Wimbledon College of Art interview - help

littleredhen

silvercar wrote: »

These really are things that should have been discussed before application. I can see that it would be totally demoralising to be offered an interview and then not take the interview because of travelling logistics and cost. But both these should have been foreseen before applying.
Better to have looked into things before choosing where to apply than be in the situation you are in now. What was the point of applying if she could never manage the logistics and you didn't have the money for it?

The school of art she is currently have talked to her about this and not included me, they don't really understand the position she has also just put me in, see above post, although they know of her mental health issues they didn't see fit to talk to me first so I am left trying to sort it out now

littleredhen

theoretica wrote: »

I would hope the Wimbledon college would be able to help at least a little. Some places offer student accommodation the night before open days. Do they have other days available perhaps in holidays when you could travel with her, or with more notice to book ahead? Is anyone else from her present college going?

I am going to contact them, thanks for your suggestions, no-one else from her course has applied, another problem! the other uni's she has applied to are in Scotland and others have applied there too, my gut instinct is to tell her not to go for the interview as I can't see it working out but can I be sure!?

BrassicWoman

littleredhen wrote: »

I cannot for the life of me not support in these important decisions,

And you still can. "I can afford £250 maximum for this trip. I would like to pay less because I haven't budgeted for it, so it is coming out of the food bill. So there will be no treats this month.

Please research all of the transport and accomodation options and come back and tell me how this is going to work."

Her magical thinking will continue otherwise.. mum has just fixed it again!

littleredhen

BrassicWoman wrote: »

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.

You are not pushing, these are all things that she is looking into, its just I am a very organised person and need to know what we are facing as well. She knows my situation, I don't hide anything from my kids, youngest still sees her dad etc but he isn't going to help when they are estranged.
Her friends are at uni, she is 20 now and her friends went two years ago so tricky to get anyone to go with her

littleredhen

BrassicWoman wrote: »

And you still can. "I can afford £250 maximum for this trip. I would like to pay less because I haven't budgeted for it, so it is coming out of the food bill. So there will be no treats this month.

Please research all of the transport and accomodation options and come back and tell me how this is going to work."

Her magical thinking will continue otherwise.. mum has just fixed it again!

She has had the rug pulled out from under her feet so many times and believe me I am a realist and have told her what the money situation is, she would accept whatever I said, she wouldn't do the "oh but mum" thing but thanks for the above suggestions, wish I had £250 though!!

silvercar

https://www.rome2rio.com

seems to suggest flying as an option. Gatwick would be the nearest airport to Wimbledon, second choice Heathrow. Flying seems to be cheaper than the train and quicker than a coach.

It isn't only this journey to think about. Most students go home at the end of every term. There is also the question of lugging all her stuff each year - arts students don't travel lightly.

silvercar

littleredhen wrote: »

The school of art she is currently have talked to her about this and not included me, they don't really understand the position she has also just put me in, see above post, although they know of her mental health issues they didn't see fit to talk to me first so I am left trying to sort it out now

littleredhen wrote: »

I am going to contact them, thanks for your suggestions, no-one else from her course has applied, another problem! the other uni's she has applied to are in Scotland and others have applied there too, my gut instinct is to tell her not to go for the interview as I can't see it working out but can I be sure!?

So her current school of art encouraged her to apply and no-one else? What put them off encouraging anyone else or what put every other students off? All arts students are dreamy, she can't be the only one.

Grumpelstiltskin

I think you need to make an appointment to see someone as high up as possible at her current college.

You need to put your cards on the table about your daughter's mental health issues and your financial position ie. you are in no position to help her out financially and would she survive in Wimbledon with no parental financial help?

If she isn't financially savvy then the !!!! will hit the fan very fast when she has spent her student loan and has no money to eat or return home.

Callie22

Would it help at all to sit down and realistically go through the costs and practicalities that there would be should she be offered a place? So for example, work out accommodation and travel costs, look online at where she might be living, think about the overall costs of food and day-to-day expenses, look at how much she'd need to travel on a daily basis and how many hours she'd need to work to cover all this on top of student loans. Also really think about the reality of being a very long way from home and family and coping with this alongside the pressures of a university course- coping with an unfamiliar GP practice, for example. Get her to plan out her first term in detail - what she'll have to do, what it'll cost. I don't say this with the intention of putting her off, but to try to get her to think more realistically about the reality of moving to London before she goes for the interview. Otherwise I can forsee a huge issue if she does get offered a place and she just relies on the magical thinking (or mum ...) to sort it all out - moving to London will be a massive adjustment anyway even without the stress of university and it might be worse if she puts herself in the position of being offered a place that she can't take up.

littleredhen

silvercar wrote: »

So her current school of art encouraged her to apply and no-one else? What put them off encouraging anyone else or what put every other students off? All arts students are dreamy, she can't be the only one.

other friends have applied to UAL which are different unis but same umbrella so some friends may be going to study in London just not at Wimbledon