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

@outyoctober - how stressful! I've never heard of that happening before. Although if she likes GSA it's great to have 2 unconditional offers to pick between.

Making the final choice is hard enough without throwing that into mix!

We'd stopped researching Glasgow when she was rejected so have no idea of accommodation as we never got that far. She hasn't had an Offer's Holder Day either so we'll have to look at visiting all over again. I wonder if the late offer means that she has missed out on halls accommodation now?

Anyone know anything about Leeds Arts Uni? DD went to an offer-holder day last weekend and liked it (or does she just like the idea of Leeds because so many of her school-friends are hoping to get to UoL?).

I feel a bit concerned that it's so tiny (c.2000 students,, vast majority female) both from a social perspective and also from a financial one (vulnerability to future cuts).

Thoughts? Alternative offers are UAL, Falmouth and Brighton, all for BA Illustration. We're getting nowhere with decision making and deadlines are looming. I am worried about affordability of accom in London and Brighton so in that respect Leeds is attractive, but I don't know if it's highly respected for her subject.

My DD is doing Foundation at Leeds. She hasn't had the best year, mainly due to issues with her particular tutor being somewhat flaky and not giving students the support they should have with feedback, uni applications, portfolios etc. She didn't want to do her degree there- largely because it's too close to home, secondly because she wants to be at a University with more students on courses other than Art for the social aspect.

I can't give any real feedback on the degree courses as no experience there and it's in a different building to the Foundations course so DD hasn't really had much interaction with students on the BA courses. I get the feeling there are much better options out there. University of Leeds has a really good reputation if she likes Leeds.

Leeds itself is a really vibrant smallish city with lots going on and has a great vibe in terms of nightlife, dining out and music.

Thanks @FancyFanny - that is very helpful and as I feared.

Leeds (Uni of) doesn't teach Illustration. There is an Art and Design degree but it seems very full of theory and not very creative, nor specialist.

I think Falmouth has a good rep for Illustration but it's hard to find out as the uni league tables are weighted towards research-heavy traditional establishments and don't score for creativity, nor of course for individual courses. @PhotoDad do you know? Wish I'd done a bit more research before the UCAS went in really.

Dd didn't warm to LeedsArt uni as there wasn't enough theory! There is at the Uni of Leeds and she enjoyed the city and vibe on the Offer Holder's Day. But GSA has now returned an unconditional offer so it's all up in the air. Anyone know GSA at all (Fine Art - Painting & Printmaking)?

@Fi269 Falmouth has a great reputation for illustration, definitely top 5 or top 10 depending on who you ask. The downside is that it has large cohorts, so low contact time with tutors. The remote location could be a plus or a minus!

Thank you @PhotoDad . So hard to know what to do. Falmouth is a cute little place but it's a very long way from most places and the uni accommodation looks a bit hit and miss 🤯

@outyoctober well done to your dd! But, what a whirlwind. My dd is younger, but we have visited GSA on their recent Open Day, which was well organised. Dd wasn’t impressed after the visit to be honest (but she is young and still trying to figure out what art is!). The studio space seemed ok, most are set up for two to share, but the view is over the M8 motorway (visited Edinburgh College of Art too, where the studio spaces have a fab view of the castle!) A little thing, I know.

We didn’t think the standard of work we saw that day would blow you away, but a week ago we went to the RSA New Contemporaries Exhibition in Edinburgh. You might still be able to find this online. It’s an exhibition of some of the best work from recent graduates from all the main Scottish Arts Schools and GSA had loads, with a super overall standard. It has such a top reputation, that I’ll encourage dd to visit again next year, but she didn’t initially have a good impression. There are no life drawing classes as part of the curriculum (for most that’s fine). There just seems to be a huge focus on Concept and Ideas and dd is still getting her head round this.

Dd is painting ‘traditionally’ with oils at the moment and just about to sit her GCSE art on Monday and Tuesday. This is one of her pieces, which recently won an award. It’s called ‘Warrior without Armour’. We are really hoping to find an art school where she’ll be happy!

@outyoctober What a surprising turn of events! Good luck navigating that.

@FriendlyLaundryMonster That's a really lovely piece. Definitely keep looking for somewhere that values and teaches traditional skills. When doing research, I and DD were a little surprised at how few places have life classes.

Thanks @PhotoDad We are finding it tricky to find exactly that!

Thanks @FriendlyLaundryMonster, this is really useful information. When you say that there are no life drawing classes, just concept art, are you referring to GSA?

That drawing is fantastic, btw!

@outyoctober Yes, the post is about GSA. However, you need to look thoroughly in to the curriculum. They do facilitate some life classes, but they aren’t part of the curriculum. The head of fine art seemed to be all about ideas and very much gearing artworks up to be sellable and dd just isn’t in that sort of headspace yet. She told us not to even look at studying in Florence or Europe as her art wouldn’t sell. I dare say, she’s very wise, but if felt a bit like you just need to come up with a concept and the art world will love it (and maybe that’s true!) and going to art school was all about how you’d market ideas and substantiate them, rather than learning to improve your practical art skills. One person in year two was just drawing chairs! We have a lot to learn.

Ps Thank you! It’s oil on canvas. She loves oils!

@Fi269 you and your DD might find this thread from The Student Room helpful
For those applying for Graphic Design, Illustration, Vis Com courses - The Student Room

Great thread, @Soma, with some wise words!

@FriendlyLaundryMonster Wow that's a fab piece! Can't beat oils.

My dd is a pretty good traditional painter but has completely decamped to digital art and I so wish she would keep painting.

I know at school dd got fed up with painting having to be about ideas - she just just wanted to paint!

@Acinonyx2 Thank you! Did school push your dd to think more about concept and composition? Did she find a course that suited her?

@FriendlyLaundryMonster Indeed they did and she did not like that at all and really struggled with that and the long essay thing they have to write about other peoples ideas.

She's doing comic and concept art now. Which is weird in a way - but the 'concepts' are really about stories and fantasy which is what she loves.

@Acinonyx2 I found it amusing/confusing that "concept art" (initial designs for movies/games etc) is almost the exact opposite of "conceptual art"!

@PhotoDad That confused be for a long time and I used to argue with dd about it. I still had 70s concept albums as my reference point 😎

I've just had to look up all the different terms!

Hello all! Good luck to anyone still waiting for offers and/or deciding about firms and insurance. We are still undecided. Have been to holder days and my dc is still on the fence. It is between Herts and UCA for animation, they are like chalk and cheese! Currently, we think Herts is ahead as it really is the better course, but it may all change by Monday.

That was the exact same decision we had. UCA felt like a Swiss finishing school - all very cosy, middle-class and lovely. Herts - well. The main urban metropolis is the glorious Hatfield. Lovely it is not. DD still thinks wistfully of UCA and I guess a talented student will do well wherever they go.

Personally I did feel UCA was just a bit too small, cosy and twee (dd could do with getting out of her comfort zone and that's part of what I want her to get from uni) - but I also thought Herts was frankly rather grey and uninteresting. In the end I was pleased she went to Herts because I am frankly very keen for her to be as employable and financially self-sufficient as possible and I just didn't get the same vibe on that from UCA (or anywhere else really except maybe Falmouth which was just too far). But if it weren't for the course reputation we would never in a million years have considered it.

I know we've chatted before - not sure I'm helping though!

@Acinonyx2 I totally agree with everything you say. You could not get two places more different in vibe! The irony is that dc was pretty certain her firm was going to be UCA and went to Herts Holders Day as a formality. It had the opposite effect, lol. The speech was an interesting one and gave us food for thought and went along the lines of - if you want to be the best, taught by the best, have real industry job prospects then be prepared to work hard, work long and take this degree seriously. If you want 10 hours of contact time and plenty of free time to party and drink, go somewhere else!!!!