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Lauren Grant on applying to AUB: “It is never too late to try something new or change your mind!”

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  • Student Story
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  • Creative Writing

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From modelling to beach BBQs, performing Shakespeare in drag in an outdoor theatre to being taught by a round-house slam poetry winner and Oscar-nominated writer, to meeting some of my favourite people, my first year has been an experience I will treasure forever.

Moving to uni is a scary and overwhelming experience for almost everyone; however, coming to uni in the year your younger sister would be starting is a whole different story! In 2024, I did just that, becoming a first-year BA (Hons) Creative Writing student at AUB as a mature student – I was so nervous I’d be seen as out of place, or I wouldn’t find people I connected with because of the age gap (I was 21).

How I discovered AUB

For context, I have no A-levels, having had to drop out due to health reasons. I didn’t think I would ever get to go to uni. For four years, I was out of education and the whole time, I’d been looking for something that fit, yet nothing did. I decided to pursue working abroad and signed up for Camp America, which led to me being a camp counsellor in the stunning mountains of North Carolina for the summers of 2023 and 2024. As much as I loved the job, the time away made me re-evaluate my life, and I realised that I was dreading going back to full-time work in customer service. Through journaling and long chats with friends, I realised I still had so many dreams I hadn’t touched in forever. After my first summer, I started writing seriously again and looked into applying for uni.

I’d had my sights set on AUB since I was 16, after stumbling across it on the UCAS website. At the time, I had a conditional offer from Cambridge for English Lit, and was set on going there, but something in me kept telling me I would end up at AUB. So, years later, I went straight for it! I contacted the admissions team and looked into redoing my A-levels. I sent them some of the online courses I was considering (all pretty pricey!) Doing these would delay me for another year or two, but I was determined. My course looked incredible – created by James Cole, a published author in the field, with industry professionals coming in regularly to network and share their experience. Plus, it was situated within AUB, which is a mini-industry where collaboration opportunities are abundant!

After several emails, one of the members of the admission team explained that I was eligible to apply under extenuating circumstances. That email changed my life, and, since this realisation had come only a few weeks before applications closed, I scrambled to prepare. My portfolio was finished in a week, my personal statement in a weekend and, to my shock and delight, both were accepted!

How it's been going

Many months later, I’m nearing the end of my first year. It’s been a wild ride! I needn’t have worried about not fitting in, because the niche-r, nerdier and more creative you are, the better.

I can genuinely say that AUB has the most welcoming environment of any space I’ve been in, and everyone is so nice and excited about self-expression! You cannot go a week here without someone complimenting your shoes, hair or artwork. I do sometimes feel a bit older, but that is usually fleeting and caused by obscure internet references or memes I don’t get. My friends here also vary in age – from 18 to 26! And it can be nice being the one who knows how to work a washing machine or what to ask when contacting landlords.

Even if it wasn’t the original plan, I am so glad I had to wait to go to uni. It has meant that my time at AUB has felt very intentional, and I get involved in far more things than I would’ve at 18. I have that extra level of confidence that comes with experience, which has been invaluable in my creative work and networking.

My one piece of advice

Whatever your journey is, I implore you to choose what is right for you. If that means waiting, then I guarantee you’ll be in a better position to start when you do. Things come to you when you need them, and it is never too late to try something new or change your mind!

Something to think about

If you liked this post you might be interested in applying to AUB through Clearing.

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