2012 DRAMA SCHOOL APPLICATIONS

[Genevieve]

If there's nothing in the post tomorrow will get DD to ring and see what's going on ... it does seem a little strange based on other people's experience

how many days have lapsed since her audition ?
my dd and 5 people she knows all got letters 2 days after their audition saying either way.

[sapphire]

It will be exactly one week tomorrow .... but they did specifically tell her not to panic if she didn't hear from them immediately

She is in school tomorrow working on her A level drama devised piece, but will probably give them a call on Wednesday if nothing has come by then just to make sure it hasn't got lost in the post. She has just booked an audition for LAMDA in Liverpool for the end of March and then has CSSD at Easter ...

[sapphire]

Well done to your DD on her offer from Central as well When did she have her audition there?

[Genevieve]

It will be exactly one week tomorrow .... but they did specifically tell her not to panic if she didn't hear from them immediately

thats ok then - the delay could be because its a busy period because of the deadline for applications- they get such a deluge nearer it gets to the deadline - so everything takes longer to process - and auditioning still too - i'd leave it until the end of the week,give them a call beginning of next week if no news.

[sapphire]

Finally heard from RADA ... a very nice personal letter, but sadly a no for the BA Acting course "on this occasion" but a recall for the foundation course ... all thoughts and opinions on the RADA Foundation course would be much appreciated. It is a LOT of money and does not qualify for a student loan ...

[Nicola]

oh no, what a shame.

Did she apply for the foundation course as well? Can you find out what the stats are on people's next move after the foundation course (ie - do a large percentage get onto the BA couse?) After all, if they were happy to take her on for that course, it wouldn't reflect well on them if she didn't make it in again next year, would it?

[sapphire]

Not sure what I think about Foundation Courses in general TBH All of the schools do them, but obviously not all of the foundation students go on to get onto the full time course the following year or no-one else would ever get in anywhere!!! I seem to remember from the LIPA open day that around 75% on the foundation course students go onto full time training at LIPA and elsewhere. There are no stats on the RADA website, but definitely a question to ask when she's down there.

One benefit I can see is that it does give you a feel of whether or not you could stick 3 years of full-time vocational training and living in London. I think she will definitely go for the audition and see what happens from there. LAMDA and CSSD auditions still to come in April ... it's a time-comsuming and stressful business this drama school auditioning

[Welsh Mum]

The main problem I have with Foundation courses is the cost - usually more expensive than the 3 yr degree course, and as you say no loan etc. When my DD applied we decided that they wouldn't be an option for that reason - we just couldn't have afforded it. She was also worried about the standard of the Foundation courses, though you should be safe with RADA . In the end my Dd did a gap year rather than a Foundation courses - earning much needed money while still building her skills etc - and that worked out for us.

Good luck with the rest of the auditions - I remember them well, such a stressful time.

When is your DDS Central audition? Feel free tp PM me if you want any info in that regard.

[sapphire]

Thanks Welshmum ... my gut feeling is that DD would also benefit from a gap year rather than doing a foundation course. She has had to turn down lots of opportunities this year because of her school work! Central isn't until mid-April ... she wanted to keep that one right until the very end to give it her best shot

[shortguy]

When my DS was doing the rounds of auditions was most surprised to hear on numerous occasions those that had done foundations not getting onto the degree course at the same place.

[tikka]

Really interesting and exciting reading through this thread. Well done everyone. I'm routing for everyone, even though i don't know any of you!

DS will be needing to decide what to do this time next year - can anyone recommend a link that gives you the info on where you can study for an acting degree without having to trawl through hundreds of different sites?

thanks
Tikka

[sapphire]

Info on all the accredited courses is available here: http://www.ncdt.co.uk/

There are other unis doing Acting and Performance courses, but my understanding is that these courses are not as highly thought of then the ncdt accredited ones

What is your DS hoping to study?

[tikka]

Thanks Sapphire.

I had no idea about the 'accredited ' bit, so I'm glad I found out now so plenty of time to think it all through. I hadn't realised that there was such a perceived difference in 'value'! He was sort of thinking of trying for Bath Spa, as its down the road, but maybe not now.

He is currently doing a 2 year full time acting BTEC and has said he'd like to continue studying acting at Uni/Drama school, but as its 18 months away its difficult to think about just yet..... or is it?

tikka

[sapphire]

DD was very interested in Bath Spa as well, but decided to focus this year on just accredited courses. If she ends up taking a gap year, I think that she will probably apply there though.

[tikka]

I was quite surprised to discover that, for example, UWE don't do auditions for their Drama degree, and you don't need to have done any drama before either, it just goes on UCAS points from any subjects, whilst Bath Spa go on an audition.

Is it possible to find a list of the unis doing the unacredited courses ie acting degrees, rather than drama degrees?