Local College Questions

A place to talk about full time schools and post 16 training.

Moderator: busybusybusy

scottishdancer00
BRIT Award
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2017 2:06 pm

Local College Questions

Post by scottishdancer00 »

Dd had her last audition yesterday and for all the big drama schools that she auditioned for it’s been a flat out no. She’s only 17 and auditions for degree courses so there have been very few other people as young as her at her auditions - RCS and Mountview. She also auditioned to SLP college and got a no. This is a tough one for her because it’s not massively competitive and people can get in from 16 so the harsh reality is she wasn’t good enough however from their feedback it is because she is a singer actor and her dance just wasn’t strong enough.
However she has unconditional places at a few local colleges for HNCs (not specialist performing arts colleges - just FE colleges). She found the auditions very easy and the standards of current students to be shocking low - I thought the same from watching their show.
Does anyone have any advice on using a HNC at a College as a supplement for a foundation year ? Is it possible that poor quality training could leave her worse off not better ?
Her other option is to go full time at her waitressing job and try again next year also
Robin64
BAFTA Award
Posts: 506
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2012 12:49 pm

Re: Local College Questions

Post by Robin64 »

Bodens?
http://www.performingartscollege.co.uk/

I think there was another place that did a year course or a years training for free but can't remember the name off hand.
scottishdancer00
BRIT Award
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2017 2:06 pm

Re: Local College Questions

Post by scottishdancer00 »

Robin64 wrote:Bodens?
http://www.performingartscollege.co.uk/

I think there was another place that did a year course or a years training for free but can't remember the name off hand.
I’ve had a look - it does look great but unfortunately these places tend to be offered free as an alternative to A Levels ( so I’ve gathered apologies if I’m wrong ) and Dd already has her highers
Robin64
BAFTA Award
Posts: 506
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2012 12:49 pm

Re: Local College Questions

Post by Robin64 »

They do an extra free "gap year" it says for age 18 but its for people who have done their A levels or equivalent so might be worth ringing them.
Marissa
GRAMMY Award
Posts: 444
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2017 9:25 pm

Re: Local College Questions

Post by Marissa »

My DD has been auditioning and although did receive a degree offer for mt it wasn't a place she felt she will be truly happy at. DD was however offered a hnc at ucen/ Arden and is feeling positive to use this as her foundation yr if her last two auditions are not successful x They obviously will not be as full on as a conservatiore foundation but it does an equal split of 18 hours for dance, singing and acting plus a few more contact hours. We feel this would be a great step up as well as letting her grow as a person for an extra yr away from home x
Last edited by Marissa on Sun Feb 18, 2018 3:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
lawn
GRAMMY Award
Posts: 407
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2016 4:19 am

Re: Local College Questions

Post by lawn »

I don't know how funding works in Scotland, but in England you can have 3 years of FE (further education) funding free (you might also need to be under a certain age). This allows for an additional someone having to do a level 2 course for a year before moving onto a 2yr level 3 course or for an additional year if someone messes up their A levels and needs a re-take.

I'd check out if the same rules apply for your DD.

ETA - Sorry just noticed you put HNC (my teenage son was talking so didn't concentrate). If you take this option, I believe it uses up one of the years of entitlement to HE (Higher education) funding. Again check same rules apply to Scotland.

Is her keeping up her dancing/singing/acting at her current dance/drama group an option and taking on more classes and trying again next year.
Marissa
GRAMMY Award
Posts: 444
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2017 9:25 pm

Re: Local College Questions

Post by Marissa »

I also checked with student finance Wales and they said DD would still be okay to have three yrs funding after the hnc due to it being a higher than a level qualification and if there were any problems you would still have your gift yr for finance so it's covered x
lawn
GRAMMY Award
Posts: 407
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2016 4:19 am

Re: Local College Questions

Post by lawn »

Re-read again (concentrating this time!). I suppose the question is,, is it 'worth' using up one of the years of entitlement to HE funding (even if it's the gift year) for a course that you think isn't of a particularly high standard.

Just my opinion, but I'd say No, it isn't.

I'd go with the option of working full-time and saving and doing as much dancing/singing/acting she can fit in outside of work. If she can save some money towards the cost of a foundation at somewhere else next year, or even the cost of accommodation whilst on a foundation if you can afford the fees for her, I'd aim towards that option.
Marissa
GRAMMY Award
Posts: 444
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2017 9:25 pm

Re: Local College Questions

Post by Marissa »

lawn wrote:Re-read again (concentrating this time!). I suppose the question is,, is it 'worth' using up one of the years of entitlement to HE funding (even if it's the gift year) for a course that you think isn't of a particularly high standard.

Just my opinion, but I'd say No, it isn't.

I'd go with the option of working full-time and saving and doing as much dancing/singing/acting she can fit in outside of work. If she can save some money towards the cost of a foundation at somewhere else next year, or even the cost of accommodation whilst on a foundation if you can afford the fees for her, I'd aim towards that option.
Sorry I've interrupted with my view on hnc offered to my daughter and as it's linked to Arden and a good performing arts campus I feel it's worth it x however as lawn says above if it had been a normal college with no name or Rep then no we wouldn't be doing it x I'd agree x
lawn
GRAMMY Award
Posts: 407
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2016 4:19 am

Re: Local College Questions

Post by lawn »

Marissa wrote:
lawn wrote:Re-read again (concentrating this time!). I suppose the question is,, is it 'worth' using up one of the years of entitlement to HE funding (even if it's the gift year) for a course that you think isn't of a particularly high standard.

Just my opinion, but I'd say No, it isn't.

I'd go with the option of working full-time and saving and doing as much dancing/singing/acting she can fit in outside of work. If she can save some money towards the cost of a foundation at somewhere else next year, or even the cost of accommodation whilst on a foundation if you can afford the fees for her, I'd aim towards that option.
Sorry I've interrupted with my view on hnc offered to my daughter and as it's linked to Arden and a good performing arts campus I feel it's worth it x however as lawn says above if it had been a normal college with no name or Rep then no we wouldn't be doing it x I'd agree x
Yes, that's my view. Take the HNC offer for a foundation year if it's a known as a good college. Other than that consider alternatives to this coming year.
Marissa
GRAMMY Award
Posts: 444
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2017 9:25 pm

Re: Local College Questions

Post by Marissa »

Ultimately it's up to her. She needs to be happy x How does she feel?
scottishdancer00
BRIT Award
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2017 2:06 pm

Re: Local College Questions

Post by scottishdancer00 »

Marissa wrote:Ultimately it's up to her. She needs to be happy x How does she feel?
I think initially she was happy with the college offer. They told everyone it would be three weeks until they heard anything because there were more people to be auditioned but she got her offer the next day which gave her a confidence boost and she was very positive
However I think she’s feeling a bit low about it now after speaking to her singing teacher who thinks she ‘too good’ to go there . I think it also a bit to do with two rejections in two days making her feel negative about the whole thing.

I do think she wants to increase her training hours this year. The course is 18 hours and would involve her staying in halls in a city ( we’re very rural atm) giving her more opportunities to get involved with things so it definitely might be a wise option. I wouldn’t want her continuing with her current dancing/singing classes as she’s beginning to outgrow them already
Marissa
GRAMMY Award
Posts: 444
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2017 9:25 pm

Re: Local College Questions

Post by Marissa »

scottishdancer00 wrote:
Marissa wrote:Ultimately it's up to her. She needs to be happy x How does she feel?
I think initially she was happy with the college offer. They told everyone it would be three weeks until they heard anything because there were more people to be auditioned but she got her offer the next day which gave her a confidence boost and she was very positive
However I think she’s feeling a bit low about it now after speaking to her singing teacher who thinks she ‘too good’ to go there . I think it also a bit to do with two rejections in two days making her feel negative about the whole thing.

I do think she wants to increase her training hours this year. The course is 18 hours and would involve her staying in halls in a city ( we’re very rural atm) giving her more opportunities to get involved with things so it definitely might be a wise option. I wouldn’t want her continuing with her current dancing/singing classes as she’s beginning to outgrow them already
Like us there are lots of things to consider x Right now the step of moving away to a city for a year has got to help them surely with life skills etc x and make sure she knows any offers in their first yr are good I gather in this career x I suppose time will tell and if they are strong enough with a lot of luck they will get to where they want to be one way or another x I know that a foundation for us is out of the question so the ucen/Arden hnc is the place for us right now unless DD strikes lucky x
Dancergirlcizzy
Nominee
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 11:12 pm

Re: Local College Questions

Post by Dancergirlcizzy »

Have you looked at Addict dance academy in Leciester? They offer a 2 year HND course so funded by student finance but at a much higher level than some local fe colleges.
Robin64
BAFTA Award
Posts: 506
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2012 12:49 pm

Re: Local College Questions

Post by Robin64 »

How about that 4 year course at London college of music that has been mentioned in other thread? I think you are free to move elsewhere after the foundation year but equally can stay for the degree. Decent option?
Post Reply