Going to university is one of the biggest decisions anyone will ever make in their life. But for many, the road to getting a place can throw in some unexpected curveballs.
As a parent or carer, you might wonder what you can do to help. Results Day is boiling pot of emotions as it is, but when your child doesn’t quite get the results they expected, you might think: ‘how can I help?’
This guide will walk you through Clearing 2021, what it is and what you can do to help your child if they decide to find a new course, or a new university.
What is Clearing?
Once Universities and Colleges have given out all of their conditional and unconditional offers, they may have spaces available on their courses if they’re not yet at capacity. This means that, even after Results Day, there are options for students to switch their university place, even if they have got higher grades than expected.
But most of the time, Clearing is used by students who haven’t quite got the results they were expecting. This is their opportunity to find a course that’s right for them. They might find a different course at their first choice university, the course they originally wanted but at a different university, or they might start all over again and choose something completely different.
Clearing is also used by students who have decided that they want to go to university and didn’t apply before the 30th June deadline, or students who had already applied after the deadline but before Results Day.
UCAS Clearing can be accessed via the UCAS website, and each university will publish their own Clearing hotline number to call.
How can I help?
First and foremost, try to make sure your child isn’t panicking. It might be easy to say, but this really isn’t the end of their university dreams. For many students who go through Clearing, they find that the course of the university changed to was actually far better for them when they’d had some time to reflect on the decisions they had made.
Make sure you’re around to help answer questions, provide moral support and help them with course numbers, telephone numbers and take notes down for them if necessary. When it comes to calling Clearing, it’s best to let you child make the call and talk to the university as tutors will want to talk to them directly.
What can I do to prepare for Clearing 2021?
This is something you could organise the day before as a ‘just in case’, without your child even noticing. Being prepared will help keep them calm, even if you’re unsure yourself of what they need to do. This will give your child some reassurance when they really need it most.
Make sure you have a pen and paper ready to take notes, as well as a phone and make sure you have access to an iPad or computer. Your child will need:
- Their UCAS ID
- Their grades
- A list of the courses they’re interested in
- A list of any questions they have about the course and university/higher education institution they’re thinking of applying to
Also, be prepared for Clearing 2021 to take a while. Sometimes it takes days to find the right course, get the verbal and written acceptance and for your child to then sort out all they need to now they’ve changed course and/or university. It may take some time to sort out student finance, accommodation and the logistics of going to a different university than they were expecting.
Most importantly, your child will be pleased you’re there to lend a helping hand should they need it. Although it might seem daunting and stressful, Clearing is all about finding the right course in the right place. And, once their Clearing place has been sorted, you’ll be able to support your child as they start to make plans for the biggest adventure of their lives: university!
The Clearing number for the Newcastle College University Centre is 0191 200 4110 – keep this handy! We have over 70 courses available to apply for in Clearing 2021, so we can help your child find the right area for them.