STUDY // Let's scrap the stigma on clearing

Monday 10 August 2015

Hello!
I have a confession to make - I got into my university through clearing.

I hate that students believe that by getting into clearing is a bad thing. Sure, it's a stressful thing, a tearful thing and probably the most traumatic experience of my life but, for me, it wasn't because I saw clearing as a bad thing. I was stressed because my offer got sent to the wrong email and I ended up then calling lots of other universities trying to get offers but, ultimately, I didn't feel like they were the university for me.

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Anyway, yes - clearing is stressful but can lead to you going to a better university than you have ever thought. Everyone has reasons for not getting their target grades in their A Levels whether it be pressure, illness or clashing exams (I'm still not over it okay). There's a surprisingly big jump between AS and A2 and so your AS grades may not be representative of your A2 grades. If you are no longer getting those A's and start getting C's all you can do is work - but that isn't always enough for the examining boards who see 75% as a B.

Like written in this Guardian article, clearing has been considered a 'bargain basement' for university places. Generally it was seen that only bad universities had spaces left and it was only really used for desperate students who didn't get their UCAS in on time or failed to reach predicted grades. When it came around to me going into clearing three years ago, people were still telling me 'you can always reapply next year' and asked 'are you sure you'll find a good university?'. As it turns out I did. There were lots of universities to choose from that are top 30 in the UK University rankings. I ended up at a better university than my firm choice and was given a lot more in the way of opportunities that I know I wouldn't have received if I had gone and gotten my grades.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that going into Clearing is not the end of the world. We all know that you can tell what grade you have. As soon as I got out of my final exams, I knew that I got ACC and that is what I recieved. Use the time between now and the opening of clearing on Thursday to do some research on other universities if you know, in your heart, that you did not get your expected grades. I calmly explained my situation to each university and a couple looked at my grades from GCSE onwards and thought I had potential - consequently giving me an offer. Not all universities care about GCSE grades or your extra curricular activities but if you find one that does you may be in with a shot of getting in when you are way below their official grade boundaries. 

Nowadays the news represents clearing as being an event where the universities are in shop windows and the students have the time to pick which university is best for them. Some students are even skipping UCAS altogether and then weighing up their options once they have results and they know who they can apply for. I wouldn't perhaps go that far but I do think clearing needs to be seen as an opportunity to get the best for you and not as a bargain bucket full of open/broken food packets.

I thought I'd give you a few tips to help you or a friend out if they happen to go through clearing. It can be stressful and emotional but as long as you keep calm and remember these tips, you should be okay.

1. Wake up early (but not too early! 7am should suffice), have breakfast/coffee/whatever and wait for grades to be posted on UCAS. This generally happens 2-5 minutes before the expected time and if you're lucky you'll get in before the rush. That way, you can go into your college and sixth form knowing what's going on - whether that be you need to go into clearing or you have your place.

2. Get to your college/sixth form for as early as possible. They give out grades at 8am? Be there! If you haven't got your grades you're going to want to start phoning immediately. A lot of clearing hotlines don't open till 9/10am (or at least didn't for me) but I got in before then for quite a few universities and then I was one of the first they phoned back. The earlier in the morning it is, the more places there are and the more lenient with grades they will be. My offer for UEA got lost and I phoned back and they said to me that I shouldn't have been given an offer with my grades. Turns out they did just lose it and I'm still there on a Masters course (and spent the last year abroad). Oh how things change.

3. Keep calm and get friends to help. All of the universities ask the same questions for the most part. After 2 or 3 calls you'll know exactly what info you need to give out and so can get friends to phone other universities on your behalf. I don't know if that's actually allowed but it got my friend Becky her place at university. She has just graduated with a first so it can work!

Oh, and no-one will understand you if you're crying down the phone. Take 5 minutes to centre yourself and prepare. Once you've started phoning up you'll be too busy to cry.

4. Remember who you have phoned and when. You don't want to shout out that you have an offer at Loughborough when it was actually London Met. Could you imagine how embarrassing that would be to retract? Also, if offers do get lost, you can tell them a time you phoned and they can manually go through offers and eventually they'll find the original paperwork. I had to do that in the end but it was worth it!

5. Stay open minded. Unless you perhaps cannot afford to move away from home, consider it if you haven't already? You were set on another student town? I'm sure there will be another that is just as good. If you want to go to uni, you will. There are plenty of options open to you that don't require university and, whilst that not be Plan A it can easily become Plan B. 

If you are collecting your results later in the week - Good Luck! I'm sure you have done fabulously but just incase, just remember there are other options for you. Feel free to freak out for about 5 minutes or so but calm yourself down and show those universities what you're worth. It'll all work out - I'm certain of it!

21 comments :

  1. I was fortunate enough to get an unconditional for uni, but if any of my friends need clearing on Thursday I will be sure to pass on some of your great tips! Amazing post x
    Claire | www.claire-frances.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. That is lucky! It puts the pressure off. Good luck!

      :)

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  2. This is a great post. Although I didn't go through clearing I 100% would have done if I didn't receive one of my choices.

    After I didn't get my first uni choice & spent the whole morning crying hysterically thinking my chances of university were over.. then no more that 10 mins after returning home, a congratulations letter came through from my second choice. As it turns out I had the best 3 years at my second choice uni & wouldn't change it for anything..

    I definitely agree that there is no shame in going to university through clearing & you may actually have the best time ever..

    x
    Small&Blonde ♥

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    1. Thank you so much! I also ended up having so much fun at a uni that wasn't my first choice and am so glad I didn't end up there. It can make such a difference to the whole experience.

      :)

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  3. Great tips! I think everything happens for a reason, not getting your first choice uni might turn out to be the best thing that's ever happened to you, who knows! x

    RAWR BOWS

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    1. Thank you - exactly! It was for me - I'm so glad I'm where I ended up.

      :)

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  4. This is so true! Their is just so much pressure put into it.

    http://perlasancheza.blogspot.com/

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  5. Some really helpful tips and wise words here, Rachael. My best friend got into university through clearing as well. She wanted to do History (I think, I can't remember now), but ended up doing a dual degree in Law with English, and she now works in property law. Clearing absolutely isn't a terrible thing at all.

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    1. Thank you. A Levels can be so stressful and the university process definitely is. You may have to compromise but, as your friend has proven, it really can push you into what you want to do.

      :)

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  6. I don't think we have such thing as clearing in Spain, but we do have two different examinations: June and September. June ones are 'the good ones' the ones that will have the best chances, the people who did everything when they were supposed to. And September ones are like 'the leftovers' and there is a bit of stigma so I'm guessing that's what you meant!

    GOOD FOR YOU for getting into uni! Who cares how you did? I'm sure you deserve it as much as anyone there. xxx

    Cristina, xo // My Cup of Tea

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    1. I do think clearing is only a UK thing. It doesn't matter how you got there but what you do once your there!

      :)

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  7. I didn't even know there was such a thing as clearing. I'll definitely remember it though and pass it onto friends and family. :) x

    http://ditsysprinkles.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. It can be a lifesaver! I wouldn't be at uni without it!

      :)

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  8. Finishing my course has kind of made me think maybe I want to do a top-up year via clearing but I feel that the stress of it all would probably do me in! :') So may hold off. But great tips for anyone who does feel they want to try via clearing!

    I thankfully got on the course I wanted (think this is because I've done too many college courses, so it's just...grades galore, although not necessarily the best, aahahaha)

    Meg | A Little Twist Of…

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    1. I think it's just stressful if you don't know where you're going and you were planning on it! If it's not a 100% must find a place thing I don't think it would be as stressful. I'm so thankful for good GCSE's - they were the only reason I got in haha!

      :)

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  9. great tips! Clearing is NOT a bad thing! :) good luck to everyone getting their results this week!

    Pam xo/ Pam Scalfi♥

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  10. Really wish I had read this before results day last week, where unfortunately I had to go through clearing and it was stressful but I got through it. Perhaps I was supposed to go through it for a reason. Loved the tips even if I was reading them afterwards.
    Alicia :)
    http://bambidreaming.blogspot.co.uk

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Thank you so much for commenting! I appreciate every single one of them and will get back to them as soon as I can :)