A LEVELS AND THEN DRAMA SCHOOL ?

[Genevieve]

I am sure they've been many posts on this subject, but wondering if any of you could add your advice and experiences - particularly with the current economic climate. Should dd go to drama school for 3 years after her A levels, or study at Uni on an undergraduate degree course, and then do a year at Drama school somewhere ? Funding is an issue, for the latter, and back-up plans need taking into consideration too ? Any thoughts would really be appreciated.

[pg]

Hmm. There are such difficult decisions our children need to make, aren't there? If your dd is certain that she wants to try to earn her living as an actor/performer, then I would suggest trying to get on to an accredited 3 year course at Drama school. This will, in most cases, be a BA course in any case.

I don't think education is ever wasted, a degree in another subject could be useful at some hypothetical future point and may indeed be "useful" life/education experience prior to a one year course at drama school, but the idea of having "back-up" to support the precarious life of an actor, by doing a degree course in a different subject first, just doesn't hold water I don't think. If you are going to try to be an actor, you won't be able to hold down the sort of job that needs degree level education. I do think that there needs to be some forward planning about what she might do as part-time work and to consider what kind of training (if any) she might need for this. The business of finding a flexible enough money-earning job is perhaps the single most difficult thing an actor has to tackle.

The degree in another subject only really comes into its own if she turns her back on acting. In my opinion it would be better to wait and retrain/get further education if and when the acting is no longer the focus for her career. If she wants to act, I imagine three years doing something different is going to feel like marking time until she can get on with the acting.

If, however, your dd can think of anything else she might like to do for a living then I think it makes sense to pursue a course (at Uni) that supports this ambition. She could then either continue acting as an amateur or try to fit in occasional professional jobs around another career.

A number of people tried to convince my ds that he would be better off at University "because he was bright enough". Fortunately (I think) he decided that drama school was the correct route for him. I say this because I just can't imagine him doing anything else other than acting - though of course he has to do odd jobs too to keep the wolf from the door! My dd, on the other hand, did go to a music college but has now left and is following another path: I can see her being able to do loads of different things really well, so this change of path doesn't concern me (perhaps there's even a bit of relief that she's chosen something a bit more "sensible" !).

[Welsh Mum]

I agree with what pg has posted. I actually tried to persude my Dd to go to uni, she would not waver and when I consider the extra cost involed in doing a 3 yr degree followed by acting training I can see how if you are detremined it makes no sense to delay training. I also think a 3 year course gives plenty of time to develop your skills etc. I did insist on a degree course, at least then whatever happens in the future she will be a graduate! However, she has thought of ways she can earn "between jobs" so she has trained as a fitness instructor and is also qualified to teach singing.

As I have said in other posts, and pg has shown by the expreiences of her DCs, this is an individual choice. I don't think there is a "wrong" or "right" route but whichever suits that particualr person. Sounds a bit on the fence but I genuinely believe this.

[shortguy]

There is no right or wrong way as WM has said and very much depends on what your DD wants to do. Also very dependant on grades at A Level and being able to get a place at uni or being able to get a place at the drama colleges. Both seem to be more and more difficult to get into.

My DS has done neither, couldnt get a place at the colleges and despite being 4 weeks off going to uni he turned it down as felt it wasnt for him. Drama college or nothing. DH not impressed but what was the use of studying for 3 years and paying all that money when he didnt want to be there.

Try and maybe apply for a mixture of unis and drama colleges and as she looks around or has auditions she will feel what is right for her

[Kez]

My ds will be in this position in a year or so and I am wondering wether he should go for the bournemouth uni (home) to do ba in drama or to try for London.
Are the London drama schools much better? or should we save on the living costs?

[Welsh Mum]

i think it depends in what he wants. f he wanted to teach drama for example, then the uni course would be ideal. However, if he wants to join the acting profession then most would sya that a vocational drama college is the best option - there you don't do the academic study of drama but the practical training needed to be a performer. Both are hard to get into, but the drama colleges are very difficult to get into, its VERY competitive.

[pg]

Hi Kez

In case you haven't already seen it, www.ncdt.co.uk gives a good overview of training for the profession.

[Caroline A-C]

Think at the end of the day it is your dc that will decide for you - my ds refused to even consider uni's and only applied for the vocational colleges. Some of his friends applied for the uni courses as they wanted to teach performing arts. It would have been a waste of three years (and money) to have done a degree in another subject and I doubt he would have done well at it as his heart just would not have been in it.

[Genevieve]

Thank you for so much advice. Even getting a BA in English will not mean my dd would leave Uni with a vocational degree will it...and with the fees increase, and having to pay for a year's training afterwards at a Drama School will just incur more and more debt/costs - but then she would have an academic degree in English which is great for anyone wanting to be a performer, and could open some doors. If my dd could get into Cambridge, where you've got Footlights, it's always been highly credited and prestigious, but that's a huge risk to apply there and more than likely not get in ! She could get the grades to try. BUT the advantage of doing a vocational degree,BA at a Drama school straight after A Levels does mean she'd be that bit younger coming out of the course...and armed with the qualifications and training in the field she wants to be in.
What I'm worried about is her having to train again after Drama School to maximise her chances of getting a reasonably well paid job while she is trying to get some professional work ..I have to let her go for it and try for the top vocational Drama Schools, RADA, Guildhall, and Central..She doesn't want to apply to study Drama at a Uni as she wants to go to the specialised Drama institutions, purely because she wants the practical training their courses offer and as pg mentioned, the courses at Universities are more theory based. She also wants to be in London as the Drama schools have so many connections, opportunties to perform at prestigious events in London, and links with theatre and the industry. I think what we'll do is treat this a bit like looking for an agent, start at the top and work down !!! Yes.....it is competitive, but there are places and someone's got to get them ! Many on this site get into top Drama schools- but if she didn't get in the first time round, I really have no idea what she would do, it would be an awful and because all her friends will be going off to Unis and unusually none are intending on taking gap years first
There are so many organisations/charities offering money towards fees for any student going to Universities to Study any Sciences, Maths and Engineering which will become available from next year - and very very little sign of the same applying for the Arts.

[paulears]

The sad truth is that many university programmes are simply there to take the funding and give very little. University contact time is very low compared with a vocational course - and don't forget many of the popular places are linked to a university and you get a degree while you are there! Personally, I feel this is the best of both worlds. Contact time in the popular dance or drama places is considerably higher, so you do get better value for money. Performing arts people have a need to be busy, generally. They could find uni life just too slow for them - and after all, many universities are just there to 'facilitate' you teaching yourself. University may not prepare people for work in the industry at all. Most have drama societies, and this maybe the only real performance opportunities there.

When people do A levels now, this is pretty poor prep for a vocational course and could put some students at a disadvantage. One question we'd always throw in at college when interviewing and auditioning was a very simple one "What shows have you been in". Amazing how the students who live, eat and sleep dance, or drama (they tell you) have never been in a production out of school - and the school ones were often the ones set as coursework, which rarely are complete shows - just excerpts. Those that tot out a list of stuff they've been in usually end up in a dance or drama college, doing more, at higher level. The ones with no performance background go to the unis and study drama or English.

I do training for teachers sometimes, and they're done in big London hotels - the course manager I met this week (they do the intros, housekeeping, and keep people happy) was a performer himself, who earns £150 a day managing the training. He tells me he got the job simply because all the others had uni backgrounds and he went to Arts Ed.

[Genevieve]

I do training for teachers sometimes, and they're done in big London hotels - the course manager I met this week (they do the intros, housekeeping, and keep people happy) was a performer himself, who earns £150 a day managing the training. He tells me he got the job simply because all the others had uni backgrounds and he went to Arts Ed.

He landed a good little number there didn't he !

[Kez]

Thank you Welsh Mum and PG that website was very interesting. so it seems if you have your heart set on being an actor the NCDT accredited drama schools are the ones to apply to. If you can. and if you get in

[Caroline A-C]

My son auditioned this year for vocational colleges purely to find out what the audition process was all about and not with an anticipation of him getting an offer. As you say, somebody has to get in and he was one of the lucky ones so let your dd go for it. I do think the fact that ds had done so much amdram outside of school was a huge bonus. He also went to some of the productions that the vocational colleges put on which he was able to mention in his interview so look out for those. If asked what your favourite show is make sure you know the production cast as well as the performers and story. As the saying goes, know your trade. Good luck and keep us informed of what your dd decides to do.

[Genevieve]

despite being 4 weeks off going to uni he turned it down as felt it wasnt for him. Drama college or nothing. DH not impressed but what was the use of studying for 3 years and paying all that money when he didnt want to be there.

Exactly - really no point is there. Now with the fees increase it's not a case of sending dd to Uni just for the experience - we're having to look at commitment to the course/time/money/long-term goals more seriously now.
Congratulations to your ds Caroline A-C - worked out great for him even though as you say...he was just seeing what the audition process was like too, and ending up getting in is amazing ! Thanks paulears, what you've said about studying drama at Uni, kind of reinforces what I thought, it may suit some if the course is combined with another subject and the University is more closer to home and it's for financial reasons and still get chance to study Drama/Performing arts, and get the experience of Uni life at the same time too....
We'll look at all of the NCDrama Schools - and dd has already been to see a number of shows at some of them - and having lots of experience outside of school will help.
My ds went for an interview for a job (not in performing arts) and out of the 800 applicants who'd applied, only 40 got interviews and they are only taking on 6 graduate placements - so it's tough out there - it's just the words 'steady income' with the performing arts that haunts me a little bit ! (a lot ).

[shortguy]

My ds will be in this position in a year or so and I am wondering wether he should go for the bournemouth uni (home) to do ba in drama or to try for London.
Are the London drama schools much better? or should we save on the living costs?

My DD is starting at Bournemouth Arts in September (not Drama) but has spoken with many that have applied for this course. Seems extremely difficult to get a place this year to do a BA in Drama. Many have been unlucky