Student thankful that clearing led the way to Wrexham Glyndwr University

University clearing can be a stressful experience for a prospective student of any age.

If you do not achieve the grades you were hoping for, or do not receive the offer that you wanted, it can initially seem like the end of the world.

Suddenly having to look at other options, and potentially different locations you might need to relocate to which had never previously crossed your mind, can be incredibly daunting.

Current Wrexham Glyndwr University Student Ambassador Lucy Duncan, studying History, found herself in exactly that situation two years ago.

On A Level results day, Lucy, now 20, experienced disappointment when she missed out on her original choices until, wanting to continue her studies relatively close to her home in Cheshire, she was presented with Wrexham Glyndwr as an alternative.

Lucy says what started as a very difficult day, turned out to be the foundation for a brilliant experience as she continues on her journey through education at Glyndwr.

“I was originally going to go to Chester to take History and Archaeology, with History at LJMU as my back-up”, she said.

“On results day I was up from 6am checking the UCAS website but found out I didn’t get either of those options.

“Glyndwr first came to mind due to my sister. We had family camping trips to Chirk, which is close by, and she had known about Glyndwr for years and it turned out that was on the list of alternatives that UCAS had provided me with – so I decided to explore that option.

“By about 10am I was speaking to Student Ambassadors at Glyndwr, asking them how many days a week they attended, and whether there was free parking – as at some University’s there isn’t, you have to pay for a permit or park in front of people’s houses – these sort of things can make a difference when making a big decision.

“By 11am the University was looking at my application and by 12pm I’d received an offer and accepted it. It all happened that quickly.

“My advice to other students is that yes, it is very stressful, but no-one should be afraid to put calls in to places themselves. Patience is key, and try not to put too much pressure on yourself about your first choices.”

After the whirlwind experience of clearing, and being thrilled to have secured a University place, Lucy said she then had to adjust to
the unexpected change of direction.

She said: “At first I was just very happy to get in to a University. It was a very stressful day, and it took me about a week to process everything, that I was now going to Glyndwr instead.

“I watched a couple of videos on the website, spoke to Student Enquiries, but it was on my first day that I knew I’d made the right choice.

“There were quite a few mature students who were very talkative, I made friends immediately and I was really lucky in that instance.

“After our first talk in the Humanities block we all went down to the seating area downstairs, introduced ourselves to each other and talked about ourselves.

“It’s so welcoming, there is such a relaxed feel on campus and it’s so inclusive. Even during the pandemic the support we have had from home has been amazing.

“At other University’s you can be left feeling like just a number, that you’re just another student, but at Glyndwr, the smaller teaching sizes mean lecturers and personal tutors can build a closer relationship with students.

“For example, after my first assignment I had a one-to-one with my tutor, and it was so in-depth. She wasn’t afraid to say “we need to fix this, or you need to think about that”, and I don’t think you get that depth at other places, it is such a supportive Uni. I would recommend Glyndwr to anyone.”

For more information about clearing and Wrexham Glyndwr University, visit https://www.glyndwr.co.uk/en/wgu-clearing/