UCAS Clearing is an opportunity for you to secure a place on a degree programme that excites you at an institution that will help you to achieve all of your goals.
With A-Level Results Day less than a month away, BA (Hons) Multimedia Sports Journalism graduate Ryan Booth reflects on his experience of Clearing.
Like so many other students, I really struggled to find a particular career path that I wanted to follow after leaving college. Due to my love for sport, and the fact that I was studying a diploma in the subject at the time, I had initially toyed with the idea of pursuing a sports coaching or development degree, but quickly determined that this wouldn’t have been the right option for me.
I knew that I had an ambition to work in the sports industry, but by this point, I just didn’t know what I wanted to do, and eventually opted against attending university once I’d left college in 2016.
However, that summer, a TV advert from UCFB changed everything for me. As soon as I came across the ad and discovered that there was an institution that specialised in offering football and sport degrees, I was immediately hooked. I knew that UCFB was the place for me.
I quickly searched for the UCFB website and scoured through its undergraduate degrees list. One programme stood out for me; BA (Hons) Multimedia Sports Journalism. I had previously undertaken some voluntary media placements with several local amateur football clubs during my school days and knew I’d enjoy a career in the sector. But there was one issue - how would I go about submitting an application?
Fortunately, I had already submitted a UCAS application before I’d decided against attending university, and as I had withdrawn or declined all of my offers, I was eligible to apply to UCFB through UCAS Track.
The next morning, I called the UCFB Clearing line and spoke to a member of the Future Students Team, who explained more about what Clearing was, answered any queries I had and guided me through the application process.
I can honestly say that throughout the entire summer, the team were nothing but supportive and it was their positive attitude and willingness to help that gave me such a good first impression of the organisation.
I'm absolutely delighted to announce that I'll be graduating from @ucfb with a First Class Honours degree in Multimedia Sports Journalism! 🎉
— Ryan Booth (@RyanJMBooth) July 9, 2019
I'd like to thank everyone who's helped me along the way! pic.twitter.com/doyvG9SJ4w
Following my first call with the team, it was then a waiting game. It wasn’t until A-Level Results Day when I discovered that I’d successfully received an offer of study at UCFB, and as fate would have it, I received the call just minutes before I had to leave the house for a job interview!
Six years on, I’ve graduated from UCFB with first class honours, enjoyed a number of fantastic work placements with the likes of Salford Red Devils, Blackburn Rovers Community Trust and The Rugby Football League, and I’ve now been working in the company’s marketing department for three years.
For anyone who has any hesitations about the Clearing process, or applying to UCFB, don’t worry. The process is simpler than you could imagine, and a UCFB degree will not only help you grow your career, but also your personality.
