This was my second time going through Clearing. I had already started my first year at university when I decided to resit my A-levels and go through Clearing again to move to a university more suited to me.
My name is Ashley and I’m a first-year microbiology student at the University of Nottingham. My Clearing journey is a little different in that I had already started my first year at Keele University studying neuroscience, when I realised it wasn’t for me and I wanted to change university.
Ashley Lindsay microbiology student
My Clearing Story
I decided to resit my A levels, while also studying in my first year of university. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the grades I needed to get into to my chosen university, so I started looking at the courses and universities offered through Clearing, and I decided to change both my course and university. I saw that the University of Nottingham was available through Clearing and offered the microbiology course I was interested in – this was great as not many universities offer it, and as I’m from Nottingham I felt it would be a good fit, in familiar surroundings.
Results day
When I picked up my results, I was happy that I did better than the year before, but I was sad that I hadn't met the requirements for a second time. I was with my sister and my nephews; my sister was there for me in terms of support and advice, and told me I need to make the right choice for the second time.
I already had a list of universities to call round, and it was quite stressful for other universities I was applying to because I was on hold for quite a long time - no one was answering, the course was full, or I couldn't get on to it.
Then when I found out that Nottingham had microbiology in Clearing, I was intrigued. I thought the course looked really good, along with the modules for first, second and third year. I filled out their online enquiry form and someone got back to me - when filling out the form I must have ticked a box for an academic to ring me. I got a call from my current professor, Cath Rees, who went through what microbiology is, and compared neuroscience and microbiology and where there’s any crossover. This was super helpful, and a nice personal touch that helped make my decision.
After filling out the form and receiving the phone call, I received an offer after about two hours. The process felt really easy and really quick.
Campus and student life
I definitely feel like I made the right choice coming to Nottingham. I genuinely love this uni, it's a very good uni. There are lots of sports to do and my course is quite small, but that means I get a lot of time with the academics, and I actually speak to them personally. I have emails with them and I meet with them for coffee and chats.
For the first few weeks I was here, I was with my home friends and friends I already had from sixth form who also go here. So, for me that was quite a step up that I didn't have to worry so much about not having anyone. And then around two months later, that's when I started joining societies like the Climbing society and making new friends.
The best time for me that I made friends would probably be in January, when I started going to things like the Widening Participation panels, volleyball and the Black Feminist society. So although it’s not going to happen straight away, it is dependent on you putting yourself out there like everyone says - you need to join societies to make friends.
Lessons from Clearing
My advice to anyone thinking about Clearing would be to have a list of places that you would like to go, and that has the requirements for you. Also, finding courses that align with what you want to do with the right requirements, and if it’s located somewhere that you've been or you've heard is good for university life.
