If you're going through Clearing right now, it's normal to be nervous. But some of our currrent BU students who went through the process have found that it's worked out for the best. They share their stories here:
Oli Pearce, BA (Hons) Politics
I have really enjoyed my course and the town has been amazing. Overall I think I would have preferred Bournemouth to my original choice in hindsight."
"My experience of Clearing was very stressful like most people’s and took me a while to get round to ringing Bournemouth and asking for an application.
A few of my friends were coming to the university, which made it easier to convince me, but after looking round the town and seeing the campus it was automatically a given to accept my offer.
Also, the course I was looking at in Bournemouth was very similar to what the course at my original choice was going to be, which boosted my confidence in confirming Bournemouth.
In terms of accommodation, I went to the Homefinders day which allowed me to meet all sorts of people in the same situation as me. It was very simple for me to find suitable housemates; I really enjoyed my year with them and I am now living with them again next year.
After completing my first year at Bournemouth it’s very clear that I made the right choice. I have really enjoyed my course and the town has been amazing. Overall, I think I would have preferred Bournemouth to my original choice in hindsight."
Alex Curwen-Reed, BSc (Hons) Forensic Science
"I can look back and be almost thankful I didn’t get the grades to get into my first choice as I ended up at Bournemouth, which was a higher-ranked university, and have loved every minute."
"From the shock of not getting into my first choice came a small blip of light from the prospect of Clearing offering me another chance. Once I got over my initial disappointment, I soon came to find that Clearing could offer me a whole world of opportunities that I didn’t have previously.
"Within a few hours of calls here and there, I had three universities that wanted me. With the initial stress of having nowhere to go in September gone, all I had to do was decide which university I wanted. During this process I was able to speak to the head of Forensic Science (my chosen course), at two of the universities directly to answer any of my questions, which definitely soothed my nerves and helped me decide. As far as I saw it, it’s all very well to go to a high-ranked university but if you don’t think much of the Head of your course, you’re probably not going to enjoy it as much.
Before I was able to accept my place at Bournemouth I had to be released from my insurance choice – it took a few phone calls and one serious sales pitch from a lecturer, but by the next morning I had been released from that university.
I think that Clearing is typically seen in quite a negative light, yet, I found the whole process much more supportive then I had anticipated. I had expected to feel slightly judged or looked down on as I was basically phoning people to tell them that I didn’t do very well in my A-levels, but having access to the right people and knowing what questions I wanted to ask made the process much more bearable.
Three years later, I can look back and be almost thankful I didn’t get the grades to get into my first choice as I ended up at Bournemouth, which was a higher-ranked university, and have loved every minute. No one cared that I had come through Clearing - we were all new and mildly terrified together, and coming out the other side with a wonderful set of friends, memories and a high level degree is more than I could have ever asked for. "
Priscille Yombo, BA (Hons) Events and Leisure Marketing
"I was able to speak with a lecturer which allowed me to have more insight as to what my course was about and I was able to able to make a decision as to whether this course was really for me."
"Clearing can be scary for any student. I was faced with the same dilemma last year; the stress and frustration of the unknown can be daunting - not knowing where you are to going study, or live for that matter, and all of these decisions made within a day of finding out your results.
I found the Clearing process with Bournemouth University to be rather straightforward. I was able to contact the university and I was then offered a place to study Events and Leisure Marketing. I was able to speak with a lecturer which allowed me to have more insight as to what my course was about and I was able to able to make a decision as to whether this course was really for me. Bournemouth University also offered a Homefinders Day which made it easy for me to find accommodation and meet new people. I was able to not miss out on the Freshers' Week experience."
