Hi everyone! My name is Nihad and I came to Surrey to study Law through Clearing.
Results day didn’t quite go to plan, as I narrowly missed my firm choices for university, and so I had to go through the Clearing process. Like a lot of students I had this idea in my head of exactly how university admissions were “supposed” to go, so finding myself in clearing was stressful. Looking back now, it ended up being one of the best things that could have happened to me.
I had done research before the day, just in case, and so I knew that Surrey would be one of my clearing options. Whilst I did receive other clearing options after a few phone calls, I ultimately had to decide whether I would choose one or take a gap year and reapply to another university of my choosing with more preparation.
Why Surrey?
Ultimately, I decided to come to Surrey for a few reasons. Firstly, the law course here provided a plethora of interesting modules to choose from, including ‘sentencing and penal policy’ and ‘intellectual property,’ which were specific interests of mine. Having looked into the exam structure, Surrey is one of the few places that applies various forms of examination. From the classic in-person and online exams and coursework to group projects, creative negotiation exercises and simulation of courtroom trials, everyone is able to be tested in a way that applies to their strengths. Additionally, the university appeared to have a vibrant and exciting social life, which I can confirm is true, having gone to many events hosted, including the annual summer music festival hosted by the lake!
The support given was amazing. I was booked into a meeting with my personal tutor from the first week, where I explained my concerns of feeling lost and behind, following what I considered at the time to be a massive failure post A-Levels. My tutor not only reassured me that I would be ok but also pointed me towards the directions towards accelerating my academic career, which was one of my biggest worries at the time.
How Surrey became my home
What surprised me most was how quickly Surrey started to feel like home. I came into university thinking I would probably just focus on getting my degree and keeping my head down, but within a few months, I found myself getting involved in the Law Society, which is something that completely changed my university experience. Over time, I went from attending events to eventually competing in the finals for the mock trial competition in my first year, which took place in the UK Supreme Court!
The following year, I became an official committee member, organising competitions and eventually became the President of the Surrey Law Society this year. I was able to completely transform the society to the point that lecturers commented that it was one of the best years and committees they had seen! Alongside this, with the support of my personal tutor and other lecturers, I secured a training contract with a top international law firm. At one point, I thought not getting my original university choice would define my future negatively, but Surrey completely changed my perspective on that.
Surrey makes it quite easy to get involved, even if you’re nervous at first. There’s always something happening on campus, and societies really do become a massive part of student life. Some of my closest friendships and best memories have come from saying yes to opportunities I nearly talked myself out of.
My advice
If I had one piece of advice for someone going through Clearing, it would probably be this: don’t see it as falling behind. It’s very easy to compare yourself to other people during results season, but university is such a personal experience that everyone’s path ends up looking different anyway. What matters more is what you do once you arrive.
For me, Surrey ended up being far more than just a university I found through Clearing. It became a place where I grew in confidence, pushed myself outside my comfort zone, and found opportunities I never expected to have.
And honestly, I wouldn’t change the way I got here.
