{"id":9925,"date":"2022-05-31T04:34:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T03:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.york.ac.uk\/student-voices\/?p=9925"},"modified":"2022-05-31T12:52:57","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T11:52:57","slug":"the-clearing-process-my-tips-for-getting-through-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.york.ac.uk\/student-voices\/2022\/05\/31\/the-clearing-process-my-tips-for-getting-through-it\/","title":{"rendered":"The Clearing Process – my tips for getting through it"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I went through clearing<\/a>, so I know how intimidating the clearing process can be. But with the right support and a bit of prep, clearing can give you the chance to find a great course somewhere.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some tips that I wish I\u2019d known beforehand!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AHEAD OF TIME<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Think about what you want out of uni<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When I did my exams, I knew they hadn\u2019t gone my way before I got the results. Instead of preparing for clearing, I tried to pretend it wasn\u2019t happening<\/a>. That meant I ended up doing some frantic Googling of courses throughout results day and making quick decisions about where I wanted to study. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I should have taken the time to think about places and courses that interested me. The subject you choose and where you study are large parts of your uni experience. Making sure you choose what will make you happy is really important!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Know the process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another thing I wish I\u2019d done ahead of time is to research exactly how the clearing process works<\/strong>. I spent a large amount of time on the day worrying about what I\u2019d have to do to get a place at uni, and how the process worked. It\u2019s a relatively simple process, and UCAS explain it all on their website.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clearing places can go quickly, and being prepared will give you the extra advantage of knowing exactly what you\u2019ve got to do. Results day is stressful enough without having to keep checking what the next step is!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ON THE DAY<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Stay Calm!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everyone who goes through clearing says this because it\u2019s true. It\u2019s easy to get overwhelmed by the emotional rollercoaster of results day, especially if you didn\u2019t get the grades you wanted and now your plans are changing. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It helped me to remember that I wasn\u2019t the only person going through this. <\/strong>There are loads of reasons people go through clearing, and most of the time people find a great course and end up loving where they study. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s lots of advice about dealing with stress during clearing<\/a> out there. Also, I found talking with my friends and family during the day made me feel much more relaxed. This made it much easier to stay collected when talking to unis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep an open mind<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the best pieces of advice I was given was to look at courses in similar fields to the one I\u2019d originally applied to. Being flexible means you\u2019re more likely to find a clearing place, and it can also lead to something you hadn\u2019t previously considered.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I originally applied to do anthropology, but after my tutor suggested Social and Political Sciences (SPS), I was able to look at more universities, including York. When I looked at the SPS course content page, I realised that it really suited me. I\u2019ve never looked back!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CALLING UNIVERSITIES<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Calling universities to ask for a place is a bit nerve-wracking, especially when you haven\u2019t done it before. But it\u2019s important that you<\/em><\/strong> make the call, not anyone else, as universities want to get to know you. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some tips I wish I\u2019d known before making clearing calls:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have a pen and paper close-by<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Having a pen and paper to make notes is important, as sometimes you might be given a lot of information in a short period of time, and can forget what\u2019s been said. This can also help keep you focused if you\u2019re feeling nervous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Names, course titles, dates, times, and a summary of what\u2019s been said are all useful details to write down. You might need to ask some questions or get back in touch with the person you spoke to on the call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other bits to prepare<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you call each uni, there are a few things it\u2019s useful to keep nearby:<\/p>\n\n\n\n