As the summer of 2025 was coming to an end, I had been told the best thing to do was to weigh up my options and decide based on the pros and cons of each potential decision.
To me, the only decision was either to stick with studying Biology at the University of Bristol, knowing I’d likely be unhappy, or take another year off without a plan. I had been so confined to this idea that the thought of it soon became very exhausting; I didn’t feel I had the option to go to another university, as I hadn’t applied, and I didn’t have the A-Levels I thought I needed to study film. It was far too late in the year to make a decision this big.
I was wrong.
I managed to find the encouragement to do my research on good universities for Film Production the very next day, choosing AUB, as it had great facilities and lecturers, and was very close to the beach. On the same day, I contacted the University in the hopes they would accept me based on my completely science-based A-Levels, and whether it was even possible to apply through Clearing this late. I now had to wait for a response. I genuinely had no idea how long it would take or whether they would even consider me based on my A levels.
After a long night biting my fingernails, I went to work as usual, not knowing that I was about to receive a life-altering email. To my surprise, I had heard back from AUB the next day, telling me that I was able to get onto the course! My grades were good, and my non-creative A-Levels didn’t matter. All that I needed to do now was go through the physical process of Clearing.
I had help from the AUB Admissions team, who guided me through this process, explaining to me that I needed to first cancel my course and then apply to AUB after I’d done that. The second I hit "Confirm" on UCAS, removing myself from a spot that had been reserved for me for over a year, was quite the reality check. Very soon after doing so, I saw a notification in my inbox from AUB Admissions; the word "Congratulations" was the only word I needed to see.
Not long after this email, I found myself moving into my first-year accommodation and meeting people who were all there for the same reason I was. Everyone around me was already doing the kind of work I'd only ever wanted to try.
After spending a year at AUB, I can confidently say it has exceeded my expectations. I was lucky enough to direct a short film that I pitched to around 170 other students – whilst dressed up as a mime, somehow – which is something I thought I’d never be doing, let alone this early on. Even just 10 months ago, I wouldn’t have thought I’d be trying any of this.
If you’re reading this mid-panic and you think it may be too late to make a change, it really isn’t too late, and "too late" was never the problem. I just hadn’t found the right option yet, and clearing isn’t a backup plan, it’s just another way to get in. Make the call, see what comes from it. A worst-case scenario is you’re back where you started.
