DS wants to change subject- how soon to go into clearing?

[SockFluffInTheBath]

DS has a firm offer but wants to change his subject to something quite different. It’s not unexpected and I do think it’s the right thing to do.

i read that clearing opens on 5th July. From parents who have kids who have done this change is it better to get in asap or wait for results day?

Has he spoken to the Uni with the offer?

He might be able to use UCAS Extra. To do this he'd need to decline all his offers. There is a risk that he won't get an offer for the subject he wants but there's a risk with clearing too.

Ds had an offer from Exeter for history and when he went to the offer holder day, completely changed his mind (the lecture and presentation were dire). We went straight to the admissions stand and asked to swap to politics. They immediately said it would probably be fine and two days later had confirmed the switch.

He didn’t choose to go there ultimately since the offer holder day put him off but it was certainly possible to switch.

Does he want to stay at the same university or go somewhere different? He may not need clearing

Clearing opens in July but you need grades. First option is to contact the university he has an offer for to see if it's possible to switch course. If not he can withdraw his application and either reapply now (ucas extra) or wait until results day

He’d like to go to the same uni, but he’s worried about letting the cat out of the bag and somehow causing extra issues. Possibly he could do this when his exams are done in a month or so, it’s a bit a balancing act at the moment!

Thanks all. I will look into UCAS extra (trying to keep him calm, first exam on Thursday).

If he wants to switch he should do it now rather than when grades are announced since they will have allocated places accordingly. The query will go to admissions and they can’t withdraw the offer so it won’t be an issue

I would tell your ds to completely forget about university for now, and focus solely on the exams. Once they’re out the way contact the university/departments and discuss switching then.

If it turns out to be impossible at the moment, or even after results day, he can always try next year with grades in hand.

My ds suddenly announced in the February half term of his A level year that he wasn’t going to read Economics - he wanted to do Medicine. In many ways the year out helped him grow up.

If it’s the same uni he just needs to contact them and ask to change - they’ll be able to tell him if it’s possible and what he needs to do. Depending on the uni they might just change his offer, they might say he needs to go through Extra or Clearing or they might be able to just tell him honestly there are no spaces and he’d need to apply next year, or that there may be other options like joint honours etc. Pop them an email.

I would do it now rather than wait till mid June - then it’s not weighing on his mind. Also he may need to wait for the other department to come back, people are often on leave at this time of year and if it’s not sorted by embargo he won’t know till after results day so better to box off sooner rather than later.