UCAS Application process and University evaluation

UCAS AND UNI-

Applying to university has always been my goal. Not only so that I can further my education but also to experience living away from home and to force myself to do a bit of "growing up" and allowing myself to become more independent. I felt it was something that I absolutely needed to do which was why I put a lot of time and effort into the application process including my personal statement, my choices and my portfolio. 

(Personal statement)

Once complete I entered my choices as follows:

1. Bristol UWE

2. University of Gloucestershire 

3. University of Brighton

4. University of Sunderland

5. Newcastle College (Top up year)

Personal Statement:

My chosen Career path is influenced by my passion for illustration and it has become apparent to me that I can utilise my skills, enthusiasm and ideas to convert my hobbies into a fulfilling career.  Following a year out to gain work experience and consider potential career opportunities I  started a Foundation Degree in Animation and Illustration at Newcastle College.  I use industry standard software such as Cinema 4D, After Effects, Photoshop and Illustrator. Initially I had an open mind about all aspects of the course but my main aptitude is illustration and I am now intent upon studying illustration alone.

I am influenced by the work of some exceptional artists such as Sakimi Chan and Loish who are digital painters, focusing on character design but who maintain a semi-realistic approach to their work. My own work encapsulates a wide variety of styles and I tend to include a large amount of detail in my illustrations which vary in terms of realism.

Course Modules have been insightful and enjoyable, allowing me to gain new skills.  In my Animation Production module I created a minute long short using Photoshop.  I was required to incorporate sound and using Final Cut Pro I was able to construct a timeline of sound effects to compliment my animation.

Character Design is the aspect of illustration I favour most. I have been required to construct a backstory for a character as well as think about how it would react in certain situations, keeping the personality consistent, reflected through its outward appearance. 

I found the Storyboarding module an enjoyable challenge as I had to consider how to pace the flow of action whilst telling a story and keeping it interesting. 

I have also enjoyed the Life Drawing module which extended my knowledge of anatomy and life drawing techniques.  

I am currently designing a small storybook based on a narrative I have created. I am utilising my skills as an illustrator to develop ideas exploring various styles and storytelling techniques to be condensed in a final product to a professional standard. It will be a graphic novel to my own style using a range of materials to create backgrounds whilst relying on my digital painting skills to clean up panels and add detail. Utilising my character design knowledge I will create an engaging and enjoyable story for my target audience.

Although I am a digital artist at heart, I enjoy a range of creative practices from working with watercolours and inks for colouring to graphite and charcoal for sketching and I'm currently experimenting with a 3D plastics pen. 

My future career plans include studio-based work focusing on concept art and character design but also producing illustrations for my own merchandise from wallpaper to tea sets.

My interests outside of illustration are fashion and make up, writing and blogging as well as cooking and mixology. I attend local exhibitions in locations like the Sage in Gateshead, and the Laing Art Gallery, The Baltic and the Centre for Life in Newcastle. I've also attended Pictoplasma festival in Berlin.

At University, I hope to learn as much as I can about illustration and how to make my work as versatile, visually appealing and commercial as possible. I realise that University requires significantly more self direction and this is something I feel comfortable with. 

I have a vivid imagination and capacity for bringing ideas to life in an engaging way. Whilst I enjoy working independently, the prospect of collaborating with individuals from other disciplines is something I also enjoy as I am an eager contributor to group projects.  I am dedicated to my work and aim to excel.  I am driven and motivated to produce work to the highest standard and with my eye for detail and experience with software such as Photoshop, Illustrator and Corel Paint I feel I have the necessary skills to make me a successful illustrator with the guidance and opportunities this Degree can offer me.

My personal statement turned out well since I was invited to interview from all my choices. However, I chose to withdraw my application from both Brighton and Sunderland as I decided those universities didn't suit me at all. Sunderland was far too close to home and Brighton was simply not me in the slightest. The University of Gloucestershire in Cheltenham was the first to invite me to interview. I had never visited the area before but had heard it was nice and I was very impressed once I got there and saw it for myself. I was impressed with every aspect of the university from the area to the campus and studio. The tutors that I met prior to my interview were very welcoming and offered me a good insight into what the course would be like as did the current students that I chatted to.

The interview itself went very well and I found it easy to talk about my work and what I hoped to gain from the course. To my astonishment I was given an unconditional offer right there and then. An added bonus was that I was accepted onto the second year of the course as I had requested due to the experiences my foundation degree had offered me. I felt I was better suited to the second year both in terms of fees and ability so I was delighted to have been given this option. All in all I couldn't have asked for a better outcome.

My second interview took place at Newcastle College for the 3rd (or top up) year to study digital media meaning I would come out with a creative industries qualification specialising in illustration. The interview itself went very badly in my opinion as I was very nervous and was asked some challenging questions that I wasn't even sure that I answered correctly. To my complete surprise (having convinced myself I had not got a place) I was given an offer the very next day! It was at this point that I withdrew my applications from both Sunderland and Brighton as mentioned previously. 

Nearly two months went by before I heard anything from Bristol UWE as they had requested ages ago that I send them an e-portfolio. Luckily they invited my for an interview and I was amazed by the vibrancy and creative feel Bristol had. It was a lot busier than Cheltenham but an equally if not more interesting place to live. In contrast I wasn't impressed at all by the campus. It was visually uninspiring for an art college and seemed geared towards pushing its students to branch out into other mediums than they originally intended to such as ceramics, metal work and printing. What particularly confused me was that one of the tutors told me they would push me to work in different directions than I wanted to but at the same time I had to remain true to myself. I found this contradicting and extremely off putting. Feeling a little let down and with lost enthusiasm, the interview was difficult. I wasn't offered a place due to limited places and the amount of applicants. In truth I think I didn't have enough material in my portfolio to truly show off my potential and while it would have been nice to get an offer, I am in no way disappointed because in my mind I was already won over completely by Gloucestershire. I made them my firm offer and I am due to attend there in September regardless of my results. Of course this doesn't mean I will stop working to get the best result I can on my current course, it simply means there is less pressure and stress placed on me and I can fully enjoy my last few weeks.