wow, my application was only off a week ago and ive had one conditional offer froma uni already and a letter from another saying im a strong candidate and inviting me to go and see them!

i never expected it so quick i didnt even think i would get any offers!!

wow!!! congrats! u are so lucky!!

fab work!

Congratulations Natalie! That's great!

Well done Nat... I told you so

well...many congrats.... i'm sure this won't happen to me next year...

Ahem... Liebe_Klavier, looking at your GCSE results last year, I wouldn't say that! Not only are you really good at your instruments but you have really good GCSEs which probably means you will get good A-levels too, and get into university... and remember, your music exams count for UCAS points!

Well done Nat, that's such a confidence booster isn't it?

Well done Nat, you really do deserve this!

QUOTE (carys @ Nov 6 2004, 07:14 PM)

Well done Nat, that's such a confidence booster isn't it?

yeah its made me feel as if i am good at something and that people do want me!

You better believe it Nat !


M

Good for you. Nat!

Congrats Nat, it looks like your msn screen name was true! Your dreams will come true...

QUOTE (Subatomic_Star @ Nov 6 2004, 09:41 PM)

Your dreams will come true...

they will, i'll make sure of it!

QUOTE (cecilia @ Nov 6 2004, 06:59 PM)

Not only are you really good at your instruments but you have really good GCSEs which probably means you will get good A-levels too, and get into university...

i do hope so.....

Well done,Clarinetlover, from the both of us!

i couldnt make the date one of the uni's gave me to go and see them, so they gave me another one. they said even if i couldnt make any of them they would still offer me a place!

wow people actually want me!!!

Yay, that's brilliant Natalie!

QUOTE

Well done,Clarinetlover, from the both of us!

Take note of this...

Congrats

Congrats etc, told you it would be ok!

(Doesn't stop me feeling nervous for next year though)

well done Natalie! you deserve it!
i've got one unconditional offer ( )- it's not really where I want to go though!

QUOTE (hgirl @ Nov 8 2004, 09:27 PM)

well done Natalie! you deserve it! i've got one unconditional offer ( )- it's not really where I want to go though!

Unconditional? Does that mean it doesn't depend on your grades?
But congrats anyway! Which uni?

wow... well done to everyone who's got offers, and good luck to those still waiting!!!

i hate waiting. i waited for ages... but I have an offer now, ABB from newcastle, woohoo!

well done Natalie - and everyone else

Did you know the north west, esp round us, has the lowest percentage of 18 yr olds going into higher education in the country? - under 20%.

Many Congra. Nat. I also hope that the uni will offer me a place. Anyway, well done!

QUOTE (Subatomic_Star @ Nov 8 2004, 09:22 PM)

Unconditional? Does that mean it doesn't depend on your grades? But congrats anyway! Which uni?

yeah- I guess they must really want me!
It's for Queen's Belfast

i hope i'll get one next year...hopefully cambridge...

Not that I want to contradict everything you say liebe_klavier but Oxford is a million times better!

QUOTE (Catrin @ Nov 12 2004, 01:40 PM)

Not that I want to contradict everything you say liebe_klavier but Oxford is a million times better!

but it really depends which subject you are doing....

QUOTE (Catrin @ Nov 12 2004, 01:40 PM)

Not that I want to contradict everything you say liebe_klavier but Oxford is a million times better!

I totally agree....

QUOTE (Catrin @ Nov 12 2004, 01:40 PM)

Not that I want to contradict everything you say liebe_klavier but Oxford is a million times better!

Not that you're biased .

What, me, biased? But Oxford is pretty good for music. I'm not a music student but I'm currently in three orchestras, I have my own clarinet quartet and I'm in my college choir. The standard is generally pretty high (even the non-auditioning ones need about grade 7!) and, Liebe Klavier, if you come here I know a church that desperately needs an organist . . .

I've just been turned down by the RNCM.
I've also just been turned down by Manchester university.
Neither of them auditioned me.
Neither of them interviewed me.
I didn't hear from either, so I emailed them to check they'd got my application.
They told me I hadn't been shortlisted for the course (a joint BA and BMus) I wanted to do.
I'm just a little bit gutted. (Also everyone I've told seems to be a little surprised... not to brag, but you'd think 5 AS levels at AAAAB and 3 Grade 8 distinctions would count for something wouldn't you?)
I am going to write to them again, to ask where I went wrong.

I hope nobody else has this problem.

Oh yeah, and well done Nat. I have a feeling I've already said that but I'll say it again

Well done Natalie! You deserve it

QUOTE (cheeble @ Nov 15 2004, 09:48 PM)

I've just been turned down by the RNCM. I've also just been turned down by Manchester university. Neither of them auditioned me. Neither of them interviewed me. I didn't hear from either, so I emailed them to check they'd got my application. They told me I hadn't been shortlisted for the course (a joint BA and BMus) I wanted to do. I'm just a little bit gutted. (Also everyone I've told seems to be a little surprised... not to brag, but you'd think 5 AS levels at AAAAB and 3 Grade 8 distinctions would count for something wouldn't you?) I am going to write to them again, to ask where I went wrong.

Oh no! that's a disgrace!!! I actually can't believe it. But surely they aren't allowed to do that? I know somebody who applied for that course who didn't get accepted to the university but who passed the RNCM audition and studies there now. I would have thought similarly if you didn't get into the music college surely the university would still consider you if your academic standards were high enough?? It doesn't make sense at all! Are you sure you definitely haven't been shortlisted? I applied for the course too and I have been given an audition- I got 4As at AS (and doing a 5th AS plus 4 A2s this year) and I have Dip.ABRSM horn, Grade 8 theory and no piano exams (though doing Grade 6 this term). A friend of mine has Grade 8 trumpet and 4Bs at AS yet he has been given an audition and an interview- what is going wrong with the world?!

QUOTE

you'd think 5 AS levels at AAAAB and 3 Grade 8 distinctions would count for something wouldn't you?) I am going to write to them again, to ask where I went wrong.

Cheeble - so sorry to read this disappointing news.

Not surprising you feel a bit gutted.

There must be a better option waiting for you somewhere. Don't be put off ! Something will work out. Keep us posted !

Maggie

Cheeble

I too am surprised. However, Its worth getting your music director/teacher at school to do some investigating and to write as your advocate. I presume that S/he gave you your reference and would have assisted you in filling it out. It could be the joint course BA/BMus you applied for wasnt suitable. I would be concerned about your application form - just what was written on it! If all your Grade requirements are there, where did you go wrong? Did you attend an Open Day, did you note what they wanted? Try an find someone you know, perhaps from your old school who is already there maybe a year or two and get the inside track! What is your first instrument?

Once again I direct you to consider a Consultation with a tutor at one of the Royal Colleges you wish to attend.

I also assist students with UCAS applications and I know you have to get it right otherwise you wont get to the interview stage.

Still keep on trying and let us know what happens with your other applications.

So sorry Cheeble, and it does seem really odd.

Where else did you apply? When I was going through admissions - a few years ago now admittedly - there was a rumour going round that some uni's would reject you if you have applied to go to some other uni's, eg Oxford or Cambridge. Don't know how true it is....

Hope you get the place you want soon.

QUOTE (Emma C @ Nov 16 2004, 08:22 AM)

there was a rumour going round that some uni's would reject you if you have applied to go to some other uni's, eg Oxford or Cambridge.

I thought unis weren't allowed to see what other ones you'd applied to? It's a bit unfair if they can, coz we're not allowed to see our references even though they're about us!

They did let me see my reference, and I didn't see anything wrong with it at all; my teachers were really nice about me... I don't know where I've gone wrong but it's really upset me unfortunately. Apparently it was the RNCM that rejected me rather than Manchester (I may still get a place on the single honours course but I doubt I will now).

True, the universities don't see where else you've applied to, but my Physics teacher said they confer anyway to see who's applied where, because that can't be traced. I didn't think that would apply for music though, as it's not as popular as some other subjects... I don't know... maybe I was just being too optimistic...

I didn't go to any open days except the one at the RCM - I didn't apply there in the end, but I had a consultation lesson with the Deputy Head of Strings who told me I stood a fair chance of getting in... I don't imagine the differences between the colleges are too huge... I did my first Grade 8 (violin) the day before my thirteenth birthday, and got a distinction, and I thought that was good enough at least to be considered for music college... but I'm probably wrong. Maybe I am just useless. It is a popular instrument after all...

I will get my Head of Music to ask them where I went wrong... I don't know anyone else doing the course though. My school is a state grammar school and we're not music specialists so nobody's gone on to music college for a long long time...

Although having said that, there are 2 other people applying to the RNCM this year from my school. One passed Grade 8 flute last term. The other got Grade 8 horn with distinction a few years ago. They've both been given auditions. Both are Grade 5 on piano but neither play anything else. (Well, the flautist plays piccolo.) Of course I'm pleased for them... I'm trying so hard not to be jealous, but they're both being a bit tactless panicking over thair auditions in front of me...

I've also applied to Cambridge (although I haven't heard anything from them yet, I bet I won't get an interview there now though, all my friends who have applied there have gotten interviews and I haven't heard anything, I'm seriously doubting my ability to get in - I don't understand it, everyone's been telling me for years that I'm a Cambridge candidate and now they're all being proved wrong, it feels like everyone's been lying to me for years and years just to make me feel better about myself)...

Where was I?

Oh yes... I've also applied to York (interview on Thursday yay!), Newcastle (conditional offer ABB), Durham (processing my application atm) and Cardiff (interview next Thursday).

I'm thinking I want to go to York. But probably won't get in there either.

Well done hgirl, I'm really pleased for you. Apparently only 22 of the 72 applicants were shortlisted.

Sorry to be all doom and gloom but I'm not feeling so happy at the moment as you can probably imagine.

QUOTE

One passed Grade 8 flute last term. The other got Grade 8 horn with distinction a few years ago. They've both been given auditions. Both are Grade 5 on piano but neither play anything else.

It seems incomprehensible that they got auditions, and yet you with your three grade 8s did not - I wonder if your head of music could query this on your behalf.

Btw it may be hard right now - but get rid of this idea that you're useless - that's quite plainly not the case. Music aside - the standard of your English is sky-high compared with many students of your age!

I'm sure this is just a temporary glitch - I certainly hope so. Good luck with that first interview.

all the best

Maggie

Hey - Durham and Cardiff are both excellent places to be. I've got a friend at Cardiff doing music at the moment - if you get in there, maybe I can put you in touch with her.

QUOTE (cheeble @ Nov 16 2004, 09:27 AM)

I've also applied to Cambridge (although I haven't heard anything from them yet, I bet I won't get an interview there now though, all my friends who have applied there have gotten interviews and I haven't heard anything, I'm seriously doubting my ability to get in - I don't understand it, everyone's been telling me for years that I'm a Cambridge candidate and now they're all being proved wrong, it feels like everyone's been lying to me for years and years just to make me feel better about myself)...

Well, I hope that Cambridge (which is where I read Mechanical Sciences in 1953-6) does accept you. On the positive side, they have had a lot of stick from the Government lately because they don't accept enough applicants from state schools. The possible problem is that the Music Faculty is not particularly performance oriented - its specialities are still history and composition AFAIK- but admissions there are still under the control of the Colleges, of which several are keen on their collective musical activities.

QUOTE (cheeble @ Nov 16 2004, 09:27 AM)

True, the universities don't see where else you've applied to, but my Physics teacher said they confer anyway to see who's applied where, because that can't be traced. I didn't think that would apply for music though, as it's not as popular as some other subjects... I don't know... maybe I was just being too optimistic........... I will get my Head of Music to ask them where I went wrong... I don't know anyone else doing the course though. My school is a state grammar school and we're not music specialists so nobody's gone on to music college for a long long time..... Sorry to be all doom and gloom but I'm not feeling so happy at the moment as you can probably imagine.

((Cheeble)),

Please don't fill yourself with self-doubt. There's nothing at all wrong with you. I reckon you're victim of the simplest supply / demand situation. If they had hundreds of applicants and maybe just 20 places, interviewing/auditioning everyone would be senseless so I'll bet they pick out the first 40 possibles.

Sincerely, when everyone has a high grade and all other things being equal, sort of stuff, what can they go by?

On the bottom line, what if you don't get in? Can you try next year? I mean, five years down the line you'd probably be able to talk your way in as a mature student which seems to mean you've done a few years at earning your living these days. Is this possible with music colleges?

Like everyone here, I add my wishes for the best - so please don't cloud yourself with doubt. It's a system destined to disappoint many. A stupid one.

People who run music colleges obviously aren't overendowed with business acumen!
This is where Ayisha needs to point the elitist finger - making something intensely desirable by manufacturing scarcity. They'd make a great deal more money by somehow accommodating every applicant with half-a-chance... but they can't see that. They're happier preserving their ridiculous status quo, regardless of the moral injury they inflict. Really gets me - we spend all our effort encouraging people to develop, to blossom into budding creators........then at a stroke some stupid quirk of an antiquated school quota system can land on someone's expectations like a ton weight.

These academics don't live in our world, Cheeble. Daft lot.

Seriously, as someone else has said get your head of music or whoever wrote your reference (even the head of the school if you like) to ring them up and ask why you didn't get in (and tell them again how good you are): universities will quite often change decisions if someone phones up. The only possible things I can suggest, as your grades are excellent, is that if you did do your grade 8s in instruments you want to study very early they're concerned that you've perhaps not said what you've been doing between then and now; or maybe they thought that you're spreading your efforts too thinly over so many instruments (although you're clearly doing extremely well in the instruments you've chosen now maybe they think that it could be a problem in the future). Neither of those are particularly good reasons to reject you, I think that they're being unfair.

It's important that you find out why though by getting someone to ring and they may change their minds to at least give you the chance to audition. It seems unfair that if you have those grades, as do other people, they won't give you all an interview to find out who is the best rather than guessing. I think the problem is that you've applied to one of the courses with the fewest places available in the country. Remember if you don't get what you want you could always take a year out and reapply (which will be easier if you know why they didn't let you in this time) they let people in far more easily once they have actual (not predicted) A-level grades as they can be certain whether or not you've got what you need.

Good luck and don't give up: I can tell just by speaking (well reading and writing...) to you on here that you are intelligent and well motivated.

QUOTE (cheeble @ Nov 16 2004, 09:27 AM)

I did my first Grade 8 (violin) the day before my thirteenth birthday, and got a distinction, and I thought that was good enough at least to be considered for music college... but I'm probably wrong. Maybe I am just useless. It is a popular instrument after all...

Well, in that case i have absolutly no hope, ive applied to do music at uni rather than music college, but ive only got a pass at grade 6 violin! am doing grade 7 in the spring, and take a gap yr to do grade 8 next year. It seems mad that they didnt want you, you must be really talented!

Heya,

I'd like to say a huuuuuge thankyou to everyone who's been so supportive on these forums - it's certainly raised my self-esteem by about ten million arbitrary units!! I'm glad it's not just me that thinks it's unfair as well.

However, my mum just rang me up (I'm at school at the moment) to tell me I have an interview at Cambridge!! Yaaaaaay!!!! (I'm not going to say when it is though... so that if it doesn't go well and someone asks me how it went, I can just go "I haven't had it yet" lol). It was really funny, I screamed when she told me and the whole common room stared...

I really like the look of Durham and hope I hear from them soon! Likewise I can't wait to visit York and Cardiff - I don't mind where I go so long as I go somewhere!!

Anyway many thanks again - I'm still going to investigate this though, to find out exactly what you DO need to get onto this course. Harrumph. (lol)

Sorry for being so pessimistic - I'm never usually like this, I'm normally loud and bouncy and happy and insane!!!

Cheers,
cheeble
xxx

QUOTE (Katet @ Nov 16 2004, 11:43 AM)

QUOTE (cheeble @ Nov 16 2004, 09:27 AM) I did my first Grade 8 (violin) the day before my thirteenth birthday, and got a distinction, and I thought that was good enough at least to be considered for music college... but I'm probably wrong. Maybe I am just useless. It is a popular instrument after all... Well, in that case i have absolutly no hope, ive applied to do music at uni rather than music college, but ive only got a pass at grade 6 violin! am doing grade 7 in the spring, and take a gap yr to do grade 8 next year. It seems mad that they didnt want you, you must be really talented!

Of course you've got a chance!! I hope you get in - where have you applied?

QUOTE

However, my mum just rang me up (I'm at school at the moment) to tell me I have an interview at Cambridge!! Yaaaaaay!!!!

Three cheers !!!!!!!!! that news was just what you needed.
Quite apart from the academic kudos, Cambridge is a beautiful city with loads of music going on. So is Durham - I did the summer school there one year.

You may yet find that when it comes to decision time you are spoilt for choice !

Maggie

Wow! That's amazing, Cheeble, well done.

Think again about not telling us when it is - we could all send up prayers and good thoughts.

QUOTE (cheeble @ Nov 15 2004, 09:48 PM)

I've just been turned down by the RNCM. I've also just been turned down by Manchester university. Neither of them auditioned me. Neither of them interviewed me. I didn't hear from either, so I emailed them to check they'd got my application. They told me I hadn't been shortlisted for the course (a joint BA and BMus) I wanted to do. I'm just a little bit gutted. (Also everyone I've told seems to be a little surprised... not to brag, but you'd think 5 AS levels at AAAAB and 3 Grade 8 distinctions would count for something wouldn't you?) I am going to write to them again, to ask where I went wrong. I hope nobody else has this problem. Oh yeah, and well done Nat. I have a feeling I've already said that but I'll say it again

i feel so sorry about that.... i'd probably burst into tears if this ever happened to me... but i'm glad that you can have an interview at Cambridge....

one thing...i'm going to apply to music colleges next year...and i don't think i will get in.... i'm too week... 2 grade 8s but neither of them is distinction...hopefully i'll get my grade 6 organ (with distinction) by then..... i really don't know what to do.... i want to do a joint degree of music and modern history.... which university is the best.... at the same time i can get my music lessons going....