Your One-Stop Guide to DSA Applications in Singapore [2022]

Confused about the DSA system and looking to gather important details needed before getting started?

You’re in the right place.

This comprehensive guide will provide a thorough overview of DSA applications in Singapore. 

Whether it’s about getting into secondary school, or a junior college, this article contains all the information you will need before applying to DSA-Sec or DSA-JC. 

What is DSA?

Direct School Admission (DSA)  is an effective Singaporean program that was introduced in 2004. Ever since its inception, the program has gained widespread popularity because of its benefits.

The purpose of DSA is to offer admission to a secondary school for students in their late primary years (DSA Sec), or to junior college for students in secondary school (DSA JC). 

For thousands of students hoping to get into a secondary school or junior college of their choice, DSA acts as a saving grace.

The DSA applicants are ranked according to the DSA test given by their institute. According to these ranks, students are granted a “Confirmed”, “Waitlisted”, or “Rejected” status.

One important point to note is that the DSA is based on talent in a specific domain (more on this below). It allows students to gain mastery in specific key areas rather than just academics and learning. Now, the question arises, “what is the selection criteria based on?”.

What Talents Can Be Used for DSA Applications?

There’s a variety of skills that give you the opportunity to apply for DSA. Some common ones are listed below:

Sports and Games

Every school’s extracurricular portfolio includes sports and games. No matter which school you study in, such extracurricular activities are important and are considered a special skill.

If you think you’re good at a particular sport and the talent is invited by your institution of choice, you can hone your skill further to secure an admission. Provided you’re able to compete against other students, you’ll likely receive that confirmation letter with minimal struggle.

Languages and Humanities

If you think you’re good at language or humanities, you can send the DSA application for any of the field’s components. The better you are at one or more of the components, the more chances you get to secure the yes. Following are the examples of humanities:

1) Philosophy
2) Language
3) Literature
4) History
5) Geography
6) Art

Aside from such extracurricular activities, you can also consider:

Your Study Subjects

There’s always a list of particular study subjects you can apply for. Whether you’re interested in Mathematics, Biology, or Computer Science, you’ll likely spot them on the list. So, you can apply for one of your studying subjects as well. These particularly include:

1) Science
2) Mathematics
3) Engineering

Furthermore, you can also look into:

Public Speaking

Public speaking is a learnable skill sought out by DSA schools. If you like to be on stage and want to develop the confidence to deliver your thoughts in front of a huge audience, you might want to consider public speaking or debates. Supposed that you’re good at these, you’re likely eligible for DSA applications.

Literary Art

Literature and poetry, and even creative writing are some other considerable talents for DSA applications. If you think you have a good grip on either skill, use it to the best of your advantage.

With this section out of the way, let’s roll into the details of applying for DSA.

How to Apply for DSA-Sec

First things first, a common question people frequently ask is, “Do I have to apply for DSA-Sec online or offline?”.

The standard approach is applying online but it may vary depending on the institute you want to get into. You can find the information on the official website of the DSA school or college you’re considering.

What to Know Before Applying to DSA-Sec

Now, there are a couple of important things to keep in mind while intending to apply for DSA-Sec. These include:

Time Restriction

For the year 2022, the time to submit an application has not yet opened. We will update once DSA-sec applications start and end times have been announced. Applications should open around early May.

Relevant Information

Once you’ve made sure you have the right deadline, the next step is to gather the relevant documentation needed at the time of admission. This may include your birth certification, previous report books, parent’s identification, and so on. These requirements will also be listed on the concerned school’s website.

Applying to a DSA-Sec Application

1) Logging into the DSA-Sec

After you have the basic information at hand, it’s time to sign into the DSA-Sec portal. It will require your Singpass Two-Factor Authentication (Singpass 2FA). Since you will be logged into the portal, you won’t have to input any basic information.

2) Selecting talent areas

Next, you’ll be prompted to select key talent areas. The portal will give you complete information on how many talent areas you can choose.

3) Input information on non-school activities and achievements

The portal gives you the option to mention your preferred extracurricular activities. You can also list achievements – if relevant and if it helps support the listed talents.

4) Putting the contact details

You don’t want to miss important updates especially if your application is shortlisted. So, make sure you’ve entered accurate information to stay updated.

Note: The portal also gives you the option to resubmit, withdraw, or update your application during the application period.

Furthermore, if and when you’re shortlisted, you’ll have to choose a DSA secondary school. But what are the top secondary schools for DSA-Sec? Let’s find out.

List of DSA Secondary Schools for DSA-Sec

Following is the definitive list of DSA Secondary schools in Singapore.

After selecting a DSA-Sec school or if a school seeks you out, you’ll be asked to attend e-interviews or e-auditions conducted by their board of admissions. Make sure you’re prepared.

How to Apply for DSA-JC

To apply for DSA-JC, keep the following things in mind:

Know the application period:

First things first, it’s crucial to know the starting date and the deadline for the DSA-JC application. Thankfully, DSA-JC admissions are conducted in two phases with different colleges. If you’re unable to apply in the first phase or get rejected, you can still apply for some college in the second phase.

Application Process

The application process for DSA-JC is quite similar to DSA-Sec – you log into the portal, submit the general information, take your pick from the list of colleges, and disclose all your talents.

Selection Process

Once your application is reviewed, what comes next is the selection process. Depending upon your application and the interests you chose, you may be asked for the following information:

•       A portfolio displaying your talents and achievements (both curricular and extracurricular)
•       CCA records
•       A personal statement
•       Secondary school report books
•       A character reference

If you’re looking for detailed and specialized information on the college you want to get into, it’s recommended to visit their website and explore the Direct School Admission (DSA) webpage.

Possible Outcomes

There are two possible outcomes a DSA-JC announces – either you’re granted an “offer” or your application is classified as “unsuccessful”. There’s no waitlist to give you hope. Applications for both phases open around early May, with offers for the first phase revealed around late July to mid August.

You’ll have until Saturday, 14 August 2021 3 pm SGT to respond to your offer. For Phase 2 applications, offers are sent out around mid August to early September and you’ll have until 3 pm SGT Friday, 10 September 2021 to respond to your offers.

Offer

The outcome “offer”  signals that you now have a reserved seat at the institute.  The only step to make it official from there is signing the acceptance letter. Once that’s signed and returned to the institute, it’ll be no time before you receive your confirmation letter.

Unsuccessful

On the other hand, if you receive the outcome “unsuccessful”, it means you were not accepted for DSA-JC and will have to participate in the Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE).

With that out of the way, what are the best DSA junior colleges you can look into? Let’s find out.

The following is the definitive roundup of all the DSA colleges in Singapore.

Final Words

Having your position reserved in an institute of your choice grants you complete peace of mind and a positive outlook for the future.While the DSA system is often criticized, it is noteworthy that its pros outweigh its cons.

Not only does a child get the positive reinforcement needed to excel in future academic stages but also to explore other talents beyond education. 

I hope this guide helped you with what you were looking for. Wishing you all the luck with your application!