Urdang and A levels ….

[RelaxingVibes]

My DD has been offered a place this September at Urdang to study MT. As it’s part of a uni, it states 80 UCAS points for entry. What happens if she doesn’t achieve this?!
Is there any wiggle room? Has anyone been in this position?

80 UCAS points is the equivalent of CDD. It’s probably the lowest offer any HE institution will offer (aside from an unconditional offer) and usually offers are this low because they weight the audition or portfolio more heavily and your YP aced it. You’d need to ask the institution itself about whether lower grades have ever been accepted - usually they are relatively rigid. Do you think DD will struggle to attain those grades? Have you spoken to her college to get her predicted grades?

According to UCAS the lowest grades accepted in the past have been CCC. A lot of Urdang students will not have done A levels though, they will have done the Btec Extended Diploma.

Urdang used to offer the Trinity Diploma where you didn't need A levels. My daughter did one of those age 16 and the academic content was almost non existent but they have chosen to drop that and now only offer the degree. The degree will have more academic content and so a minimum level is needed. Is there a reason why you think your dd won't achieve those grades?

I agree with others, 80 UCAS points is fairly low (CDD), and probably a minimum for the student to be able to manage the academic workload. Does she have any music grades or anything else that could be adduced? What are her A level or Btec PGs?

There are some circumstances where they might offer lower. Some people including my dd who went to vocational school were only able to do 2 A levels and some were accepted onto degree courses on that basis.

If she's an amazing dancer/singer etc they might. But I'd say it's better to try and help her achieve those grades. Does she need extra tuition? Urdang has a good reputation but it's in a quite expensive area if she needs to move nearby.

If it's a points-based offer have they confirmed whether it has to be points from A levels or whether she could boost the points by doing some musical theatre/acting exams which should have points attached if over a certain grade?

Are there other ways to get points - eg Grade 8 ABRSM singing for musical theatre/LAMDA exams/dance exams - if she has grades in all three that can rack up a lot of points - ABRSM Grade 8 with distinction is 30 points.

DD had an EE offer for a different type of music and the institution told her that if the A levels didn't work then to come back and they'd change it to UCAS points so she could use various ABRSM exams (as they were enough pointswise without the A levels)

Yes she has 63 UCAS points already from grade 8 singing and a professional dance qualification. But unfortunately Urdang do not count these.

So what are her likely A level grades @RelaxingVibes ? If they are a long way below CDD (and there are no massive mitigating factors of course) then she is perhaps unlikely to be able to cope with the demands of a degree? I know it's not that simple and some candidates can have issues with exams which mean they do not show their true ability (been there in my house for sure) but still it’s maybe worth thinking about, if she is on target for a lot lower?

Her school has predicted her high grades in two of them, but she is doing two heavy, science A-levels and one of them is not so good. I’m probably worrying about nothing as she is a bright girl !

She’s predicted A,A,D. Unfortunately the D is in
Chemistry which she has let slip after all her auditions etc. She is also doing another heavy science subject and I’m just concerned if she were to fail Chemistry (albeit unlikely) then she must secure 2 B’s.

It’s normal to have a little panic when the exams are on the horizon, but it sounds as though 80 UCAS points are easily within her reach. Remember that if you have a disaster, there are one year performance diplomas that would get what she needs and she could reapply.

My son starts his AS levels tomorrow and I am trying really hard not to panic… or communicate my anxiety for him. If you can, try to take a deep breath, open a bottle of wine if you need to and remember why she got in - I get she gave a stonking audition? She’ll be fine!

With PGs of AAD I would think CDD or equivalent (after all she is not being asked for three specific grades) should be no problem.

Thank you! Yes she’s very talented and also very bright. Had she chosen 3 easier A levels we wouldn’t be in this position!! Good luck to your son !