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

Well done to your daughter @PerkyBlinder! Still. No. Word. From. UAL!
A level Art done, which involved one all nighter to finish her sketchbook, her mock painting and some prep work for the A level piece. They were told they get their marks next week! Not final grade as moderator has to come viste but she said they will be able to tell what grade, though not if they get a star too. She is relieved and studied most of the day for History. Leavers dinner next week then study leave. MS appointment after exams to start treatment and we go to a couple open days (UCA Farnham and AUB) and Falmouth campus tour as can't make open day. I want her to get a part time job too but wonder if that's realistic, especially if she has side effects. Are your kids working or enjoying a break?

@mondaytosunday Hope she gets great marks next week and that the moderator confirms :) Also hope the open days and MS treatment go well too!

My eldest is back from her year abroad studying in California in a few weeks and they both work through the summer - we’re rural but they work at a variety of jobs from a local children’s farm adventure park, a really nice cafe (both girls love good food and coffee), they also sign up for a hospitality agency and work at various events over the summer. My youngest has also been asked to help out with some social media for the cafe she works at. It’s hectic but the extra money really helps (I’m a single mum and support them by myself so I do just basic support to top up the student loan but I can’t do much more than that).

I imagine for your daughter though that prioritising her health and keeping her immune system as boosted as possible with proper rest and sleep will be the most important thing and it will depend how her treatment affects her. But then also having another focus and the social interactions can help take their minds off worries.

Hope the treatment goes well!

So, now May 12 and guess what? STILL no word one way or the other from UAL. She did get another 'while you are waiting' email from them saying how great their courses are (which will be rubbing salt in the wound if ultimately rejected). She is pretty settled on Morley but an offer from UAL would be nice for her confidence and to say to people she had a choice.
Leaver's dinner last night, Leaver's Service today, then she is done (other than those pesky exams)!
Interesting the school will publish their exam results on the school portal - they are not expected to go in, though there will be teachers on hand to help should they not get what they need. My daughter feels a bit cheated - she imagined everyone going in and opening up envelopes together! Is this how it's done post covid?

Also still waiting for Camberwell here! Has another offer so it's not a disaster but really...

@SpacehopperFace there's a girl in her class who still hasn't heard from CSM for Foundation either, though I know some did at least a week or so ago?

@singingirl the other thread is full, but someone here might be able to answer your question regarding foundation courses. There is also a really useful thread of The Student Room.

@mondaytosunday yes some heard from CSM last week or so ago (interestingly not same day even then...my daughter, who'd already decided to go elsewhere, got her offer two days before her friend who definitely wanted CSM & was anxiously waiting) while another person I know whose daughter really wants it is still waiting. I'd also say though that no news can be good news: my daughter got her rejection from Kingston for foundation really super fast, back in February. Literally last week - in May - one of her friends got an offer for the same course, they applied at the same time! So whatever happens I think you should take comfort in knowing she's got to be in the final "rounds" - if it had been a no all along I think you'd have heard by now.

@singingirl saw your post on the old thread. These are the FADs I know are regarded here in the south (along with B'mouth as mentioned):
Brighton

Winchester
UCA Farnham
All relatively near you? But bear in mind a lot are starting to charge tuition fees from next year to under 19s too, actually I think Farnham start this year:(
Or train into London for CSM, Kingston, Ravensbourne!

Foundations are also offered by FE colleges who won't charge fees. The whole process of applying for a foundation involves a lot of hours on the Internet searching. And then many more visiting places!!!! I never found a website that summed it up! Maybe that's an opportunity for someone with time!!!
Maybe look at local fe colleges to you as well?
This time of year many will be having their Foundation shows which gives a good chance to see the sort of work being undertaken and to some extent its quality. I'd argue though that a FAD is about learning the proces of developing art work as opposed to the final outcome. Marking is based on the process as much as the outcome. For fine art it's invaluable. My DS has grown massively in confidence, now has a structure around producing, documenting, writing about and researching for his art and has also learnt many new processes and software packages.
If she does want to move we can recommend Leicester De Montfort. It's a great course. Lots of contact time. Amazing facilities and one of the cheapest places ro live. (£115 a week rent- my DSs are going to Bristol and Birmingham next year and the rent is eye watering).
Their show starts next Sat (10-2) or all days following week.

@mondaytosunday I just asked on the other thread if you’d heard from UAL yet but it looks like you haven’t! 😮 And others still waiting too. Seems crazy they can’t have decided by now. Hopefully next week will bring news.🤞🏻

We went to the MMU SODA offer holder day today and think it’s definitely helped make my DDs mind up.

We saw their Co-Lab exhibition which had some really interesting and cool work. Also she found the taster session really good as saw the space she’d be working in which was in the main School of Art building rather than the SODA building and really open and light with lots of interesting arty work going on all around her. The two buildings are right next door to each other so seems like she’d get the best of both being split across the two.

Sounds really positive @PerkyBlinder! It is so important to visit - I'm amazed at how many apply and then accept places where they've never been (I know distance is a barrier but I think it's crucial so we are gearing up for a two night stay in Falmouth this summer).
And seeing the work being produced! That was particularly Interesting about Ravensbourne. The fashion they had on show was terrific and I had no idea they even did fashion. So much better than what we saw at UAL, which was more conceptual rather than wearable (and not particularly original concepts either). Not sure how that plays out when trying to actually get a job.
And the vibe - UAL the students were mainly in the 'wacky artist with piercings, colourful hair and charity shop outfits' camp. Ravensbourne they looked like regular uni students, and my daughter is definitely in that sartorial set! Anyway she's not interested in Ravensbourne (they do 3D not 2D), but just as an example. Hope your daughter is happy at MMU!

The vibe is so important, the city as well as the art-school. DD is middle-ground for art-school style; charity-shop retro clothes, but natural hair and no piercings or tattoos (AFAIK). Can't believe that some of you are still waiting to hear, that's just awful.

DD had a rocky end of term (fell out with some friends) but has bounced back very quickly (luckily she's not sharing with them next year) and has an interview next week for a summer job at her uni (but working from home). They want illustrators and graphic designers to help with a website overhaul and advertised it to current students! It would be a perfect summer project (8 weeks paid, not just the infamous "exposure") so fingers crossed for her. Even being shortlisted is a nice thing.

@mondaytosunday yes vibe is important. DD would love to be in the blue hair and piercings camp, but disappointingly is allergic to hair dyes, so she just has a nose piercing ( and 2 in each ear), and lots of eyeliner. She does love charity shop clothes though. She was a bit disappointed not to get a Brighton offer, but liked Falmouth when we visited. There are lots of lovely independent shops and cafes, and it had quite an "alternative" vibe.

@SpacehopperFace @mondaytosunday Others in my DC's A-level class have had Foundation offers from Camberwell but we haven't heard anything. I wonder if they do it in the order that applications were received?

@FactyFrances could be, I guess. Can’t remember when dc applied but it was around February time. Does anyone know if there is a latest point by which all offers/rejections have to be done?

@SpacehopperFace @FactyFrances My daughter submitted hers mid February. On the website it says they will endeavour to get offers out by May 31, which has got to be one of the latest!

Thanks @mondaytosunday, I guess just 2 more weeks to wait then. TBH it's not a great journey to Camberwell although slightly better if they did move to Shepherds Bush, so not really counting on it anyway.

I don't think they are moving, but I forgot to call them. Camberwell would be a pain for dd too - tube and then bus. Morley is closer than her current school, so still tube and a 10 min walk but not as far.

Dc received an offer for Foundation from Camberwell today so now we actually need to make a decision! I know we are very lucky to be in that position. Hope others have had good news too.

Nothing from Camberwell yet!

Yay for the Camberwell offer! Hope you hear soon mondaytosunday
Driving back from the private view at DS's foundation show. Amazing work all round. Happy to say DS won a £400 prize for outstanding performance and working hard to discover talents and passions.
The little speech they gave about him learning to move away from his meticulousness and need for structure to trusting in the process and his own ability and having confidence in his work sums up his entire foundation experience.
I can't recommend a foundation highly enough and DMUs has been excellent.

Amazing news all round!

@SpacehopperFace congrats on UAL! Just to say with FAD no reason not to accept while figuring it out/ keeping options open. Mine has accepted her CSM foundation offer despite intending to go straight into a degree, results allowing, because you never know...

Daughter finished Fashion design A level today! Fine art will be complete end of Tuesday. In the meantime she had her physical Geog paper this past Wed and it was so hard, curveball Qs and she came out very dejected. She's enjoyed Geog A level overall but says she's relieved this will be the end of it! (Human paper on 6th June, then that's her all done). Thank god cos after months of continuous stress since the end of last year she's exhausted (& so am I!)

Meanwhile she's had 3 back to back Fashion timed exam sessions over the last 2 days and when I asked if she was getting sick of it she said no! She was really enjoying it, loved the chance to see a project through from start to finish entirely under her own steam, and was proud of her final finished piece. (She's made a detailed jacket in 12 hours on the given theme of "insects"...she just showed me pics and it's really cool). I was thrilled because it means she's chosen her degree well then!

While she's enjoyed making her final art piece, she says sadly doing art A level has somewhat spoiled art for her :( She hopes she can start just enjoying making art for its own sake again from now on. But she's really excited about doing a Fashion degree so that's great. Now she just has to get her AAB for Kingston!

@luluposs yes i heard that the Geography paper was a nightmare! A friend of my daughter's cried - she said she just didn't understand the questions (and is predicted an A).
Agree about the Art A level - so prescriptive my daughter wants to get back to doing art she enjoys not just to tick some box.
Psychology paper one today, History and second Psychology next week. Revising about six hours a day. Can't wait for it to be over!