Hi, I’m Miriam, a final year international student, studying Accounting, Business, Finance and Management. Clearing is simpler than it looks, but still stressful in the moment. You are making fast decisions while juggling calls, emails and results. But don’t worry! Here’s my Clearing survival kit to help you get through it.
How to prepare
The most important thing is preparation. Before doing anything I made sure I had everything I would need to hand. This included:
- My UCAS ID and personal details
- A shortlist of universities and courses I genuinely considered
- My results clearly written down
- A realistic idea of what I would and would not accept
One underrated step was preparing questions for universities. When you are on a call, your brain goes strangely blank, so having notes saves you.
As an international student, I also had to think about things beyond grades and courses. Time differences made everything more stressful because I was trying to contact universities during UK office hours while also keeping family updated. I also had to consider accommodation, visas and the reality of moving abroad for university.
That made preparation even more important because I did not want to make rushed decisions while feeling overwhelmed. Also, do not treat Clearing as just what is available. Ask yourself, would I actually be happy here?
Results Day: Controlled chaos
Results day moves fast. Messages, emails, group chats and decisions all arrive at once. It feels like everyone else is moving forward at full speed while you are still processing your own results.
The hardest part was not uncertainty but pressure. Clearing makes everything feel urgent, like you need to accept the first option just to escape the stress.
But one key moment for me was realising I could pause.
I did not have to say yes immediately. I could compare, think and actually choose something that felt right for me, not just something available quickly.
That small pause changes everything.
The Phone Calls: Unexpectedly Intense
Calling universities sounds simple until you are actually doing it. You go from prepared to suddenly forgetting basic information the moment someone picks up.
What helped me stay grounded was the following:
- Having notes physically in front of me
- Writing key points down during the call
- Asking them to repeat things when needed
- Taking a breath before answering important questions
- Reminding myself that I do deserve to be there and to ask questions confidently
The waiting afterwards is its own challenge. I found it helpful to step away briefly, talk to someone and reset my mind.
Staying Calm
I was not calm the whole time, and honestly most people are not. But a few things genuinely helped:
- Talking to someone who could reassure me without pressure
- Keeping my environment simple with fewer tabs and fewer distractions
- Reminding myself that Clearing exists for situations exactly like this
At some point, I realised Clearing is not a backup failure system. It is a structured process and a real second chance. Many people end up in places they are genuinely happier with than their original choices.
Final Thoughts
Clearing feels intense at first because everything happens quickly and emotionally. But once you are in it, things start to settle more than you expect.
In my experience, I called multiple universities, explored different options and even
reconsidered my course more than once, from engineering to accounting. Now, looking back, I am genuinely happy with where I ended up.
If I could give one piece of advice, it would be this. Prepare what you can, slow down when needed and remember that you are not making a decision for your entire life in one rushed moment.
And finally, please remember that your value does not change based on an offer. That is the real survival kit!
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