invisiblecircus Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Not sure if you can do an MA in a subject you've not done a BA in? You certainly can. Obviously you need to demonstrate that you are capable of working at the required level but that's true even if you have a BA in the subject! Of the people I know who have done an MA, I think well over half did not have a BA in the same subject. I know one who did an MA without having a BA and another who did a PhD with a Bachelor in a different subject (no MA.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmieDancer Posted June 3, 2015 Author Share Posted June 3, 2015 Wow thank you for all of your responses! I've never thought about doing an MA in English actually- only the other way round! I shall definitely look into this. Thank you Sue Brett, good luck to your dd as well! Warwick is one of my top choices for an English degree so it's good to know that there is a lot of dance there! I will have to make my decision shortly though as we have to apply in a few months. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aileen Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 I do wonder whether teachers would need to have an undergraduate degree in the subject that they plan to teach though as Masters degrees are often quite specialised and usually involve a lengthy dissertation. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmieDancer Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share Posted June 4, 2015 That's what I thought too aileen; I googled some masters courses and some of them said you required a 2.1 degree in English or a related subject whilst others just required a degree. I'm not sure how difficult the masters in English would be if I haven't done the undergraduate degree though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcoom75 Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 have you thought about doing s combined honours degree studying education with dance? something my DD considered do she could qualify as a teacher but with a dance specialism. http://www.hope.ac.uk/undergraduate/undergraduatecourses/danceandeducation/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmieDancer Posted June 8, 2015 Author Share Posted June 8, 2015 I haven't thought of that, kcoom75, I will look into that thank you! I think the reason I'm finding this so difficult is because I feel that whichever option I choose, I will be letting at least one person down. If I choose dance, I will let down my mum, my English teacher, my best friend and everyone from my past schools that have told my mum I'm 'too intelligent' to do a dance degree purely because I'm predicted 4 A's for my AS Levels. But if I choose English, I will let down my dance teacher at college and my ballet teacher who I look up to more than anyone and who really wants me to do dance. Having to decide is literally driving my insane and I really don't want to let anyone down!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 Remember this is about you! You can't make everyone else happy you have to think hard about what will make you happy. Whatever you decide you must not think you are letting anyone down. Having to decide what to study post A levels is hard so good luck with your research and decision. Try to get to some university open days and chat to the lecturers for the courses that interest you. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harwel Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 I used to be livid when academic teachers told me I was too intelligent to dance! What I think of that comment can't be written on a public forum - it's your life you must follow your passion. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hfbrew Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 I used to be livid when academic teachers told me I was too intelligent to dance! What I think of that comment can't be written on a public forum - it's your life you must follow your passion.My Ballet teacher said I was too intelligent to dance. Probably the one thing said that sealed it for me! Dance I did and 35 years on no regrets. Anyway, back to topic. Amiedancer, what do YOU want to do? In the process of trying to please other people please don't let yourself down.All of the options seem good to me but you must do what feels right for you. I've seen too many try the path laid down for them by others only to ultimately stray away from it.Others complete the path and regret not following their own dreams for the rest of their lives. Believe me that no parent or indeed decent teacher wants this for their charges. I hope that you are able to talk to people about this, maybe show them this thread! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmieDancer Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 Thank you so much for all of your answers, it's nice to know I'm not the only one being told this! I really really love English and I think I would enjoy it as a degree but dance is my passion and the one thing I can't live without, which sounds so cliché! Having an unpredictable career scares me a lot as I like to have everything planned out and I really don't want to end up in the position where I'm not earning any money as being a ballet teacher is only a part time job, but dance is what I love. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harwel Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Maybe the answer is not to make the decision right now. Can you apply to English courses and the BA at RAD, investigate the certificate in teaching studies and how you could do that alongside an English degree (if possible) and let the the decision come to you a little bit. See what offers you get, visit the Universities you're interested in and see what you feel when you are there. Your career is a long time, you may start off one way and then change and develop and it turns into something else. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hfbrew Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Thank you so much for all of your answers, it's nice to know I'm not the only one being told this! I really really love English and I think I would enjoy it as a degree but dance is my passion and the one thing I can't live without, which sounds so cliché! Having an unpredictable career scares me a lot as I like to have everything planned out and I really don't want to end up in the position where I'm not earning any money as being a ballet teacher is only a part time job, but dance is what I love. Just to say that being a Ballet teacher has only ever been a full time job for me!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate_N Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 (edited) It's your life, and your future. In my university department we get a lot of kids who are under this sort of pressure. The compromise is that they are doing a humanities & creativity-oriented degree in a "good" university -- I've always taught in that grouping known as the "Russell Group." It's basically just a grouping of elite universities, which are research led, and expect very high standards from their students. We push them hard, but they can do it. And parents are happy because it's a Russell Group/good university. (My department is regularly in the top 5 for our subject). You need to have a good talk with your parents: where did they go to university? If you're heading for 4 As at AS, then you are likely to achieve the AAB/ABB that will get you in to most "good" universities. AND -- you need to have a good think about the way you want dance in your life. Is it realistic to aim for some sort of professional-level dance training? Did you ever audition for a vocational school? Are you in that league? The hard truth is, that if you are not in that league, then you need to focus on doing as well as you can in dance, but balance it with academic achievement. That balance will give you freedom to choose. And you can still dance -- I"m 56 and I still do class 3-4 days a week when I can get the classes. If I had access to the classes, I'd do class 6 days a week ... Caveat: I'm afraid I see too much bad teaching from amateur ballet teachers -- my own view is that just progressing through the RAD (or equivalent) vocational grades is not enough to become a dance teacher. I think that good teachers need a lot of training as dancers - preferably professional -- then as pedagogues. But that's just my view. Edited June 9, 2015 by Kate_N 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amum/Cathy Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 (edited) It's your life, and your future. In my university department we get a lot of kids who are under this sort of pressure. The compromise is that they are doing a humanities & creativity-oriented degree in a "good" university -- I've always taught in that grouping known as the "Russell Group." It's basically just a grouping of elite universities, which are research led, and expect very high standards from their students. We push them hard, but they can do it. And parents are happy because it's a Russell Group/good university. (My department is regularly in the top 5 for our subject). AmieDancer my ds is going through the same issues. He is going to open days at (mostly Russell Group) universities that offer Liberal Arts degrees where he can major/minor in History/drama (or the other way round.) Some of the universities would let you do English/Dance within this degree. The dance is not ballet though! The grades asked vary from AAB to A*AA. Some of these places are cities where you can find high standard adult ballet classes mentioned in another thread in this forum. My son doesn't feel strongly enough about ballet to have your dilemma, but musical theatre is another matter - he is looking into one or two well regarded musical theatre degrees as well. Please don't try and please everyone. And do enjoy researching all the exciting possibilities there are out there for you! Cathy edited to correct some typos Edited June 9, 2015 by amum/Cathy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 When I first started my own ballet school I made the mistake of trying to please everyone - you can't. So now my philosophy is to do what I think is right for me - then at least one person will be pleased! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O`Brien Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 (edited) I would echo what everyone else on here has said. At the end of the day it is YOUR life,not anyone else`s. You have to do what is right for you. Edited June 9, 2015 by Lisa O`Brien 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmieDancer Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 Maybe the answer is not to make the decision right now. Can you apply to English courses and the BA at RAD, investigate the certificate in teaching studies and how you could do that alongside an English degree (if possible) and let the the decision come to you a little bit. See what offers you get, visit the Universities you're interested in and see what you feel when you are there. Your career is a long time, you may start off one way and then change and develop and it turns into something else. Yeah I think that's what I'm going to do, I've just got to wait a bit and see what feels right. I also need to visit the universities to get a feel for them all and hopefully that will help me to decide! It's your life, and your future. In my university department we get a lot of kids who are under this sort of pressure. The compromise is that they are doing a humanities & creativity-oriented degree in a "good" university -- I've always taught in that grouping known as the "Russell Group." It's basically just a grouping of elite universities, which are research led, and expect very high standards from their students. We push them hard, but they can do it. And parents are happy because it's a Russell Group/good university. (My department is regularly in the top 5 for our subject). You need to have a good talk with your parents: where did they go to university? If you're heading for 4 As at AS, then you are likely to achieve the AAB/ABB that will get you in to most "good" universities. AND -- you need to have a good think about the way you want dance in your life. Is it realistic to aim for some sort of professional-level dance training? Did you ever audition for a vocational school? Are you in that league? The hard truth is, that if you are not in that league, then you need to focus on doing as well as you can in dance, but balance it with academic achievement. That balance will give you freedom to choose. And you can still dance -- I"m 56 and I still do class 3-4 days a week when I can get the classes. If I had access to the classes, I'd do class 6 days a week ... Caveat: I'm afraid I see too much bad teaching from amateur ballet teachers -- my own view is that just progressing through the RAD (or equivalent) vocational grades is not enough to become a dance teacher. I think that good teachers need a lot of training as dancers - preferably professional -- then as pedagogues. But that's just my view. I know that my mum didn't go to uni because she did vocational nursing degrees however my dad went to Manchester and then Warwick for post grad which is why they want me to aim for an academic course as they know I will probably be able to get the grades. I never auditioned for any vocational training as I was too old by the time I realised that I loved dance more than anything so maybe it might be better for me to do an English degree?? AmieDancer my ds is going through the same issues. He is going to open days at (mostly Russell Group) universities that offer Liberal Arts degrees where he can major/minor in History/drama (or the other way round.) Some of the universities would let you do English/Dance within this degree. The dance is not ballet though! The grades asked vary from AAB to A*AA. Some of these places are cities where you can find high standard adult ballet classes mentioned in another thread in this forum. My son doesn't feel strongly enough about ballet to have your dilemma, but musical theatre is another matter - he is looking into one or two well regarded musical theatre degrees as well. Please don't try and please everyone. And do enjoy researching all the exciting possibilities there are out there for you! Cathy edited to correct some typos Thank you, it's nice to know I'm not alone! I think I'm going to do some more research and then let the answer come to me. Good luck to your ds! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate_N Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 (edited) Amie, I think it's great that you're thinking so carefully about what you want to do over the next 5 years. Take it step by step, and work smart (as well as moderately hard!) so that you keep as many options open as possible. The other thing I was thinking -- you could look at a Drama or Theatre Studies course at a "good" university. Not a drama school or conservatoire (equivalent of vocational dance training), but a BA Hons. At some universities (generally the older more established ones you're thinking about) it can be very like an English degree. Some universities allow you to do combined Honours in Drama and English. Some places to look at where there'd be good ballet as well would include: Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow, Royal Holloway (only 40 minutes to central London), Manchester. You'd then be able to do some performing work, and probably dance or choreography as part of your course. I know several drama/theatre departments include dance, although not necessarily in their title. If you go to each department's website (go beyond the UCAS stuff) you can look at the expertise of academic staff, and also see the module options open to students. Most drama degrees offer some sort of dance/movement option. By the way, no need to answer my questions online in public -- they're just things for you to think about! I don't want to seem too inquisitive or get you to say too much online. Good luck, and what I've learned from seeing several generations of undergraduates over the last 20 years is that people always get to where they need to go, but sometimes, not by the route they expected. Edited June 11, 2015 by Kate_N 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmieDancer Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 Hi everyone, I realise that this is a VERY old thread but I thought that maybe some of you would be interested to know the decision I've reached. After completing my UCAS form etc, I am very excited to have received an unconditional offer from UEA (University of East Anglia) to study English Literature which I have now accepted☺️ Thanks to all of your help, I decided that an English degree would be best for me as at UEA I am still able to participate in a huge amount of dance which will allow me to keep it up! I'm also now looking into going into English teaching which was something I had never considered before. So basically I just want to thank you all as you were all extremely helpful! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Congratulations Amie - that seems to have worked out well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Congratulations Amie. What lovely news. Do investigate DanceEast, they often have adult workshops at weekends that are easily accessible from Norwich on the train. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O`Brien Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Great news,Amie. I`m delighted for you. Do keep us informed of how you`re getting on from time to time ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O`Brien Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 BTW,I don`t know if you know of it or are interested,but there is a UK based website called The Student Room that is a great source of information for [mostly] university students; especially popular is each university`s own page,where you can get to know people at your uni and even on the same course,before you all start. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dance*is*life Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 (edited) Thank you so much for letting us know what you decided on - it's so nice to hear the happy end of the story! With regard to the theory that dancers don't need to use their brains - when I left my grammar school to go to a full time performing arts day school, my headmistress remonstrated with me - " But you won't be able to go on to university from there - what will you do if you don't succeed as a dancer?" With all the naivety of a 12 year old, I informed her that I could always be a housewife!!!! As it happened I did get a degree through the RAD when I was 50! And I got it with First Class Honours. I was always rather sorry that it was too late to flaunt that in my Head's face! Oh and a recent survey found that dancing protects you more than any other activity from getting Alzheimer's - why? Simply because it uses more of the brain than anything! Edited March 10, 2016 by Dance*is*life 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate_N Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Congratulations! UEA is an excelle t university and the English Department is top-notch (I know several of the academic staff there). Have a wonderful time in September starting university (I always get nostalgic at Freshers Week time ... lost youth .... ) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Lovely news! Congratulations. Enjoy the course and keep dancing. :-) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aileen Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Regarding The Student Room website, you can ask questions and seek information on the sub-site for each university. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Link to The Student Room website: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmieDancer Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 Thank you all so much! I'm very excited and will definitely be checking out local dance classes☺️ Also thanks for the student room link- it's extremely helpful!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Well done and good luck, AmieDancer. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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