Are courses in clearing already?

[Fibbke]

Just looking at the Complete Uni Guide and one if the courses dd applied to seems to suggest its in clearing. They gave her a silly high offer and she rejected it at the time in favour of a low offer insurance. Does this mean it will be in clearing in August?

Yes, courses are already declared as being in Clearing. All new applicants after June 30th go straight into Clearing, also the IB results are out and people get their BTEC results and SQA results before A level results day.

You can access the list via UCAS, but best to check with the university to confirm that the course is (currently) in Clearing.

Will grades advertised in clearing be lowered come August?

Interesting! Her insurance also in clearing but sadly her slightly aspirational first choice isn't!

Will grades advertised in clearing be lowered come August?

I don't think it's a foregone conclusion, but worth asking if they will accept you anyway with what you get?

Universities are still giving out overly high offers to initial applicants, despite the fact that most courses at most universities are now undersubscribed.

They are all playing a game to be perceived as being at a higher level than everywhere else (and therefore chosen as the firm offer) but have not caught up to the reality that the supply outweighs the demand.

Clearing has started for late applicants with grades, for late applicants awaiting grades you can do the paperwork now ready for results day. For a levels already holding offers it's worth looking but remember come results day they will accept on lower grades, especially less prestigious institutions

Yes, our school sent out details of clearing options yesterday. Didn't look at them as not applicable to us but the teacher said there was some really good stuff open in clearing this year - unusually so, he said.

TheFirstOHN dd got a 3 AAB offer from an ex poly higher than the RG uni she firmed!

Everything there is in clearing!

I’m not seeing my DCs first choice in clearing, his insurance is there but at the same standard grade offer.
I was surprised to see another of his higher offer unis in clearing, but again standard offer grade.
Will these grades drop on results day? Or is it just to show they still have spaces but they will not drop the admission grades?

I presume it's to show they have spaces atm

They won't necessarily drop their standard grades offer especially if AAA. They are hoping to possibly pick up students who get AAA having dropped from A predictions. Eg. girl I know has a 2 x A A offer from Cambridge. She knows they will not take her on AAA. Her insurance is AAA (and sometimes they will take on an AAA missed isnuarnce). However if they do not she may end up with an AAA and not get firm nor insurance so the places in at AAA in clearing would welcome her application.

However if there aren't these types of students then they may drop grades later. Also remember IB students already have their grades so may be taking these places as I type!

Just one word of warning ... if a course is currently in Clearing don't assume it'll still be in Clearing on A level results day as the remaining places may be filled before then. Basically, Clearing is a crapshoot. The number of places available and the grades that will be accepted mid August are unknown (although obvs the level of "unknown" varies hugely between courses).