How I used Clearing to continue my creative journey

The whole clearing process was very easy

Around late July, early August, I was going on holiday with my family when I mentioned to my mum that I wanted to go to university. At the time, I had been working full time and felt like I didn’t have any time to pursue my creative passion. 

My mum joked that I had left it late! But she also let me know that I could go through Clearing. I didn’t know what Clearing was at first, but my mum helped explain it to me. I was a little worried that I had left it too late and I didn’t want to wait another year.

After that, while we were on holiday in Spain, I got on the phone with a person at the Clearing call centre. She was really nice and helpful. We didn’t have a full idea on how it all worked, but she helped explain it all. She’d ask me questions about college and how many UCAS points I had. I couldn’t remember as it’d been about 6 months since I left college, but she managed to find or work out the points on her end – and then she let me know that I could join the course I wanted!

At first I had no idea what Clearing was

I’d heard the word before, and I knew how it could help you get into university later, but I didn’t know the ins-and-outs of it. I wasn't sure if you had to come in person, find it online or talk over the phone. I also didn’t know how long the process would take, if it would be an hour or a month.

I thought it was going to be hard to go through the Clearing process, but they were really helpful and I’m glad that I’m here and still doing my course.

It took me around 5 hours to go through Clearing – but it was only because I kept forgetting passwords and the line kept cutting off because I was in Spain! It was more technical issues on my end that slowed it down. It would have been a lot quicker and easier if we had prepared in advance and were at home – but we still got it done.

I love my course and I’m so glad I came here

I chose UCLan because It’s the only university nearby that has a standalone Screenwriting course.

I’ve learned so much on my course, and I feel I've become such a better writer.

I love the mates that I’ve made too. I came a month later and at first it was a bit difficult settling in. But after about a week I made a few mates and those bonds got deeper and deeper as time went on. Everyone is lovely here – I’ve never met anyone I disliked. It is a really nice atmosphere and I’ve met a few people from other courses too.

I also live in Lytham – which isn’t far away. I didn’t want to live in accommodation or halls, so it was easy to come to a university close to where I live.

The tutors are amazing too. Before your deadlines you can always send work for feedback and they’re always supportive. They’re as passionate as you are too.

I’ve still got another year left so I’m excited to see where I am in another year’s time.

The advice I would give is 'don’t worry about it!'

If you know exactly what you want to do, and want to be successful, come to uni.

Some people come here for the lifestyle, but I think if you know what you want to pursue then absolutely come to university. There are so many courses here to choose from.

You’ve got professionals here who know everything about the industry you want to be in, they are here to help you do what you want. They tell you the realities of what you need to do, which you wouldn’t get if you tried to do it all independently.

The university wants you here as much as you want to be here. It’s a lovely uni and such a nice environment, and they want you here.

I was really panicking about the whole process, but I’d say now not to worry about it – you will be fine.

Also make sure you sort out your student finance, it’s never too late! For the entire first year I didn’t have any student finance, so I was living off my work money that I got from my part-time job.

So in my second year I made sure to get it! Going through the process and all the different websites can be a bit confusing at first but once you get the hang of it, it’s easy.