Changing course during clearing - - should you email ahead?

[another20]

DD applied for French and holds offers that she will likely make. She has since decided she would like to do drama / film studies instead. She did drama, e lit and French a levels. Has excellent GCSEs, AS, A* for EPQ and has won many awards for drama. Should she email drama courses now ahead of clearing as her original PS will be focuesd on French ?

[GeorgeTheHippo]

Speak to the school

[LIZS]

Are the potential drama courses already in Clearing? Is it at the same uni as her offer? When she has her results she should call them but often drama requires auditions so she may need to react very quickly and be ready to travel.

[another20]

Do you mean her school - or the drama course / uni?

Yes courses are in clearing and uni she has chosen for French doesn’t do drama !

[SilverBuckles]

Don't email Departments. They will refer you to the central Clearing and Adjustment line. That's certainly the advice we've been given: DO NOT speak with applicants until after Thursday's results are public.

And we're actually pretty busy sorting out who's got what & what our position re our quotas (and budgets for teaching) are at.

Have a look at likely courses in Drama - the best ones will ask for the same or usually higher grades than for a modern language. They may also ask for an interview or other on the spot selection process, so be prepared to travel.

Then on Thursday see whether the departments you want to apply to do actually have places in Clearing.

Ring the central Clearing/Adjustment phone number for the University top of your list. It may be that you go through Adjustment, rather than cLearing, but the process is the same.

For a subject such as Drama - like most Creative Arts they like to see candidates (eg art portfolios for Visual/Fine Arrts) - you may be referred on to speak to an avcademic in the DEpartment. Be prepared for an interview. Show you've done your research about
a) the programme change - that you've thought about it
b) that you know what the Department teaches (hint: most University creative arts courses such as Drama or Fine Arts are not drama schools or Art schools)
c) be prepared to talk about your experience of studying drama at A level - don't gush about being a star, that's not what university creative/performing arts courses are generally interested in. They're standard arts degrees with research & essays as well as aspects of the creative area you are studying.

[another20]

Thanks - that’s great advice !

[titchy]

Don't forget if she does get the grades for her firm or insurance she'll need to get them to release her before she can formally accept any clearing offers for the new course.