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Higher education

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Original poster

Which offer should DD accept?

16 replies

MissisBoote · 01/03/2023 08:18

DD has applied to study contemporary dance through UCAS and directly to various conservatoires.

She's got some brilliant uni offers and has also been successful at audition at two conservatoires.

One conservatoire has offered her a degree plus foundation whilst the other has offered the foundation course only. The one that's offered the foundation course only is DD's preferred institution.

She's completely stuck on which course to choose out of the conservatoires. My concern about her choosing the foundation course only, is what if she's unsuccessful gaining a degree place at a conservatoire, whereas the degree with foundation is a much safer bet and she could always reaudition for her preferred institution next year whilst she's on the foundation course at the first place.

Or of course there's the uni offers?

What would you recommend?

OP posts:
Lambchop1 · 01/03/2023 08:20

Pick the one with the double offer. Since Covid degree places can be hard to get on popular courses. My dd was accepted at two excellent universities, but had to choose as one course was different due to the Covid back log. She picked the course she wanted and is doing great.

Cliff1975 · 01/03/2023 11:09

Pick the one offering the degree as if she goes for just the foundation there is no guarantee she will get on the degree course.

soleilblue · 01/03/2023 11:10

The double offer. And she should be very proud of herself!

PutinTheFuckingBasket · 01/03/2023 11:12

Which are the two conservatoires?

mondaytosunday · 01/03/2023 12:32

How many go on to a degree at the same place if they successfully pass the foundation at the conservatory that has only offered it? I'd be looking at those stats before making a decision.

Comefromaway · 01/03/2023 12:33

Which are the two conservatoires? And is the foundation course funded? What are the graduate outcomes/destinations like? Do they get a professional/agent showcase?

Original poster
MissisBoote · 01/03/2023 14:40

Thanks everyone. The offers are from Trinity Laban and Northern Contemporary School of Dance. Two very different organisations. Trinity Laban is bigger due to the music and musical theatre courses. (although obviously still v small compared to uni's). She loves the small feeling of Northern though.

Both are funded. Both have excellent graduate outcomes. Contemporary dancers tend to have a portfolio career which both institutions support with during the degree.

@mondaytosunday yes, that's on my list of questions. They say that in the 2022 cohort, 82% went onto further dance training either at a conservatoire or university but don't specify how many go onto to their own establishment. Three of the students helping out on audition day had been on the certificate and gone into the degree at the same place.

Obviously cost of living is a huge factor comparing Leeds and London.

Thanks @soleilblue she's a little bit disappointed that she didn't get offered the degree but knows it's a great way to develop her skills and we're obviously thrilled for her given how competitive it is.

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Comefromaway · 01/03/2023 14:57

Is it Northern where she has been offered Foundation only? I'd say that they are the more prestigious of the two places.

I've got one child in Leeds and one in London oddly enough (one music and one MT).

PutinTheFuckingBasket · 01/03/2023 15:13

They're both excellent, so it's a really hard call. I'd probably say Laban as you do have the degree and foundation, but then you do have to factor in cost of London. As you say, she could re-audition for Northern when she's in foundation year, but it's just so competitive and you could get in one year and not another, so having the back up of the degree would be a good security.

Congratulations to your daughter on those offers though, really impressive!

Original poster
MissisBoote · 01/03/2023 15:18

Yes it's Northern which is foundation only

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Original poster
MissisBoote · 01/03/2023 15:22

PutinTheFuckingBasket · 01/03/2023 15:13

They're both excellent, so it's a really hard call. I'd probably say Laban as you do have the degree and foundation, but then you do have to factor in cost of London. As you say, she could re-audition for Northern when she's in foundation year, but it's just so competitive and you could get in one year and not another, so having the back up of the degree would be a good security.

Congratulations to your daughter on those offers though, really impressive!

Thank you - yes I'm so pleased for her. It's a very nice position to be in. She's also got an audition coming up for The Place too. They don't offer a foundation course though.

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Comefromaway · 01/03/2023 15:34

I really don't know what I would advise in her situation. She has done really well.

Original poster
MissisBoote · 01/03/2023 15:55

Comefromaway · 01/03/2023 15:34

I really don't know what I would advise in her situation. She has done really well.

Thank you - she's only been doing proper contemporary dance for 18 months so it's a massive achievement and I think the foundation course will give her a really solid basis and build her confidence as she moves onto the degree.

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Kittlbua · 01/03/2023 19:52

I think she should take the one with the foundation and degree course offer. There's no guarantee that she would get a place on the degree course after the foundation year at Northern.

poetryandwine · 02/03/2023 22:04

If DD prefers Northern, she needs to know the progression rate from Foundation Year to the degree programme in order to assess her chances of making this leap. Only then can she make an informed decision between the two offers.

Northern assuredly holds this information. (I am a former university admissions tutor.). If they are reluctant to share it, that is an answer in itself.

I also like the idea of re-auditioning for the degree course at Northern from Trinity Laban pragmatically, but I think this strategy could prevent her from feeling settled at Laban unless she learns she has in some sense failed twice at Northern. Seems rather stressful.

Original poster
MissisBoote · 02/03/2023 23:05

poetryandwine · 02/03/2023 22:04

If DD prefers Northern, she needs to know the progression rate from Foundation Year to the degree programme in order to assess her chances of making this leap. Only then can she make an informed decision between the two offers.

Northern assuredly holds this information. (I am a former university admissions tutor.). If they are reluctant to share it, that is an answer in itself.

I also like the idea of re-auditioning for the degree course at Northern from Trinity Laban pragmatically, but I think this strategy could prevent her from feeling settled at Laban unless she learns she has in some sense failed twice at Northern. Seems rather stressful.

Thank you - yes, we've emailed them today to find this information out.

If she chooses Laban she may well get there and decide that she's not worried about auditioning again anyway.

Laban does have other positives such as halls of residence - Northern slots students into house shares to replace students who have left the previous year. It's also closer to home so might work better for her as her first year of not living at home.

We've got a few weeks to make a decision so will mull it all over.

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