Wimbledon College of Art interview - help

littleredhen

My daughter has an interview 9am - 3pm at the above uni but we live in Scotland so here are my issues

1. the date is soon so we haven't been able to access cheap train travel
2. if she goes to stay with my sister in Reading the night before she has to change in London - tube etc
3. if she doesn't stay at my sisters we have to find accommodation (cost)
4. she suffers with mental health issues, one of which is severe anxiety
5. money is an issue at the moment for me
6. her current school of art told her to apply as she very likely to be accepted, she missed her exam years at school because of mental health but has attended her school of art nearly everyday, which has been a miracle
7. if I can't find the money for her to do the interview it will be so tough on her although in reality I don't think she would even be able to cope going there
8. she has applied to Scottish uni's which are free but obviously not guaranteed a place and the interviews for them are after the Wimbledon one

I am not sure what my question is but some support would be really appreciated to help me unravel this

Detroit

If your daughter will struggle to travel to the interview from Reading due to her MH, I share your concerns as to her ability to cope living at the opposite end of the country from her support network while taking on a new challenge.

She's young with many years ahead to build her career. Perhaps it's wiser to focus on her health and defer her applications to university?

If she does decide to attend, is there a possibility you, a friend or family member could go with her to support her with the journey, also staying at your sisters?

Is she recognised as having a disability? If so, are there any funds to pay for a companion to go with her? Perhaps you could enquire via the school or university?

littleredhen

Detroit wrote: »

If your daughter will struggle to travel to the interview from Reading due to her MH, I share your concerns as to her ability to cope living at the opposite end of the country from her support network while taking on a new challenge.

She's young with many years ahead to build her career. Perhaps it's wiser to focus on her health and defer her applications to university?

If she does decide to attend, is there a possibility you, a friend or family member could go with her to support her with the journey, also staying at your sisters?

Is she recognised as having a disability? If so, are there any funds to pay for a companion to go with her? Perhaps you could enquire via the school or university?

She is 20 already so does not want to delay her further education any further, I am a single parent so struggle financially.
I work in a school so unable to take time off although might be able to get special leave but this then adds to the cost.
My b-i-l (the one married to my sister who lives in Reading )has offered to go with her but I am thinking he would also have to travel into London the day before to meet her so adding to the cost as well as me paying for him to go with her on the day.
He doesn't have money either although he hasn't asked me to pay for him.
She isn't registered as having a disability but I am going to speak to her School of Art and explain the money situation as we got her a partially funded bursary place.
I will ask the uni she is going to for an interview if there are any funds to help with travel, hadn't thought of that - thank you

BrassicWoman

Also ask if they can move her to an afternoon slot - worth a go! But at 20 she needs to fix some of these problems herself. You don't want a load of "you spoiled things by not letting me go." She can probably work this out, anxious as she is.

littleredhen

BrassicWoman wrote: »

Also ask if they can move her to an afternoon slot - worth a go! But at 20 she needs to fix some of these problems herself. You don't want a load of "you spoiled things by not letting me go." She can probably work this out, anxious as she is.

It is a full day interview, as in, look round, interview slot etc etc
She is attending counselling which my mum is paying for, however life is not that simple. She had been under CAMHS until she was 16 but they don't have the resources etc to cope with the support she needed.
She is adopted and also her dad (my ex) is now estranged from her and it has been a rocky road for her, birth family have mental health issues too so I am thinking a lot of it is hereditary.

BrassicWoman

littleredhen wrote: »

It is a full day interview, as in, look round, interview slot etc etc
She is attending counselling which my mum is paying for, however life is not that simple.
She is adopted and also her dad (my ex) is now estranged from her and it has been a rocky road for her, birth family have mental health issues too so I am thinking a lot of it is hereditary.

Sorry to push, but is that stopping her using Google to work out costs and options? I suspect not.

It sounds like this wouldn't be a great experience for her but she probably needs to work that out for herself.

Whereas you need to stop feeling bad for not providing everything! All parents want to, no parents can.

Does she have a bored mate who drives and fancies a day or two out with hotel money? Can she face the overnight bus to victoria? All things for her to work out.

Grumpelstiltskin

OK If she will struggle with the interview how will she actually cope if she does get a place?

Would she have to find her own accommodation?

What about costs? grants? etc.

You need to do a lot of research before building her hopes up.

littleredhen

Grumpelstiltskin wrote: »

OK If she will struggle with the interview how will she actually cope if she does get a place?

Would she have to find her own accommodation?

What about costs? grants? etc.

You need to do a lot of research before building her hopes up.

We have talked a lot about it but the problem is if she doesn't go for interview she won't get offered a place - bit like doing the lottery if you know what I mean
There are student loans and bursaries that she can apply for, we have done a lot of soul searching about this

Grumpelstiltskin

Has she experience of living in a city?

OK You could live in a busy part of Glasgow or you could live in a village in the Highlands. London can be a scary place for a young woman on her own, could she cope with that?

Grumpelstiltskin

Have you contacted the Student Welfare Officer? Details on this page.

http://www.arts.ac.uk/wimbledon/about/contact/

and I would contact the Students Union. details here.

https://www.arts-su.com/

Spendless

Has she got a railcard to reduce costs?

https://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/

You can still get cheaper slots with not much notice by using a railcard, though you need to include the price of buying one.

If the relative that wants to help, hasn't asked for the money and I understand that you'd want to pay them, could you ask if they'd accept you paying back the following month to make things a little easier?

How much are we talking about? Is there any cutbacks that can be made to find at least some of the cost?