (like general and subject interview)? Law had one, and less than 15 minutes. They asked typical interview questions that everyone expects and I suppose the interviewers would have received typical interview answers. No problems with that but its not enough to gauge a student. I would support interviews for any course for students who do not meet the academic criteria and opt to appear for the interview. Different interviews for general and subject matter would be better, and perhaps a third interview for borderline cases. Maybe a small chat session to get to know the student better or find their communication skills. And not everyone would have to appear for every interview. Candidates who have clearly proven themselves in the first two interviews, for eg. I don't see why there's such a shortage of time. University doesn't begin until what - July?? This isn't even May yet.

2. I'm not talking about medicine only. Candidates who might not meet the grades for certain courses such as Economics, Law etc... and can provide written work to show their abilities could be allowed to do so to give the admissions officers more material to make their final decisions. I agree, it would increase the workload and give them more headaches, but it will improve the system, like I said. The marks are not so important since different teachers adopt different standards but such written works would be a good indicator of the students performance during term. Promising candidates can be discovered by their school work. I don't know if the Singapore system would allow for students who appear quite promising but lack the final grades, but I would like to see this change.

3. PEARLS has been removed, yes. I support that. People with good CA records even without the neccessity to have any points will shine out in interviews. Of course, I would hope they don't make it a fixed judging criteria that everyone knows of because it would defeat the purpose. A person with better chances of becoming a maths researcher should not be displaced by one holding less promise of success in maths but with greater (say) basketball and debate skills.

I hated the PEARLS system. It defeated the purpose of CCAs. People didn't join CCAs because they enjoyed it or were interested in it or wished to succeed in it but because they were kiasu.

4. PW is too dependent on the individual ST and the groupmates one has. Well, I had a horrific experience with my groupmates. I had to contribute 3 articles to every other group member just to make sure the difference in number of articles between me and them was not so stark. And my ST told me off for not being with my group to their visit to a farm (heck, I had gone home to India in june) choosing to ignore how much I had contributed over email and MSN to the group. The difference in standards adopted by STs is a factor that makes PW less credible in my opinion as a university placement factor. I think it counts for something, not much, but still it does. I think it should be used as SAT scores are used.

5. Then I suppose only Medicine uses it. Law didn't require it of me. I suppose the best judge of a student would be his tutors from the last two years. Why choose to ignore their valuable feedback?

Yes, Medicine applicants are shortlisted for 2 interviews. I've spoken to a couple of friends, all of whom said that one interview (the one conducted by the profs/docs) was significantly harder. I don't think any was specifically subject-oriented or general in nature though. 2 interviews probably to ensure a just admissions system and avoid biasness. Now they can't wait until July to release offers because people may have other plans. Some people (alvin for example) will only stick around in Singapore if he gets an offer for NUS Medicine. If they only get back to him in mid-July, and it turns out to be a rejection, he will have a tough time scrambling to organise his life for an overseas education. There's a reason why they try to make decisions by the end of May.

Would be nice, but not feasible considering the IMMENSE amount of work this will involve. Who knows, it might be a reality one day when the competition really heats up and they desperately need to differentiate students, all of whom have inflated 'A' level grades with straight As.

I see where you're coming from. While the PEARLS system does produce dark wolves or "whores" (for the lack of a better word), it does give due credit to people who have spent countless hours, days, months on their CCAs. CCAs are a very important part of your JC education, and they expose you to many things that academia cannot. Organisational skills, leadership, teamwork, communication, etc. Cliche, but true. I think JCs still keep track of CCA achievements or records though, which can be used in support of your university/job application. Better then nothing at all I reckon.

Yes, valid point about the difference in standards of STs. But isn't the final presentation evaluated by a panel of external judges? PW really teaches you about the working world. Well, somewhat. How to give both others and yourself credit when credit is due. It'd be foolish to do a lot of work but not have it properly documented to published - this is how it works in the real working world too. Because PW stretches out over a couple of months, the slack ones will tend to show cracks towards the middle and the end. It's generally easy to tell people who couldn't give a hooters about the project or the team, and people who are determined to make the project stay its course and guide it through to completion. It sounds like you didn't make your contributions known well enough. What did your score for PW, btw?

Testimonials have to be read and accepted with caution. Two people of the same quality can have vastly different testimonials depending on the writer. There's a lot of room for biasness to play its tricks in these testimonials, and they're extremely subjective. Quite often you may see an incredible student having a relatively weaker testimonial compared to a more mundane or dull student. Besides, every other person has flowery testimonials these days.

nice little debate going... sunday guard duty sucks.

Hang on, shall we call it a stalemate anytime soon?

Yawn. Either way admissions are still gonna screw up one way or another. It's the definition of their job scope.

Personally I regard it very well; it's not easy at all to be admitted into a double degree programme at NUS, unlike SMU. AAAA isn't gonna guarantee you a place.

With that said, you should still seriously consider an education at Imperial. It's more than the reputation - it's the entire overseas education experience, the contacts, the opportunities.

hey, how on earth do we get a certificate of good behaviour? from the police?

Question, how highly do you all rate the NUS Law n Econs DDP? If I manage to get it and fail for cambridge, I'm not sure if I shud pay my way through Imperial or just stay at NUS.

From your kindergarten school teacher.

haha. not funny.

no lah, imperial wants a cert of good behaviour, medicine admissions... and they're not replying my email asking them what on earth is that. so... do i juz walk into my nearest NPPto ask them for one?

1. Would you rather do Law&Econs or whatever you're doing at Imperial?
2. After university, would you rather work in Singapore or Overseas?

Imperial is more well-known in the UK, Europe and US then NUS. and to make it clear, I'm NOT saying NUS is not as good as Imperial.

Oh, and I agree with Knogle, that being overseas has its advantages.

haha. not funny.

no lah, imperial wants a cert of good behaviour, medicine admissions... and they're not replying my email asking them what on earth is that. so... do i juz walk into my nearest NPPto ask them for one?