What I did not know about DSA - Part 2 : DSA Interview Preparation

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(f) What are the preparation needed for DSA?
It is difficult to prepare for the test. However, it is critical to prepare for the Interview. As explained earlier, there are many GEP students applying for the same DSA, are well trained for the interview by their schools.  If your kid is not from GEP program, you may want to consider to seek help. That's the reason training for DSA interview is not something new, per this report from todayonline.

Let me list down two DSA interview trainings that I know:
(1)  Speak Venture -  I engaged Speak Venture for my son.  Gary and Sabrina teach very well.

(2) Jackeline Carter Centre for Public Speaking  - I know about them after engaging Speak Venture. They have a lot of good information on their website. They are generous to share. Check out those free advises.

(3) There are others that look credible from their website. However, many of them do not give much information on the web. So, hard to tell whether their program are effective.


(g) I don't want to spend that kind of money for DSA interview training, what should I do? 
There are a lot of information nowadays. Check the following out:
(1) J. Carter's blog
(2) DSA Interview Blog
 (or Google for sample questions if you like)

I would say, teach your kids to treat DSA interview like Job interview, He/She should sell himself/herself. Practice explaining why the school should select you. Prepare your credentials well. But one point to remember is that some DSA interviews are group interviews. Make sure the candidate pay attention when others are answering, and they should fight for the chance to answer.  Get few friends together, conduct your own trial interview. Record down the interview and show the students how they perform. This step is very critical. Make good use of your mobile phone camera because it will make a lot of different when the kid see their own expression/mistakes.

(h) Biggest Misconception about selection criteria
Each school may have different criteria looking for talents that they want. I know HCI more because I know at least 3 persons who managed to get into HCI through DSA.  What I can say is that they do not select students who have the best results. Interview plays an important role. One common point I see in all the 3 successful candidates is that all of them are good at  at least one thing other than studies. So, if you have one special skill, make sure you go and take part in competition and show good track record. Do not back off from applying to HCI (can't say so for RI) even if you do not have the best result. However, do consider whehter HCI is suitable for you.

(i) When should I start preparing for DSA?
I would say, the preparation should start from Primary 4. Why? You need time to join those competitions. DSA requires you to show results from P4-P6.  Also, you should start preparing for DSA during P5 by visiting all those schools that you are interested in.

Good luck to you!  Before you apply, please revisit point (d) in part 1.