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My dd has auditioned for arts ed, mountview and lsmt up to now. Arts ed she didnt get a recall, mountview she did but never got in, and lsmt she got a recall but is awaiting the letter but thinks its a no as one of the girls who goes her more or less told her she hadnt got in. We are from the north east and up to now none of the girls who have auditioned from her college have got in and yet they usually do. The tutor at her college cannot believe it as she thinks that their group is one of the strongest she has ever had. She is only 17 but is 18 in July, do you think its an age thing. She is very experienced and is very confident, she is an all rounder singing being her main thing then acting then dancing. It is a worry as this is what she has trained for all her life. I dont really want her to have to take a year out and apply again. There are a few others I have looked at she has an audition for performers but we have heard this is more dance which she does not want. Can anyone give any advice and recommend any other good colleges in London. I know the competition is hard these days and I know the dadas are meant to be stopping so maybe this is a big part of it. Thanks Diane.

Has she thought of GSA for MT? Also CSSD also do Acting for Musical Stage. My DD did not get places the first year she auditioned - the following year she got 3 places (really hard maing THAT decision!!) as well as 2 reserve places. So the extra year can make a difference. She didnt suddenly become more talented, but she had matured, also made some money which has proved handy So if your DD really wants to study MT a gap year may be the way to go - as she has had some recalls she obviously has talent.

There are also the foundation courses which I think are aimed at preparing for college. Think most of the colleges do these courses. The other option is to reapply next year when your dd will have the experience of knowing what the process etc is. I would ignore what that girl at LSMT - how would a student reliably know who had and hadn't got through. Fingers crossed and good luck with whatever your dd decides.

The problem with the foundation courses are that they also cost, and I would rather try to find the money for a 3 year course to be honest. Its looking more like she will have to take a year out. The thing with the LSMT is that my daughter was staying with a friend who attends there and all her housemates also attend. Some of them were helping with auditions on the day and that is how they know who got in. I thought it was a bit unprofessional to be truthful she said that all she knew was four girls had got in but i think she said this to spare me daughters feelings. I really dont think she should of said anything, and more so the principal should of kept it to himself. My dd was expecting a letter today and seeing as it never come it only confirms that she probably hasnt got in, although the audition was only saturday. Oh well if at first you dont succeed try and try again.

We felt the same about Foundation courses. I agree that is VERY unprofessional for any student to know the result of an audition. My DDs friends have been helping at auditions and I know none of them would have any idea about success/failure of apllicants. Very poor of them.

Well the letter finally came this morning she never got in, they didnt even offer any feedback although they said they might in some cases. Back to the drawing board I think. There are a few other I have come across, London theatre shcool. KSA, The MTA, and Ridley studios. Has anyone heard of these. The other thing is my daughter is not stick thin she is a healthy size 12 but am aware that they are very weight concious. Arts Ed even said to my daughters friend she was too big around the middle and she is smaller than my daughter. I know it is awful to say but do you think size matters.

di47 wrote:Well the letter finally came this morning she never got in, they didnt even offer any feedback although they said they might in some cases. Back to the drawing board I think. There are a few other I have come across, London theatre shcool. KSA, The MTA, and Ridley studios. Has anyone heard of these. The other thing is my daughter is not stick thin she is a healthy size 12 but am aware that they are very weight concious. Arts Ed even said to my daughters friend she was too big around the middle and she is smaller than my daughter. I know it is awful to say but do you think size matters.

not sure about size, but I feel really sorry for your DD who was treated imo shabbily, and I am sure there is MUCH better out there for her than somewhere that displays that type of unprofessionalism

There are different shapes and sizes on my DDs course. Most are slim but a couple are bigger (size 14 ish). However, Arts Ed (like Laines) do have more of a "type". I have not heard of those other places - did you look at the couple I mentioned? This is a good link

http://ncdt.co.uk/guidetotraining/courses/

It shows all the accredited courses, those with Maintained are funded same as uni with loans etc. You would then need to look at each place's website to find out more. So sorry it was a no, know how that feels

Yes I did have a look at those places GSA has closed the end of Jan, and the other one didnt really look like it was suited to her. It looks like we will have to have a rethink. She is in London at the minute on a school trip so will have to have a chat when she comes home. The ironic thing about it all is that she doesnt really want to do west end she just want to sing, mainly commercial but she cant see any other way in.

I do know that Arts Ed are quite particular about size which I think is a bit harsh. I don't think this is the norm however, just their preference I suppose.

di47 wrote: ironic thing about it all is that she doesnt really want to do west end she just want to sing, mainly commercial but she cant see any other way in.

Perhaps MT is not the course for her then. Those courses are aimed at training for the West End. They will all involve a lot of dance and acting as well as singing. Some - like Arts Ed - do a LOT of dance, but all of them will do a lot as well. If she wants a more commercial route then perhaps there are other more suitable courses?

What about Italia Conti? They have a number of post-16 courses that might be suitable?

Quite a few advertise in The Stage newspaper too so that might be worth getting.

italia conti is mainly dance she has friends there. Will just have to keep looking.

What about Millennium or PPA in London or Bodyworks in Cambridge....

DD got into Arts Ed on the post 16 course, and Millennium, and Bodyworks, but without funding it was impossible....having spent 6 wonderful years at SY....

So she decided to accpet a place at our local college on a Btec Diploma course and is loving it......she is going to try again for a funded place at the end of her course when she will be 18...

Good luck with whatever you decide xx