Remember the days when one B and two Cs would get a student
into the arts and social sciences faculty of the National
University of Singapore?
Not any more.
This year, A-level holders needed at least an A and two Bs, despite
the faculty taking in the largest number of students at the
university - 1,700 in all.
Two years ago, the minimum grade needed was three Bs.
Faculty officials said they are also taking in more top A-level
students, who score at least 3As. This year, they made up 15 per
cent of applications, up from 7 per cent in the 2000s.
Faculty dean Brenda Yeoh said the faculty is no longer seen as an
easier option.
"The students we have choose to come here because they believe in
the merits of studying the humanities and social sciences. Not
because they cannot get in anywhere else."
She attributes the higher demand to the wide range of courses on
offer and students seeing the value in a broad education.
"Based on admission interviews, students like the wide range of
offerings we have. With 17 departments, 20 major subjects, a host
of minor programmes and a centre for language studies offering both
Asian and European languages, we offer the most comprehensive
education in the humanities and social sciences in this part of the
world."
To cater to students' interests, the school has added more courses
in recent years, including film studies, petroleum exploration,
health and social sciences and global studies.
The latter is a multi-disciplinary course which covers areas
including political science, economics and sociology.
The faculty's five most popular majors are economics,
communications and new media, psychology, sociology and political
science.
Professor Yeoh added: "When Yale-NUS was set up, there was
initially some worry that the demand for arts and social sciences
would go down. That didn't happen. In fact, demand went up.
"Young people are mindful of the fact that there are no more jobs
for life and they have to be prepared to switch careers.
"They want a university education that will give them more career
options and a broad training that will enable them to go into
different fields, everything from teaching, to working in banks and
the media, and in civil service."
First-year student Maisarah Abdul Jalil, 19, scored all As for her
six A-level subjects at Jurong Junior College.
She said: "Like many young people, I am still figuring out where my
interests and talents lie. The arts and social sciences faculty
gives you the licence to explore."
National serviceman Sebastian Tan, 19, who chose arts and social
sciences over a place in business at another local university, said
the winning point for him was the broad-based education in the
faculty.
"I hope to sample a whole range of subjects and then major in a
hard science like politics or economics with English Literature,"
he said.
"The combination of subjects will nurture the most important skills
of clear thinking and clear writing - required not only for a good
job, but a good life as well," he added.
ST