UCAS and Direct to School
Moderator: busybusybusy
UCAS and Direct to School
I've just started looking into Drama schools for DD who is about to go into Year 12 - so we are still another year away from applying. And, am I right in saying, there are two pathways? UCAS or direct to the school. I've made a list of which school prefers what pathway - and I am just wondering how to tackle this, given this will be A-Level year. Basically, GSA, Central, Drama Centre, Lipa, MMU, Rose Bruford are through UCAS. Lamda, Oxford School of Drama, RADA, Guildhall, BSA are direct. (These are the websites I've looked at so far!!) Potentially, then, she could apply to 10 schools?? I would love to know what you think - is it a good idea to use all your 5 UCAS choices knowing that you want to apply direct to others like RADA and Lamda too. Sounds an awful lot of auditions to me? Just wondering really what a manageable number would be?? Or do you choose your top 5 regardless of direct or UCAS. Open Days look like they get booked up pretty quickly, too. I would really appreciate any thoughts. xx
Re: UCAS and Direct to School
I know its so confusing, my dd going into year 11, so have a few years yet. Good luck 

Re: UCAS and Direct to School
If DD would genuinely like to consider studying at any or all of those AND you can afford it, then by all means apply to them all. 10 is a lot though. I would be more inclined to stick with your top 5 or 6 regardless of the application route.
Those that have direct applications have quite varied closing dates for applications from what I remember - so you could always delay applying to some of these (unless they are at the very top of the desirability list) until a couple of auditions are out of the way?
I applied to OSD and BSA in March - I still got offers from both. DS applied to all those he chose - including RADA - after Christmas (I think).
Those that have direct applications have quite varied closing dates for applications from what I remember - so you could always delay applying to some of these (unless they are at the very top of the desirability list) until a couple of auditions are out of the way?
I applied to OSD and BSA in March - I still got offers from both. DS applied to all those he chose - including RADA - after Christmas (I think).
Re: UCAS and Direct to School
Thank you pg, that's a good idea to stagger it. I can feel an excel spread sheet coming on...if I knew how to do one!!!!
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Re: UCAS and Direct to School
Might be worth checking what each require at audition. If they each want different monologues etc, you may find that 10 is a bit too many to deal with, particularly if you get recalled. Could potentially be 20 auditions with the associated travel costs to boot!!!
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Re: UCAS and Direct to School
Auditioning for drama school on top of doing A levels is hard work ... we did try to visit schools/see performances during year 12 and as a result DD limited auditions to her top 7 schools and we staggered them as much as possible (from Nov through to April)! To minimise travel costs she applied early to RADA/LAMDA to get a local first round audition! She spent ages picking monologues which would tick as many boxes as possible but still had to learn 3 different Shakespeare and 3 contemporary to tick the relevant boxes ... when thinking about monologues be aware that some schools do change their list of monologues from year to year so your DD can start thinking now but may have to learn something new when the audition requirements for the year she is applying are finalised.
Best of luck to your DD and you! Keep us posted.
Best of luck to your DD and you! Keep us posted.
Re: UCAS and Direct to School
My DD tried to stagger applications: however this didn't necessarily mean that the auditions were staggered as each place took varying amounts of time to respond with dates etc. Same true of recalls - they ended up being quite bunched together. Basically you can try a "method" but be prepared that it may not work out the way you planned. Her main tip is do NOT apply anywhere until you are fully prepared - somewhere you think might takes weeks to reply may in fact take days.
To get around the requirements for each audition we did actually do a basic spreadsheet - how many/what type of monologues, how many what type of song/how it was funded etc/any individual features (such as physio at Arts Ed). It was actually quite helpful in keeping track and keeping calm - though there was one week where she ended up having 3 - and couldn't stay up there as middle one was RWCMD!!
Best of luck to all those applying this year - be prepared for anything - in the words of one of my favourite films about acting "fasten your seatbelts it's going to be a bumpy night"

To get around the requirements for each audition we did actually do a basic spreadsheet - how many/what type of monologues, how many what type of song/how it was funded etc/any individual features (such as physio at Arts Ed). It was actually quite helpful in keeping track and keeping calm - though there was one week where she ended up having 3 - and couldn't stay up there as middle one was RWCMD!!
Best of luck to all those applying this year - be prepared for anything - in the words of one of my favourite films about acting "fasten your seatbelts it's going to be a bumpy night"


The highway's jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive.
Re: UCAS and Direct to School
Thank you Welsh Mum, Sapphire and Caroline C for your helpful tips - I agree I think a spread sheet will be a great idea - as I trawl through all the websites I think its the only way to keep a record of all the information. Year 13 is going to be an action packed year. I did wonder whether applying in a gap year would be a better idea - don't need to decide that yet. Thank you for being very helpful. xx
Re: UCAS and Direct to School
We also considered applying in a gap year but given that it is unusual to be accepted straight from school the advice we were given was to go for your top choices in Year 13 anyway ... that way you learn from the experience so you can REALLY hit the ground running if you do find yourself needing to reapply during a gap year .... and you never know ... you just might get in first time round anywayrebeccaM wrote:Thank you Welsh Mum, Sapphire and Caroline C for your helpful tips - I agree I think a spread sheet will be a great idea - as I trawl through all the websites I think its the only way to keep a record of all the information. Year 13 is going to be an action packed year. I did wonder whether applying in a gap year would be a better idea - don't need to decide that yet. Thank you for being very helpful. xx
