DGJS Interview Result

Jokey2828

258suki's daughter is accepted by St. Paul's Co-ed, and waiting for DGJS’ result. The 2 St. Paul's Primary Schools accept 58 girls altogether, and DGJS 108. Theoretically, 258suki's daughter has a very high chance of admission to DGJS too. (In fact, as far as I know Mrs. Dai would not ask all candidates to read a book.)

Many of my friends’ girls go to DGJS too. Once accepted, they started intensive English training courses right away. As you know, DGJS is a very demanding school, especially for those girls from a Chinese kindergarten. In fact, my friend told me that all fresh students will be required to sit a screening test in May.

Although both St. Paul's and DGJS adopt a sibling policy, not all younger sisters will be accepted if they fail to meet the schools’ requirements. That means there is no guarantee that 258suki's younger daughter will go to St. Paul's or DGJS too.

I hope that will answer flowerglassy's concern。我想說人以和為貴。

Jokey2828

Bluestar

flowerglassy,

Please check your basic facts before making accusations.  This is not the 1st time that you have presented something without double-checking.

http://www.baby-kingdom.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=226145&forum=7#2885966

There is also no guarantee that a younger sister will definitely be admitted if an elder sister is studying in DGJS and vice versa.  Nottingham is also a well-known institution to those who are interested in pre-school Engl education, at least well-known enough to those who care to find out, so there should be no need for anyone to advertise here.

googoo

Seems like you're all keen on sending your girls in single-sex primary school.... I'm just wondering, if it will be better to send kids in co-ed primary and then single-sex secondary?  I'm asking this because I'm just a little concern if the kids social skills will be developed a bit fuller in co-ed primary??    

anxiousparent

Jokey2828 寫道:
258suki's daughter is accepted by St. Paul's Co-ed, and waiting for DGJS’ result. The 2 St. Paul's Primary Schools accept 58 girls altogether, and DGJS 108. Theoretically, 258suki's daughter has a very high chance of admission to DGJS too. (In fact, as far as I know Mrs. Dai would not ask all candidates to read a book.)

Many of my friends’ girls go to DGJS too. Once accepted, they started intensive English training courses right away. As you know, DGJS is a very demanding school, especially for those girls from a Chinese kindergarten. In fact, my friend told me that all fresh students will be required to sit a screening test in May.

Although both St. Paul's and DGJS adopt a sibling policy, not all younger sisters will be accepted if they fail to meet the schools’ requirements. That means there is no guarantee that 258suki's younger daughter will go to St. Paul's or DGJS too.

I hope that will answer flowerglassy's concern。我想說人以和為貴。

Jokey2828

Hear hear.    Thanks foryour efforts Jokey 2828.

I would not take such an extreme view as flowerglassy.  However, what I find somewhat disturbing is the overly "self-deprecating" (you can say "humble") approach taking by suki.  

Declaration of interest first.  I am not an alumni of either.  

The two St. Paul's Co-ed together take in a total of about 110+ students.  There were altogether about 1,700 to 1,800 applicants (I do not know the exact number but the number is approximately the same every year).  

IF suki's daughter has REALLY been accepted by St Paul's Kennedy Road (and frankly, judging from the contents and style of suki's messages I have had some doubts whether she truly had a daughter who had been admitted by St Paul's Co-ed - at one time she would not even say which St. Paul's Co-ed admitted her daughter and simply said she was lucky and Kennedy Rd and Macdonnell Rd are the same for her) then she would have been within the top 110 out of 1,700/1,800 applicants.  Statistically that is round about the same sort of rate as DGJS.  I therefore do not understand why she said in one of her answers that her kid stood a very low chance of being admitted to DGJS because of the competition - the truth is that competition for St. Pauls' Co-ed is just as keen.

and if her daughter is good enough to be admitted by St Paul's Co-ed (and I have never heard of anyone calling it "St. Paul's Co-edu";  just "St. Paul's Co-ed") she should allow herself a little bit of dignity, and not like somebody trying to "go-parn" a school and asking questions in a very worried way like "O what is your key to success there ...?"  and "O where did your daughter learn English?"  As I said, relax, man! and have some confidence and dignity.

and I still do not understand why she is NOW freaking out over which school to go to if both schools admit her daughter - these are the sort of things that one would have worked out in one's mind when one puts in an application.  

I do not want to sound very harsh and I may sound very critical or nosy.  But I find suki's messages (and her methods of thinking) slightly odd.  

BTW suki's daughter is the first person I have heard who was asked to read a story during her interview at DGJS this year.  

anxiousparent

sorry, when I said "read a story" I meant "read a story to the headmistress".   

Jokey2828

Hi anxiousparent,

For many of your questions, I cannot answer for 258suki.

Right, competition for St. Paul's is as keen as that for DGJS. Yet as St. Paul's is a co-educational school, theoretically only the top 58 girls will be accepted. For DGJS, it is 108.

I have a friend. Her daughter is now in DGJS P2. She was asked to read a book during the interview.

Jokey2828

anxiousparent

Jokey2828 寫道:
Hi anxiousparent,

For many of your questions, I cannot answer for 258suki.

Right, competition for St. Paul's is as keen as that for DGJS. Yet as St. Paul's is a co-educational school, theoretically only the top 58 girls will be accepted. For DGJS, it is 108.

I have a friend. Her daughter is now in DGJS P2. She was asked to read a book during the interview.

Jokey2828

Yes but we do not know the "spread" of boys and girls among the applicants and though only the top 58 girls will be admitted, if we assume that 50% of the applicants are girls then it will be 58/900 which is round about 116/1800.

Jokey2828

Hi anxiousparent,

I think admission is something more than a mathematical equation. If you think your child is smart, most probably you will apply for both St. Paul's and DGJS for her. If she turns out to be the 59th top-most student, she will be accepted by DGJS yet fail in St. Paul's. Of course, each headmistress is looking for something different, and my thinking is based on some presumptions.

Jokey2828

anxiousparent

Jokey2828 寫道:
Hi anxiousparent,

I think admission is something more than a mathematical equation. If you think your child is smart, most probably you will apply for both St. Paul's and DGJS for her. If she turns out to be the 59th top-most student, she will be accepted by DGJS yet fail in St. Paul's. Of course, each headmistress is looking for something different, and my thinking is based on some presumptions.

Jokey2828

Quite right, and I think we both know of people who managed to get into one and somehow failed to get into the other (even disregarding cases involving alumni factor or sibling factor).

But I still do not understand why suki gets worried now.  

EdT

Jokey2828

我認為anxiousparent以比例計法適合些,assumption of 兩間都報的在我看來不會太多。親友都住九龍,也有小部分住新界,全都有報DGJS, 但St Paul Coed卻還沒有聽聞。小朋友雖都喜歡坐校車(太近的坐的士返學都不喜歡呢!),但始終要過海,父母大都覺不便,所以沒報Coed, 反而報CKY等。

Bluestar

Jokey2828,

Well said - admission of students is something more than a mathematical equation.  Although the probability of being admitted = No. of applicants for that particular class during that particular year / Total number of applicants that year, the Headmistress looks for certain traits and qualities, key attributes which are considered to be overridingly important, but which are qualitative and cannot be quantified.

friendlyfanly

Dear Anxiousparent,

I don't know whether Suki is over  'worried' or like what flowerglassy said. Anyway, some people would  very envy her as if she said that her daughter was not so smart , outstanding, no background, part-time working mum & finally got in St Paul's Co-ed. (my friend is old girl of St Paul 's Co-ed & same religion, her daughter is O.K. & granted 2nd interview at Kennedy Rd, but still on the waiting list)

If so, Suki really needs to  put more effort on her daughter 's academic performance & extra-curriculum activities. It is a key success for her younger sister to get in either St Paul's Co-ed or DGJS.  Also, as she is Christian, she shouldn't let her younger daughter to get in SPC kinder in order to get in St Paul 's Co-ed. Both school 's religion are different.  :

To be honest, I hope her daughter can be accepted by  DGJS as she lives in Kln & release the place at Co-ed. So that those who are smart boys or girls on the waiting list could have a chance to get in Co-ed.  

Jokey2828

Bluestar 寫道:
Jokey2828,

Well said - admission of students is something more than a mathematical equation.  Although the probability of being admitted = No. of applicants for that particular class during that particular year / Total number of applicants that year, the Headmistress looks for certain traits and qualities, key attributes which are considered to be overridingly important, but which are qualitative and cannot be quantified.

Dear all,

Actually, the real life is even more complicated than this. Each year, DGJS accepts more than 30 CCKG girls. So the admission ratio for other applicants is about 1:22.

For St. Paul's Co-ed, the situation is no better. The 2 schools have a scoring system: The quota for people with connection is 39x2, and for those people with no connection it is 17x2. Yet don't forget some people with no connection do actually have some under-table connections. Also bear in mind the "half-boy-half-girl" element. You can count for yourself the chance of success.

Jokey2828

friendlyfanly

Jokey,

You're right. For those who got the admission of either St Paul's Co-ed or DGJS should be rejoice for their children. No need to worry too much. Think more positive ways to nuture them & help their well-round development.

As both schools are good, the location & sex factor should be the key considering issues.

According to the news, Co-ed may adopt IB for 2ndary school after 1 year investigation & research.  

anxiousparent

Jokey2828 寫道:
[quote]
Bluestar 寫道:
Jokey2828,

Well said - admission of students is something more than a mathematical equation.  Although the probability of being admitted = No. of applicants for that particular class during that particular year / Total number of applicants that year, the Headmistress looks for certain traits and qualities, key attributes which are considered to be overridingly important, but which are qualitative and cannot be quantified.

Dear all,

Actually, the real life is even more complicated than this. Each year, DGJS accepts more than 30 CCKG girls. So the admission ratio for other applicants is about 1:22.

For St. Paul's Co-ed, the situation is no better. The 2 schools have a scoring system: The quota for people with connection is 39x2, and for those people with no connection it is 17x2. Yet don't forget some people with no connection do actually have some under-table connections. Also bear in mind the "half-boy-half-girl" element. You can count for yourself the chance of success.

Jokey2828[/quote]

So the short point is that there is actually no need to sweat over which school to attend at this stage.  You will probably have an idea when you put in your application on day one.  Just relax and celebrate (for the time being).  

It is no big deal to have to move to HK to attend St Paul's.  And it is no big deal to stay on Kowloon side and attend St Paul's.   A lot of people live in HK and go to DGJS.  

If I have been toon skeptical or harsh on you suki and you feel hard done by, please do not take it too seriously.  If your daughter has actually been accepted by St Paul's Kennedy Road that is something worth celebrating.

Jokey2828

Jokey2828 寫道:

Dear all,

Actually, the real life is even more complicated than this. Each year, DGJS accepts more than 30 CCKG girls. So the admission ratio for other applicants is about 1:22.

For St. Paul's Co-ed, the situation is no better. The 2 schools have a scoring system: The quota for people with connection is 39x2, and for those people with no connection it is 17x2. Yet don't forget some people with no connection do actually have some under-table connections. Also bear in mind the "half-boy-half-girl" element. You can count for yourself the chance of success.

Jokey2828

Dear all,

As a supplement, there is one point I wish to add.

St. Paul's Co-ed used to prefer children from SKH Kindergarten. However, as it has changed into a DSS school, this advantage seems to have faded out eventually. Am I right?

Jokey2828

258suki

I would like to thank all of you sharing the precious and valuable opinions for me.
thanks a billion !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

258suki

Jodiemama

Hi all,

I just stop by and find out this interesting topic.  

First of all, I also don't understand why 258suki  is so anxious to find an english class for her younger daughter, but not her elder daughter (who she said is not outstanding smart, but 258suki applied those famous schools for her wtihout preparation) few years ago?  It seems that it is not the normal parent practice in HK.  

That's what I can share from what I know about St. Paul co-ed :

The daughter of my girl friend was accepted by St. Paul Co-ed Kennedy Road, since we are very closed firend and I have a daughter who need to apply for kinder, so she shared her experience to me.  

The little girl is studying in one of the famous kinder in HK Island (In fact, this year St. Paul Co-ed accepted 10+ more pupils from this kinder), she is smart and out spoken (she can speak well both in English and Chinese), and she even can read English book now. (if 258suki said that DGJS asked her daughter to read the book, I am not surprised though it is not normal practice, cos, it seems that it is their preassumption that their students can read now)   Besides she attended few other  extra-curriculum activities to demonstrate she has other talent.  Those my friend knows accepted by St. Paul Co-ed has similiar background, and the seats are so limited that if 258suki daughter accepted by this school, she must thanks god, because her daughter is very very very lucky.  

258suki

sorry to tell you I really look for the english class for my elder daughter not younger daughter.  it is because in the past few years I am the one to talk to my daughter in english.  I am the english teacher of my daughter.  but right now I find that she has to learn something should be more formal and more native in english.  that's why I am looking for something focus on quality english class.  at last I would thank to everyone concerning about why I accepted by st paul co-ed.  of course there is not big deal, I agree this is her luck. many thanks.

vanilla

Dear Jodiemama,

Was your friend's girl studying in Victxxxx Kinder?

My friend's son was graduated from Victxxxx and is now studying in St Paul's co-ed P1. As far as I know, his son is smart and was ranked number one in the kinder.

What do you mean by 'accepted by St. Paul Co-ed has similar background' ?  Do you mean that the parents are of same profession e.g medical practitioners? Would you mind telling us the profession of your friend? I am wondering if there is any preference towards a particular profession.

Vanilla.