2023 uni applications for those pursuing art and creative routes

[Duchessofmuchness]

The other thread discussing Uni applications for RG and academic routes isn't so relevant for DS. He's considering Art Foundation year or direct entry to uni for fashion design.

Anyone care to join a thread on similar creative paths. (Not just fashion!)

He's looking at art foundation at Kingston, Central St Martin's, UCA,

For Fashion BA looking at Central St Martins, London College of Fashion, Manchester Met, Nottingham Trent, Liverpool John Moores, Leeds Beckett.

Most seem to accept without art foundation but he would need one to Central St Martin's so if he wants to try for that will need foundation.

Lots of open days coming up and hopefully school will give him some more advice next week. No start on his PS yet!!

Can anyone link guidelines for illustration NUA? I keep getting an error message

@FactyFrances a friends daughter did her foundation there recently. She is doing fashion at CSM now. She really enjoyed it, the only negative (other than fees) was that she was one of the few living in student housing - most others in her year were living at home.
The course itself is more traditional. For example my daughter wants to do animation and I don't think they have the facilities for that as they don't offer it as a degree course (I may be wrong in this assumption, but that reasoning seems logical to me).
My understanding is City and Guilds also charges fees for Foundation, unlike other places where it is free if under 19. My friend paid fees.
But the course is very good and as I said, got my friend's daughter on to a competitive degree course.

@OneFrenchEgg are you still getting an error, I could ask my daughter

Yes, in the email dc forwarded there's a link which just comes up with an error. I've found the illustration section and the portfolio video and forwarded them (dc is infuriatingly laid back about any form of prep!) but assume the link would have guide on number of pieces. They've said it's a 'development' portfolio, assume your dd had the same - show the journey not just the finished pieces.
Honestly I try to be hands off but it's hard not to meddle when you know they must have deadlines etc!

DS just got an unconditional offer from UWE for Fine art. So pleased for him!

Fantastic news, @Lottsbiffandsmudge!

Brilliant news @Lottsbiffandsmudge .
DD had the portfolio request from Brighton today, with 2 weeks deadline, so she's heard from them all now, but not sent anything yet. Digital portfolio is nearly ready, but will need tweaking for Brighton as they are a bit more specific than the others.

DS also got his Brighton email today but hasn't opened it yet as he is playing hockey!!!
Hoping he can tweak one of the 3 other portfolios!!

DS got his Edinburgh application in but won't here until the end of April. We've both decided to try and forget he even applied to cope with the wait.

Lovely to see applications gone on and portfolios coming together along with offers. DS focused on his art and textiles A Level work - some gaps to fill and annotations to do on sketchbooks for first section and they now have the exam pieces to work on, He's working hard and it's a relief to no longer be chasing him on applications and portfolios. He is much much happier so I know it's right decision.

Will see in a few weeks about local FE college.

My daughter submitted her UAL application and is formatting her portfolio- she thinks it will be better than the one for Kingston as it isn't so prescriptive. So her 10 observational she needed for Kingston has lost the two weaker ones and she's been able to add a couple others that didn't follow the Kingston requirements but boost some other pieces. Anyway, I recall on the open day being told they would have ten days after submitting their application to get their portfolio in, which would be requested through the UAL portal with link to pebblepad, but she keeps checking and no request yet and it's been five days! Is she missing something?
I note that they hope to let everyone know results in May! Kingston seems to suggest they review portfolios until end of March so one would assume that's when they accept/reject applicants. Is this people's experience? With all her non art friends having had their offers she feels a bit at sea.

@mondaytosunday my daughter isn’t applying for foundation but the request for portfolio for UAL came about a week after submitting her application so hopefully your daughter will get her request in the next couple of days.

My dd still hasn’t heard anything from them though since she sent off her portfolio - I imagine they will wait until all applications are in before deciding.

Her UAL application was a bit of a last minute decision as she had originally decided against London completely but was looking for a fifth choice for her UCAS application and their new commercial photography BA looks such a good course that she thought she’d apply anyway but her portfolio isn’t hugely commercial at the moment and they said they expect to see some interest in commercial photography in the portfolio so she’s not at all hopeful about getting an offer but we’ll see. Hope your DD hears soon and is also fully recovered now from her illness last month.

My dd had an interview today in London for press and editorial photography at Falmouth and that went really well and the course leader said she’d be a very good fit for their course. They seem so thorough and thoughtful in the application process which is very encouraging.

Thank you @PerkyBlinder. Good news about Falmouth! I was just discussing with my daughter when we might make it down there for an open day.

Daughter finally got the notification about her UAL portfolio but is slightly confused as they mention an interview when on the website it clearly states no interviews for foundation?
The portfolio is not due til March (despite at the Open Day the woman saying it would be ten days from application). It's ready now so she'll send it off in the next day or so - will be relieved when she does but need to get moving on her back up of Morley College just in case she doesn't get in to either!
Mocks starting tomorrow- two six hour art exams to start! Doesn't help that she was at A&E a few days ago as we thought she had broken a finger of her right hand playing netball. Since then she shut a door on her right thumb 🙄. Better news is my son has moved from cast to splint and is back at work and moving to a little cottage overlooking the sea in ten days (yes I will be his mover). Hope this will be a bit of a fresh start for him.

Two conditional offers and waiting on one - they only applied to three, so luckily they have some choice from the ones they liked!

Good news @OneFrenchEgg! Unfortunately a no from Kingston for foundation for my daughter 😢.

Sorry to hear that @mondaytosunday. KSA so incredibly competitive to get into so hope you DD not too disappointed. Good luck and fingers crossed for UAL!

Sorry to hear that @mondaytosunday

Sorry to hear it, @mondaytosunday.

That’s good news @OneFrenchEgg - where are you waiting to hear from now?

And so sorry for your daughter’s news from Kingston @mondaytosunday and hope she’s not too disappointed.

DD has offers from Herts, UCA, Leeds Arts and De Montford (she withdrew her application from Falmouth - just too far). She's planning to keep Herts as first choice (least beautiful place but best course) and UCA second (very lovely place but seems less industry-connected, more parochial). Leeds Arts was good but dd doesn't like cities.

I've become accustomed to having to explain, as succinctly as possible, what she's doing and where she is applying to - places no-one else ever seems to have heard of. It's sometimes as though all the other kids are planning to go to a different planet.

Thank you, waiting on NUA, conditional offers from AUB and Farnham.
Hope your dd is not too disappointed @mondaytosunday

@mondaytosunday so sorry to hear about your DD. Hope she's not too disappointed - she didn't need that news in the middle of her mocks did she?? and that UAL come back with something positive soon! Its horrible when they get a knock back - you feel it for them. DS was rejected by Edinburgh a few years ago and was gutted for days.....
DD now has her unconditional for NTU so we can breathe a sigh of relief especially as she's having some health issues so the pressure is off for now. I hear you though @Acinonyx2 - the amount of times I had to explain the course and where it was etc. Everyone round here is hell bent on RG Unis and can't get their heads round alternative choices 🙄

Thanks everyone. She's crushed. She knew the odds but to have them basically say you aren't good enough is bruising. Now she has to tell her teacher who was not encouraging (and not helpful - he only looked at her portfolio the day of the application deadline). We are going to the open day at Morley College Chelsea (art college) which incorporated Kensington and Chelsea College - which I think used to have a decent rep - as a back up to UAL. Anyone know anything about? I know Maggie Hambling is a tutor there (must be very part time).

@mondaytosunday - it is bruising and it a very harsh process - putting together a portfolio under significant time pressure with no opportunity to meet. I think they have a very specific ideal candidate in mind and with 1700 portfolios to look at they probably can get to it quite easily. The number of talented students they reject in that assessment is mind blowing.

That doesn't make it any easier for you DD. Still Cushing and bruising. Really hope UAL comes good.

Sorry don't know Morley college - it looks like great option if local to you. If was local to us, would be looking at it.