Rachel Wain

Why did you enter Clearing?

I started to research universities when I was at college, and I found it difficult to choose which university I wanted to go to. I followed the crowd and thought that moving away to live in student accommodation was something I ‘should’ do so I based my research on universities where I would need to move out of my family home. That’s how I chose which universities to apply for.

Leading up to Results Day, I had a feeling that my exams didn’t go quite as well as I wanted them to, so I was pleasantly surprised when I opened my results envelope. I had gotten into the university of my choice. But I didn’t feel excited, and I actually felt quite apprehensive. I didn’t like the accommodation I had chosen and the thought of living there really put me off. I remember going home from college and telling my parents that I wasn’t going to university, I had changed my mind. In reality, I didn’t realise that I could still go through Clearing even though I hadn’t failed my exams and had been accepted onto my course.

After speaking to my friends and parents, I realised that Clearing was something I could still go through even though I had achieved the results for my Firm choice university, so I began my search. Edge Hill hadn’t been one of my options as it was close to home, so I had overlooked it, but after researching the courses on offer and hearing about the student experience, it sounded like it was perfect for me. And it meant that I could commute to university instead of moving away, which I didn’t want to do. I visited Edge Hill on Results Day and had a walk around campus on my own to get a feel for it and I loved it.

What factors made you settle on the course you chose?

In my initial search for courses, I was stuck between studying Spanish and English Language, but eventually decided I wanted to study English Language, so all of my applications were for this course. During my second year at college, I really gained an interest in Creative Writing. It had been a part of my English Language A level, and it was something that I started to take up in my own time. Clearing allowed me to find a different course that I hadn’t looked at in my initial search. I contacted Edge Hill and received an informal offer to study BA (Hons) English Language with Creative Writing. What’s more, I found out that I had the option to study Spanish as an optional module. So throughout my three years of university study, I elected to study Spanish too. This meant that my course incorporated all three of my subject areas of interest, which I didn’t think was possible until I went through Clearing.

How did your course shape your interests?

When I was studying at Edge Hill, I was introduced to new theories and topics. Some I had touched on at college, others were completely new to me. In my first year, one of my modules covered a range of fields that we would come across during our three-year degree. It was here that I was introduced to Forensic Linguistics. It was only a preview into the topic, but I was really interested and I knew I’d have the opportunity to study it in more detail in my third year. So I began my own research into the field and began to look into studying this at a higher level. That’s when I found out that I could study Forensic Linguistics at Masters level.

What did you do after studying at Edge Hill?

During my second year of study, I applied and was accepted onto MA Forensic Linguistics at another institution where they specialised in the field. So after graduating from Edge Hill with a First Class degree, I moved away from home to Birmingham. Edge Hill had prepared me to feel more confident and ready to take that next step, which is much different to how I felt when I first started at the University. I lived in Birmingham at the time that the city hosted the 2022 Commonwealth Games. One of my friends worked for the host organisation and was involved in the campaign’s communications. I took an interest in this and kept it in mind during the rest of my degree, but my attention was focused on Forensic Linguistics. The concepts that I had been taught at Edge Hill were invaluable and I felt confident that my prior knowledge of the field was stronger than others in my cohort. I finished my Masters degree with a merit and even though it wasn’t achieved at Edge Hill, I have a lot to thank them for.

What do you do now?

That brings me to now. Shortly after finishing my Masters degree, I moved back home and began looking for jobs. I still remembered my friend telling me about her role in marketing and communications. It had stood out to me, so I began searching for jobs in this area. That’s when I stumbled across the Content Marketing Coordinator role at Edge Hill University. I knew that it would be my chance to share my love for the University with those looking to study here. After just over a year of working in the role, the opportunity for promotion to Content Marketing Officer came along. I applied for the role, was invited to interview and then was successfully offered the job. I’ve been working at Edge Hill for 18 months now, sharing the great reasons to study here and the skills and tips I developed during my undergraduate degree are used each working day. Without my Bachelor’s degree, I wouldn’t be where I am now. And even now, it’s still strange to see my old lecturers around campus who are now my colleagues. As part of my role, I get to write about what makes Edge Hill so special and encourage others to experience the same encouraging atmosphere that I did. The most special thing is joining a community that you’ll always be a part of, even once you graduate.