There’s a lot of universities in the UK, and the quality of higher education here is without doubt one of the very best in the world. It’s all very well shooting for the crème de la crème, but some people, frankly, prefer something a little more down to Earth.

Oxbridge universities are very good – don’t get us wrong – but for many people, the very best of the very best is a bit too much. The thing is, these places are a very competitive, and a degree from anywhere else is nevertheless an extremely valuable thing; you don’t even slightly need to go to somewhere like Oxford or Cambridge to do well for yourself later down the line. Elitism isn’t always the most attractive trait.

One question that you should ask yourself before applying to universities is what you’re hoping to get out of the university experience. A degree should always be the first thing in mind, but if you’re thinking of applying to Oxbridge, it better be the only thing in your mind – there won’t be much time to do anything else.

A degree should always be the first thing in mind, but if you’re thinking of applying to Oxbridge, it better be the only thing in your mind.

If you’re hoping to get a little more from university, outside full-fat, 100% education; then the best university for you might not be the ‘best’ university. And really, your judgement should be the only thing that matters. There’s a lot of other stuff that most people should consider when picking a university: how far you’ll be from home, how much the cost of living is there, and even if you think you could stomach the food.

Going to university is a personal choice – as is choosing the university that’s the right fit for you. And for most people, the very best universities are about as useful as the very best deserted island; you might be able to get there if you really tried, but it wouldn’t be much fun to a) get there and b) be there. Hard work is valuable, but so are social skills, maintaining new relationships, and regular liver testing.

We’re not saying, by the way, that university rankings are to be entirely ignored; far from it. They’re the most valuable way of cutting down your short list of universities that you’re interested in. But they’re also absolutely not the only thing you should be looking at. If they were, every single potential undergraduate would apply to the same two or three universities, every year, until the UK goes through some strange counter-education revolution. That, thankfully, doesn’t happen. Point is, there’s more to life than grades, and that goes for the universities as well as the students.*

*We recommend you work hard and try to achieve good grades.

If you’ve started university through clearing, you may be slightly worried that there will be nowhere to live, simply because the university didn’t know you were coming. This, generally, is simply not true. A university will have a certain number of students they intend to take on at the start of the education year, and this number will include the students who have got in through clearing. Almost all of the time, there’s very little to worry about and the university will have some sort of system in place. All that you need to do is read everything carefully and work out where, exactly, you want to live.

Your Options

You should have – more or less – the exact same options that a non-clearing student will have as far as your accommodation is concerned. This will, of course, depend on your university’s system but generally the choice will be between a hall of residence (private or, more commonly, university-owned) and a shared house with some other students. Most people suggest halls of residence for your first year as this is an opportunity to meet a lot of people, make friends, and ease into the social side of university.

SEE ALSO: Ultimate Guide to Student Accommodation

This isn’t always the case, in our experience – living in halls is far from essential in your first year – if you want to make some friends you’ll be able to whether you’re living with a large group of people (which can be noisy, dirty and tiring) or a small five-bedroom house. It’s all up to personal preference but we have faith that it’ll work out whether you head to a hall of residence or a house for your first year.

Things To Do

Your first job when you’re accepted into clearing is to check the university’s process for accommodation for clearing students. As we said, it will generally be more or less identical to the process for directly accepted students, but in some cases they will get the priority pick. Because most first years want to live in a hall of residence, this might mean that there will be a bit of a free-for-all for all of the remaining rooms in halls. Don’t panic! Just ask what’s available and work it out from there.

If you do choose a house (or just end up with one), try to organise a few viewings before term starts if you can. This way you’ll be able to choose the one you’re living in and won’t have the enormous stress of just getting what you’re given on the day. If your university suggest this to you, just tell them you’d be more comfortable to do a few viewings first and they should be able to work something out for you.

SEE ALSO: Viewing Student Houses

Prices

Bear in mind that – in general – halls tend to cost more than student houses and if you’re hoping to keep a bit of money to one side for other activities then it’s well worth considering moving into a house instead of straight into halls – there will be plenty of opportunities to make friends and meet people elsewhere.

Keep Calm and Carry On

Things always have a way of working themselves out. Just a few days ago, you may not have even had a place at a university (hence going through clearing), but look where you are now. It may seem like an impossible task, but come September, you’ll have somewhere to put all your stuff and rest your weary head. Not that you’ll want to, as it will be Freshers Week. And you’ll be busy avoiding Fresher’s Flu.

The fateful day has arrived! You went to bed early, desperately trying to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, willing the hour to come, so you’ll know what your next step will be.

Sounds dramatic doesn’t it? Well it is, but it’s also worthwhile saying one thing – stay calm!

We are of course talking about A Level results day, the very morning that casts fear into the hearts of parents, and butterflies into the stomachs of students. If you get what you need, then well done! You’ll mark this down as one of the greatest days of your life so far. However, if you didn’t quite reach the standard you needed, don’t worry, there are options available to you, and many people out there willing to help. Put simply, this isn’t the end of the world, it’s simply a slight bump in the road.

The reality is that you just want to know. You don’t care about the whys and wherefores, you just want to have a slip of paper in your hand that says ‘yes’ or ‘no’. But like most situations in life, it’s important to remember a few things, just in case. So let’s look at what might happen on A level results day and the things you need to keep in mind, other than celebrating.

You don’t care about the whys and wherefores, you just want to have a slip of paper in your hand that says ‘yes’ or ‘no’

When you wake up, bleary-eyed, try not to be too ratty with your nervous parents, who will no doubt jump on you the moment you wake up. You are their baby, and you’re about to step forward into that scary world, so yes, they’re nervous too – be kind. Other than that, have some breakfast. The day ahead is going to be nerve-racking, but hopefully very happy and joyful, however in the event it’s not, you need to keep calm and grounded, which is no good on an empty stomach.

Okay, no family fall-outs, and you’ve eaten, what next? Get yourself dressed, grab your phone, also remember your uni or UCAS letter, just in case you need to ring up. Nobody has ever been accused of being too well-prepared. Right, now put your shoes on and go.

If your journey to school or college takes you via a newsagents, it’s a good idea to call in and grab a copy of the Daily Telegraph, before they sell out. Why? Well no, it’s not for reading today’s ground-breaking news, although why not, it might be interesting, but it’s because they always print a comprehensive list of all clearing vacancies. If you don’t need it, be a good Samaritan to someone who does and pass it on. Remember, karma and all that.

So let’s get down to the nitty gritty – you’ve got your results firmly in your shaking hands ….

Plan A

Success! You’ve got the grades, and you’re in to your first choice uni. Well done you! Remember the phone you have in your pocket, fully charged up? Use it! Then, when you’ve called everyone between here and Timbuktu, go out, celebrate with your friends. There is nothing more you need to do – this is the start of the rest of your life, and it’s time to toast that hard work.

Another reason to seriously celebrate is if you’ve not only met your required grades, but you’ve also gone over and above. This means you have a decision to make, you either stick or twist, basically. If you want to remain with your firm offer, then you don’t need to do anything other than wait for your AS12 letter. However, if all this success has made you think about moving uni’s to somewhere asking for higher grades, then you can do this, and this boys and girls, is called ‘adjustment’. It’s entirely up to you, but if you go down this road, you need to register your decision on Track, and you need to act quickly because you only have five short days. You won’t lose your first choice offer, so that’s always sat there waiting for you.

 if success has made you think about moving to somewhere asking for higher grades, then you can do this, and this boys and girls, is called ‘adjustment’

Okay, so we’ve looked at what hopefully is the best case scenarios, and hopefully you won’t need to read the next bit, but just in case, let’s see what happens if you don’t quite reach the grades needed for your plan A.

Plan B

Please don’t worry, there are things you can do, and life will go on. First thing to do is to check Track. If your entry shows as ‘unconditional’, breathe a sigh of relief and put it down to a close call, you’re sorted, no need to worry. However, if it’s showing as unsuccessful, you need to stop those tears and get proactive. If you feel it would help to call the uni, then do so, because you have nothing to lose. Basically, if Track says ‘unsuccessful’, or ‘conditional’ – ring your chosen uni.

Your safety net is that famous thing called ‘clearing’ and that is why you bought the Daily Telegraph, remember? If you spot someone in the crowd looking upset and staring at their results, give them your copy if you don’t need it, they might thank you for it in the future.

SEE ALSO: Guide to Clearing: What to Do on A-Level Clearing Day

Plan Z

Results day is about to get complicated – bear with us.

There are a variety of other possibilities with regards to results day, but the thing to do if you don’t meet the standard scenarios we’ve talked about already, is to check Track. Think of it as a modern-day Yoda, telling you all you need to know. If that’s still not updated or it says ‘conditional’, just get on the phone.

It’s a complicated business this results lark, but just remember if it doesn’t go your way, maybe it’s because there’s another path you haven’t looked at yet. The world isn’t going to implode, and life will go on, probably towards clearing where you’ll more than likely end up somewhere even better. Through twists and turns, you’ll get there, just keep soldiering on! Just remember, when the ground has settled and you’re sat in your uni bar, have a drink for us.

On results day you may be panicking if you haven’t been accepted on your course at your first choice university, but don’t be put off by that. There are a vast number of courses often available through UCAS clearing but some are more widely available than others.

Last year over 80,000 students were placed on various courses through clearing within two weeks of results day. This article focuses on the most popular courses that students were placed on, giving you an idea of what subjects are popular in clearing.

1. Business and Administrative Studies

Subjects relating to business and management were the most popular in terms of students placed through clearing, with over 10,000 places being filled between the 13th and 28th of August. If you can see yourself in the business world, or even as the next big entrepreneur this option through clearing may be the best thing you’ve ever done. It’s worth noting that in 2015, 1 in 5 business students were placed through clearing, so if you want to study in this field take a look at other courses and universities now, and make a note of them incase you have to go through clearing. Find business administration degrees.

2. Subjects Allied to Medicine

Did you want to study a science based subject at university, or want to be a doctor or nurse in the future? If you’re now thinking your dreams are shattered because you didn’t get into your first and second choice universities don’t panic and give up, because there are number of courses available during clearing which could still allow you to enter the medical profession. Last year 20% of students studying subjects allied to Medicine actually came through clearing, making it the second most popular subject area in clearing; so don’t panic if you don’t get in initially. Subjects like Biomedical science are the main medicine associated subjects available during clearing. These include pathology and neuroscience, and even physiotherapy. So if you still want to make a difference to the world and the people in it through a medical capacity there is still a way for you to live the dream.

3. Biological Sciences

In 2015 over 8,000 students were enrolled on Biological Science courses through clearing, so if you have an interest in animals and the natural world around you this may be the perfect option for you. Again this is another option for someone with a keen interest in science that haven’t been accepted into their first choice universities, with a wide range of universities across the UK offering degrees in this field of study. Read more about biology degrees?

4. Social Sciences

This is a larger field of study than you may initially think. Subjects concerned with social studies include, Sociology, Social Work, Social Policy and Anthropology. In 2015 there was over 40,000 people with places on Social Science courses; with almost 8,000 students that had come through clearing. If this is a subject area you have a keen interest in then you should find a large number of courses available through clearing from which to choose from.

5. Engineering

Out of all students placed on Engineering related courses in 2015, a staggering 24% came through clearing. Engineering subjects available through clearing include various fields of study such as electrical engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering and mechanical engineering.

Not your cup of tea?

Don’t panic if there’s nothing that jumps out at you. Just scour through the other options available and see if anything links to what you initially applied for during your original UCAS application. If your chosen course isn’t available, take a look at a university’s joint honours system and see if anything there tickles your fancy.

Results day – This is officially one of the most stressful days in your life to date, but like most stressful events, they are possible to overcome.

Results day doesn’t always go according to plan for everyone. Your grades might not match up to what you expected, and on the other hand you might have surprised yourself at how well you did.

If things didn’t quite go to plan, at least you can count on clearing to give you a helping hand to achieving the future you always wanted…

What is ‘Clearing’?

Think of Clearing as a matchmaking service. Universities with gaps in their student intake, paired up with students who didn’t quite reach their required target, who are looking to fill the void. These two parties come together and voila!

It is worth noting that clearing is also available for students who over-achieved and exceeded their grade expectations.

Who is eligible for clearing?

You’re eligible to use the UCAS Clearing system if you’re one of the following:

• If you didn’t get the grades required for your firm choice, or your insurance choice
• If you applied too late – after the 30 June deadline
• If for some reason you haven’t applied to university yet – and if that’s the case, if not, why not?!

Immediately after you realise you didn’t get what you needed, or either of the other points apply to you, you’ll need to start the clearing process.

The Clearing Process

Before you actually go through the clearing process you need to make note of a few things:

1. Your UCAS personal ID (10 digit number) so you don’t have to scramble around for it each time you contact a university
2. A list of universities you would be willing to go to, and ones that you would consider
3. A list of courses you would want to study

After you have done the above the first port of call is UCAS Track. This is your little black book of importance on results day, so log in and check whether you have an offer recorded – if you do, phew, it’s okay, go celebrate. If you don’t, then click the ‘Add Clearing Choice’ button and get to work.

You’ll also need to check official Clearing listings in the local press, the UCAS website, and also on the websites of individual universities who will advertise vacancies for various subjects. Again, be flexible. The press will print vacancies on the day the results are out, so it might be an idea to pick up a copy on the way to get your results, just in case. If you don’t need it, hand it to someone who does, they’ll be grateful.

It’s worth knowing that some universities rely on cold callers, that’s you, ringing up on the off chance. Not all universities go ahead and advertise all their vacancies at clearing. They’re basically quite confident that someone will ring up and they’ll be able to fill any gaps. So if you really fancy a particular university, or a particular course and it’s not down on the official listings, there’s nothing to lose by giving them a call just in case – you don’t lose points for trying! The worst thing they can say is ‘sorry we’re full’.

You might feel completely out of control because the one thing you want to go right has actually gone a bit wrong, but you have more control than you realise. You are the one responsible for searching through clearing listings, narrowing down your choice, acting quickly and making the call. Always be polite, friendly and professional when you call a university, as you’re basically selling yourself, telling them why they should accept you.

If a university you contact has a vacancy and they’re happy to accept you they’ll either tell you straight away yes; or on the flipside no. Alternatively you’ll hear either way very soon afterwards, so no major waiting period here – Clearing is a fast moving process. It will all be resolved quicker than you expect.

Don’t give up!

If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again! There is some truth in that saying. You might hit lucky with your first call, in which case great, well done you. If however you don’t find success in your second, third or even fourth call, don’t worry! Work down through your list methodically, don’t become stroppy the further down you get. Remember to stay positive and professional, even if you’re starting to get fed up.

Once you find a course and university with a vacancy and it’s looking positive, don’t be scared to ask questions. This place is going to be your home for the following few years, so it’s important to get all details clear in your mind, so you can make your decision.

You’ll also need to ask the university about the clearing process with relation to accommodation; as you’ll be in need of somewhere to live… You can find out more about sorting your student accommodation through clearing herestudent accommodation through clearing here.

If the university runs open days, ask about them, in fact even if they don’t, ask if you can visit, because that way you can make your decision quicker. Some universities will hold open your offer until you visit, so make it quick and don’t say ‘oh I’ll come a week on Tuesday’, go as soon as you can! This makes you look good too, eagerness is not desperation, it’s a desire to move forwards with your life!

Finally…

This may all sound extremely confusing and you have to do all of this at a time when you’re upset and wondering what went wrong with your A levels. It’s important to remain calm and not think it’s the end of the world, because really it’s not. Regardless of your results, whether you aced them or just scraped in, failed miserably or just missed the mark, life will go on and this could simply just be a bump in the road.

Despite emotions running high, the most important advice is to stay calm. The Coursefindr website is a mine of information (if we say so ourselves), but if you have any questions that aren’t detailed, hop on to Twitter and ask! This confusing time need not be as stressful as you think.

Good luck!
The Coursefindr Team