Thoroughly confused by clearing = how does it actually work? I know you need to be quick off the mark but what does this mean for the more popular courses?

[loveyouradvice]

Just that really

Hi

I'm getting really confused here.

1. When can you start applying through clearing if you have missed both your firm and back up offers?

I've read that places on the most popular courses can go by 9 am - but also that Clearing only opens at 3pm that day to give students and teachers time to reflect on best options

1. How to do it?

Supposedly ringing and getting informal offers is the way to do it... but others say it is impossible to get through on the phone.

What do you think?

DD is aiming for a popular subject so likely to not be many choices at the unis she is interested in.

Don't rush it too much. It's a big decision and your DD should do some research beforehand.

Have your DD look at the websites of the universities she's interested in, and see what they say about Clearing places. Most universities will have some information, and most will be moving towards clarity about how many Clearing places and in which degree programmes. We get A level results of applicants several days before the pupils do. However, these will be very strictly embargoed (it's almost on pain of death!) so don't ring up before the date given by the universities your DD is looking at.

At my place, we employ many extra people to answer the phones on the Clearing hotlline, so she should be patient. If she shows interest, decent grades, then it really won't be the case of "first come first served." We really do try to match up students to courses, because 3 years is a big commitment, and it's not in our interests - nor the student's! - to accept people into degree programmes where they won't thrive.

..and to add to pp...you can hold numerous offers at onetime but each uni will give you a cut off time so you can hold a few, weigh up your choices then decide. But bear in mind, the more choice DD May have the harder it may be to make final decision. Good luck my DS went through clearing having missed both firm and insurance....ironically he ended up at One of his top three choices that we’d already done open day at. You may need do some serious negotiating if they offer a foundation year (as they did with DS). He didn’t need to do foundation in the end and is just going into his final year of his 4 yr masters in Physics, with not great A level grades. He has been accepted onto a 3 yr Bsc but swapped up following 2 yrs of fab uni grades. Some kids just don’t deal with exam pressure that well but uni work is good. Try not panic, results day is all to play for.

Clearing is already up and running so you can research back up plans but you can not apply until you have either had both your original choices rejected or you formally decline them

Be aware Clearing may not be the same everywhere this year. Eg Liverpool won’t be by phone but is an online service

www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/clearing/

Probably worth checking in advance to see how it will be working at the institutions your daughter will be interested in.

It's possible that your DD may already have investigated the 'how Ckearing works' section on the UCAS website?
www.ucas.com/clearing-launch

The Clearing Plus function could be interesting/ useful.

There is a clearing app, which D has seen recommended by students on Youtube - it's just called Clearing, you can put your grades in and scroll through courses/unis available and it has all the details - phone numbers etc - on there,. Might be worth a look at that.

There's a great Facebook group with lots of help on clearing.

Last year some of the members helped another mum and her DC ended up going through adjustment and got a great place.

www.facebook.com/groups/488235648182391/?ref=share

What I wish I knew about university

Great advice... and yes I expect DC has already sussed out clearing but we haven't yet talked about it!! Keen to find the right moment given stress levels ratter high at the mo....

And I've applied to the Facebook group - looks great

I work at a uni and our clearing call centre opens at 8am on Thursday all the way through to Friday afternoon. Just call up any unis you're interested in and they will ask what course you're interested in and what grades you have. They will tell you if there is room and go through other details. They will make an offer on the phone and give you the next steps. Most will be offering campus tours too (after an offer has been made) if you haven't visited before!