Clearing Guide 2008
C ontrary to myth, a lower A-level or Highers grade than expected does not equal the end of the world – it simply means a change in plan, and that never killed anyone. We know that it’s hard to think of Clearing as anything but a cruel ritual of torture, but it’s really just a normal extension of the UCAS admissions process, and one in 10 students will get to uni this way (so you’re hardly alone). Still, Clearing involves big decisions that must be made in a small amount of time and that can seem scary. But if you know what to expect and manage to stay calm, you’ll be well prepared to handle it.
First things first
Before you begin your Clearing odyssey, ring up your first choice universities, as a lower grade doesn’t always mean automatic rejection. If you’re still eligible for Clearing, UCAS will send you a Clearing Passport, the all-important form needed to secure a place. The UCAS website (www.ucas.com) and individual university websites will list all the available courses starting 14 August. Scottish course vacancies will be posted earlier on 5 August, when Highers results come out (an up-to-date listing of all Scottish vacancies can be found at www.scottishclearing.org). Make sure you’re not on holiday during this time, as you’ll need to be around to get your forms, speak with admissions tutors and make decisions. Clearing runs until 20 September, but don’t leave it this long – courses tend to fill up quickly, so act sooner rather than later.
Deep breath
As we mentioned before, the key to a successful Clearing experience is staying calm. This can be achieved in a variety of ways: a good cry, a nice meal, a sprint around the block while screaming your head off, or a conversation with your Careers teacher (etc. feels compelled to point out that the path to calm does not involve opening a bottle or swallowing something unwise – ever). Though it’s natural to feel stressed, remember that stress and worry are a complete waste of time – they won’t change your situation and will just make things more difficult. So instead of focusing on the doomsday side of things, think about your strengths and picture all those unis out there, dying to make you an offer.
Feel better? Good, now we can trust you with this pen to take notes. You’ll need to arm yourself with a friend, partner or calm relative; a pen and paper; all your necessary documents and Clearing number; phone (with plenty of credit); and most importantly, an internet connection. For the next few weeks, the internet will be your gateway (and best friend) to finding out what’s available as well as university contact details and prospectuses. If you have any immediate worries, you can always call the UCAS Clearing hotline on 0870 1122211 – the advisers are nice people who want to help you.
Mindbender
So, now you’re faced with a massive list of courses and unis that you’ve never thought about before. But look at it another way and it’s a massive list of new opportunities (which doesn’t pop up every day). Take advantage by opening up your mind to new possibilities. Look at other unis that offer your intended course. And if you’re dead-set on a particular uni, explore related courses that are still available. Or why not consider a completely different course that’s always in the back of your mind? You can apply for any course with vacancies, no matter what you originally applied for. Just remember, now’s not the time to consider a city or subject you’ve always hated.
When you’ve narrowed it down to several promising unis, try your best to visit them – most have open days when Clearing begins. If you’re unable to visit, ask people what they think about the uni’s surrounding town or city. This will be your home for the next three years, so you want to make sure you like it.
The offering
Clearing can be rough on the ego, leaving you eager to pounce on the first offer. Before you shout ‘Yes!’ to a course, ask yourself if you would’ve considered it two months ago. Carefully review all the important stuff – course content, facilities, costs, bursaries, accommodation, and the surrounding area – and make sure you feel good about your decision. If you have any lingering doubts or fears, talk them over with your Careers teacher or a relative.
When you’ve found the right course, just ring up the uni (with paperwork, pen and paper in hand) and speak to the admissions tutors. They’ll ask you a few questions about your grades and goals beforehand, so prepare by writing down a few reasons why you’d be suitable for the course and any questions you may have. This will help you sound serious, enthusiastic and desirable!
When a uni asks you to send them your Clearing passport, you’ve met all their necessary requirements and they would like you to confirm your place. Fill in your passport (keep a copy for your records) and send it to the uni – do not send it to UCAS. You could also drop it off in person and get a taste of the atmosphere of your future uni. Next, await confirmation from UCAS, and then celebrate!
Plan B
If nothing takes your fancy during Clearing, don’t force it. Remember that life is about changes in plans and instead of going straight to uni, you could take a gap year – which leads us to yet another massive list of opportunities that include travelling, volunteering, earning money, and gaining work experience. All of these things will help you decide what you want to do with your future, and it will look good to unis and employers alike. There is no set path to success and some of the most successful people in the world made their way through an untraditional route. So come August, believe in yourself and above all else, stay calm!
Alternate realities
• Take a gap year and reapply for 2009. You could improve a module or two but check that your chosen uni allows this.
• Ask for any weak module to be remarked. After all, examiners are human, and do make mistakes.
• If you have flunked A-levels or Highers completely, consider if employment is a better option than uni initially. There’s no rush to go to uni and money, experience, sponsorship or lucky breaks may count for more.
Comments
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| Author: Johnny Rich | Date: 7th, May 2008 |
| This is all good advice, but anyone who goes into clearing should be aware of a few scary truths first. First off, one in seven students in the UK drops out or fails their course. But at some unis it's as high as one in three. And which unis are those? The ones that the largest proportion through clearing. In other words, the students who go through clearing may end up making snap decisions they come to regret later. Worst case scenario: they drop out and can't afford to go back. But even if it's not that bad, some students may be left with the nagging thought that they may have been better off elsewhere. The advice given in the article above is all good stuff, but it's very much the official side of the story. There's nothing in there that couldn't receive the official stamp of approval from UCAS. Two important things to remember: (i) UCAS is owned by the unis and they have an interest in ensuring their spaces are filled; and (ii) UCAS wants everyone to obey the rules of clearing whether it's in their individual interests or not. So, here's a few alternative thoughts. Most importantly, as suggested, you could take a gap year and reapply for 2009. In most cases, this is the best idea. The vacancies in clearing are – for the most part – the leftovers. It's possible there's something there that's perfect for you, but not as likely as if you're picking from a complete list of all courses. Unless you absolutely have to go to uni this year, do consider whether you wouldn't do better to take a gap year, do something useful with the time (retake, get work experience, save up some money for the lean years ahead, etc). Most people don't realise that once you've got your grades, unis will be a lot more willing to consider you. Even if they rejected you when your predictions were CCD, they might accept you when you've actually got those grades. That's because you're a 'done deal', a bum on a seat. There's no risk for them of having a vacancy, so they're able to be more flexible. In other words, if there's a vacancy in clearing that you can get, you can probably still get it next year, but better than that, you might also be able to get a place on a course that you really want and you can have the time to make that decision properly and (as the article above suggests) you'll have time to visit the uni before committng to live there for the next three years. But if you must stick with clearing, here's one more tip that's very subversive: don't send your Clearing passport off to a uni until you're absolutely sure you can't do better. Tell them you have done. Say you've put it in the letterbox. If necessary, if they call you after a few days, say it must have been held up in the post. Meanwhile, keep ringing round to rule out any other options. Don't do this for more than, say, 3 days as your place isn't legally secured till they've got that bit of paper. But for that time they'll definitely keep it for you. In the meantime, you can keep that as a back-up and see if you can't do better elsewhere. A few words of warning though. Don't try to keep more than one uni on hold at a time in this way – they might find out. As soon as you are sure you want a course, get that passport to them asap. For more on this and lots of other tips on clearing, getting the edge in the application process, choosing a uni, student finance and so on, you might find www. push.co.uk useful. | |
