University Visits
Manchester School Of Art:
Manchester University was the first of my university open days. I didn't get a good chance to look around, however I did look at the fine arts building and gallery.
Fine Art's is in one of the oldest buildings on the campus, and is quite small and intimate. It is disconnected from the main art building. Inside you can tell that it is an old building. The studios are on the second floor up a set of extremely narrow and steep stairs, and are all situated in one room. The room is very bright as it is lit by sunlights that run the length of the building. The studio was operated into 'cubicles' four to a cubicle, however very wasn't a lot of space. The studio room over all was very small, and didn't impress me much. I would have liked to look at the facilities available, as i only saw the IT and Graphic/Fashion design suites.
The galler was on the first floor of the fine art's building. It was a very nice space, but wasn't enough to impress me after seeing the studio spaces. Unfortunately, Manchester wasn't the place for me.
The city itself is very nice. I like that there are trams running through the centre and that you can occasionally come across a green square. I like the variety of shops and places to eat within the city, but asides from that, I didn't see much else to do.
The train station (Manchester Piccadilly) was also very far away, and it was quite difficult finding the University from there, since there was a lack of signage promoting the open day.
Sheffield Hallam:
Sheffield Hallam was a lot easier to find from Sheffield train station that a Manchester. Sign-in was a little bit more awkward, as I had to walk away from the Arts building to sign in, however it gave me a chance to see more of the campus.
This time, I actually went on a campus tour which was very useful in aiding me in my decision making. The only issue was that the tour guide was rather quiet however she did do a thorough job in explaining everything.
I also attended a talk on the Fine Arts course, and what we did in each three years, as well as travel opportunities.
The studio spaces were one of the first things I saw on the tour. Because the Arts had ben moved into a different building, it had recently been decorated. It was a very nice building to be in. The studio spaces, compared to in Manchester, were a lot bigger and more interesting in shape, and also spread across numerous levels in the building. We were shown some of the facilities, such as the metal workshops and the photography studio, and were shown where the stores and printing rooms were.
My impression of this university was a lot better, however I still haven't been swayed from my choice of Notts Trent as of yet.
The city was a lot smaller, and I feel like I saw a lot more of it. The things in Sheffield were more to my taste (shop wise) than in Manchester, but I didn't like the city as much.
Nottingham Trent:
Nottingham Trent was by far the best I have looked at. I have been there previously, however I wasn't able to look around the university as I only went there with college to see the degree shows held in a couple of the buildings.
By going to an open day, I was able to see the entirety of the campus as well as some of the facilities, such as the library, student union building, where the student residence is, and what was around the campus.
I much preferred this open day to others because there was a thorough campus tour, and overall, it seemed so much more put together.
The campus is beautiful and easy to navigate, and it was easy to find the university coming from the train station.
I like the fact that it is so close to the city centre and the train station.
This time around, I did not get to see the art studios (however I have seen them before during the degree show) or inside the student accommodation. I plan to make another visit in the future to look at both.
Nottingham Trent is the university that appeals to me most of all of the ones I have visited.
Interview Experiences
After sending off my applications to Sheffield Hallam, Nottingham Trent, and Manchester Met, the first reply I received was for an interview at Nottingham Trent. It suddenly it me that it was all happening, and that I was now at the start of my preparation for my future. I hadn't been anxious as other people had been when waiting for replies, but as soon as my first interview notice arrived, I started to feel nervous.
Nottingham's interview guidelines were very straight-forward. I was to bring a portfolio containing 15 to 20 pieces, a short critical essay on either a contemporary art exhibition or film that I had seen recently, and a reference list of artists and things alike. As per usual, they requested to see work in the portfolio that would fully express myself without me being present, as they made it clear that they would first look through the portfolio without my being present. They also stated that I was to choose 2 pieces of work specifically to talk about; one that I felt went well, and one that I felt was challenging.
Nottingham's interview invitation was very clear. They had given me a specific date and time, and had given me the location of the interview.
Nottingham's interview guidelines were very straight-forward. I was to bring a portfolio containing 15 to 20 pieces, a short critical essay on either a contemporary art exhibition or film that I had seen recently, and a reference list of artists and things alike. As per usual, they requested to see work in the portfolio that would fully express myself without me being present, as they made it clear that they would first look through the portfolio without my being present. They also stated that I was to choose 2 pieces of work specifically to talk about; one that I felt went well, and one that I felt was challenging.
Nottingham's interview invitation was very clear. They had given me a specific date and time, and had given me the location of the interview.
The second interview notice I received for Sheffield Hallam was a little less clear than Nottingham Trent's, as unlike Trent, who had given me a specific time and date, I had to actually book my interview for Hallam. rather than calling it an interview, they called it a selection event. This selection event would supposedly include a tour, and much like Nottingham, the first look at the portfolio was to be conducted without my being present.
I was rather shocked with the portfolio guides for Sheffield, as they had specifically stated that 20 to 25 pieces of work were to be included, but all sculptural and 3D work was to be presented through photographic imagery. I compared this with my friends guidelines, which were slightly different as she was doing illustration, and was confused to find out that small 3D pieces were allowed for the illustration selection event, but not for fine arts.
I was rather shocked with the portfolio guides for Sheffield, as they had specifically stated that 20 to 25 pieces of work were to be included, but all sculptural and 3D work was to be presented through photographic imagery. I compared this with my friends guidelines, which were slightly different as she was doing illustration, and was confused to find out that small 3D pieces were allowed for the illustration selection event, but not for fine arts.
Manchester Met replied after my first two interviews, but only to inform me that I needed to specify some of my grades before they would consider my application fully.
Portfolio Prep:
Portfolio prep for me was rather difficult. Since most of my work was sculptural, my portfolio was full of mostly life drawings. I had printed out and mounted images of my sculptural work, and felt as though it was a strong portfolio, however when I found myself at my first interview for Sheffield, I found it extremely difficult to talk about.
Within my portfolio I had included 6 to 7 of my sketchbooks that showed a range of how I had worked over the course of my three years at college. To clarify, during my second year, I found it clearer and more helpful to write my ideas down rather than to sketch, so three of my sketchbooks contained mostly writing with a little bit of sketch work.
Within my portfolio I had included 6 to 7 of my sketchbooks that showed a range of how I had worked over the course of my three years at college. To clarify, during my second year, I found it clearer and more helpful to write my ideas down rather than to sketch, so three of my sketchbooks contained mostly writing with a little bit of sketch work.
As I found out at my interview for Sheffield, they are a lot more theory based, and the person interviewing me found my way of working strange. They said that they liked my sculpture work, but admitted that they didn't think a visual artist should work as I do.
After this interview, I found myself feeling extremely pessimistic for my next interview at Nottingham.
After this interview, I found myself feeling extremely pessimistic for my next interview at Nottingham.
I decided to change my portfolio a little bit for the next interview with the suggestion from my tutor to take some sculptural pieces and add some small footnotes on the images of my sculptural work. He also suggested that I include some images of my development work, as my portfolio wasn't really saying much about the way I worked. I also made the decision to pull out and change around some of my worksheets within my portfolio so that I had more to talk about, but also because I had to take some out to fit the limit of pieces I could take.
Finding Myself
I have found that throughout this most recent project based on space and Alternative Miss World that I keep finding myself creating the same sort of work as I had a year ago without much change or direction to take to develop my work. With the addition of a few new artists, I had started to find a new place to explore, but I was finding it extremely difficult to talk about my work, especially in my Sheffield interview.
While in this interview, the question "What is your work about" tripped me up each time the interviewer asked, and this is partly what led to my application at Sheffield being declined. So after numerous talks with my tutor, which admittedly I found quite stressful, I eventually found my way back to what I was actually doing.
While looking for pieces to include in my portfolio that would ease my nerves as give me something to confidently talk about, it was pointed out to me that, unintentionally, I have a habit of collecting work and objects to re-use when the opportunity arises, or leaving pieces of my work to slowly change in a natural way. With my tutors help, I was able to pick out three new sculptural portfolio pieces that fully expressed the way I work, while giving me material to talk about. each piece fully demonstrated where I had started with my work and where I had arrived and was currently experimenting, all while linking to the work I was currently doing.
I was told both by my tutor and the interviewer at Notts Trent that while I was getting stuck within my work, there was nothing wrong with it, as it is a good place to be and slowly develop from. In the words of the interviewer "I get worried when I am creating work and I know what I am doing."
While looking for pieces to include in my portfolio that would ease my nerves as give me something to confidently talk about, it was pointed out to me that, unintentionally, I have a habit of collecting work and objects to re-use when the opportunity arises, or leaving pieces of my work to slowly change in a natural way. With my tutors help, I was able to pick out three new sculptural portfolio pieces that fully expressed the way I work, while giving me material to talk about. each piece fully demonstrated where I had started with my work and where I had arrived and was currently experimenting, all while linking to the work I was currently doing.
I was told both by my tutor and the interviewer at Notts Trent that while I was getting stuck within my work, there was nothing wrong with it, as it is a good place to be and slowly develop from. In the words of the interviewer "I get worried when I am creating work and I know what I am doing."
Second Interview
Compared to my interview at Sheffield, I was a lot more nervous and worried. The feedback from my first interview had rattled me a little, and my realisation of being unable to talk fluently about my work was making me panic. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to talk confidently during this interview, but I was told to try, because I would look more foolish if I didn't. It was also suggested to me that I actually construct one of the sculptural pieces I was taking while talking to fully demonstrate what my work was about.
I had noticed the night before while double checking everything that it said not to bring sculptural work, much as Sheffield had, but I decided to do it anyway.
The addition of my sculptural work gave me a lot more to talk about, as did the addition of a small pocket I had installed in the portfolio that contained small images of my development work. I had been worried that the interviewer wouldn't notice it, but he had said that he really liked it.
He was interested specifically in one of the portfolio pieces that I had included with my sculptural work, which was a rather large paint splattered sheet, which was the beginning of my habit for both collecting work to use again, but also demonstrate my use of evolution within my work.
The conversation at this interview was a lot smoother and interesting. Rather than push me for an answer for something that I couldn't answer, as the interviewer had done at Sheffield, he focused on things that he was intriuged by, and while he didn't specifically mention the critical essay or reference list, he worked it into the interview seemlessly.
Finally, after getting my results from the interview for both Nottingham and Sheffield, I am not entirely sure if I want to attend the interview for Manchester, which I wasn't fully interested in to begin with, or if I want to add a couple more choices onto my application list out of curiosity.
I am happy with my results, but after talking to the parent of an old school mate, she suggested that I should go to the Manchester interview regardless, because I could possibly change my mind after seeing the place.
I had noticed the night before while double checking everything that it said not to bring sculptural work, much as Sheffield had, but I decided to do it anyway.
The addition of my sculptural work gave me a lot more to talk about, as did the addition of a small pocket I had installed in the portfolio that contained small images of my development work. I had been worried that the interviewer wouldn't notice it, but he had said that he really liked it.
He was interested specifically in one of the portfolio pieces that I had included with my sculptural work, which was a rather large paint splattered sheet, which was the beginning of my habit for both collecting work to use again, but also demonstrate my use of evolution within my work.
The conversation at this interview was a lot smoother and interesting. Rather than push me for an answer for something that I couldn't answer, as the interviewer had done at Sheffield, he focused on things that he was intriuged by, and while he didn't specifically mention the critical essay or reference list, he worked it into the interview seemlessly.
Finally, after getting my results from the interview for both Nottingham and Sheffield, I am not entirely sure if I want to attend the interview for Manchester, which I wasn't fully interested in to begin with, or if I want to add a couple more choices onto my application list out of curiosity.
I am happy with my results, but after talking to the parent of an old school mate, she suggested that I should go to the Manchester interview regardless, because I could possibly change my mind after seeing the place.
Results of Interviews
So after my interview at Nottingham Trent, and having found out that I had been accepted onto the course strait away, I of course accepted the offer without having the interview at Manchester, since Notts Trent was where I have wanted to go for years, and Nottingham was a city I loved.
Accepting the offer was the easiest part of the process after the interviews, but going through Student Finance was quite stressful. In my case, I had to send off, as did my dad, are paperwork than others might have with the knowledge that student finance take up to 6 weeks to process the application, but I found out after two weeks of sending off my application.
There is also the matter of accommodation; As I was offered an unconditional place on the course I had applied to, as I had first picks at the accommodation. However, had I been offered a conditional place, I would have had to wait at least a month to apply to accommodation.
When applying to accommodation, you have to pay the deposit before the apartment or flat you chose becomes yours. I was able to chose the flat and block in my particular chosen accommodation before I had to pay the deposit fee.
Once I had got my accommodation and student finance, everything was pretty much sorted.
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