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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

Anyone got dc applying for MT or Drama?

41 replies

TwuntingCrow · 05/02/2017 11:20

Just that - anyone have a child looking at drama and musical theatre degrees ?
Could do with a handhold - it's so horribly competitive ..

OP posts:

Original poster

TwuntingCrow · 10/02/2017 14:43

Ok
I'm gonna ask her why she chose U if W then - interesting - she has A*s across the board in her subjects and stellar references - her other picks were spot on .. she is well aware of the competitiveness - coming from a family of professional musicians and having several close friends of a successful name ...
Hmm .. food for thought ... I always thought she would be better to do drama and then MT alongside but perhaps she will reconsider that now ..
U of W doesn't sound like an option for sure then ...

Thanks all !!

OP posts:

corythatwas · 10/02/2017 14:59

It's really about what she is looking for: is it a career in performing (or rather, a decent chance of one: we all know how difficult it is in practice) or is it a chance to study something she enjoys while getting a degree that might help her to get an "ordinary" job?

Because if the former, then she should really be looking at accredited drama schools. If the latter, she should aim for the best university she can get into.

Dd has several friends who have gone down the university route thinking it would lead them to agents and performance jobs: they are now regretting it. Otoh several people she knows have done drama school foundation courses and have either got into the drama BA's or are getting paid work off the back of that.

What dd did was simply sit down and look at the alumni, both from the published information from the schools/universities and from any theatre programme she could get hold of: young people in the theatre today, where have they been trained?

I know very little about MT, but that is probably a sensible way to look at it. You need to be somewhere that not only teaches you the necessary skills but gets you in contact with the industry.

VirgilsStaff · 10/02/2017 15:08

You can also do a BA in Drama (not at a conservatoire), the best you can reach with your A levels, as cory suggests. When you're there do loads of student theatre, getting lots of experience way past school or amdram standard, and audition again, for a one year Masters (eg the MT masters at Central).

Or do a BA in Drama at the best university you can get into and have your mind and horizons broadened about what 'theatre' or working in the industry might mean. What I see are hundreds of young people with very limited notions of what a career in the industry might cover. Too much of the X Factor and starring in school plays. The theatre industry has a helluva lot more to it.

user1490903005 · 30/03/2017 20:53

My DD has just heard she has an offer for a Foundation course at East 15 (funded - yay) and is also on the reserve list for Guildford. Italia Conti didn't even come back with an audition date! And when she chased she was told to be patient!! No offers from the BA courses but she was only 17 while applying - so v v young.
Not sure I am ready for her to be away in September but I will cope!

rogueantimatter · 31/03/2017 14:54

Very well done to your DD user149 . How exciting. and nervewracking

user1490903005 · 31/03/2017 14:59

Too right Rogueantimatter - nerve-wracking for all of us - I have gone into organisation mode - looking at accommodation etc - I am just so glad she has something to do next year - and it is exactly what she wanted. I am not allowed to post on her Facebook account about it though. There are others on her course who didn't get a place and she doesn't want to be seen boasting...

user1457824083 · 05/04/2017 18:13

My Dd has just received a foundation offer at BSA, unfortunately no funding. Also her brother had a gap year as we couldn't pay for a foundation for him so even if we could stretch it would be really unfair to him if we treated her any differently. This was her last audition so a gap year awaits.
It is such a brutal process and I want to wrap her in cotton wool and tell a school to give her a place on their Ba....🤐 However I know it will all work out in the end, there are so many trying to get so few places and we are so proud of her for getting this far at 17. She can now concentrate on A levels, get a job for the year and really prepare for the next years auditions.

user1490903005 · 05/04/2017 18:25

It's a harsh process... the only funded foundation course is at East 15 - which is the one that DD has been offered. My Dd even worked out what skills she was going to learn on her gap year - she was so convinced that she wouldn't get a place. I wish your Dd luck for next year x

user1457824083 · 05/04/2017 19:07

Thank you User 14903005. This is our second time around - our son went through the same experience. It still doesn't get any easier. This time our glasses weren't quite so rose-tinted! 😃

Jessesbitch · 20/04/2017 08:37

Hi All,
DS has been waitlisted for two courses. Anybody have experience of this? One is his least favourite and one his most favourite. Still waiting to hear from one following recall.

He did a foundation course this year but didn't get in to the 3yr. But apparently thats normal?! As he met people on the 3yr who had done a foundation and they had to re apply again with a year out. That prospect is stressing me as surely he will fall out of practice in that year? He's going travelling in the summer so summer schools are out.

FlyAwayPeter · 20/04/2017 09:34

as surely he will fall out of practice in that year

He needs to be developing his own daily individual practice in voice, dance, and singing. He needs to learn to take care of his instrument - his voice & body.

cowgirlsareforever · 20/04/2017 09:43

LIPA is very good. I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned on here yet.

Boredwithmyname · 01/05/2017 07:57

Any insights on Italia Conti? Either the audition process or whether (if DD gets in) it's a good idea for a future acting career?

corythatwas · 01/05/2017 10:39

Dd did the audition for Italia Conti. Didn't think it was really her, but this is a very personal kind of thing.

A sensible way of thinking about career possibilities is check up recent alumni: what are they doing? is that the kind of thing you want to be doing?

Jessesbitch · 20/07/2017 15:53

Update: he was offered one course off the waiting list but turned it down as he really wants to go to the other one. He is going to reapply next year. He's going to do some short courses in the Autumn. Good luck to those who are starting foundation courses then.

corythatwas · 20/07/2017 23:37

Good luck to him!

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