Feature: Top Tips for Surviving Clearing 2016

On Thursday 18th August, thousands of students receive their A-Level results. Whatever the outcome, St Mary’s University, Twickenham is helping students to prepare with its Clearing top tips. 1. Don’t Panic! If you only just missed your grades don’t submit yourself to the Clearing process straight away. Call your chosen university to speak to the admissions department, explaining your circumstances and ask politely if there’s a possibility of a place. 2. Check Vacancies If you haven’t been accepted by your firm or insurance choices, check out UCAS listings, university websites and other sources such as the Telegraph for up-to-date Clearing vacancies. 3. Do your Research The key to Clearing is to do extensive research before reapplying. Use university websites and prospectus’ to look at the different courses on offer and find one that suits you. Check out the entry requirements, course content, and teaching and assessment methods. 4. Use Social Media Follow Facebook and Twitter accounts for all the latest Clearing information, you could also try following academics or staff related to the course you are interested in. Remain active by asking questions and chatting with other students. 5. Be Open Minded Make sure you’re open minded when looking at courses. If you’ve originally planned to study a straight undergraduate course don’t be afraid to consider other options such as a joint-honours degree. This could be a viable option when applying through Clearing. However, don’t opt for a course just to get accepted. You’ll be a student for three or four years so make sure it’s something you’re truly interested in. 6. Before You Call It's vitally important to have all your personal and academic information to hand when making a call. So keep a pen, paper and your UCAS number by your side. 7. Be Prepared Treat calls as an interview – be prepared to answer questions about your background, your motivation, interests and experience. Keep a list of key points if it helps. It’s impressive to flip the conversation and ask questions too. 8. Get in Touch Make sure you call universities as soon as possible on results day. Whilst it’s important to get advice from family and friends, do ensure that you call the Clearing hotline yourself. 9. Consider a Gap Year If your dream course is full and you don’t fancy the other courses on offer, consider taking a year out to build on your experience. This is not a last resort and will allow you to develop your skills. Try not to get side-tracked; always focus on improving your credibility as a well-rounded student. 10. Visit Campus If you can, try to visit the campus before you make a decision. St Mary's has a variety of undergraduate degree courses available through Clearing, speak to a trained advisor on 020 8240 4225 from 7am on Thursday 18th August.