Clearing - who to call & when ? Dept or central switchboard? Email?

[another20]

Do you wait until 9am?
Do you call the faculty or a central uni number?
Should you email as well?
Can you apply online to the uni - or is always a phone call?

Where do you find out what courses are available - via individual uni websites or ucas or complete uni guide clearing link?

When are these listed? CUG clearing link looks like every course is listed - so wonder if this is a mistake - as individual uni websites are not listing them?

[McNutty]

@BlaaBlaa - Pls disregard my earlier question. I understand the point of Clearing to be to get a last minute course/change course/ BUT with the required grades. I asked the question because the word 'negotiate' had come up. I hadn't thought offers could be 'negotiated' but since we were discussing it thought to ask if work experience had any negotiating potential. I'd ave been more surprised if the answer were 'yes', but you learn new things on MN all the time.

[BlaaBlaaBlaa]

@mcnutty unless work experience is essential for the course it won't matter. Even then, the applicant will have had to met the minimum entry requirements set before they can speak to an academic. There is no negotiation if they don't meet the grades

[another20]

Thanks for your support - he called Manchester just to double check that they had correct his correct mobile number and they said he would have a call back anytime before 5.30. I think Lancaster would be great - they have invited him up for an open day this weekend which we will do so he can see for himself.

Once the bulk of offers are given out today - is it likely that more will go back on the list tomorrow as candidates reject some of their clearing offers - or do the unis give out enough in the first instance to cover that?

[user2222018]

The people answering the Clearing phonelines are not all academics/admissions tutors. They will be given clear guidelines about what can be accepted - there isn't room for negotiations.

Work experience is pretty much irrelevant compared to grades for most university courses.

[McNutty]

Taking the point about not bartering with extra curriculars, however what about work experience? Could one emphasise strengths in work experience done to balance?

[Cherubfish]

OP, he can hold as many offers as he likes (although he can only accept one) so my advice would be to phone a couple of other unis that he likes and get an offer or two under your belt. That will make it less stressful while you wait to hear back from Manchester.

[SilverBuckles]

Lancaster is a wonderful university (in my field it outperforms some of the more "eminent" places) and perfect small city (I'm from Kendal), and only an hour from Manchester. And only an hour from the Lakes (best place on earth). He could do a lot worse. The locals are very proud of the university, I think, and when we used to go there for big concerts & theatre events, the campus always seemed lovely - friendly and buzzing.

Has the Manchester department given him a time for the interview? They may be very busy today, so give it a few hours: maybe get him to email to see if there's a rough time he could expect a call, so he can prepare. If he puts it that way, rather than demanding a time for his convenience, then it's reasonable & he seems keen to be properly prepared.

[another20]

Yes he missed that as well - it was AAB at same uni. He has been offered his 1st choice course at Lancaster (but knows nothing about the city / uni) and then another course (not really interested in) at Bath. Waiting for a call back for Interview with dept in Manchester - which he is most keen on ie city and course - but taking a long time to call back so worried - should we call the dept - or wait politely??

[SilverBuckles]

What about his insurance offer? If his 1st choice rejects, then his insurance offer may automatically confirm. Unless he's missed that as well.

[EduCated]

Ah sorry to hear that. Hope you get through soon and that he gets sorted smoothly and swiftly for now, and later,

[another20]

B*ks - hanging on the clearing lines - he got BBB - needed AAA

[BlaaBlaaBlaa]

@noki if he doesn't get the grades for his first choice they may still decide to take him. If they reject him but he meets his insurance choice they they will automatically accept him. Ucas track will be updated first thing and although it won't tell him his grades it will tell him if he's been accepted.

Clearing helplines are staffed by a mix of students and staff. However, it will always be a member of staff making the ultimate decision.... usually academic staff.
Students are only ever placed on the filter phone lines .

[Hizz]

nokidshere if his first choice rejects him he will automatically be accepted by his insurance provided he meets their offer grades.
Sometimes a uni will accept a candidate who slightly missed their grades, I don't know whether this is more or less common than it used to be since number restrictions were lifted.

Clearing phone lines are often manned by students. A friend of DD does this at her middle ranking uni. She was amazed at how low the grade threshold was for clearing compared with advertised grade requirements.

[nokidshere]

If DS doesn't get his first choice university will it automatically go to his insurance one or does he still have to go through clearing?

[EduCated]

It’s very unlikely, although not impossible, that you would get an offer for 19/20 having missed the standard offer for 18/19.

However a year out would give time to consider options that are accessible with whatever grades you get, visit those and make a sensible and unrushed decision. It also puts you in a better position generally for applying for accommodation.

[SparrowandNightingale]

The school or college will have staff all geared up to help those who missed their grades negotiate clearing and those who exceeded their grades with adjustment.

Unfortunately this is not always the case. DS1 college were no help at all.No one there and no help with clearing or applying for a regrade on a very very very close miss. In fact they refused to give regrade paperwork. It was awful BUT all worked out in the end.
One gap year working later and a different uni all led to an amazing uni experience and outcome.

[BlaaBlaaBlaa]

@byanyothername unless that extra curricular activity has ucas points attached unfortunately universities won't be interested. They're looking at academic grades and related work experience

[titchy]

If your grades don’t meet their standard offer have you any chance of getting in if you took a year out and reapplied?

If you missed your offer and have been rejected, it's unlikely that those grades would be enough for next year. However if the number of applicants hugely drops for 19/20 entry then they may be more lenient desperate next year. I'd say unlikely though - the factors affecting recruitment next year and this year are the same (Brexit, smaller number 18 year olds).

[BlaaBlaaBlaa]

Check individual university websites and phone the advertised number ...opening times will vary but most will be open before 9am.

Clearing is for 2018 places. If you are wanting a place for 2019 you will probably be told to reapply. However, it wouldn't worth checking with individual unis.

The student themselves have to phone and it helps immensely if they have all their information to hand.
Don't panic if it takes a while to get through as the phone lines can get very busy. Wait on hold until you're out though

[SilverBuckles]

It can vary. At my place - if we go into Clearing (it's unusual) you would be told to reapply the next year. We know that generally we can attract equally or better qualified applicants in the next Admissions round.

If you reapply, you might want to show what you did in the intervening year to improve your A Levels (resits?) or add to your suitability for the course, such as relevant work experience.

but not extra-curricular activities!

[titchy]

Can you request a deferred place during clearing ? Or will you just be told to reapply?

No. Clearing is for 18/19 entry.

[another20]

Can you request a deferred place during clearing ? Or will you just be told to reapply?

If your grades don’t meet their standard offer have you any chance of getting in if you took a year out and reapplied?

[SilverBuckles]

Taking a year out to think through options is far better than accepting a course in Clearing in a panic and not enjoying it.

Sterling advice. There is nothing wrong with a year away from formal education, and off the exam treadmill.

In fact, I think it should be compulsory! I much prefer teaching students who've made a deliberate & unforced decision to study with me, than those who are there because
it's the thing to do
they can't think of anything better
their parents expected them to go to university.

[user2222018]

Remember that you can barter your place if needs be - if you have a particular strength in an extracurricular activity, for example.

To reiterate what other academics' have said: please don't peddle this myth. University courses in Clearing have minimum academic grade requirements. You cannot barter a place based on world class rowing or music.

However, lower tariff institutions may well drop to quite low grade requirements - particularly this year, with the demographic drop in students.

Whatever institutions/courses a student is looking at in Clearing, they should be clear that they want to do those courses and that the courses will take them where they want to go. Taking a year out to think through options is far better than accepting a course in Clearing in a panic and not enjoying it.

[EduCated]

Having previously helped at Clearing at an RG uni, extracurriculars played no part there. It was purely on grades. We were given the information about the minimums for each course and it was purely on the basis of whether those were met.

It may be different in other places, but if you are told no, I personally wouldn’t waste time giving a full life history. Move on to the next.

Also, if nothing comes up, seriously consider a gap year and reapplying with known grades. They’ll then be treated as an unconditional candidate (assuming they’re made and accept an offer during they’re gap year) and will generally then have the pick of accommodation, time to plan etc. Even a year spent working part-time jobs is valuable in terms of experience and building up savings.