[lauraroses]

I'm in a huge dilemma as to what university I should choose out of my 3 offers for BA History of Art (BA Criticism, communication, curation for CSM).
I really wasn't expecting to get all 3 offers and now I really don't know which uni to pick!
My offers for UCL and Courtauld are AAB, and CSM is just BB. I loved CSM more than any of my other unis when I visited it, and immediately felt at home. But aspects of the course seem a bit obscure and i'm worried it wouldn't be viewed as a 'proper' course. Whereas at UCL and Courtauld the courses are very traditional and both unis are of course extremely well known for HoA, so would probably have better employment reputations. I'm in such a pickle and really need to make a decision very soon! Would appreciate some opinions/advice from anyone who goes to any of the above unis, or anyone who has insight into where would be the best place to go. I guess atm for me St Martins is where I want to go, but I obviously want to make the most of my BA course so really want to go to the best place possible!

Please help, anyone!

[raisingmirrors]

Ahh! I'm in a similar situation! I didn't apply to CSM but am having incredible difficulty choosing between UCL and CI for similar reasons to you. I know the Courtauld is the most prestigious but there's just something about UCL... Sort of a head/ heart battle I suppose.
Pros/ cons list?!
Then I've also been thinking about how I reacted when I received both offers.

[lauraroses]

Its such a confusing dilemma to be in! I did a pros and cons list and basically just found they all had pros and cons which were all different so it didnt really shed a lot of light. i tried to think of my reactions but again they're all different so i cant really compare! For me UCL is kind of the middle man between the 2 because Courtauld and St martins are completely opposite ends of the spectrum and UCL is like mid-way between the 2. I feel like i should go for courtauld because i know how competitive it is and how good it would look for employment prospects, but i just dont know if i'd like it, it seems a bit traditional for me. And then CSM i'd be worried that the teaching quality wouldn't be up to scratch and then i'd regret not going for Courtauld or UCL! ahhh i'm so confused, glad we're in the same boat haha

[raisingmirrors]

(Original post by lauraroses)
Its such a confusing dilemma to be in! I did a pros and cons list and basically just found they all had pros and cons which were all different so it didnt really shed a lot of light. i tried to think of my reactions but again they're all different so i cant really compare! For me UCL is kind of the middle man between the 2 because Courtauld and St martins are completely opposite ends of the spectrum and UCL is like mid-way between the 2. I feel like i should go for courtauld because i know how competitive it is and how good it would look for employment prospects, but i just dont know if i'd like it, it seems a bit traditional for me. And then CSM i'd be worried that the teaching quality wouldn't be up to scratch and then i'd regret not going for Courtauld or UCL! ahhh i'm so confused, glad we're in the same boat haha

Yes that's the thing - what they offer is soo different, one's only 'better' than another in terms of the league tables. The other thing is that we'll pretty much have to do a masters right? So I'm wondering whether I should go to UCL for BA then apply to CI afterwards? Though someone with a BA and MA from CI may still have the advantage... but I'm just not sure if employment prospects will be THAT compromised if we were to go somewhere other than the Courtauld? A few of the academic staff at CI did their BAs at places like Manchester and UCL, then went on to the Courtauld. If you've got good enough grades to get offers from UCL and CI, would the people on the course at CSM be like-minded as you? Is the course a bit easier there (considering the low grade requirements)? Are you going to be pushed enough? My friends and family are really confused by the fact that I have the opportunity to go to the 'top' place but am unsure about whether I want to!

[lauraroses]

Oh god same here! my dad is literally like 'why the hell haven't you firmed courtauld??' haha, but i dunno i just don't feel its right for me. I've had a lot of worries that CSM's course wont be challenging enough, or might turn out to be a bit of a doss and a waste of money, but i know what its got to offer really interests me and its all thing that i'd really love to explore, and i guess it has to be what you make of it and what effort you put in as an individual more than anything. I do feel like i'm nearly ready to firm CSM, but i still have the niggling feeling for courtauld, just everytime i think of the prospects and the prestige of it. but then i remmeber how i dont really think its right for me and i get confused! its a complete head vs. heart dilemma! i may go back to visit the 2 in the easter hols and then try and decide after that.

[mgarthwaite1330]

for what it's worth - they are all great and you can not go wrong. Do a MA also.

CSM - opens you up to a tsunami of creativity from across the creative spectrum.

Courtauld - what an amazing place, very, very small though.

UCL - has everything

If you want to do anything in the creative industries, CSM surely has the brand...

[lauraroses]

(Original post by mgarthwaite1330)
for what it's worth - they are all great and you can not go wrong. Do a MA also.

CSM - opens you up to a tsunami of creativity from across the creative spectrum.

Courtauld - what an amazing place, very, very small though.

UCL - has everything

If you want to do anything in the creative industries, CSM surely has the brand...

i totally agree i have no particular career path in mind yet i know i want to do something within the creative industries, so that's why such a broad course appealed to me. i think csm is the place for me, the other 2 unis just really dont have the same energy that st martins has - its really quite amazing!

[raisingmirrors]

(Original post by lauraroses)
i totally agree i have no particular career path in mind yet i know i want to do something within the creative industries, so that's why such a broad course appealed to me. i think csm is the place for me, the other 2 unis just really dont have the same energy that st martins has - its really quite amazing!

I'm glad you've pretty much come to a decision!! Ultimately you've gotta be happy for three years. Best of luck

[lauraroses]

thanks! im still scared of firming haha but i guess i'll be ready to do so sooner or later have you made any more progress in deciding?

[raisingmirrors]

Yes that scares me too... Well, I it sort of hit me the other day that whenever I think about uni next year, I'm always living in Duchy House/ generally in The Courtauld! But I wonder if that's because I've been there the most. I think I will firm it soon though! Only problem is - on UCAS the starting date says 1st Sept but Student Finance has it down as 1st Oct. I've contacted CI to clear this up, as it would obviously be a huge problem if it came to enrolling and I couldn't pay them!!

[emartstudent]

I was just wondering, is it possible to apply to do art at UCL and St Martin's, or is it one or the other like Cambridge or Oxford?
I think I'd prefer to go to UCL, but the enrty requirements are a lot more difficult than St Martins. I think I just want to be in London... Can I apply to both???

[raisingmirrors]

(Original post by emartstudent)
I was just wondering, is it possible to apply to do art at UCL and St Martin's, or is it one or the other like Cambridge or Oxford?
I think I'd prefer to go to UCL, but the enrty requirements are a lot more difficult than St Martins. I think I just want to be in London... Can I apply to both???

Yeah there's absolutely no rules against that as far as I know! Good luck

[failish]

hey, i'm hoping to study history of art at UCL and i was wondering if you could tell me what gcses and as level results you achieved?