Student says changing university through Clearing improved anxiety
A student who transferred to Cardiff Metropolitan University through Clearing after being unhappy with his original course has said how the decision changed his life and improved his anxiety.
Alex Jones, 21, from Abertillery, initially started university on a software engineering course at another university. However, after his first year, Alex realised the course was not right for him and decided to explore other options, which led to him applying to Cardiff Met through Clearing.
Alex is now excelling at Cardiff Met and has completed his first year on the Computer Security BSc (Hons) course where he also received the Progression Award, which rewards students with a cash price of £1,000 for high marks.
Alex said: “My application for Clearing was on a whim in the early hours of the morning, but I was incredibly enthusiastic since security modules of my comprehensive and college education were always my favourite.
“Being in the place of not knowing what was going to happen within the next month was incredibly worrying. I could have continued on a course I wasn’t happy with, or I could make a change and do something different, which is what I decided to do. Fortunately, the Admissions team at Cardiff Met got back to me to confirm my place within days of my application, which very much eased my anxieties.
“After looking through my options, Cardiff Met really stood out to me due to how close it was to me, the reputation it upheld with student satisfaction, and the overall course. Computer Security was only offered by a few universities in Wales and Cardiff Met outshone the others by far.”
Between a specific window each year (5 July – 17 October 2023), students can use Clearing to apply for courses if they receive higher or lower grades than expected, if they’ve changed their mind on their current course or if they missed the UCAS application date prior to this.
Lisa Bowen, Head of Admissions at Cardiff Metropolitan University, said: “We have lots of students come to the University who started on a different course at another university and decide it isn’t the right fit for them. This is a tough choice to make, but we would always encourage students in this situation to remember that you do have other options and it is better to consider these than stay on a course you are not happy with. University is an experience you will remember for life and change is always possible.”
Alex continued: “I have absolutely loved my course so far with my favourite module being threats and attacks. I feel like it’s a perfect mix of theory and practical work to build up my skills and knowledge to the optimal place. Whenever I’ve been unhappy about anything at all, the lecturers take the feedback it on board and adapt based on it, which I’ve been very impressed by.
“It was a big change to make the decision to go to a different university and I worried about starting a new course. But my advice for students who are going through Clearing this year is to take a few breaths and step back. The majority of the time, things will fall into place. This may not be your first choice but go into it with an optimistic outlook and make the most of it as you may find you enjoy it far more than you originally anticipated.”
Further advice on Clearing and how to apply is available on the Cardiff Metropolitan University website.