A Law student who joined the University of Worcester through the annual Clearing process is encouraging others to stay positive ahead of A-level results day.
Hannah Burgess has just secured a job offer with a national law firm, with one year still to go on her course, and has offered words of encouragement to students who might find themselves in Clearing.
"It's definitely not as scary as people might think," she said. "It's a simple phone call " it's 10 minutes " and then an email. I just spoke with one person, it wasn't continuous calls. It massively changed things for me and here I am two years later with a job."
Hannah was a week into a course at another university when she realised it wasn't the right place for her and made the decision to leave, placing her in Clearing. "Three days later she started at the University of Worcester and has never looked back.
"I'd definitely say go with your gut and don't be afraid to make the hard decision " just do what's right for you," said the 20-year-old.
Hannah, who is shortly starting the third year of her Law degree, is one of 10 people to be offered a solicitor training contract with Harrison Clark Rickerbys Solicitors. She was chosen from among applicants from all over the country.
The youngest applicant shortlisted, she was competing for places at the national firm, which has its head office of Worcester, alongside people that had already completed their degrees and Legal Practice Course.
"It's very surreal," said the former Alcester Grammar School pupil. "It's great but I didn't expect it. I didn't think I'd get it based on the other applicants" experience. Law sometimes can be really hard so it's great to know that I can be a solicitor " I still need to get the grades but there's less worry."
Hannah had always wanted to be a solicitor, but, when she got to her previous university to find there were 500 people studying the same course, she realised it was not the right place for her.
Looking for courses closer to her home, in Studley, she picked up the phone to Worcester and spoke to Head of Law, Bill Davies.
He offered her a place and having withdrawn from her course on Friday afternoon, she started at Worcester on the Monday.
"I thought it would be a lot harder than it was," she said. "I was too afraid to do it until I had no option, but all it was was a phone call. I thought it would take weeks to sort out but it was really quick and easy. Everyone knew what they were doing and it wasn't as unusual as I thought it would be."
Hannah was among the first cohort of Law LLB"students when the course began at the University two years ago and, although she had missed the first two weeks, said with help from the lecturers she quickly caught up.
Two years on, it was a visit by Harrison Clark Rickerbys to the University's School of Law that convinced her to apply for the trainee solicitor's position, which she will start in 2020.
"I have really enjoyed the course so far," she added. "It's given me a lot of amazing opportunities and it suits me exactly. I think the staff really want you to do well and will help you. I feel I have had a lot more support and opportunities than I could have had at my previous university. It's a more individual approach."
The University of Worcester has a limited number of places available for well-qualified applicants to start in September 2018, across a range of courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. "For information visit www.worcester.ac.uk or for application enquiries telephone 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk.