One phone call, and the rest is history

History graduate Peter Nash outlines his last-minute journey to uni to help reassure prospective students
Peter Nash, History graduate who came through Clearing

Peter Nash is a marketing and media expert who uses the analytical skills he acquired at university every day.
But the chance to learn those skills nearly never came. He had written off uni after lower than expected A Level results, and only came to Plymouth after receiving a follow-up phone call from an academic.
Now he’s encouraging others to stay calm and understand their options, whatever their exam results, reassuring them that there’s more than one path into a chosen subject.

I loved History at school and had a teacher who really unlocked my passion and encouraged me with wider reading. The type of study meant I always preferred coursework to exams, and my marks echoed that.

Plymouth was one of my uni choices as the History course looked great, but I didn’t do as well as predicted in my A Levels. 
I went to look for a job just to get some money in, assuming I hadn’t made the grades and the uni opportunity had passed me by.
Then I got a phone call from one of the Plymouth team, asking me how I was, what had happened during my exams and a bit more about why I wanted to study History.
Being my passion, I talked about it for ages, citing specific courses of interest, and they verbally offered a place at the end of the call. I was ecstatic!
I secured accommodation through a smooth and easy process, and went on to have an amazing time over the next three years."
Peter Nash, History graduate 

How does Clearing work?

When applying to university via UCAS, each student is asked to make a first (or firm) and second (or insurance) choice. If they don’t make the grades, they can apply through Clearing to the same universities, or different ones entirely.
Peter received a call from Plymouth having made it his second choice when he applied earlier in the year, but not having declined it following his A Level results. The team was prompted to check in and ask how he was, along with finding out about his exams and passion for History, and he was offered a place from there.
Whatever their results, prospective students can talk to someone at the University of Plymouth. Find out more about Clearing .

A Levels are such a stressful time, but worrying just shows how much you care.

There is always an opportunity, even if things didn’t go as well as you hope. Plymouth were supportive, valued my passion for my subject and afforded me the ticket to my future. 
I naturally assumed I hadn’t got into uni, but they called me and I’m so grateful they did.

An '"amazing experience"

Peter Nash

During my studies, the lecturers took great time and care to give me feedback on all of my assignments, and their advice around punctuation and sentence structure is something I carry with me to this day!

I now work in a media agency as a strategy lead across Europe, and when I’m working with clients I use the skills I learned at uni every day – from analysing sources and reading around a subject to forming a comprehensive story based on multiple pieces of information. 
I had the most amazing experience studying at Plymouth: I met some wonderful people from all over the UK and beyond, developed as an individual, and nurtured my passion for history… not to mention absorbing plenty of clean sea air!
After a rocky journey to get to uni, I owed it to myself to have the best time possible, and I really made the most of those three years. Whenever you do it, just make sure you apply, articulate the passion for subject, and then the opportunities are endless.

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