Applying for 2014

[nigelben]

It's that time of the year again!! DS now well into deciding speeches for his second year of trying for drama school. Back to the hopefulness/disappointments/stresses of auditions! Think he's taking things a lot more serious this year though and has grown up a bit!!
I do have one question, my son had a recall at Manchester Met last year, now they ask for 280 UCAS points, ds got 260 so I was just wondering if anyone knows if they adhere strictly to this, most of the accredited drama schools ask for no or low UCAS points and admission is by audition/interview only, except for Manchester Met and GSA. As he already knows his UCAS point total, I wonder if they will even give him an audition, which will be a shame as he really liked Manchester Met.
Good luck to everyone starting the application/audition process for 2014

[sapphire]

When we attended the open day for Man Met (admittedly two years ago now), I recall they said you just had to pass whatever you were doing previously ... perhaps your DS could contact the admissions office to check though? Good luck to him with his auditions, please keep us posted.

[nigelben]

Thank you Sapphire. DS did ring the admissions office but they gave him a bit of a standard reply saying it's always best to have the right number of points, but I'm guessing as there is so much competition for acting schools it's a way of narrowing the applicants down. I think he will apply anyway as most of his choices are outside of UCAS so it won't be a wasted application whatever the outcome.
Hope you're DD is enjoying her course

[sapphire]

I very much doubt they really consider UCAS points when giving out places on the Acting course .... I suspect that 280 is Man Met's new minimum across courses.

Do let us know when the auditions start!

[Tess]

Nigelben, does your Ds not have any other points he can cobble together from dancing, musical instruments, DofE or something? What is he doing this year, as he maybe could just do something to top up his points? I'm sure its worth applying anyway, as he had a recall last year they will probably still have his notes. I know GSA said that although their standard offer is BBB they would never turn away someone on those grounds alone. Let us know how he gets on.

[nigelben]

Thanks Sapphire and Tess. Unfortunately DS doesn't play an instrument and although he can dance it's not his strongest point. I sometimes wish he had continued to bronze, silver and gold LAMDA which gain UCAS points, he is doing a couple of drama projects along with attending his actors workshop, so nothing that will gain points. He is also applying to RADA, Bristol Old Vic, LAMDA, Central, Royal Welsh, Oxford, Drama Centre and ALRA, quite a list, he's going to have to get some overtime to help pay for them all!!

[pg]

I have a feeling that most drama schools will bend their own stipulated rules if they want someone.

Quite a lot of them (including RADA) have no academic requirements at all.

[angelam]

Quick question. My DD is also on her second year attempt to get into drama school. So much work!!! Can I ask, did I read somewhere (can't remember where) when she gets her RADA audition would she go straight to the second round as she had got a call back last year?

[sapphire]

That seems to ring a bell with me too but not 100% certain ... hope that's the case!

[nigelben]

DS auditioned for RADA last year but didn't get recalled there, but angelam, I seem to remember it saying you go straight through to the second round if you get a first recall in his audition letter, he may still have the letter, I will ask him.
PG, I know drama schools normally take you if the want you whatever your academic qualifications are, but I'm not sure how you get around it applying through UCAS which you have to do so for Manchester Met as it's not his predicted but his actual grade so he may not get a chance to even audition, but like I say he did get recalled there last year when he could only put his predicted grades on his UCAS application which were slightly higher than his actual ones.

[nigelben]

Quick question. My DD is also on her second year attempt to get into drama school. So much work!!! Can I ask, did I read somewhere (can't remember where) when she gets her RADA audition would she go straight to the second round as she had got a call back last year?

Angelam, I have just looked at my son's letter from RADA last year, it says "Candidates who reached the Workshop stage in the previous academic year's auditions may be taken directly to recall stage without having a preliminary audition." Looking at the letter I think the workshop stage is the third stage. Hope this helps

[angelam]

Ah nigelben thanks for checking it out. Back to the bottom of the ladder then #snakesandladders

[nigelben]

Best wishes to your DD for her auditions this year angelam, where else is she applying? Such a stressful time, mainly for us I reckon!!

[JayLou62]

Well, UCAS form now sent off so the waiting now begins for dd1!
Still have CUCAS forms to go (dds 1 and 2) plus English National Ballet and Rambert forms to send off (dd2).
Good luck to everyone applying

[nigelben]

Good luck to your dds JayLou

DS in the process of completing UCAS and CUCAS forms, nearly there!! He's applying for a lot of independents as well, so an awful lot of form filling in to be done! He's very busy practising his speeches, so nearly ready to go. Busy and stressful times ahead, but hopefully worth it

Good luck everyone.