Post-A Level Students Unable to Qualify for Desired Courses Can Re-strategise Applications

SINGAPORE, Feb. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Not everyone comes out a winner after the release of the GCE A Level results. For some students, they may feel disheartened when their grades do not make the cut for their dream university or programme.

ICON+, a scholarship and university admissions expert that has supported over 30,000 students in the last 23 years, urges students to view the academic setback as an opportunity to re-strategise, rather than to give up on their dreams altogether.

"While the university admissions process in Singapore is more holistic now compared to 10 years ago, it is still heavily dependent on one exam, whether the A Level or equivalent. The stakes are extremely high. We have seen students underperform because of the immense stress," comments Ms Seraphine Ann Chia, ICON+ Education's Academic Manager.

Indeed, the entry criteria for popular courses such as Medicine, Business and Computer Science are such that students have no room for error on their A Level. This concern is an on-going debate between educators and policymakers - the balance of talent, diversity and inclusiveness in our higher education institutions.

To students who remain convinced of their calling, Ms Clarice Chan, who founded ICON+ Education in 1999, has this to say: "View the setback as a small blip in your career journey. Learn from the experience and review your options. There are many paths that lead to the same destination."

The first of these is taking a gap year. Students can strengthen their profile by retaking their exam, completing additional courses and gaining relevant practical experience.

"We had a student who solidified his interest in pursuing Medicine only after his A Level exams. He secured clinical attachments and volunteering activities during his NS time. We then coached him to consolidate these experiences into a powerful application," shares Ms Chia.

The student eventually received offers from Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at NUS and Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at NTU.

The second option is studying abroad. While school fees and living expenses factor significantly, ICON+ Education advises parents and students to go beyond simply finances. There are additional admissions tests to take, such as the SAT, ISAT and LNAT. School values, culture and curriculum can differ tremendously and mismanaging fit will impact one's return on investment.

Considerations in school selection include: Do you intend to work in Singapore post graduation? Are you open to dividing your time between two or more campuses? What does student life mean to you? If your course has a heavy practical component, what are your thoughts regarding online learning? What is the school's policy on campus safety?

Finally, if the A Level is inadequate to apply for their desired course at an undergraduate level, students can contemplate taking up a related course now and pursue their desired study at a graduate level. For example, those interested in becoming doctors can explore options such as Biology, Biomedical Science and Life Science.

"With strategic planning, students can still achieve their dream career, even if it takes a little longer," adds Ms Chan.

ICON+ Education will be organising a webinar on alternative university pathways to guide students on re-strategising their tertiary education plans.

To register for the event on 27 February 2022, please visit https://bit.ly/359thUa.

Media Contact

Chrystal Lee, ICON+ Pte Ltd, 65 91616677, [email protected]

SOURCE ICON+ Pte Ltd