Does anyone have experience with UCAS clearing?
I just found out I didn't get into Uni and now have to go through clearing. Anyone know what it's like?
I'm shitting myself.
( the_rhyme_minister has a little bit of gold and a pager, Thu 14 Aug 2008, 7:54, 14 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Oh I'm sorry!
I was just going to ask everyone for a Woo! for my sister who just learnt she got into Uni.

I hope you have success in finding somewhere.
( girlinthehole, Thu 14 Aug 2008, 8:23, Reply)

Clearing
Its not too bad. A bit of hit and miss I'm afraid, it depends on how popular your course was! They do massivly drop the requirements, but you won't find out till the last minute :(
(weekirst23 Is broken! Silly ice. Silly High heels!, Thu 14 Aug 2008, 8:37, Reply)

Woo for BGB's sister!
I went through clearing; although it was many, many, maaaany moons ago...

Just keep on at them, it is down to how popular the course is, as weekirst23 says, but a bit of pestering can't do any harm.

Good luck.
( Moey, Thu 14 Aug 2008, 9:16, Reply)

tip
Whatever you do, make sure it's you that phones and not a parent of yours... that happens, and we don't like it.

Also, don't just settle for a course because you can get in. It's much better to wait and save up your money and repeat your exams and get on a course you like than jump on whatever comes along and then spend the rest of your degree regretting it. Be choosy - you can still afford to be choosy.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Thu 14 Aug 2008, 9:18, Reply)

I went through clearing in 2004
The feeling when you open your grades and find out that you didn't make either your first or reserve offers is one of the worst I've felt.
Basically you just phone up a load of universities on their clearing line and see if they'll let you in - the sooner you start ringing the more likely you'll be able to find a uni that you'll be happy with. Good luck!
^of course you shouldn't compromise too much, CHCB makes a good point, if you're not happy with a uni or the course that they offer you shouldn't feel obliged to choose it simply because they'll let you in.
(Evilweevil is covered in bees, Thu 14 Aug 2008, 9:20, Reply)

It could be worse...

You could be old, fat and thick...like me.
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Thu 14 Aug 2008, 9:43, Reply)

additionally
I'm not sure if this will help with your nerves, but it might. The universities offering Clearing (not all do) aren't just doing you a favour - they are desperately trying to achieve their target numbers for the year as well. Each course has to state an expected number of students before the grades are known - in fact, before the students even apply. Partial funding is allocated to the university on the basis of those figures. If a university fails to achieve their targets, they lose money and that impacts on next year's targets. It is in a university's interest to fill their places (we academics don't get a say in this policy, unfortunately, or it'd be all research and no teaching) so Clearing is something both the university and the prospective student need.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Thu 14 Aug 2008, 10:01, Reply)

^CHCB's advice is good
I had a few friends who went through clearing.

One guy that got it to the course he wanted by phoning through his choices asking if they would take lower then making an extra list of uni's who did the course and calling them.

Another guy was told his grades were not good enough so he retook his A levels, got grades better than he needed for his "safety uni" and got in to his first choice uni which he was proper happy about as he never thought he would honestly get in there!

Another friend of mine went to a uni, didn't like the people so changed.
Redid first year at another uni, didn't like the course.
Redid first year at another uni, wasn't as good as the first uni but he wasn't allowed to change any more so finally finished his degree after five years!

I suppose that story is to show that if you do go to a uni you don't like there is nowt wrong with changing your mind :)
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Thu 14 Aug 2008, 10:08, Reply)

What CHCB said
But in addition, it's worthwhile seeing if your first ad second choice uni's will let you in for a similar degree, preferably one which shares modules with your original choices. It's possible to change your course after the first year if you so wish.
(Shippy likes linebreaks and doesn't care what you think, Thu 14 Aug 2008, 12:56, Reply)

After two and a half hours of phoning Uni's
I've just been given a place at Plymouth on the excat degree I originally applied for. I'm still waiting to hear back from my firm choice (Leeds) to see if they'll give me some leeway. Thanks for your advice guys!
( the_rhyme_minister has a little bit of gold and a pager, Thu 14 Aug 2008, 13:01, Reply)

@rhyme-minister
Yay, come to Leeds. More b3tans in Leeds is the way forward.
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Thu 14 Aug 2008, 13:17, Reply)

Hmmm
Think very long and hard about what you do next. Is University REALLY for you or do you just want to go because thats what your mates are doing and what you parents want?

I have worked in a University for the last 20 years and am saddened more and more each year as people who really should not be there are sucked in, saddled with 20 grands worth of debt and given a largely worthless piece of paper at the end of a 3 year long party. Its only when the 30k a year job does not instantly happen that they realise they have made a big fuckup.

I am not at all saying you personally should not be there, but you need to know what you are getting into and need to already have a plan in place for what happens after the 3 years are up.

Universitys do not care about you at all. All they want are your fees.

Many people do very well from their Uni experience, but these are generally the people who get into a top 20 Univeristy on a "real" course and get a 1st.
( RadG Drinking Mojitos in the sun, Thu 14 Aug 2008, 23:14, Reply)

^ Can I print that and send it to my parents?
No, seriously, Clearing isn't the end of the world. I missed out on my first choice and insurance offers because I did something monumentally stupid on my Latin paper and got into neither Exeter nor St Andrews. I didn't really know where I wanted to go from there, so thought about Modern Languages at Plymouth, before getting an unconditional from Kent for French and Italian (who squeed when they heard I had an A in French) and I honestly think Clearing is the best thing that could possibly have happened to me.

I'm glad you've got it all sorted now though - I remember it like it was yesterday for me (one of my friends got 4 As and is off to Cambridge now, woo).
( Maladicta, Fri 15 Aug 2008, 13:37, Reply)