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Original poster

UCAS clearing how does it work?

32 replies

StokesJP · 10/05/2022 12:21

Hello, if anyone could guide me through how the UCAS clearing system works I would be most grateful. My 18 year old (predicted A level Grades AAA probably going to be AA*A, applied to UKs top performing unis for Psychology but has only one offer from Royal Holloway, rejected by others although they say she meets academic criteria they are just oversubscribed for Psychology this year due to deferring from Pandemic and suddenly everyone wants to study psychology, plus I suspect as she went to a Private sixth form this has worked against her application. Looks like she will have to go through clearing to get a more prestigious university but what realistically are the chances of getting a good uni through clearing? She is not keen on RHU due to location and understand that the uni is not so well rated for the course vis a vis employers - Please if anyone can shine some light on how this system works I would be most grateful as she wants to go to Uni this year and has worked so hard. She did really well in her GCSEs which she achieved whilst in the state system so feel really upset for her that she hasn't got a good offer. Many thanks.

OP posts:
clary · 10/05/2022 15:37

PS - her not getting offers is deffo NOT to do with being educated privately so don't beat yourself up about that.

Bramshott · 10/05/2022 15:27

Has she visited Royal Holloway? My DD is there (not studying Pschology) and loves it - it has all the benefits of being a "London" uni but out in a beautiful location.

Gooseberrypies · 10/05/2022 15:25

Why did she apply there if she’s not a fan of the location and it’s not respected by employers?

clary · 10/05/2022 15:23

Yes I agree, unlikely to be anything much in clearing from the most popular unis for psych. May not be much in clearing at all. Last year was extraordinary but some unis (eg Lboro) had nothing in clearing at all.

The last normal year was 2019 OP, when my dd went through clearing, for English not psych, and there were places at unis like York and Lancaster for English; but this year there may be less.

Where did she apply? If she couldn’t find five places she liked for her UCAS form, what would be acceptable in clearing?

titchy · 10/05/2022 13:22

Where did she apply? I'm surprised RH was the only offer. Unless she only targeted very selective? Oxbridge, UCL, Durham?

As pp said unlikely to be clearing vacancies for that level of institution. Would she reapply next year? Or possibly look for somewhere slightly less selective in clearing?

EduCated · 10/05/2022 12:46

Psychology is a popular and oversubscribed course, as you have found. It is therefore unlikely to come up in clearing, unless large numbers of students miss their grades and universities feel they can attract higher grade applicants (rather than accepting others with reduced grades).

I guess never say never, but I would be realistic that it may be slim pickings.

If she is adamant she doesn’t want RHU, perhaps a loose plan for clearing, and a former plan for reapplying next year? With grades in hand she would, hopefully, be seen as a more sure fire bet.

Original poster
StokesJP · 10/05/2022 12:22

Grades Should read AAA or A*AA.

OP posts:
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