How many colleges should you visit the open day for?

[Katymac]

DD is hoping to go Sept 14, so ages off yet

But one of her teachers suggested doing some (4) open days this year & some (again 4) next year so she doesn't miss too much of her GCSEs next year

I did not visit that many universities (but that was 25 years ago)

So is this good advice?

[suesmith]

Hi - very new to this forum but in same postion as you, DD wanting to go 2014 just starting GCSE's year 10.

My DD intesrested in Urdang/Laine/Bird...........Laine don't hold open day? A friend went through this last year and said she got a bit bogged down with the open days, some good others not as good but her DD still ended up auditioning at most of them probably important to keep options open! Think its well worth trying to attend some of the end of year showcases as you get a good idea of overall standard. I know for our DD's its still a little way off but like you think its a good idea to do a bit of research now to save quite so much of a panic next year!

[2dancersmum]

Looking at some in year 10 is probably a good idea as year 11 is a very busy hectic year. How many as with many things I think comes down to finances and how busy you are. My DD did a couple of 1 day workshops in year 10 and 2 audition insight days early year 11, all at places she liked the sound of but didn't know anyone who had been there. We also managed to catch an end of year show at another college, held at a theatre so she didn't see the actual college. A few places she was determined to audition at from the outset and we purposely did not visit those as money and time was tight and we knew we would see the college at the audition. Afterall they do still need keep up their dance and their GCSEs whilst all this is going on and cannot let their standards in either slip.

I would reccommend doing at least one audition insight day/pre audition day at one of the colleges as most of the information given/routine is fairly general and will apply to the audition process at anywhere you actually apply. Laine certainly do this type of 1 day course and personally my DD got more from one of these than a general open day.

[FelixGirl]

I complete agree with 2dancersmum.....we only visited 6...either as open days or end of year/degree shows or audition insight/workshop days, and we started at the end of Year 9, so I would definitely recommend starting early. It's tough having to keep standards up across the board (DD took 8 dance exams in Year 11 alongside GCSEs, auditions and funding recalls), and we were relieved when she narrowed her audition list from 12 to 4 (which also saved us a huge amount of money!!).

We also found Move it! to be a great source of information all in one place....the ability to do classes with some of the college teachers, talk to the students and watch the shows gave DD a much firmer idea of where she wanted to go......if you haven't been, I would really recommend it!

[Katymac]

I have Move-it on my 'list of things to do'

I'm quite worried about the 'going away from home so young' bit as well; I think I'll need counselling

[Welsh Mum]

My Dd was going for Acting/MT courses at 18 so a bit different, but she didn't atend any Open Days It was down to cost - living a long way away meant that even just auditions for courses (plus recalls) was really high, so we just couldn't fit "extras" into our budget

However, the good news is that she is now 2 thirds of the way through her course and loving it

I wouldn't advise this, but just wanted to reassure others that if you can't do many don't worry.

[FelixGirl]

Cost is a major factor! We are South London based, and we didn't visit any of the Northern colleges/schools simply because of the cost and time, so I can imagine what the financial implications must have been for you WelshMum!! And that's just the Open days and auditions!!

In the end, we actually had to tell DD that if she wasn't able to live at home, she wouldn't be able to go to college at all....even with a DaDA! We simply couldn't afford the boarding cost, spending money, parental contributions and extras and any travelling!! I do feel bad for her that she isn't experiencing the whole move away from home bit, but we do live a "longish" commute from her college.....and, selfishly, I have her at home for a bit longer!!

On the plus side, she started about 3 weeks ago and is absolutely loving it. She cannot believe her luck in being able to dance all day, every day....oh...and with singing and acting thrown in too!! The hours are really long - (8.30am - 7pm!!) and its hard work, but she says the days fly by, and arrives home on a high every night!

[Katymac]

We are lucky, because DH is retired from London Underground we get very cheap train travel which makes a massive difference. Plus I guess we are used to rushing round the country to attend comps so it's really not much different (well I guess the open days will entail less luggage - not Ballroom dress for a start!)

Hey maybe I can swing that "we are going to open days so we have to do less comps"?

I think I want to minimise the auditions as much as possible; we have been asked to attend an audition at a school - so we will definitely do that one & then maybe 3 more; does that sound reasonable?

It feels so odd sacrificing the uni fund for dance


How wonderful for your DD Felixgirl!

[riverdancefan]

Katymac
Are you looking for a 2 year dance course 16-18?
Ie millennium , urdang etc ?
Or any other favourites ?

[FelixGirl]

I think they're mostly 3 year courses?? (The Diploma courses DD looked at were all 3 years....Urdang, Bird and Laines). And then they have the option to take the 1 year degree conversion after they've finished! Xx

[Katymac]

That's what we're looking at Urdang, Laine, Bird & Performers; but I like the Italia Conti course a lot because of the teaching bit

It's all very confusing for parents who were anticipating 'English' , Chemical Engineering' or 'Naval Architecture' at a uni

[Katymac]

Also there are a limited number of places at all these school and are we being over confident (is the word Vainglorious?) to assume our children will get in

Should we be looking at the local 6th form college; are London top school out of our league?

[FelixGirl]

There are a limited number of places.......but DD felt she had as much of a chance as anyone else...and I don't think her teachers would have let her audition if she really wasn't good enough. You've just need the confidence to give it a go...If you don't try, you'll never know!!

Having said that, we did have a Plan B (and C!!)......in case she didn't get anywhere!

[Katymac]

Were either of them A levels? Or are there other plans I can't visualise?

[FelixGirl]

Yes! Plan B was the Brit School (which is just down the road), but she stll had to audition there, so no guarantee of a place! And C was another local college for A levels (and she could always have stayed on at school to do her A levels!!). Whichever of these she took though, she was determined to keep auditioning for college until she got in!!