{"id":6335,"date":"2025-07-16T09:21:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T09:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/?p=6335"},"modified":"2025-07-16T09:21:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T09:21:03","slug":"how-i-found-the-right-course-through-clearing-and-why-it-was-the-best-decision-i-made","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/wearewestminster\/how-i-found-the-right-course-through-clearing-and-why-it-was-the-best-decision-i-made\/","title":{"rendered":"How I Found the Right Course Through Clearing – And Why It Was the Best Decision I Made"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Results Day didn\u2019t go how I planned.<\/p>

Like many students, after spending the summer between year 12 and year 13 researching what university I wanted to go to, I envisioned myself studying Geography in London. I had done my due diligence and at the time thought this was going to be my future for the next 3 years – it was the subject I had focused on for years. But when my exam results came out, I didn\u2019t get the grades I needed to meet my university offers. My plans changed overnight.<\/p>

I remember the moment vividly, it was a mix of panic, pressure and the heavy weight of uncertainty. But what I didn\u2019t realise then is that going through clearing wasn\u2019t the end of the road. It was a fresh start. And in my case, it led me to a course that I feel was made for me.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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How I went from Geography to Fintech<\/b><\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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When I saw that I hadn\u2019t met my offers, I had two choices: accept a course that I no longer was excited about just to get into university, or take some time to figure out a new direction. I\u2019d always had a small interest in finance and technology, but I\u2019d never really considered studying them seriously. Still, with clearing open, I immediately started exploring. During this time I was at crossroads, I thought now would be the perfect time to learn how to code so computer science seemed like the most logical option. But I also wanted to learn more about financial markets and economics. As a result, I applied to the first economics and computer science courses that caught my eye. I even got offers for both but I still wasn\u2019t completely happy with these choices, something didn\u2019t sit right.<\/p>

This was when I realised that I needed to take a step back and carefully reevaluate the situation. I had to find a course where I would be content with dedicating myself for the next 3 years. I had to study something that I found interesting and academically stimulating. I gave myself a full week to explore every option I could. Different degrees. Different universities. Different cities. And that\u2019s when I found the BSc FinTech with Data Analytics course at the University of Westminster. It wasn\u2019t something I had seen offered anywhere else and I wasn\u2019t even aware that universities offered such a relevant course. But as I read through the description, it truly resonated with me. It combined finance, technology and data \u2013 \u00a0all subjects I had become curious about. It was practical, innovative and offered the necessary skills to succeed in not just the finance industry but technology, data, artificial intelligence, consulting and many more.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What I learned from my clearing experience <\/b><\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Here are my biggest takeaways:\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Don\u2019t Panic \u2013 Take a Breath<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s completely normal to feel overwhelmed on results day, especially if things don\u2019t go to plan. You might feel pressure to accept the first option just to \u201csecure\u201d something. But rushing into a decision you\u2019re unsure about can leave you with regret later on.<\/p>\n

Instead, take a step back. Even giving yourself 24 to 48 hours to reflect and reconsider can help you think more clearly. Clearing places don\u2019t disappear instantly. Some of the best decisions happen when you give yourself the mental space to make them.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Just Pick Any Course \u2013 Pick the Right One<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to get caught up in panic mode and choose the first available course that looks vaguely relevant. But this is three or more years of your life \u2013 make sure you actually want to study the subject in depth.<\/p>\n

Take the time to:<\/p>\n