tutoo2much Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Sorry if this information is out there, but I didn't find it with a basic search. Looking at plan b, c and d......... How do universities view candidates who have got 2 A levels and a dance diploma, rather than 3 or 4 A levels? Or even 2 or 3 a levels and a dance b tech level 3? I am thinking about more selective universities, such as the Russell group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Have a look at the Russell Group Informed Choices booklet. It has lots of advice. http://www.russellgroup.org/informedchoices-latest.pdf Many Russell Group universities don't accept vocational diplomas & you need to have at least two facilitating subjects. For certain subject areas you need to have certain A levels as well. It's going to be a real dilemma for dd at 16 as the maximum A levels she can do at her current school is 2. To keep her options open for her back up plan she needs 2 science & a third facilitating subject. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2dancersmum Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 I think this is quite a complicated area as there are so many variables - not the least if you are applying before taking A levels or after obtaining them. The biggest factor though is probably the subject/course you wish to study. Russell group usually base offers on 3 A levels as standard but it is by course not university that other combinations are accepted. Many courses have specific requirements for subjects that must have been studied - eg for engineering all courses my son applied for asked for A level maths (& gave grade needed) + 2 other subjects - some asked for 1 of these other 2 to be a science. Some universities interview those candidates that meet the entry requirements in a more unconventional way. DDs friend took 2 A levels + level 3 btec dance. Her back up at 18 when applying for dance courses was a nursing degree. Her A levels were biology and chemistry. She took 1 A level in year 12 and 1 in year 13 so one grade was known at time of application. She received offers from all the universities she applied for. For your own research, I think you need to look by subject/course for any university that is of interest. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twinkletoes Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 most russell groups now require 3 alevels and the top ones won't accept the qualifications such as RAD advanced 1 which can carry UCAS points it will depend on the course the DD is looking for the new universities will take the alternative qualifications and allow you to build points from those and alevels 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutoo2much Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 Ok. It sounds like at if you go away at 16 to train, you start to narrow your options quite a bit if dancing doesn't work out. (In terms of Russell group) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harwel Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 To me, this is why Tring is so appealing. The academics are built into the timetable, and they seem to manage 3 A levels if they are academic. The kids must work really hard to achieve that and their dancing - that has to look good on a university application. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aileen Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 The choice of A Levels is presumably limited at most vocational schools too. I don't know how students at vocational schools manage 3 A Levels as students at non-vocational schools are expected to put in several hours of study for each subject each week outside the lessons. At my son's sixth form information evening we were told very clearly that students should be discouraged from socialising during the week and that if students went out on a Friday evening they would have to make up the work over the weekend. We have also been told (not actually by the school) that students find A Levels a big leap up from GCSEs. The AS Levels come round very quickly and they are crucially important for university admissions, as well as for final A Level grades. It's no longer possible to resit AS Levels in the January of Year 13. They can only be resat along with the A Levels, which is obviously not ideal. Year 12 is no longer the fun year that it was when I was at school and it was known as the Lower Sixth! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 That's interesting Aileen because at the very academic private school ds will go to (best a level results in the county) they say the opposite. They encourage social & extra curricular activities (though by social they mean things like CCF & D of E not going to the pub) & they encourage participation in performing arts & sports out of school at a high level. Two girls dd was in panto with were given permission to take time off for panto for two months during their upper 6th year. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 I think it is such a loss to students, Aileen. My Lower Sixth year was wonderful. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutoo2much Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 From this point of view, the Tring timetable looks very good. It must be extremely hard work though, not that the ability to work hard isn't something that serious dancers have acquired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harwel Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 My nephew has just gone off to medical school and as you can imagine, has a very impressive range of GCSEs and A levels. Throughout all of that he played sport to a high level, was on the student council for the Olympic games, did numerous volunteer work and seemed to party each weekend. I know he was extremely disciplined but I am sure that being able to 'switch off' from academia is crucial for long term success and makes for a well rounded person. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Some pupils I have known who were at Tring did not apply for Uni in Upper 6th, but did so the following year. Those with 3 A levels, already knew their results and could go ahead, but at least one dancer went to a cramming college to take extra A-levels in one year. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meadowblythe Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 I'm not sure that it is completely black and white - I have known students following exclusively btech courses get offers from Durham, for example. And this was for law. And this is personal experience (not mine but a close friend). Meadowblythe 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutoo2much Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 I suppose the bottom line is that you don't know for sure until you apply for a particular course at a particular university and get a yes or no! Maybe a tiny bit like an audition? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliepops Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 The University websites course pages are a mine of information and will usually contain details of the minimum qualifications and grades required to apply for a particular course eg A levels, B tech, International Baccalaureate along with UCAS points if applicable, as well as specific additional requirements eg IELTS , BMAT, STEP etc which a course may demand. Admissions tutors are there to field questions of this type, (I've personally found them to be friendly - Russell Group and Oxbridge) so I would suggest getting in touch now with any Uni you are thinking you might apply to. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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