Exhausteddancemum

11 minutes ago, ballet_mam said:

We got the below "no".  I wasn't surprised at the no but was surprised at the positive feedback in the sense that I didn't think feedback like that was given.  Wondering if this is just the standard "no" letter?

 

We are unfortunately unable to offer you a place this year, but the panel felt you responded very well to the audition class and would be very interested in seeing you again at next year’s auditions, as they felt you could be a good fit for the programme in future. Junior Associate auditions will open again in late February.

I think it’s the standard letter, we had it twice! Saying that however she then went on to get a Yes on her third and final attempt in Year 6. 

13 hours ago, Dancemum19 said:

Wow... all I can say!! Awful communication...! I have only had one email that was the first zoom meeting and heard nothing since or nothing about the funding!! I will be ringing next week? Does anyone no if they are off this week? Thank you!!!

Email the principal directly (her email is on website) not sure if they’re in or out but there are some replies coming this week. 

13 hours ago, starsmum said:

Hi.

I really pushed for an answer and I got an email on Saturday to say all MDS have been allocated and we didn't qualify for funding and needed to let them know by today if my D was still starting in September self funded. I have asked for more details so haven't responded yet 😢

We’ve been told the same just yesterday. Disappointing but time to move on for us. Would love to make it happen but it’s just impossible. 

Does anyone know if there is any chance of MDS at this point? Refusing to give up hope but realise it’s getting increasingly unlikely. We also had no information about the meeting so am worried this means we’ve been taken off lists. 

Whereabouts are you based? There’s some adult classes in Stockport/Buxton? 

I didn’t take it as a definite no for ever, I’m just presuming they’ve offered some MDS already and they’ll rank everyone else based on their audition scores and then start a waiting list I suppose. Some of the kids they offered MDS too that we knew have also been offered places at Tring & are into the finals at RBS & Elmhurst so I suppose there will be movement. But yes it’s very hard because as you say when they’ve personally kept them behind and given them lovely compliments the pupil is all geed up and even more excited and thinks it’s even more likely they’ll get to go and this forum alone is showing us that actually they’ve said the same to quite a few others and so chances are realistically quite limited. 

11 hours ago, Dancing.shoes said:

Crikey! So some people were told explicitly that they would be offered funding there and then?! 
I was hoping being offered a place on same day of auditions would mean a funded place. Hopefully letters will come out soon! 
 

I hoped the same but personal contacts & some social media observation made it clear that people just ahead of my daughter had been offered MDS scheme and we had a vague “funding will be explained” in a letter statement. At least it meant we could prepare her for realistic worst case  

3 hours ago, Dancing.shoes said:

Did they offer a place with funding on the same day as auditions? Or just a place with no mention of funding? 

As far as I could work out they did both - kept some children behind & sent others home. Of those they kept (about 7-8) I think on our day they then called them in 1 by 1. The first few were offered MDS funded places, the last group were offered immediate places but no funding offer. Just a wait for a letter funding. 

We got the letter to apply for funding and interpreted that as everyone would get it and then they’d start a waiting list? But not sure why we thought that! 

3 minutes ago, tutugirl said:

But the auditions haven’t finished yet so how can they rank them and already give out MDS ?

Hypothetically the last audition might have 12 outstanding candidates .

I don’t know but at my daughters audition they offered MDS to the first 4- we found out because we knew 3 of them. And that was one of the earliest January auditions. Don’t know how many they’ll have total 

5 hours ago, Starboymom said:

Hi they send you an email if you’re accepted but email does not mention funding. Still trying to find out if my ds has funding or not. I’m finding trying to communicate with the school quite difficult. 

Me too! I’ve sent enough emails I’m on verge of annoying myself now! But the email offering the place offered no guidance at all about funding. I know some people got told on the day that they had funding but we weren’t told anything. Not sure what that means  

2 hours ago, Betty’s mum said:

If I remember, re The Hammond, if you get a place offer you get invited for MDS audition & funding is offered following that. They have a limited number of MDS’s but I believe often more than Tring (have no idea why they differ) my my DD joined I think they had 7 to offer that year.. good luck @Exhausteddancemumas it is a lovely school. 

Thank you so much! My daughter was really impressed by it and now has heart set on it 🤦🏼‍♀️ I have explained it’s practically unlikely to happen as such limited MDS places. I know they offered some on the audition day but was trying to work out of there was an slim possibility there were some left to still try for  

5 hours ago, Crazylife said:

It depends upon which school you are applying for - some offer MDS to all students and some only have a limited amount of funds. The MDS is then means tested. Which school are you waiting to hear from?

Hammond would be the first choice? V new to all this. Have searched the tags but still realise what I’m really trying to do is crystal ball gazing on whether she’d be chosen and not sure how the whole system works! 

Does anyone know how likely or when students might hear about MDS grants? If they get an offer or yes how does it work? 

Well I never thought I’d get to post a positive story but after two years of straight No’s (No wait list/no onlines just no’s) my daughter actually got a Yes for Y6 Manchester! So if you’re reading this disappointed as I have been previously then take heart ❤️ and if you’re near a Ballet Boost associate class try out for them because they’ve made all the difference to my daughter I think. Well

done to all the Yes’s and it really is not the door closing if your daughter is disappointed this year x 

It’s a no for my daughter  oh well! 

We got a no for Manchester  second no! 

Still waiting for views here 🤦🏼‍♀️ Feeling like we’ve bee rejected on photos alone but in that case wish the video audition had been optional or they’d been clear about the photo importance! 

4 hours ago, PurplePirouette said:

That’s good to hear @In at the deep end, thanks for that. ☺️
 

I think @Sassydancer, @Exhausteddancemum and @SarahT were still waiting on views, have you had any since last posting?
 

One thing is for sure, everyday is one day closer to knowing🤷🏻‍♀️ 

We’re still waiting! Beginning to give up hope of them ever being watched to be honest! I submitted only hours before original deadline so not sure if that affected it 🤦🏼‍♀️

10 hours ago, Pinkandwhite said:

So our videos haven’t been viewed at all yet. Is anyone else still waiting for a view? 
do you think they will carry on viewing through Half term or do you think we will have to wait for it to resume after half term? 

We haven’t had any at all! 

Still waiting for views here (Manchester)

Oh gosh how frustrating I was still doing the form late last night & I could have redone the photos I’ve been stressing about it I’d known!

How strict do you think they’ll be on the photos? We definitely didn’t get as good as her teachers could have got out of her  I always feel guilt when I seem to have the key role in the application process 🤦🏼‍♀️ I just can’t see the tweaks! 

It’s the same video as last time though isn’t it :( so huge cost, photos, no actual audition experience and more exhausting videos to record! Was really looking forward to trying again this year with my 8 year old but both of us feel pretty despondent at the video experience again!

It looks like Year 4 & 5 will be video auditions next year too for the huge price of £65  or am I misreading their website?!