Part 2: Continuation of 2023 uni (and other) applications for those pursuing art and creative routes

[Duchessofmuchness]

As requested transferring us all over hear for the continuation of the 2023 journey. Have so enjoyed the company and support of all on the first thread. Link to original thread copied below (I hope!)

2023 uni applications for those pursuing art and creative routes www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4626697-2023-uni-applications-for-those-pursuing-art-and-creative-routes

That's great @Okisenough! Busy December for your DC!
Here Cambridge interviews done and reaction was a bit nonplussed as they didn't challenge her answers as she anticipated and both shorter than expected and she's not sure that's a good thing. Didn't feel she was able to showcase her knowledge. Anyway what's done is done and loads of work to do before end of term!

That's great @Okisenough - when are the portfolios due?

@mondaytosunday great the interview done. When will she find out?

DS refusing to engage with me on UCAS and says he has it in hand with college but as he couldn't even tell me deadline I'm sceptical. I think he will sort out in a panic at last minute but hope college can accommodate references and reviewing his personal statement. His college do prefer later applications so they can put as much FAD work into portfolio as possible. I can't discuss with them as he is 18. I will have another attempt to discuss but his ADHD makes it very hard.

@Duchessofmuchness January 24th.
Be sure his college has time to do their bit - often the form gets sent back to the student for additional info. They will have given him a deadline but as we are hard up against Christmas break many will want it before then. It's the PS - that's the time consuming bit.

@Duchessofmuchness my DS submitted at deadline last year. I spent Xmas stressed out but his FAD course always delayed for the reasons you outline. They had robust time frames and systems. But having him home for Xmas with it not done was a worry. So I get where you are coming from

@Duchessofmuchnessmost give you four weeks to submit from the date requested but a few have a deadline in the second week of Jan. They all have different things they like to see in portfolios so can't just send a generic one to them all which is understandable but nevertheless annoying! Good luck to your ds with his application, am sure the college is on top of it and I can see the logic in late submission for FAD students.

@Okisenough
4 weeks isn't too bad. I wonder if will be shorter when DS applies end of Jan. He'll be pulling it together once he's asked for it 😳😱
@mondaytosunday - hope she can put to back of mind now.
@Lottsbiffandsmudge - thanks - it's hard not to stress as he's so uncommunicative and has form for misunderstanding deadlines and getting dates muddled up

@Duchessofmuchness I don't think it makes a difference if DS applies on the very last day or earlier, some universities give more time than others to submit portfolios. IIRC there was lots of discussion about this last year.

Lovely to read everyone’s updates here.

My dc has just completed first term of FAD at AUB. Seems to have really enjoyed it and is now focussing on animation after the diagnostic period. Planning to apply only to AUB via UCAS and to some US schools but needs significant scholarship otherwise too $$$.

First term done. DD and her washing mountain are home. Wonderful to have her back for a few weeks. She loves the course. She found it hard being away from home to start with but has settled in now. Very thankful that she is happy now after a difficult sixth form experience.

Dd also home with an absolute mountain of laundry! Not easy, 8 of them sharing a kitchen and never everyone pulling their weight. She and friend are looking at a 2-person flat for next year. She's liking the course but workload quite heavy - I said that will get her ready for the world of work!

Glad to read of safe returns! DD travels home on the train so no mountains of laundry... she's renewed her Year 2 accommodation contract for Year 3, as she is happy with it (individual room in an HMO). The workload is something which shocks people outside the world of art school (including me, a couple of years ago). Hope all have a lovely Christmas with your DC!

We landed in New England last night in the middle of a storm - not snow 😒 but rain. Looks like a green Christmas much to our collective disappointment!
My daughter was still finishing her last project late Friday night. There were a couple individual power points plus a group one - luckily she is friendly with her group and they all pull their weight! But agree @PhotoDad most people outside art think it's just a bit of drawing and messing about with paint! It's so much more than that and the work does pile on.
As for laundry - she's too frugal to have many clothes (she hasn't grown since she was 12 and still has quite a bit from then)! Though can't say she's done much laundry herself while she's at home with her slave - opps I mean mum. My son however could stock a clothes shop with his stuff, but is very fussy so has been doing his own laundry and ironing since he was 14!
Happy Christmas everyone! Or now I'm in US - Seasons Greetings! (My daughter does plan on extending her wardrobe while here she's just announced)!

@Philandbill @Acinonyx2 Glad to hear your dds are safely home for Christmas.
@PhotoDad Glad to hear her third-year accommodation has been sorted out. One less thing to deal with.

@mondaytosunday Glad to hear you arrived safely and hope you have a lovely time. Enjoy extending DD's wardrobe!

Totally agree about the workload in art. So many people think creative subjects are much easier than academic subjects but it is not the case. Unlike many of her peers, DD's University choices want to see portfolios and discuss them in an interview. Some portfolios have specific requirements, things which aren't done in A-level art so that's extra work she has to create! So she will be busy over the holidays but on the plus side, she does like doing this stuff.

Anyway, wishing you and your dc a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year.

Just thought I'd chip in with an update. DD home from NTU (textile design). Has had a blast and is really happy despite a serious health scare a month ago (she's recovering slowly). NTU have been excellent with all the ADHD/autism support from the get go. Which has really helped in the last few weeks. Lots of volume of work but staying on top of it and gets on well with her flat. Rental for 2nd year sorted now too so that's a relief and it's just a small flat for 3 of them.
Merry Christmas all xx

That's so lovely to hear. Hope your DD has a restful and lovely Christmas to recuperate some more.

Can I ask what kind of autism support NTU offers your dd?

@Okisenough I've asked DD and she gets
1h / week autism support with a mentor who she has a great relationship with and 1h / week study skills/learning support with a different mentor.
Her autism support mentor acts as conduit between her and all her tutors whenever she needs her. She's been really helpful recently due to her ill health which has been a huge relief.

For those interested in animation , interesting programme on Radio 4 last night about stop motion animation.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001tr6g?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

Saw this and thought of this thread...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cljx6r70x6lo

Oh. My. God. There would have been Armageddon in our house if that had happened! I think my DD still wouldn't be speaking to me even if she got into the Uni she wanted 🤪

Same here 😱

DD has become rather nocturnal over the holidays - hope she is getting some work done and will be able to get up before noon when she goes back....

Thanks Photodad, such an interesting story. Made me wonder if her portfolio had been used by someone else to get a place at university.

Just a quick update - portfolios were submitted by DD over xmas and now we have three interviews, one offer and waiting for one more response. I think it is such a different experience for those choosing creative degrees. Most of my friends' kids just send off UCAS and then get offers, no interviews or any other requirements. Yet so many of them think creative degrees are somehow easy, just like creative A-levels, big sigh!

Congratulations to @Okisenough DD! I know that we all know about the workload, but art school really is all-consuming.

Checking in - how's it going post holidays? We had a great time in the US with family (no snow disappointingly).
DD was back in class on the 4th. They've been doing plaster casts of each other last couple weeks, though when doing a boy's chest he literally turned green and got sick, so one of the girls is going to forsake her modesty for art and have hers done (with bra on). Their theme this term is 'dust' so DD trying to think of an animation to go with that. Most of them are getting their portfolios together for UCAS applications.
She's off on the 5th to Lisbon, they had to upload a portfolio just before they broke up for Christmas but still no word about where they will each be working , and she has the impression they will all be living together and as there's 15 of them than can only mean a hostel of some sort. Very short on details I have to say but a meeting this coming week for us parents. Exciting! And of course we find out about Cambridge on Wednesday 😬. She's 100% convinced it will be a 'no thank you' but there's a glimmer of hope always!

Good luck for Wednesday @mondaytosunday ! Lisbon sounds exciting.

DS working on a garment inspired by a gallery trip a few weeks ago. Has involved a lot of work on the materials itself and now making it up. It's taken longer than he expected I think and he's a perfectionist. He tells me ucas application is in hand but gets cross if I ask about it. I have told him multiple times that it's a hard deadline so I hope he's listened. Next few weeks will be instense if he gets asked for his portfolio. Good luck to everyone who is applying this year!