“My A Levels didn’t go to plan – but Clearing was the springboard for my career”
Graduate Bethany Long looks back on her Clearing experience, reflecting on the subsequent opportunities that unfolded
![Bethany Long BA (Hons) Architecture working at a desk](https://d3bpgcke55gfwt.cloudfront.net/rails/active_storage/representations/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBOFdZTlE9PSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--bb431fa3c062761d04ab235db1480fa137b9c319/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdDRG9MWm05eWJXRjBTU0lJYW5CbkJqb0dSVlE2RkhKbGMybDZaVjkwYjE5c2FXMXBkRnNIYVFKWUFta0NMQUU2Q25OaGRtVnlld2s2RTNOMVluTmhiWEJzWlY5dGIyUmxTU0lIYjI0R093WlVPZ3B6ZEhKcGNGUTZEbWx1ZEdWeWJHRmpaVlE2REhGMVlXeHBkSGxwVUE9PSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoidmFyaWF0aW9uIn19--42754237235ba1e6f9325deaf83c5a2657141cd3/Bethany%20Long%20hero.jpg)
I was predicted A, B, B and had my whole experience planned – but I had an inkling something wasn’t quite right, and sure enough I didn’t get my first choice University.
There's a gender disparity in architecture and that's an issue that I've always known I wanted to be involved in changing.
We do this by organising an exhibition each year at Birmingham Symphony Hall for International Women's Day, which features practices from across the Midlands. I also run monthly networking sessions called ‘Mochas and Mentoring’ which offers mentoring over breakfast. It’s about allowing opportunities for connection, sharing ideas and pushing forward changes for women in the industry.
A Level results day is a stressful time but you’ve done everything you can do, and having Clearing there as an option is a great way for prospective students to secure the future they deserve.
Nikolina Bobic
Lecturer in Architecture and Admissions Tutor at the University of Plymouth:
“We need to see more women in positions of leadership. Across the industry as a whole we see so many more male directors than women and it makes me wonder, where am I? Where are my female role models to look up to?”