Meet Maddie

What is your favourite thing about your course?

My favourite thing about my course is the way it pushed me to try new things. I do English with Creative writing and before coming to university I had only written traditional prose. The university encouraged me to try several other forms, such as poetry, scriptwriting, screenwriting and more. Because of this, I have had the confidence to experiment with things such as video game story boarding and podcasting.  

A friend who's never visited Birmingham before comes to stay with you - what would you do with them to get a taste of the city?

The first place I take someone to give them a taste of Birmingham is NQ64. It’s a vintage arcade with lots of super cool games and drinks. It’s in Digbeth as well so there’s loads of places to eat in the area before or afterwards, like Pedro’s Pizza or Falafel Munch.  

When did you know the University of Birmingham was the place for you?

I knew the University of Birmingham was the right place for me when I went to the offer holder day and went for lunch with someone I met there on the same course. We’ve been best friends ever since and live with each other now.  

What are some highlights of your time at Birmingham?

A highlight of my time at Birmingham was going to an MMA fight night organised by the University MMA society. My friends and I all got dressed up and went to watch the fights. It was my first chance to properly dress up since prom, and now we go every year.  

Where is your favourite place on campus?

My favourite place on campus is the Barber Institute of the Fine Arts. It's free for students and if I’m ever overwhelmed or stressed I go and look at the artwork there.  

Do you have any top tips for prospective Birmingham students?

My top tip for prospective Birmingham students is to embrace the freedom that comes with going to University. You can try things you’ve never done before by joining clubs and societies and nobody is going to judge you for being a beginner because there will be a lot of newcomers. Also, if you join a sports society dress up for sports night. Nobody likes a half-hearted outfit! 

What do you want to do after graduating?

After graduating I want to use my degree in Creative Writing to start working in the video game industry. I also want to travel the world for a bit and write in as many cute cafes as possible.