university clearing

soolin

I have a 17 year old son who has a uni place for September dependent on his grades. However, chatting with him he is convinced he won't get the grades and is feeling very low. He had exceptionally good GCSE results but his AS were dreadful as part of the time he had no teacher for one of the subjects and trainees on one of the others.

I'm just trying to be forearmed in case he is right and wonder if anyone has any experience of clearing? We spoke to his tutor last week and he says that even if son doesn't get the right grades but gets something other than a fail we should try clearing for another place somewhere else. Is clearing time dependent, ie does he need to get on the phones the minute he gets his results, or can he mull it over for a few days?

We were planning a holiday once the results are in, but I wonder if we should put it off in case we need several days to sort something out, any advice?

I'm still hoping that it is still just nerves talking, but after chatting with his tutor I think there is a good chance the grades won't get him to his anticipated uni place.

Soo

Eoin_McLove

I didn't go through clearing, but I do know that you need to be on the 'phone as soon as you have your results if you want to get a decent university place.

I'm sure your son will be fine. Everyone worries that they won't get the grades they need, but most people soon find out that their worries were for nothing. It's good to be concerned; after all, there's a lot at stake. When I applied to go to uni in 2002, I needed AAA and was worried sick for the entire summer that I had cocked up a few exams, but, like most of my friends, it turned out that there was nothing to worry about.

mrcow

My brother didn't get the grades for his degree course. (He failed one A level and got low grades on the other two).

After we picked up his grades, I called the university in question and they offered him an HND course that could be upgraded to a degree course after year two. It was simple and I figured it's because they want to accept as many students as possible (due to the funding issues).

So we never got as far as clearing (sorry if that's no help!) but he still got a place on his course of choice.

My b/f also failed his A levels (back in the dark ages!) and again, he didn't have to go through clearing, his university of choice just offered him an alternate degree course that had more free places.

If he doesn't get the grades, first thing is to call his first choice uni and see if they'll accept him still.

By the way, all students are nervous about not getting grades! It's a real pressure tank, and I'm sure he'll be fine

If you can, I think it's wise to put off the holiday for a while, just so you know that if need be, you have a few days to sort this if required.



Edit: Sorry that sounded harsh! My b/f (bless) didn't fail all his A levels, he just missed his required grades by a fair few points!

soolin

Thanks everyone.

The reason why we are feeling despondent is that we didn't get the 'don't worry it will be fine' chat from the tutor, we got the 'it has been unfortunate that you haven't had permanent tutors but don't worry you can always resit' chat instead. That rather lead us to suppose that son may well have been seen to struggle towards the end.

The positive thing though, and even the tutor said this, was that he got his uni place on interview and the uni reported back to the school that son interviewed extremely well and would be an asset to his intended course. The tutor did say that our first point of call as soon as results are out is back to the uni as they may be able to do something to help him if he just misses the grades.

Again thanks, it is just nice to know that all is not lost. I shall be grey haired at the end of all this, and still have 2 more sons to go through it all :eek:

Soo

juno

Get the teachers to write a letter to his choices now stating the problems with teachers etc. This may make the university be more lenient if he does miss the grades.

You really must not go on holiday, as if he does go through Clearing then he will need a few days. A lot of unis hold open days on the first Saturday after results day, so be prepared to travel and go visiting.

Make sure you buy an Independent newspaper first thing in the morning before you get results, as probably the newsagents nearest school will sell out soon. When I lived in a small village my sister's boyfriend's sister was trying to buy one at midday, and they'd all sold out. If you don't need it, you've wasted £1. If you do need it, it saves a lot of worrying.

Some unis put Clearing vacancies on their websites a few days early, so if there's anywhere he really wants to go he can enquire beforehand. Also, on the UCAS site you can do a search and tick the "Extra courses only" box. This is not guaranteed, but the chances are if they had spaces left at the end of Extra (don't worry if you don't understand what that is!) they'll have spaces for Clearing.

Clearing does not have to be a mad scramble, but the nerves and media make it into one. He can enquire into as many unis as he wants, and then narrow it down. It doesn't officially end until mid-September so there is plenty of time, but the "good" places generally go quickly.

I take it you've read this?

kar

I would get your son to take the telephone number for admissinos dept in the uni he wants to go with him when he picks up his grades. If he gets the grades needed then he can celebrate. If he just misses out he can call and i know of some people who have still got on the course if they've missed out by one grade or something. Otherwise they may offer another course.

If not get him online and looking at the UCAS clearing website. They will have details of which universities have places still on offer. You need to get in quick as they do go quickly. But have a look and then give them a ring. All he need to do then is wow them with his personality on the phone to get a place. Clearing is not the end of the world.

Wish him luck with his exam results

juno

While all the Clearing spaces will be listed on the UCAS website, everybody will be checking that. So don't rely on it, as it will definitely be slow and may even not be available.

It's best to use phones (so lots of credit and battery needed), your copy of the Independent, and individual university sites.

Bennifred

Oh much sympathy soolin - we were in your shoes a year ago. DS1 just managed to scrape the grades he needed, thankfully!
More to the point,I have been working with several gap-year students this year who have taken this year purely to improve their grades/ chances to get the place they want - would this be a possibility, if the current grades disappoint and the clearing places don't appeal?
Wishing you all lots of luck!

saintstreaky

To echo what others have said - be prepared!

Know the number of the admissions team - probably the admissions tutor for the department concerned, rather than the central number. If he's close they may well be happy to still take him.

Eye up any other courses at the same university that may be similar and/or he'd be interested in but have slightly lower entry requirements - if they won't accept him on his original choice they may suggest another, and if he's checked out the website first he'll know what they entail.

Check out 'Degree Course Offers' or websites for similar courses at other universities with lower requirements. If they're local, consider going and having a wander around beforehand to get a feel for the place.

The urgency probably varies with the course he wants to do.

nearlyrich

Not been through clearing with my two fortunately they got what they needed but wishing you all the best, it's worse than waiting for your own results.

lellie

First of all - take the details for his first and insurance choices admissions tutors - if he misses the grades for his first - ring them.. they might let him in, if he misses the insurance - also ring them - they might also let him in if lots of people have missed grades - if no luck then look for clearing places.

Make sure you're prepared.. lots of pieces of paper and a fully charged mobile will be essential on results day - I helped some of my friends that had problems on results day get prepared and they all got places. My school was also very helpful with a collection of prospectusses, some lists of admissions tutors for various unis and a bank of pcs logged onto UCAS for results day and teachers on hand to help you ring through everywhere - they helped everyone that needed it find places.

You can find out what courses he'd be interested in that still have places by looking through the ucas extra site before hand. Get a list of admissions tutors for those places ready.