Hello, STPM results were just released so currently very kin cheong about applications to both NUS and NTU

Many questions regarding:

NTU application:

1)Do we have to write any essays for the application? There is a space provided with a 200 word limit which asks us to list our outstanding achievements with details.

-What does this detail mean? A short paragraph on our experience on the 'outstanding achievement'? What things would be considered important to list as our detail?

-Examples of Outstanding details were things like Olympiads and representing country in international competitions. I have not done either So I am going to include school curriculum inside. But to what extent do I list them out. Do I just list down the ones I have became President for? Do I list down the ones I did during form 6 only? Can I list down BOD positions since Form 3? xD

- Does active participation in various community service groups outside school count as part of Outstanding Achievement?

2) Additional Educational Information: Will it hurt my chances if I leave this blank? Example was listed as having a diploma in etc. I just finished my STPM. Any other examples that may be included here?

NUS application:

1) They provided space for just 2 activities under Outstanding Achievement category.

- If I include participation with a community service outside school, is this considered a National Level achievement? (Because I notice they do have a drop down choice for community service group)

-In school, I was a club President. The school decided to send me as one of the state representatives for a National-Level campaign in another state. Under level do I put National or School?

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My overall CGPA for STPM is 3.5, MUET is band 6. What are my chances of getting inside NTU or NUS for Sociology. I have rather strong cocu too, but rumour has it that it does will not affect much at school level.

Sorry for the long questions. Thank you very much to the kind person who replies them Shall include you in my prayers

NTU:
1. No.
2. Basically national/international achievements ONLY. I didn't include anything else- NTU only gives bypasses to Olympiad medalists or outstanding achievers.


NUS:
i) Nope, sorry.
ii) You can list this under national activities, but it doesn't help much to an extent.


Keep in mind that both SG unis are VERY academic oriented, and they are strictly no-nonsense grades first, others later.

Your English proficiency needs to be high to wow NUS too. I've no idea what a MUET 6 is equivalent to, though.

NTU doesn't mind that.


However don't be that down- Cocurri stuff helps if you decide to file for an appeal. Those will make you stand out from others who will be on the same level as you academically.

No harm writing something, anything. If you think what you did is significant, then write it down. I don't remember what I wrote in my applications to NTU/NUS 2 years ago. But I certainly didn't leave it blank; give yourself a chance. And if you're wondering, I didn't participate in any international olympiads either.

Yes, grades are very important. But given your grade, what can you do about it? You can't change the fact that you've got 3.5. But, what you can do now is answer those questions. Just try your best to flesh your qualities out when you answer those questions.

And Band 6 MUET is great! Try to highlight this superiority in English proficiency. And since you got Band 6, I don't think I need to teach you how to write. I have some pointers tho. Organize your essay into several qualities you wish to demonstrate to them, then focus on fleshing out each of those qualities. Don't bother with fanciful language; focus on real-life experiences and link them to your qualities. I wish you all the best in your application. Hope to see you around in NTU.

This post has been edited by Tangiers: Mar 12 2009, 12:25 AM

Thank you xed and tangiers

how about scenario 2:

I am president of this other club. And our club was responsible of helping to host a school visit from a large group of foreign students from another country.

Government schools have this point system which grades certain special event activities. Our school actually graded this event as International because it involved a group of students from one other country. It is even printed on our school leaving certificate.

Do I still list my participation with this club as National Level?

To me it sounds like I am President of an International club, I am very scared that it would look far-fetched because there is no space in the form to explain myself and that activity. But of course I would love to be able to grade that as International I am required to put down the contact number for my club advisor as well, so she may be reference to that activity.

Thank you Tangiers seeing your comment gave me a little relief. Do you have any opinions on what I can put under Additional Educational Information?

I took a literature course with NST for my SPM english literature subject a few years ago. I have a grade 5 ABRSM qualification for piano, hehehe. Would any of this count under Additional Education? That's the best that I could come out with. I hope to not appear immature by listing things that completely miss the mark

Also, thanks for the luck! I think I need as much as I can get right now =)

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Would also like a second opinion about a public community service group (outside school) being graded as national level because it is relevant to my course

Otherwise, what sort of community service participation do you think they could have been referring to?

hi pinknotebook,

i was wondering how do you fill for the subject level. it states that

(Select A/Principle if subject is A-level equivalent;
Select AO/AS if subject is subsidiary level equivalent)

i thought our STPM is A-level equivalent? but the first subject (PA) is marked as AO not principle. what level should i fill in the following subjects?

and also i've taken mathematics S.. but cant find it in the subject drop down menu.

PS: i've got 3.5 as well.. damn disappointed. i know i stand a very little chance, but just giving it a try.. miracle might happen. T_T

This post has been edited by icycokes: Mar 12 2009, 02:18 AM

hello icycokes, I have not filled in/submitted my application yet so here's just a gist of what i think you mean

I am not at all sure about the AO/A Principle thing either, perhaps a fellow lowyat-ian can help clear our doubt on this matter (thanks for pointing that out!)

The closest to Mathematics S is Mathematics in our drop down menu. So I think they are not fussy whether the Maths was for Science or Arts Stream I am 100% sure that it is not Further Mathematics as that is another different subject altogether. So Mathematics it is!

Ps: I have mixed feelings about a 3.5 cgpa too T_T family & friends convinced me it was good enough. But as tangiers said what's done is done, we can't cry over spilt milk *kicks self for being playful during exam season*

I read in the NUS website that as long as each result gets a B and above you would get a fighting chance with the competition out there. And it also depends on the competition of the course you are applying for. Like even 4 flat with a band 5 muet would be rejected for medicine or pharmacy students.

Assuming you are an arts stream student, the competitive course would be Architecture.

I have read in elsewhere about a CGPA 3.58 and band 4/5 getting inside FASS. I hope this news is comforting to us!

This post has been edited by pinknotebook: Mar 12 2009, 10:18 AM

Do apply to as many unis as possible. IPTA's especially. You can't just rely on your NUS/NTU applications.

And for your question pinknote, I guess you can write those things under additional education. I'm just as clueless as you on that one.

3.5 is bad? Man. I only got a 3.00. So that means no hope? T.T

@ Tangiers: I already applied for IPTA but NUS has been my dream Uni for the past 10 years hehehehe. That's why I'm putting in so much effort for the application.

@ 00 Gundam: If you have spectacular achievements like Olympiads or National competitions you may have a chance too. Let's all just try for it and hope for the best la. Never try never know? G'luck!

NTU application:

1)NTU definitely opting for olympiad medalist or person who performed well in international arena only.. i don think school or state level affect much.. National level is something like national robotics competition, national physics competition and so on(provided u must achieve not participate only).. but no harm if u fill in watever events/clubs that u think is best for u.. because they will never reject u due to that matters..

FYI, NUS and NTU admission strictly based on meritocracy ONLY.. unless u possess a very very outstanding achievement in co-cu as stated..

if u're choosing engineerin or business courses.. i can assure the chances to get admitted is equal to zero.. but since u're intended to pursue in art stream.. i guess u still stand a chance and no harm to give a try.. good luck..

hmm.. i am an arts stream student. so what is the FASS all about? i read in NUS website that it consists of 18 majors. but i would only interested in economics. i know that is quite a demanding course. IF (miracle) i were offered FASS, is it like i have to compete with others very hard in the first year? what if i lose out? that means i have to opt for other courses like psychology etc?

and as well i do not know what can i fill for the 5 choices i have. FASS seems to be the only faculty i can get in.

and i only got a band 4 for my MUET.. 216! (5 more marks to reach band 5)

i have a question here.
i m currently applying for ntu
can i write my Outstanding Achievement like below?:
Distinction in 2008 Nanyang Concept Test in Physics - Advanced Level organized by Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Distinction in 2008 International Competition and Assessments for Schools Mathematics organized by The University of New South Wales, Distinction in Malaysian National Chemistry Quiz 2008 organized by Malaysian Institute of Chemistry with the cooperation of Ministry of Education Malaysia, Bronze award in The National Physics Competition 2008 organized by Malaysian Institute of Physics.


do i need to submit verification?

btw, my cgpa 4.0, muet band 5

if i plan to apply for nus,
Are you currently studying in or applying for in a School, Polytechnic or University in Singapore?
should i put yes or no?

This post has been edited by j2corp: Mar 12 2009, 10:31 PM

Bump for my original question. Still looking for specific answers to my detailed questions

thank you Pikachu for the luck

Here's my best in trying to answer fellow applicant's questions:

icycokes: based on discussions from forums about NUS, apart from academic results, your english profficiency level is very important too.

I did a check for you at their website. Unfortunately their minimum requirement for MUET is a 221 You are 5 marks away from reaching their requirement!

Source: http://admissions.nus.edu.sg/international...html#englishreq

j2corp: I can only wish for results like yours congratulations.

My opinion is to seperately list each participation into a seperate paragraph. That would make it look much neater

I will be applying for NUS and NTU so I would answer 'Yes' for that section. I'm sure honesty would bring us somewhere.

Better be honest than to bear guilt if we are found out

i wrote those exact awards that you have last year during my application. and i got it
well, at least thats the best stuffs that I have besides school level stuffs.
i think there is a field somewhere that says you do not need to send in your extra curricular certs but during an edu fair one of those representatives asked us to send it too, so we (me and my friends) did.

what course are you aiming for?

anyway about verification part, after you got admitted for few months, they will send random emails to random people for verification of certificates. I didn't get the email so i do not know the process of verification

First things first, congratulations to j2corp! And yea, what's your preferred programme?

Which uni are you in now oxalato? And what programme?

From my experience concerning verification of documents, they will ask you bring some original documents (A-lvl, SPM, MUET) to their office sometime in the middle of your 1st semester if I remember correctly.

yup, true for NUS oso.

i was hoping for aerospaceXd... heard it was quite hard...
anyway... Physics and applied physics is nice too... since i like to do r&d
thx for all u guys help^^

4.00 CGPA shouldn't have much difficulty entering any of the programmes you mentioned.

I just want to ask those seniors that already enrolled in nus or ntu, did you guys really go and translate every cert that is not in english version? including birth cert??????

I translated everything (including birth cert) for my other foreign applications. So when it comes to NTU/NUS, I just conveniently used the translated version since I have everything translated already. I don't think you need to go through so much trouble for NTU/NUS though.

This post has been edited by Tangiers: Mar 15 2009, 10:12 PM