[may94]

Hello!

I have just got into to CSM starting from September for foundation doing diagnostic. So I am at the stage of deciding where to go (I have offers from Brighton, Oxford Brookes and Farnham (UCA) also.) Sorry to ambush you but I could really use some advice from current students. I have heard so many horror stories about doing foundation at CSM that I am unsure how great CSM really is, I know it has a great reputation but you can never be to sure.

So things I am thinking about is, how much contact time do you get with your tutors one on one every week - I heard you practically never see tutors and if you do only in big groups?

I also heard there is a serious lack of space (that students sometimes have to work in corridors?!)

Do you feel like you have the support of tutors, or everything you do must be completely independent?

Are they encouraging or just tell you work do is awful/ do they offer helpful and considered advice?

What are the other people on the course like (friendly?) … many international students?

What is your average day like (e.g. hours at home/ at CSM (working independently/ in a group/ with tutors)?

Is it always stressful/chaotic (compared to other foudations that maybe your friends are doing)?

Are the facilities good quality?

How do people find living in London for the first time?
I am interested in theater and production design and know CSM is one of the only places that offer a pathway like this, You may not know this do you know anyone specializing in this and do they enjoy it/ what are their feelings about the department?

And also just as a general overview, do you personally like it at CSM/ enjoy it? Are you glad you chose it or would you suggest going somewhere a little less big like in a smaller city where things are calmer (I live in a city and am often in London so am not naive about ‘city life’ as it were… it shouldn’t be too much of a change)?

I know on many of these issues it is subjective to the individual and different depending on your tutors but any (hopefully unbiased and truthful) advice you could give me would be so helpful. Sorry for asking so many questions, any answered would be so great!

Thank you soooo much!

[12Sparrow21]

Wow, I'm in the same position, trying to choose between CSM (diagnostic too!) and Falmouth. I may keep an eye on this thread as well as my own, becuase you've asked some great questions! Haha way better and more organised than my thread!

[blackkeys]

I'm not a current student but here's my advice anyway:
For foundation you want to get the best possible portfolio you can to get into degree: it does not matter about the reputation of the college. From what I've heard CSM does not offer the best tutor time/space needed to do this, so I say go somewhere else for foundation... apply to CSM for BA!
I'm going to Kingston for foundation next year

[Hello95]

[QUOTE=may94;36899529]Hello!

I have just got into to CSM starting from September for foundation doing diagnostic.

Hi there, I was wondering what you did in the end and if you went to CSM - how did you find it. I plan on applying for foundation and have heard many horror stories about the tutors and lack of space.


Thanks