Worried DD has messed up with her applications

[MsMixs]

DD is in Y13, she wants to work in Fashion but in a business/marketing role rather than creative. She is doing 4 A-Levels Maths, Business, Economics and Graphic Design. She is doing them all at college but the maths is an evening course as it's the only way they'd let her do 4.
She still hasn't submitted her UCAS application (it's not too late right?) where as DS has. The main issue is she doesn't know what she wants to apply for. She is predicted A* in business and economics and A in Graphic Design and Maths.
She knows she wanted to apply to University of the arts London for Fashion Management and maybe Manchester for Fashion Marketing. I'm thinking she should apply for some non fashion specific courses as not to limit her options?
We aren't English, only moved here when she was in Y10 (having been in various countries immediately prior). She doesn't want to go to uni outside of the UK or preferably London (even though she is fluent in Danish).
Her college careers advisor hasn't been helpful and is discouraging DD from applying for Fashion courses at all saying she is capable of getting a place at Kings or similar which would be better.
DS has sent his applications off so I'm really worried she's running out of time and still isn't sure what to do.
Any advice?

It's not too late. I believe 31 Jan 2024 is the deadline for autumn 2024 entry. That said I'd push her to get it done by mid December. Institutions have already started offering.
Well done your DD for doing maths at night school by the way. She sounds like a serious and strong candidate!

She needs to do this and organise this, not you. You can mention it to give her a bit of a chivvy along, but in the end this is her life direction, and she needs to be the one doing this, unless she expressly comes to you for help.

It's not too late, you've still got a couple of months.

I'm thinking she should apply for some non fashion specific courses as not to limit her options?

On this point though, her personal statement really needs to show passion for fashion (apparently I rhyme now) if that's her goal, so his would be tricky if you want to include non fashion specific courses.

She could apply for more general business courses, which might include marketing, design, supply chain management, accounting etc. Her personal statement can therefore show fashion interest but also the business aspects of the courses. She can submit her UCAS application now for those she definitely has chosen now and add others(5 in total) by the January deadline.

Will she benefit from a years Art Foundation course first? Certainly for the top art/fashion schools it might be good. One of DDs friends has similar Alevel predictions but is still doing the year Art Foundation first before she applies.

Maybe she can take some time this weekend looking on Linked In or on the websites of some of the brands she likes? Look with her at the profiles of the people in the roles she aspires to have one day, and looks at what and where they studied.

Also look at the profiles of the academics/tutors on the courses that she knows she wants to apply for. Where and what did they study, in the time when these specialist courses didn't exist?

If there are patterns, it may give her a clear steer on what her next move could be to fill her other slots.

What would be the point in adding two or three non-fashion choices though? With those predicted grades she'll almost certainly be offered from UoM and UAL, and presumably would decline the other three whatever they were.

But to answer your question no she isn't too late, although her school will probably have an internal deadline as they'll need time to write her reference.

Goldsmiths as a third?

What would be the point in adding two or three non-fashion choices though?

That's what I was going to say. If there are five courses that she can apply for then that's what I would have thought was the best plan.

It will make it harder to write her personal statement if she's applying for different subjects.

My Year 13 DD also wants to do this - UCAS deadline is end of Jan as others have said

I am trying to keep out of it a bit but I have been encouraging apprenticeships as a great alternative

We went to one uni open day and everything she will do in Year 1 she is doing now - she is doing a L3 business and has lots of work experience/ internship built into the course

Also I have suggested general marketing rather than specialising in fashion but she has worked at London Fashion week a few times and is keen on this industry!

As a former admissions tutor I am with @titchy , who I believe is also an academic, and @savoycabbage (yum).

OP, your DD is both very able and clear about a specific goal. That is a wonderful combination. As PPs have said, for the UAL and UoM Fashion Management/Marketing courses she will need a particular kind of Personal Statement. It won’t be particularly suitable for other courses.

Goldsmiths sounds good. I don’t know much about degree programmes in Fashion. Are there five good ones in the UK? I think someone as able as your DD should go all out to succeed at what she loves. She will develop enough transferable skills to find employment in other sectors should that be required.

@GrangeFill a Foundation course won't suit if she is interested in the marketing and business side. She'd need a portfolio to get in one for starters and it's only appropriate if she was interested in the creative/design side.

I’m a Year 13 tutor and support students with personal statements. I’d agree with PP. Don’t get her to choose other subjects if she’s sure this is what she wants to do; it will just dilute her personal statement for the ones she really does want.

I’m amazed no one at college has been chasing her for a personal statement, applications etc though. Most of our cohort have already applied.

Nottingham Trent are highly regarded for fashion branding and marketing OP.

A specific course will build contacts and be professionally focused and she will stand out. Standard business and marketing courses are ten a penny. It's one of the most popular degrees .

Her college careers advisor hasn't been helpful and is discouraging DD from applying for Fashion courses at all saying she is capable of getting a place at Kings or similar which would be better.

A few things to unpick here

a) it's rank snobbery
b) many teachers , even if careers advisers , have a narrow knowledge range. This is particularly true of specialised courses. They , therefore, do not realise how very competitive fashion courses are (probably also misogyny in this?) and assume they are for the not very bright. It is probably harder to gain a place at UAL for the specified course than a straight business degree at many universities.
c) That aside, if she applied to King's for eg business with Two Astars and two A predictions she might not get a look in , so it actually would be a potentially wasted application

I stand by my advice earlier about working backwards from her end goal, but having just had a look myself, has she looked at the Leeds course? Fashion Marketing BA | University of Leeds That looks like a more academic intake (ABB minimum), and would also satisfy her college's concerns about her going to an "academic" uni. It also has optional study abroad and work placement, which appears to include several partner Danish universities - she could end up forging herself a very unique degree - as well as a NY partner school (no Paris or Milan)...

Check businessoffashion.com they have a trial for £1 for 30 days.
If looking for PT jobs and internship the London based colleges would be good for location.
Kings is good but general so to get into the industry would mean being proactive and networking.

That Leeds course mentioned by @Catopia looks good, OP!

We had a student with 3 A stars go on to do a dance degree. Because that's what she loves. Another with the same grades now plays professional football.
Choose things you enjoy. If that's fashion then choose 5 fashion courses she likes the content of. Look at employment stats to ensure they lead to work.
Never let a teacher look down on their choices (I am a teacher).

@MsMixs you may find this thread about applying for creative degrees and foundations helpful - Page 12 | Part 2: Continuation of 2023 uni (and other) applications for those pursuing art and creative routes | Mumsnet

Former fashion industry professional here. No need to worry about London College of Fashion (UAL) being too specific. Have seen plenty of grads from there flourish and reach the top of the industry, and some leave the industry for altogether different careers.

The business and marketing side of fashion is very diverse though. You don't need a fashion-specific degree to get in. Some of my colleagues studied art history, psychology, engineering - all sorts of things. Retail experience in fashion is very useful though. You learn a lot about customers from working at the tills and changing rooms.