Taking Advantage of UCAS Clearing

Are you an A-level student who still has not submitted your UCAS applications? Today, 30th June is the second deadline for UCAS applications for academic term 2016-2017, and submissions sent after 6 pm today would not be sent to colleges and universities anymore. Rather, they will automatically be entered to Clearing.

How Clearing Works

There are various reasons why applicants still do not have any university place even if they have submitted their UCAS applications on time. Some A-level students may have not received any offers or opted to decline because they did not like what was offered to them. Others may have failed to respond on time or their offers were not confirmed because they did not meet the uni conditions, i.e. low grades. If you find yourself in any of these situations, the Clearing process is your best bet.

Whatever your reason, going through Clearing may sound daunting because a lot of spots in unis have already been filled. There is still hope and getting a place in a reputable institution is still feasible through Clearing. You may also apply for any course at whichever uni that has openings. Also, you don’t necessarily have to stick to the subjects you selected in your original application.

Make sure you work extra hard during this process as your future is in your hands. A full list of Clearing vacancies will be posted on 5th July, but Clearing officially starts on 18th August. On the other hand, since Scottish students receive their results earlier, they may start on 9th August.

To start the Clearing process, fill out a UCAS application form as usual. You will be provided with your Clearing number, which will appear on your Track page by mid July or once the uni has processed your application. This number will allow schools to access your application. Once you have received it, immediately ring all the universities that you are interested in and work out what is best for you. Take your telephone conversations seriously as this is the best chance for you to sell yourself to the admissions tutors and convince them why you are a suitable candidate for their institution.

You don’t have to accept the first offer you get because there is a chance for you to receive a lot of offers. You have to be 100% sure with your decision because you don’t want to waste any opportunity. Neither do you want to study a course or go to a uni for at least three years, and later on realise you have made a wrong choice.

As soon as you have decided which offer you want to accept, add this choice to your UCAS Track page. You can only input one choice so you have to ensure you do discuss this with the uni or college beforehand so you won’t encounter delays or miss out on your chosen course.

The last date to enter a clearing is on 20th October. Manage your time wisely and take note of all the important dates. Don’t act on impulse but don’t decide too slowly.

Last but not the least, you should know by now that most important element in your application is your Personal Statement. To ensure a place in your chosen uni, Essay Writer can definitely help you write a high quality one. To get started, please fill out the order form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.