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!!

@Wbeezer It will be interesting to see how the creative industry (and all industries) will change over the next few years with AI. But I do remember everyone saying that computers would be the death of accountants, a job one would have thought an obvious one that could be handled by technology, however that field still seems to be growing! At the moment much of AI 'art' is recognisable as such but the technology will only get loads better. Maybe animators will have to become experts at programming AI, though the images have to come from somewhere real first.
On my other concern, she now wonders if the guy at her interview said she'd hear by 'next' Friday...

Oh yes AI will definitely become an animation tool but it will push budgets down accordingly.
In other art sectors we can only hope that good old copyright lawyers succeed in getting it severely restricted.

So my daughter did get an offer for an Art Foundation place she interviewed at last week. Thing is they've given her two weeks to accept! There are only 30-35 on the course. Still waiting to hear from UAL.
If it gets near the deadline and still no word from UAL she will accept, but what if she does subsequently get one from UAL and decides to go there instead?
Really the only pull for UAL is it's reputation. It's a train and bus ride away, the facilities aren't great, quite a few negative reviews from friends' kids (albeit the CSM foundation course, not Camberwell) and the Foundation show we saw wasn't all that.
The other place has better facilities, is a tube ride away (and closer than the school she goes to now), it's the UAL accredited level 4 course also, but we didn't see the Foundation show last year.
And no one has heard of it. So, what do you think - are universities also swayed by UALs rep? Or is the rep not relevant for the Foundation year? Most of the Foundation year at this FE college went on to UAL degree courses at CSM, LCC or Camberwell, the others a mix of AUB, Falmouth etc. My daughter is not interested in staying in London for her degree.
Sadly today she also had the definite diagnosis of MS and will start treatment after her A levels (but did get an A* on her History coursework- rollercoaster day)!

@mondaytosunday so sorry to hear that, it must be a worry for you all.
I think your DD should go where she will be happiest. Personally know DC who have gone to their local college, Working Men's College and City and Guilds who have all got into really great places for their degrees. Remember it's the portfolio which is most important, not the reputation of the foundation institution.

@mondaytosunday What a day that must have been for you and DD! Fingers firmly crossed for the treatment. I agree with @Soma that it's the portfolio that's important, not the place. And a smaller course is normally better for getting feedback from tutors.

@mondaytosunday - so sorry to hear your news although hope the treatment is successful. Also congratulations to your daughter on her offer and history course work results. 🥳💪🏻⭐️

Also agree with the others that where you do your foundation really isn’t so important and it’s the portfolio which matters. The fact so many students from the course go onto UAL and other respected places is testament to that and suggestive that the tutors there are aware of what those courses are looking for in a portfolio.

Fingers crossed she hears back from UAL in the next couple of weeks. My DD is still waiting on UAL although for a BA(Hons) application 🤞🏻

My DD had an update to say Man Met had withdrawn her application because she’d not responded to email correspondence. She searched her inbox but nothing there. After a lot of manual hunting, she finally found their email (nothing in the subject or email address saying Manchester or Man Met or application hence it being missed and not turning up in an email search). It said they couldn’t access her portfolio (odd as we tested from lots of different computers in different places) but she had up until 20th to send them a new link.

First she knew was the UCAS update on 21st saying withdrawn! Cue a lot of frantic emails and calls with a new link to her portfolio. She was shortlisted for one of their competitions so has DM’d the person too who had been in touch with her previously about that so hopefully they’ll still consider her but it doesn’t give me hope for their organisation as the portfolio was definitely accessible. It’s my job to do web stuff and publish things like this and I checked it all for her. Their course student satisfaction is really quite low on course structure and organisation but my DD loved the vibe of the city and the college and obviously it has a good reputation and great work is being produced there.

Her second choice is Falmouth and she has a good connection with the staff there but she’d like to experience city living for a while. She’s discounted Nottingham for now because she prefers the course at Falmouth and Manchester as a city.

She’s also still waiting on UAL but think the cost of living and student experience is putting it out of the running despite the course looking really good.

@PerkyBlinder Oh goodness, that must have been quite a shock! I agree it doesn't suggest the greatest organisation... hope it all gets resolved.

Can't believe UAL is being so late in the process. Good luck, everyone!

@PerkyBlinder my DD had the same email from MMU re not being able access portfolio! We also found it odd as it was definitely accessible. DD has an offer from MMU for Product Design, but also applied for Craft and Design and has yet to hear for that either way.

@mondaytosunday I think you already know the answer re the possible FAD dilemma! What everyone's said about choosing the experience over the institution for Foundation chimes with all we've heard and gleaned from all the research we've done and people (students, teachers, industry professionals) we've talked to over the past year. Eh, UAL I am strongly convinced is a lot reputation over substance. As you know, daughter has a spot for UAL degree which will likely be her insurance, largely cos she feels she can't in all conscience pass it up entirely over the other possible 3 insurance offers at less prestigious schools. But she's not taking UAL as firm and even though like you, we haven't heard back from UAL for the foundation yet, she's already decided that's not for her. As you said, facilities were way sub par, foundation show was not all that, and the course has way too many people on it and not enough faculty. Add to all this your daughter's diagnosis and I think the proximity, ease, comfort and above all, support she'd get from the smaller cohort and college nearer home will be key. That way she'll have the chance to grow a really super portfolio ready to choose the right degree course. I feel like you'd get lost at UAL. In any case I am certain we'll hear from UAL in the next couple weeks (I predicted to my daughter before end of April but we'll see!)

@mondaytosunday - so sorry that your DD dealing with MS diagnosis. To deal with that during A levels and applications must be additionally hard. She is getting amazing results during what is such a hard time. She must be very self motivated and talented.

With that backdrop seems like a more local option with support to navigate the diagnosis, early treatment and transition from school/college might be a great option. As others have said, it seems to be the portfolio not the institution that's important. (Which I am taking on board in relation to DS). Although I know UAL do offer a degree place (although not necessarily on your first choice) if you do their FAD. DS and I also didn't warm to UAL (he looked at CSM). It didn't seem a b supportive or structured environment. Hoping he will get that doing UAL foundation at local college. As he will live a home we will be able to support him with the transition for a bit longer.

Well done to all those who have got offers and now reaching decisions. So many exciting destinations and choices.

DS interviewed with local FE college yesterday and they made a verbal offer for a place on their UAL level 4 foundation. He's waiting on the letter with the terms (because he felt embarrassed to ask them and he doesn't think they said!) . I feel relieved he now has something in place and judging by his mood coming out so is he! He was sooooo bad tempered on day before interview!

He's now working all hours finishing off work for art and textiles for exams in next 2 weeks.

Thanks all. She said last night that she is really leaning towards Morley. I think she wants to be offered a place at UAL just to say she had the choice, and to make up for the disappointment of not getting a place at Kingston.
I remember when my friend's daughter got her Foundation place at UAL (CSM) a couple years ago she was ecstatic, thinking the sun, moon and stars had all aligned and she was sorted for life - and then subsequently was so unimpressed once there that she totally changed direction and is now doing Psychology!
Well done to your son @Duchessofmuchness I know it's been tricky. My daughter's teacher has been no help at all and as I went to uni in the US (Parsons School of Design) and my older son didn't go to uni, it's been a steep learning curve. Despite her health issues my daughter is very focused and while bright still needs to work very hard to get good grades. I think she sees Foundation year as a bit of a break from the intensity of this past year. And as I've said before, a bit of growing up and maturing before leaving the nest is no bad thing!
She's attending a compulsory 'leaving school leaving home' talk tonight. All about how to handle alcohol, sex, pressure at freshers week, safety etc. Ugh.

@PerkyBlinder @DesignDD
Catching up on this thread and omg re MMU. I think they also ask for specific portfolio task too so it's not small amount of work for the students applying. With all other deadlines and pressure student under it is really poor of them to deal with it this way when your DC put in so much effort. I hope they are flexible in dealing with it and resolving.

Also surprised on number of DC still waiting on offers. The deadlines from the unis are months ago so it seems v unfair to run the decision process right up to the wire and up against the start of exams

@Duchessofmuchness well done to your DS.
@mondaytosunday I've heard really good things about Morley's foundation and their facilities are supposed to be excellent.

I know it's just an anecdote and I've probably mentioned it before, but DD's art teacher at school did his foundation at CSM and couldn't wait to get out, he said it was disorganised and overcrowded (about 20 years ago...) I wonder if things have changed much?

DD has now handed in her portfolios for Year 1 of the degree, a few days early, and has about 20 weeks of holiday! She grumbled about having to write a couple of essays, too, but apparently that's the price for calling it a BA (Hons) degree. She has had the most amazing time and is staying in Cambridge for another month until her lease runs out because she is totally in love with the city, can see her friends (who are also staying for a bit), and can use the print-room and studios for her own projects.

And congrats to @Duchessofmuchness DS!

DD has now firmed UAL Chelsea for Textiles BA and insured Winchester.

I have also heard that the Foundation at UAL CSM is very little support. So let's hope the BA at Chelsea is an improvement!

To be honest, she has been doing the UAL Extended Diploma Art and Design (Level 3) and that was very little support from what I can tell. So she's kind of used to it! Anyway, it's been a LOT of work but she's on course for a 'D' which in terms of UCAS points, is apparently equivalent to three A stars.

Looked at the accommodation and it's crazy - £400 to £500 per week! Insane. So she will be living at home. Luckily we live nearer to the college than most if the accommodation options anyway. Hope it's ok for the social side of things.

Best wishes to anyone still waiting.

Wow, that's... expensive, @milamo! Well done to your DD.

@milamo well done to your DD. Crazy expense for accommodation- fortunate she can live at home. Surely won't make too much difference in social life as long as ages near and able to join in. A friend did similar different uni and soon had friends who let her sleep in floor when big night out (if that's her thing)

This is such a lovely supportive thread!!

@DesignDD - that’s interesting that your DD got the same email and when there wasn’t really a problem. Thankfully the Instagram DM resulted in them sorting it out for her and she now has an offer from Man Met SODA for photography. Phew!

Well done to your son @Duchessofmuchness and hope his exams go well 🙂 Am so thankful my DD is doing a gap year and deferring entry because at least next year she can just sort out accommodation and not have to worry about anything else.

She’s so pleased she now has offers in from Manchester, Falmouth, Nottingham, and Leeds and just got UAL to hear from but think it’s those kinds of costs @milamo which puts her off UAL. We do have friends and family in London but it’s not the same experience or it means working too many hours than is ideal as a student. Your DD is so lucky you live so close and hope she has a great time and we’ll done on her offers 🥳

They’re all v much into the final stretch now - my daughter has just handed in her final piece of media coursework and has a few weeks before her photography exam and then another week I think before her English exam. Wishing everyone’s DC every success and may they not feel too stressed in the coming weeks and hope your daughter has a brilliant summer @PhotoDad

DD has, today, posted off her first "off the internet" commission to New York City! And also her postal ballot for the local elections.

I have loved being on this thread and following the ups and downs of such a lovely group; I wasn't really on MN when DD applied so I don't know if there was anything similar. As it's the time of year when Year 12s are starting to think about uni, I might possibly start a thread for "past, present, and future art/design students" as between us we have so many stories to share and advice to give, if anyone would like to join in. I'd love to read the next chapter for all of our DC, especially as nobody I know in person has taken this route.

DS is just over a week away from deadline for his final major foundation project and is seriously stressed!
I echo the idea that reputation is over done! Ds was v unimpressed with UAL when he visited before applying for Foundation and after reading some comments here I am glad he went with his gut and went to DMU. The facilities are second to none.
It's been a v intense year! He still has to finish his final piece, curate it, write a 1500 word critical appraisal and make a digital portfolio of all this project 'in case the UAL moderators can't come in person'. He is v annoyed about yet another digital portfolio after doing 5 earlier in the year.
Tbh it seems a bit like the UAL moderators haven't gone back to pre covid days... just adds more work onto the students...
Anyway we are off to the UWE offer holders day on Sat. He can't really afford the time but needs to make a final decision on degree and its his front runner.

My DC is in y12 and this thread has been so helpful.

Lotts that all sounds very intense. I hope the UWE trip goes well.

Photodad great plan for new thread. This one is nearly full and it would be great to have a new one.

That's great @PhotoDad - such validation of her work to have done a real life commission! Do start another thread - do threads fill up at 1000 posts?
@Lottsbiffandsmudge do keep us informed if it's UWE or wherever - we are booking open days now - UWE has come up again as a possibility - I think I said earlier I know an architect student there who is really enjoying himself! UCA in June, AUB July 1, though it's annoying that Falmouth has theirs in the middle of A levels, as many will be doing a Foundation year it's Y13s as much if not more than Y12s attending. Anyone done their one on one campus tours? Looks like our only option, though classes will be over for the summer so wonder what the atmosphere will be if it's largely empty. Otherwise next open day in September but as it's a two night stay tricky to fit in.
Daughter having slight wobble about Morley - thinking with only 30 students will anyone else be interested in animation so will she be working solo? Still waiting on UAL though - I was hoping as last working day of April they'd get offers out today!