potential fees, what do i say to DD

nickj_2

borkid wrote: »

nickj I've just thought do the tuition fees include the singing lessons or are they part of the living/ studying expenses? If they are part of the living/studying expenses I suspect that will be why they seem so high. I have private guitar lessons and pay £45 per hour for that level of tuition luckily only have a lesson per month but if she has a lesson per week and needs to study another instrument then you are looking at a hefty amount for private tuition and that would be almost the same which ever part of the country you are in I should think.

unfortunately the living fees are estimated at £11- 13k , this is the colleges estimate, around £7kish for accommodation , plus day to day living costs , stuff needed for the course and transport costs , the student accommodation is around 1/2 hr from the actual college ,so she will need oyster card etc
they do only take the best ,so i guess if she is taken on it would be a great experience . they do give scholarships but i think this is not necessarily based on ability to pay, plus they do have sponsorship and donations
we are off to look at another 2 music schools in the next couple of months

thanks for all your thoughts , :T

cosette

RCM offer two main sorts of scholarship/bursary, one merit-based and one which is merit-based but also takes account of family income. You can hold both types at once.

Child number one currently pays £5852 a year for a single room at college hall, however they are redeveloping the whole site next year and we believe the cheapest room will be £170 a week, so £7310 for the year, not sure if that is true or not. Living out of hall varies, it is often cheaper per week but most contracts are 52 week rather than 43 at college hall.

Transport - bus saves a lot of money, although does take longer. Many students at RCM prefer bus.

Other living costs after rent and transport - allow £50-75 a week depending on your child's lifestyle - however, if they want a lot it is reasonable to expect them to find work and contribute. My child finds £50 a week is comfortable, but doesn't go out drinking. They actually get a bit more than this and manage to save. It's also up to you whether you work costs out over 52 weeks or only 43 weeks and then expect them to come home and work over the summer.

Have a look on the Student Finance England website and do their calculator -put in your income and it gives a rough estimate of what your child would get each year in loans and grants. It is not 100% accurate, for example they will probably get more if you are also supporting younger children or have other children at university, but it is a starting point.

Also, make sure you budget for the actual applications and auditions - applications cost approx £75-100 per music college, then you have the costs of getting to auditions, sometimes with overnight stays.

Finally, one of the best investments you can make is to pay for a consultation lesson at one or more conservatoires - the teachers can give some good preparation advice and can also advise on how realistic your daughter's aims are. I am guessing you would be applying this autumn so I would try to arrange this in the next couple of months if you can.

nickj_2

cosette wrote: »

RCM offer two main sorts of scholarship/bursary, one merit-based and one which is merit-based but also takes account of family income. You can hold both types at once.

Child number one currently pays £5852 a year for a single room at college hall, however they are redeveloping the whole site next year and we believe the cheapest room will be £170 a week, so £7310 for the year, not sure if that is true or not. Living out of hall varies, it is often cheaper per week but most contracts are 52 week rather than 43 at college hall.

Transport - bus saves a lot of money, although does take longer. Many students at RCM prefer bus.

Other living costs after rent and transport - allow £50-75 a week depending on your child's lifestyle - however, if they want a lot it is reasonable to expect them to find work and contribute. My child finds £50 a week is comfortable, but doesn't go out drinking. They actually get a bit more than this and manage to save. It's also up to you whether you work costs out over 52 weeks or only 43 weeks and then expect them to come home and work over the summer.

Have a look on the Student Finance England website and do their calculator -put in your income and it gives a rough estimate of what your child would get each year in loans and grants. It is not 100% accurate, for example they will probably get more if you are also supporting younger children or have other children at university, but it is a starting point.

Also, make sure you budget for the actual applications and auditions - applications cost approx £75-100 per music college, then you have the costs of getting to auditions, sometimes with overnight stays.

Finally, one of the best investments you can make is to pay for a consultation lesson at one or more conservatoires - the teachers can give some good preparation advice and can also advise on how realistic your daughter's aims are. I am guessing you would be applying this autumn so I would try to arrange this in the next couple of months if you can.

did you do this thru the rcm ?

cosette

Yes, if you have a particular teacher in mind, just ask the college for contact details. If you don't have anyone specific, ask which teachers might be prepared to give consultation lessons. Prices vary, we paid £75-100 for an hour, one teacher reduced his price for a school-age student!

Basically, they can advise on everything from technique to repertoire. Some will be subtle in advising on someone's chances (perhaps directing someone towards one of the colleges which are less in demand), others are a little more blunt. I have known students be advised to audition for the experience but warned they will probably have more chance after another year's study.

Seanymph

I have two at university, and although I paid the first year they have funded themselves since.

There will be grants and loans - she can work part time.

There will also be charities that can help, I know in both villages were I am parish Clerk there are local charities who would help her with a grant for books or whatever.

She will need to save, learn to budget amazingly, and work (one daughter works in clubs and bars as a waitress bar tender, one works for agencies offering car for the elderly or handicapped in residential homes).

They both earn sufficient money to self fund and it is part of the university experience.

your daughter will cope, as all the other kids that go - it seems impossible at the beginning I know, but they are surrounded by budgeting friends and part of the experience is having to work alongside studying.

Can you meet, say half her room rent?

If you tell her what you can pay, and stick to it, she has to make up the difference.

nickj_2

Seanymph wrote: »

I have two at university, and although I paid the first year they have funded themselves since.

There will be grants and loans - she can work part time.

There will also be charities that can help, I know in both villages were I am parish Clerk there are local charities who would help her with a grant for books or whatever.

She will need to save, learn to budget amazingly, and work (one daughter works in clubs and bars as a waitress bar tender, one works for agencies offering car for the elderly or handicapped in residential homes).

They both earn sufficient money to self fund and it is part of the university experience.

your daughter will cope, as all the other kids that go - it seems impossible at the beginning I know, but they are surrounded by budgeting friends and part of the experience is having to work alongside studying.

Can you meet, say half her room rent?

If you tell her what you can pay, and stick to it, she has to make up the difference.

she has been working in our local hotel since she was 14 and also does a fair bit of baby sitting so she's probably got fair bit stashed away already