Auditioning for 2021 entry

[MygirlsloveMT]

I can only comment on Performers and Wilkes where my daughter has attended. She did pre-voc at Performers and loved it, a friendly college, great facilities/tutors etc. She did get offered degree there but the increase in numbers and the fact (for some reason) that you don’t get 1-1 singing lessons in year 1 or some of the guest tutors, and the fact that she just totally fell in love with Wilkes, gave her the oomph to move. As said before, Performers isn’t a problem location wise at all, I don’t know people keep saying that. Part of me wonders if they visit from the country lane end as a lot say it is in the middle of nowhere, but turn left out the gate and there is a whole town on the doorstep with Basildon not far away.
Wilkes is very different, they are currently still fairly small compared to Performers/Bird/Urdang but definitely seem to have the drive and motivation they do. They are what I would call a ‘funky’ college, quite young and with it, not traditional in the slightest and they have some great ‘different’ lessons like tv presenting (using I’m a Celeb script), gymnastics, aerial plus others and have 1-1 singing lessons, plus great tutors. Everyone knows each other’s names and it is super friendly, Jonny Wilkes also has some great connections so even though they are fairly new compared to some colleges, I don’t think it’s taken them long to catch up.
I don’t know how people are choosing this year, I know if dd hadn’t visited Wilkes that she will quite likely now still be at Performers as it was the ‘vibe’ she got at the audition that made her fall in love with Wilkes. Hopefully some of these posts will help a little bit xx

[Grace03]

Some really helpful replies thank you. It’s good to hear from people who have been through this experience!

[amo185]

That's interesting about Laine. We hadn't heard of different letters going out - only the scholarship phone calls. Maybe everyone has to wait for those people to accept their DADA place (and submit their completed forms) before Laine can compile their talent (reserve) list. I'm not sure why Laine didn't just put most people on reserve if they've already offered DADAs rather than offering so many people a place, most of whom they know will have to reject the offer due to no funding. We haven't heard of anyone placed on Reserve like at other colleges. Thinking of everyone waiting! Good luck!

[lawn]

Second round of Laine offers only came out today so it may be a week before those DADA forms are all returned and the Talent Register compiled.
I'm not sure if they put all 200 offers into the list or just those needing funding or whether they give DADA offers and put the rest in order of audition scoring but I hope it's sorted soon. ArtsEd have said they are sorting DADAs this month - which I find odd as some people are not recalled until May or June but I guess it depends on what "sorting" means! I really hope that everyone who needs funding to train gets what they need.

Some we know had the offer of a dada in their initial offer letter (subject to eligibility) so they know they are top of the list regardless...others just have to wait I guess. This is the part I don't really like as it feels as if you would be starting off feeling inferior and lower down the 'talent list' before even starting. Something you don't have on a degree course.

Yes, we also know someone with the same initial Laine offer. Don't think they've accepted yet though as still waiting to hear outcomes of other places

[lawn]

Laine we know from past students but I need to justify what they offer more for 18k than the others? I wonder why they can't offer degree....but they have a formula and they stick to it I guess.

We do a pros cons list but get nowhere....lol

Pure speculation on my part, but my guess is I believe a degree has to have some academic content and for whatever reason Laine don't wish to offer that. Goes back to some earlier comments about being 'traditional' and not wanting to fix something not broken.

But yes, many places must miss out on talent (and the kids miss out on training) due to funding issues. Diplomas even with scholarships/Dadas don't work for everyone. They don't suit our household situation.

[dancelifemum]

Second round of Laine offers only came out today so it may be a week before those DADA forms are all returned and the Talent Register compiled.
I'm not sure if they put all 200 offers into the list or just those needing funding or whether they give DADA offers and put the rest in order of audition scoring but I hope it's sorted soon. ArtsEd have said they are sorting DADAs this month - which I find odd as some people are not recalled until May or June but I guess it depends on what "sorting" means! I really hope that everyone who needs funding to train gets what they need.

Some we know had the offer of a dada in their initial offer letter (subject to eligibility) so they know they are top of the list regardless...others just have to wait I guess. This is the part I don't really like as it feels as if you would be starting off feeling inferior and lower down the 'talent list' before even starting. Something you don't have on a degree course.

Yes, we also know someone with the same initial Laine offer. Don't think they've accepted yet though as still waiting to hear outcomes of other places

Yes their offer letter states a dada and if not eligible a possible bursary......so there are some they have already decided on.

[dancelifemum]

Laine we know from past students but I need to justify what they offer more for 18k than the others? I wonder why they can't offer degree....but they have a formula and they stick to it I guess.

We do a pros cons list but get nowhere....lol

Pure speculation on my part, but my guess is I believe a degree has to have some academic content and for whatever reason Laine don't wish to offer that. Goes back to some earlier comments about being 'traditional' and not wanting to fix something not broken.

But yes, many places must miss out on talent (and the kids miss out on training) due to funding issues. Diplomas even with scholarships/Dadas don't work for everyone. They don't suit our household situation.

Yes they offer the top up though which is tricky to fit into the last year as that's showcase/ agents/ show rehearsals too....I wonder how many do it.

[lawn]

Laine we know from past students but I need to justify what they offer more for 18k than the others? I wonder why they can't offer degree....but they have a formula and they stick to it I guess.

We do a pros cons list but get nowhere....lol

Pure speculation on my part, but my guess is I believe a degree has to have some academic content and for whatever reason Laine don't wish to offer that. Goes back to some earlier comments about being 'traditional' and not wanting to fix something not broken.

But yes, many places must miss out on talent (and the kids miss out on training) due to funding issues. Diplomas even with scholarships/Dadas don't work for everyone. They don't suit our household situation.

Yes they offer the top up though which is tricky to fit into the last year as that's showcase/ agents/ show rehearsals too....I wonder how many do it.

I had forgotten that but another post mentioned there's no student funding available for the top up, so that must work out expensive too.

[amo185]

In Jan last year there were about 8 students doing the Laine top up degree (at least there were 8 in the session and they implied that was the whole group). The cost was £4500 - half price - which they were hoping to keep the same. The students all said they were enjoying the academic element and the project. It sounded manageable - but must be hard work on top of the diploma requirements (unless anything overlaps?). Worth investigating further I think. No idea why students couldn't get student finance.

[Coatsey]

So just an update from my end - DD received an email from Bird today advising she has been put on the reserve list, she’s on the list for Wilkes who closed their auditions yesterday so hopefully will hear soon from them. DD said she knows a few friends who have heard back from Lipa for next round. Aghhh this waiting is soo hard. Anyone else had any news ?

[dancelifemum]

So just an update from my end - DD received an email from Bird today advising she has been put on the reserve list, she’s on the list for Wilkes who closed their auditions yesterday so hopefully will hear soon from them. DD said she knows a few friends who have heard back from Lipa for next round. Aghhh this waiting is soo hard. Anyone else had any news ?

Hi I do know someone on the Wilkes wait list has been told they'll hear by the end of April...which does make us feel guilty for not deciding yet, as some are waiting for the others to decline places etc....but I guess it's constantly moving up.
Bird won't tell anyone until end of June....so although we are on their reserve list DD has decided she doesn't want to go there so that's fine. It is too long for us to wait anyway.

[dancelifemum]

I can only comment on Performers and Wilkes where my daughter has attended. She did pre-voc at Performers and loved it, a friendly college, great facilities/tutors etc. She did get offered degree there but the increase in numbers and the fact (for some reason) that you don’t get 1-1 singing lessons in year 1 or some of the guest tutors, and the fact that she just totally fell in love with Wilkes, gave her the oomph to move. As said before, Performers isn’t a problem location wise at all, I don’t know people keep saying that. Part of me wonders if they visit from the country lane end as a lot say it is in the middle of nowhere, but turn left out the gate and there is a whole town on the doorstep with Basildon not far away.
Wilkes is very different, they are currently still fairly small compared to Performers/Bird/Urdang but definitely seem to have the drive and motivation they do. They are what I would call a ‘funky’ college, quite young and with it, not traditional in the slightest and they have some great ‘different’ lessons like tv presenting (using I’m a Celeb script), gymnastics, aerial plus others and have 1-1 singing lessons, plus great tutors. Everyone knows each other’s names and it is super friendly, Jonny Wilkes also has some great connections so even though they are fairly new compared to some colleges, I don’t think it’s taken them long to catch up.
I don’t know how people are choosing this year, I know if dd hadn’t visited Wilkes that she will quite likely now still be at Performers as it was the ‘vibe’ she got at the audition that made her fall in love with Wilkes. Hopefully some of these posts will help a little bit xx

Thank you for this....as we think it is between these two now for us. Performers because she knows it as attends their Elite programme and knows Emma Rogers and some tutors etc...and Wilkes as it seems new and quite exciting and smaller, but we haven't had a chance to attend in person. We may drive up just to view the area etc....and get a feel if we can. We know some students at both too so have been sounding them out.

[lawn]

So just an update from my end - DD received an email from Bird today advising she has been put on the reserve list, she’s on the list for Wilkes who closed their auditions yesterday so hopefully will hear soon from them. DD said she knows a few friends who have heard back from Lipa for next round. Aghhh this waiting is soo hard. Anyone else had any news ?

Hi I do know someone on the Wilkes wait list has been told they'll hear by the end of April...which does make us feel guilty for not deciding yet, as some are waiting for the others to decline places etc....but I guess it's constantly moving up.
Bird won't tell anyone until end of June....so although we are on their reserve list DD has decided she doesn't want to go there so that's fine. It is too long for us to wait anyway.

Completely understand your daughter's viewpoint re Bird. Every year their reserve list on here is legendary. When the auditioning for 20xx threads are still running well into the summer, I'm sure it's due to the later Bird offers.

My daughter has received a degree offer from Central. She's in 2 minds as it's not the course she applied to, it's one they came back to her about. She's also got some foundation offers including being on the reserve list at Rose Bruford and Read college. Rose Bruford have told her they'll be no decision till June/July, which is too long to wait if you've got alternatives to consider. We have a weekend of deliberation in front of us, but whatever she decides, I think she's done incredibly well in a season of no face to face auditions and with her training/education very much affected in this past year considering she's an actor first and auditioned when she was still 17 and the acting courses frequently want them older.

[hauckcat12]

Is anyone going to LSC? Not much discussion happening. Dd is going and it would be nice to hear of others

[dancelifemum]

Is anyone going to LSC? Not much discussion happening. Dd is going and it would be nice to hear of others

No we didn't apply as we attended the open day last year but there is a large top up implication in fees for the degree course. We did found their filming requirements to be the most lengthy....and by then we had offers and it was our last one so we didn't end up doing it. I think choosing the pathway before starting is quite tricky too although she did like the sound of Jazz company etc....