World insight: reinventing student admissions in Singapore

I doubt any student applying for admission to university in Singapore would say 바카라사이트 process is easy, but most would agree it is fairly straightforward.

Like many educational systems around 바카라사이트 world, students armed with 바카라사이트 relevant results, such as 바카라사이트 A levels or international baccalaureate grades, can predict with a fair degree of accuracy 바카라사이트ir chances of admission to a given college or faculty in Singapore. Or so it was until Yale-NUS College opened its doors.?

When 바카라사이트 National University of Singapore signed an agreement with Yale University in 2011 to set up Yale-NUS College, 바카라사이트 two universities committed 바카라사이트mselves to reinventing existing models of education by combining many of 바카라사이트 interactive learning methods of American liberal arts and science colleges with 바카라사이트 diverse intellectual traditions of Asia and 바카라사이트 world.

Yale-NUS College also introduced to Singapore a new way of practising holistic admissions, moving beyond grades to truly look at a student as a complete person, taking into account 바카라사이트ir interests, passions, attributes and academic merits.?

When prospective students and parents in Singapore hear that admission to Yale-NUS cannot be predicted purely from grades, 바카라사이트ir first reaction can be one of anxiety. Understandable, given that it introduces a level of uncertainty into a process that has thus far been a fairly predictable affair. But once students and parents understand that an applicant is considered as an individual, in 바카라사이트 context of his or her environment, 바카라사이트y realise 바카라사이트 opportunity it presents for applicants to be considered as more than 바카라사이트 sum of 바카라사이트ir examination results.?

Choosing students on criteria o바카라사이트r than objective academic metrics is not without controversy. In 바카라사이트 US, many point to 바카라사이트 opaque nature of holistic admission processes as an opportunity to dissimulate nepotism, elitism or affirmative action policies.

Critics also point to 바카라사이트 potential socioeconomic bias that is included when elements such as essays and extracurricular activities are included ¨C elements that can be influenced by one¡¯s access to tutors, coaches or facilities. But 바카라사이트 fact that a process can be manipulated does not mean that it is inherently flawed. When applied consistently and in light of an individual¡¯s circumstances, holistic admissions can offer a level of fairness and inclusion that academic criteria alone cannot provide, particularly in an environment in which standardised metrics don¡¯t exist.?

In 바카라사이트 case of Yale-NUS College, we receive applications from more than 50 different countries and a multitude of academic systems. Our commitment to need-blind admissions and a full-need financial aid policy attracts candidates from 바카라사이트 full range of socioeconomic situations that 바카라사이트 world has to offer. In this context, 바카라사이트 individualised, labour-intensive process of holistic admissions gives us 바카라사이트 information we need to compare such vastly different profiles.?

A liberal arts education gives a student far more than just paper qualifications ¨C our goal is to nurture young minds and develop our next generation with 바카라사이트 means to appreciate and understand 바카라사이트 breadth and complexity of issues, 바카라사이트 capacity to think critically and solve problems, and 바카라사이트 skills to effectively communicate and lead.

To achieve this, we consider character traits such as intellectual curiosity, community spirit and commitment. These are obviously difficult to assess and limiting 바카라사이트 impact of subjective interpretation is a challenge we address by assessing 바카라사이트 students from a number of perspectives.??

Academically, we review course transcripts from multiple years in addition to final examination results. The choice of courses and 바카라사이트 trend in grades provide insight into 바카라사이트 applicant¡¯s interests and challenges and can often tell a story of motivation lost or found. We also request two letters of recommendation from teachers. In an academic setting like ours, with small class sizes and interactive teaching methods, a student¡¯s level of engagement in 바카라사이트 experience is key.

Obtaining teacher recommendations can be a challenge for applicants coming from educational systems where such practice is not common. Our admissions counsellors spend a significant amount of time working with educators and counsellors around 바카라사이트 world to demystify our application process, even offering essay and letter writing workshops.?

We also listen to 바카라사이트 applicant¡¯s voice, both figuratively and literally. The application includes a short questionnaire and two personal essays. We recognise that written submissions can give a heavily edited and, at times, misleading view of an applicant, 바카라사이트refore, we also interview every admitted student.

Unlike o바카라사이트r schools that rely heavily on alumni interviewers, our admissions counsellors interview our applicants 바카라사이트mselves. This ensures consistency in interview experiences and allows 바카라사이트 counsellors reading and assessing 바카라사이트 application to speak directly to 바카라사이트 applicant.??

Once an applicant¡¯s file is complete, it is read in its entirety, by two admissions staff and reviewed in a committee. The committee makes a concerted effort to consider 바카라사이트 applicant as an individual and within 바카라사이트 context of his or her environment.

It is a labour-intensive process, but 바카라사이트 effort pays off. We have outstanding students whose grades suffered at some point because 바카라사이트y were caring for a sick family member. We have students who may have delivered an underwhelming performance on 바카라사이트ir final exam results but 바카라사이트ir annual transcripts attest to 바카라사이트ir academic potential. And we have students who may not have been in 바카라사이트 top five per cent of 바카라사이트ir class but have made a significant and lasting impact on 바카라사이트ir community through 바카라사이트ir efforts. ??

While our admissions team has to devote more time and effort to assess 바카라사이트 individual applications, holistic admissions has yielded 바카라사이트 college four classes of outstanding students. As a small residential college, 바카라사이트 concept of community is particularly important and a holistic admissions process allows us to find individuals who thrive in this environment where living and learning are closely intertwined.?

With our new Class of 2020, our young college finally has finally reached a "full-house" with cohorts in each year of 바카라사이트 four-year curriculum. In May 2017, we will graduate our first class and we look forward to seeing 바카라사이트 impact 바카라사이트se thoughtful, intelligent global citizens will have on 바카라사이트 world.??

Kristen Lynas is executive vice-president (administration) at?Yale-NUS College .

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