We are already at the end of July. For a larger number of 18-year-olds considering university, that means getting ready to fly the nest. For a smaller yet significant number, that means clearing – sifting through the final few places left for the next academic year. Students enter clearing for a variety of reasons:
- An offer was withdrawn as A-level grades weren’t as high as expected, but were still good enough that many will offer a place go to university
- They haven’t yet decided which course to study and split between several options
- You were unimpressed with the institutions/courses as they weren’t what you expected and now seeking alternative options
But the key for any student entering clearing is to make the right choice in what might otherwise seem like a frantic grab for places.
Use the Web to Your Advantage
The UCAS website (University & College Admission Services) should be your first port of call as the Clearing List becomes available early in July. They hold details of each course’s place availability. Once you’ve identified potential courses, visit each institution’s website for deeper information the makeup of the course and what specialities you can expect to find amongst the faculty in each case.
Rule Out Ruthlessly
While students in clearing can’t pick and choose like students who applied for and were offered places ahead of the January application deadline, that doesn’t mean you have to take anything just for the sake of having a degree. It’s a big and expensive commitment and it’s important to make the right decision for you, your future career requirements and your strengths. Red flag on location, cost of living, or anything else? Discard and move on to something else.
Get in Quickly
The best clearing places tend to disappear quickly. Although some go right down to the wire and others are never filled, there is no reason to hang around once you’ve identified a course about which you’d like to make an enquiry, call the relevant admissions person or department. Ensure you have all relevant details to hand before phoning including projected grades (or actual grades once you receive them), personal statement and so on, although they may require a scan or have this sent by email.
Ask Questions and Take Notes
This will help you make your decision if you’re offered multiple places. No two institutions offer the same degree course in the same way. Some may have different specialities, some have exams while others do not, some courses still do not offer dissertations for undergraduate courses, for example – and these are important for postgraduate study. While most of this information should be on their website, they can’t offer details of everything. IF you’re unclear about anything, take notes to compare details at the end.