Admission To The Local Universities (NUS/NTU)

Xinke SG

I am an ECE graduate from NP. Together with my peers, we hope to get into the local universities to further our studies. However, the local uni seems to adopt a rather translucent admission system for poly graduates. According to the uni, only graduates with "good academic performance" will be accepted. What is the definition of "good academic performance" ? 10,20 or 30ADs ??!! How will u rate a C.O.M holder with respect to an A-level graduate with
3-As?
Next, the no. of places reserved for poly students is also not revealed. Finally, I feel that more places should be reserved for poly students with good results. Being a poly graduate doesn't mean that you do not have that intellectual capacity to go to the local uni. In fact, many of the poly graduates have make it big in overseas uni.

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Adrian

KTE SG

Agreed!

apache_68 SG

hi... I am a poly student who got into NTU.. Actuali there is a bias system which they adopt... For NP, you must definitely have a COM cert.. If not, dun dream of getting in.. For SP, a normal B average student can get in liao.. even if u are not COM holder.. For NYP and TP, hahaha.. I didn't even see one of the student in man.. So u think about it lor..... Razz

millennium SG

Totally agree, SP students got into local U much much easier than NP students.

yoohoo SG

Let's not start a quarrel over here on why poly graduates are at an disadvantage in getting into local uni compared to A-level holders. But i hope i can point out some of the reasons why it is so. (These are what I had read from other sources).

Firstly, i must agree with Xinke that it is indeed a small proportion of poly graduates who are able to make it into local uni despite their excellent results.

Many of them who were rejected by local uni went abroad to pursue their degrees and most came back with 1st class honours. So why is it that local uni do not accept them?

Firstly, it was said that Spore is a small economy. The authorities need to "regulate" the number of graduates so that there will not be a situation of over supply of graduates in the local scene. Take a look at countries such as the Philippines, they have so much graduates that most ppl find that their degrees are useless. They could earn much more income by coming to Spore to work as a domestic maid! Yes, the maid u have at home might have a degree back in the Philippines!!!

Secondly, after O-levels, students have 2 choices: to pursue an A-level, which is the DIRECT route to a uni; or to pursue a poly diploma.

We are aware that local education is heavily subsidised by the Gov, where this money comes from taxpayer money. With this in mind, we also know that an A-level education is considered a secondary education while a poly education is a tertiary education.

So the Gov is trying to be fair by allowing students have a fair share of tertiary education. Poly graduates had already enjoyed the benefits of heavy subsidy, while A-level graduates have not. So by fair chance, more places should be made available for A-level students to enjoy the benefit of such heavy subsidy which their peers had already enjoyed while pursuing their diploma.

This is the fair part: Gov do not want some group of the citizens to enjoy "double subsidy" which creates a burden on taxpayers. That is the reason why less positions is available for poly graduates.

Lastly, it rewards those who are willing to take up the challenge to pursue an A-level course after their O-levels. Since we know that the direct route to a uni is tru A-levels, why are some ppl not taking up A-levels in the first place? Because they can't make it into JC based on their best 6 subjects? Because they wanted to avoid GP (General Paper)? Or because they do not want to wear school uniform?

Sorry, i am not trying to create an argument here, but these are the most "popular" reasons why ppl rather take up poly course than A-levels. So to be fair, A-level students should be rewarded with higher chances of getting into local uni although they might not have better capabilities than their peers holding a diploma.

Hope this should solve some of the mysteries in your mind~! Smile

Xinke SG

Hello Yoohoo ! Thanks for the reply ! I must say that your point on "double subsidy" for poly students is really thought provoking.
However, I don't really agree on the part where you mention about rewarding secondary students who take up the A-Level challenge.
Personally, I think that poly examinations and projects are just as challenging if not more challenging than the A-level examination. It is by no means an easy feat to get a C.O.M.(Certificate Of Merit) Diploma in poly. In fact, many of my poly peers wanted to do their A-levels. Unfortunately, they couldn't make it to the college because of their poor English results. The education system shouldn't condemn a person just because of his handicap in language. I have a friend who couldn't make it to the college because of his poor grade in English (E Cool . He scored straight distinctions for the rest of his subjects. He is currently a silver medalist from Singapore Poly Electrical Engineering Dept. He has proved that language is not an insurmountable obstacle in acquiring skills and knowledge. He has applied for a place in NTU. I am sure a person of his calibre will definitely excel in his university studies as well, .... if given the CHANCE.

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Adrian

KTE SG

Huh!

yoohoo SG

Yes, Xinke I also agree with you that Poly exams/projects are by no means an easy one. But the fact is that lecturers usually try their best not to fail students if they showed that they have some knowledge in the module (true for Poly / Uni). Of course these students will not score, but will just scrap tru.

But A-level exams are also not as easy as u might think~! I must say that the workload is very heavy as there are so many topics to cover. Furthermore, it is not exactly a 2 yr course. After the release of O-level results, term will start somewhere in mid April, ends in Nov. Following which the final yr will start in Jan, and ends by Oct.

With the heavy schedule and miminal time, it really pushes the best out of an A-level student.

With a poor english results in O-level, do u think that the student will survive in GP (General paper)? Most likely he will flunk or don't do well. This will mean a waste of time during the "2" yr A-level course should he not be able to gain entry to a local uni. Hence, common sense will tell that it is advisible to pursue a poly dip where english is not an important criteral for the course.

Of course if your frenz do well in poly with a COM, then he will most likely be able to further his studies in local uni and hence, still get to enjoy the "double subsidy", but with an extra effort of 1 yr difference. Economically speaking, this is the "price" that reflects the opportunity cost of not being good in english.

My english is not that fantastic too! so i shall end here... ... Smile

Lance18 SG

what is a COM cert?
A dipoma in Computer Studies?

millennium SG

COM = Certificate of Merits

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Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, ends with a tear. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one smiling and everyone around you is crying.

Lance18 SG

How do u get COM?
and what is the best way?

Xinke SG

C.O.M => Certificate of Merit is awarded to the Top 5% of each cohort in the various courses of a polytechnic.
The Best of way of getting a C.O.M. is to secure as many ADs as you can during your course of study.

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Adrian

KTE SG

Aiyah, the Us in Singapore and geared towards accepting JC students lah. No matter how well we poly guys perform, it’s always not good enough, because the system is already against us! HA HA HA!!!

KickMe SG

Please lah, as if u guys dun already know that when u applied for poly, its part of the package, for singapore that is.
If that weren't the case i might have considered going poly instead of obtaining an otherwise worthless A level cert.

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~Dun Luv Me Coz I'm Beautiful, I'm Smart n Talented Too!!~

enidihtep SG

Hi,
I was from NYP, and I was offered a place in NTU. I wasn't a COM holder.

It depends on a lot of factor inorder to gain entry. I got the offer on my 3rd attempt.

I had a friend from NP who got in after the first try. He's not a COM either.

However, his O'levels marks are better then mine.

It also depends the course. Engineering courses are more popular. Hence, there are only part-time NTU/NUS degree courses (you don't see part-time Sciences or BA classes?).

However, I rejected the NTU offer. As i am already working, I would rather keep my working experience and take up a part-time degree.

You have to weight a bit sometimes.

Lance18 SG

Hi Ppl .. it's me again....
I m wondering. Beside a COM cert what other things do play a factor now?
From what I know this is the new admission criteria:

Poly Result - 45%
O level result - 15%
SAT 1 result - 25%
CCA-5%

I mean this means that one has to be good in his/her O Level to get into Uni ?

But how about those who didn't do well for O Level and wanted to do something about to get into Uni?

I didn't do well for my O Level (L1R4 -15 L1R5-1 Cool My poly result is not that bad ...
I got 9 AD, a lot of B and Cs so far.
Is the system fair to us now ?
I really wonder ...

Bugsy SG

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But how about those who didn't do well for O Level and wanted to do something about to get into Uni?
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I must believe that The SYSTEM in Singapore is TOtally UNfair. It does'nt give people a 2nd chance, even those who are Talented but need some time to iron out obtstacles in their life.

Why has O Levels got to do with University Admission?. Thats crap man.

Let's have this scenario.(I've a friend in this predictment)
He's a guy who used to fool around during his Sec Skool days and got a poor O'levels result.But managed to enter a poly only on a second Olevel sitting. But during his Poly days , he had changed and got Average Ad~B results, though not a COM. (COM are very very difficult to get, top 5%. And if you get a COM , won't you rather get a scholarship and study overseas rather than in Singapore? )
Anyways if the University levies a 15% on O'levels he might as well forget about applying for Local university?
What i am saying is that Don't we give people a 2nd chance?.Human do make mistakes.

If i were to get as good results like my friend, i would have gone overseas to study. A respectable overseas degree prog takes 2years , whereas in Singapore it takes 3years and 4 years for direct hons.
The only drawback is the Cost $$$
And a recent survey in the Strait Times, shows that Private sector Employers don't give a shit if u are from NUS,NTU or Overseas. Only the Civil Sector mind that.

My friends who had went over to Austrila or UK to study. Most have second doubts coming back to singapore to live or work.They feel that the system has let them down.Whereas overseas insitution gave them a chance to Excel.
They conclude that if your OWN country does'nt give you a chance and yet other countries do, why hole up here?

The 25% for SAT for intakes after 2003 is another worrying thing. Some of the top university in USA has abolished SAT for an entry requirment.Some Call it Racist for the minority people.
15% + 25% = Forget bout local Uni

So I think we end up in this vicious cycle, that we always need more professional expats from other countries to make up the lost of local talents.

Anyways.. this is just my opinion.

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~~~```` run..while you can ''''''~~~~~~~

[This message has been edited by Bugsy (edited 19 May 2002).]

Mama SG

well the MOE is really crappy to come up with SAT test for poly grads , sooner or later u will fine the hard work u put in is only worth 60% of the whole local uni application.

Can see some bias in NTU/NUS as basically u didn;t see lots of NYP ot TP grads in there ,they still prefer SP and NP diplomas.

There are various reason why students choose poly instead of 'A' levels , firstly it can be the student's 'O's is not that terrific or he wants to avoid GP , secondly maybe he wants to learn skills and have "hands on" experience rather than the dry and boring 'A's .Thirdly he may want a change of environment .

However it a 'O's student have what it takes to make it to JCs , he should take the 'A' path as it gives him a much higher chance to go local uni , can u imagine a average C and D 'A's student stands better chance than a average B student. Is poly's standard really that low ?

So for those will receive their 'O's result next yr , they must consider this fact carefully .

RoWLeY SG

hey guys dun worry too much! heard that there’s a 4th local U coming up! the best thing is its mainly meant for poly grads. fair enough? wait…BUT… there’s a debatable topic arising… “wouldnt this widen the gap between the JC and poly students which is already quite bad now??” hmm… NTU and NUS for those JC students and this new U for poly grads…hmm..interesting

dreamzj SG

SG universities sux big time. They only go for those good and top students but then how come the govt is still recruiting so many foreign talents? So irony.

NUS and NTU keep proclaiming that they are number 1 or 2 or 3 but wats the use? They can't compared to renowned Universities like MIT, LSE, Cambridge and Oxford.

I think is high time for NUS/NTU to reflect on the admission system. Don't just take in those who can perform well academically. They are not as talented as i see.

*spit* on NUS and NTU

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