With more than 7,000 candidates vying for places this year, interviewing every single one is a major undertaking. But despite the burgeoning number of applicants, SMU has kept this long-standing practice in place. SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer said: “Exam grades are a valid assessment measure, but they cannot be the sole measure of a student's ability, or the single predictor of success. At the end of the day, we want students who will fully participate and benefit from the education they will receive over the four years." Mr Alan Goh, who served as SMU’s Admissions Director from 2004 to 2011, said that the interview process had proven useful over the years. He added: "Employers tell us there is still the SMU difference – that our students are a distinct breed, outspoken, confident and willing to tackle the unfamiliar. The interview is the first step in building that confident, articulate young person." Professor Pang Yang Hoong, Vice Provost in charge of undergraduate education, said that the university has accepted some students despite borderline grades, after they left a good impression by the way they presented their views. Several of these students have gone on to achieve high grade-point averages while building impressive resumes of co-curricular activities, and even representing Singapore at sport. They include former national judoka Cheryl Goh and alumnus Gordon Yeo.
Source
The Straits Times
