25th June 2007

More doors opening up for inspiring Poly Students

Two students have proved wonders and will now serve as great motivation for many polytechnic students who wish to pursue their degree at local universities.

Mr Soong Jun Wei and his schoolmate Ron Ng were the first two poly students to be accepted into Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at NUS.

They went through interviews and tests and were assessed by the university’s discretionary admission scheme. This scheme looks beyond academic achievements and selects their candidates based on personal talent, communication skills, arts and leadership qualities and the ability to be reflective about their work.

While NTU and NUS have opened their arms to these young talents, SMU too had started practicing its own admission criteria’s. Their admissions are based their results, co-curricular activities and an interview. SMU is known to have offered opportunities to several sportsmen, entrepreneurs and musicians.

The discretionary admission scheme was first assessed in 2004 when the Education Ministry gave leeway to the local universities to set their own admission criteria for up to 10 percent of their students. With this scheme extended to Junior colleges, secondary schools and polytechnics, students with talents can now be admitted in specific areas.

The three universities have agreed that this scheme has been a great help in unearthing and nurturing talents and in picking out individuals who will melt well in the “competitive university environment and in the future business world.”

 

Source: The Straits Times,

Friday, June 22 2007