Ryse Insights

Some students are teaming up to “save costs” by sharing one Oxbridge or Ivy League admissions plan but this strategy quietly backfires. When everyone follows the same roadmap, essays, courses and activities start to blur together. Admissions officers stop seeing individuality and start seeing clones. Universities don’t admit groups; they admit distinct voices. The smartest investment isn’t a group discount. It’s standing out as you.

Join our community talk, "Navigating University Admission: A Guide for Singapore-Based Students and Parents," featuring insights from a former faculty member who served on SUTD and SIT admissions committees. Learn key strategies for local and international admissions, and why starting early benefits younger students building their portfolios. Get practical tips and answers to your questions. Register now via OnePA.

Singapore may wish to ease its focus on grades, but the truth is global universities still demand them. For ambitious students, standardised exams like the A-Levels remain a crucial leveller as a way to match brighter peers and reach top institutions. The challenge is not to deny grades, but to expand success to include networks, presence, and purpose as launchpads for lasting careers.