Can anyone help a confused parent about Uni application routes

Amanda65

I took DD1 (who is in Lower 6th doing AS levels at the mo) to look round a local Uni yesterday and they kept talking about entry Routes A and B. I really didn't want to show my ignorance and ask what they meant - and DD hasn't bene told anything about this yet at school.

So - help please

robnye

different caourses have slightly different application routes to follow - the majority follow route A, ie apply, get offer, accept/reject.

others like art follow route b which the process tends to be a little longer (possibly because they need to supply samples of work)

take a look at the ucas website, which will explain it (definately) better than me

Gingernutmeg

The different routes are mainly for students doing art and design courses. Entry route A is (I think) the standard UCAS application - apply by Feb etc etc. Entry route B is generally for students who are taking art and design foundation courses (a one year course generally taken post A-Level), in that they apply slightly later when the results of their course are known. I think, if you apply through route B, you're likely to have some kind of interview, where you have to show your work/portfolio. My stepbrother got into uni through route B, he was taking an art foundation course and is now doing a degree in some kind of graphical art/design.

Amanda65

That would make sense as my DD wants to do fashion design and as she is doing A level art, rather than a B-TEC has been advised that she should do a foundation year prior to the BA course. Thanks, I will scuttle off to the UCAS site now x

Lokolo

Ok just a little tip - do not take a gap year.

Art Foundation courses are free for under 19s so they take a gap year and then do an art foundation they will have to pay £1000 to do so.

But yes, what's said above is correct. Route A they just tend to look at your grades, statements etc. and decide. Whereas Route B they will go hmmm hmmm could you come up and show us what you're made of.

Amanda65

Thanks for that Lokolo. :beer:

Bennifred

Lokolo wrote: »

........................ Route A they just tend to look at your grades, statements etc. and decide. Whereas Route B they will go hmmm hmmm could you come up and show us what you're made of.

That may be so if the student is doing a Foundation year, but in our experience if you go for Route A for a practical arts course straight after 'A' levels they still want to interview, look at portfolio, etc. DS2 just going through this at the moment - 4 out of 5 unis have interviewed. Was same for DS1 three years ago.
My understanding is that Route B is aimed more at the Foundation year/BTech students, although there is no reason for 'A'level students shouldn't go that route if they choose to

Edit to add: Oh! and quite a few courses also offer a Year 0 now as an alternative to a more general Art Foundation year. Useful if student is not ready for full degree level but doesn't want to do other topics. Also can be useful for finance reasons - student loans apply to Yr 0 . HTH.