Published on July 31, 2020 by Lydia Cozens

A woman sits next to another woman and they both look at pieces of paper being held in front of them

It was around this time last year where I thought I had everything in order. With a firm and insurance choice lined up and in the process of sitting exams, I was feeling pretty good.

Something I had overlooked was going through Clearing. As I had not planned for this, when the time came to use Clearing I felt completely in the dark. After going through it, I believe that I have five tactics you can use to make the most out of clearing.


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1. Prepare Your ‘Script’

Alright, it’s not really a script as such. But it is a sort of prompt for you when you make calls. Universities will ask you for your details so you need to keep these handy.

I suggest that you have a piece of paper with the following pieces of information:

  • Your UCAS track number
  • Your GCSE grades
  • Your AS/A2 grades
  • The university’s UCAS number
  • The university’s Clearing number

It may even be worth having a copy of your personal statement at hand if you need it.  Another essential thing to do is to write down whom you have spoken to, what was said and anything you may need to do or provide.

Also check out the guide on clearing on our website. >>

2. Ask Questions

If you want to know what the course is like, ask! If you are unclear of anything that is said, ask! If you’ve forgotten what was said, ask!

What I’m trying to get at is ask whatever you have to. It is understandable that you may be anxious and feel desperate. You don’t want to come across as clueless or annoying. But believe me when I tell you, the person on the other end is happy to help. If you don’t ask the right questions, you might miss out on something really important.

In addition to this, asking questions often can help show just how interested you are in the course and institution. Imagine being an admissions tutor dealing with someone that has no questions for him or her whatsoever, what impression would they be left with?

Guide to Clearing

3. Weigh up Your Options as You Go Along

If you ring up and receive a Clearing offer, don’t feel that you have to settle. As long as you don’t accept the offer, you can keep enquiring elsewhere until you receive an option that you are happy with.

I stress this as a tactic because some students might receive an offer, be so excited at receiving it and in a haste accept it without comparing it to another option. These students are likely to find things they didn’t know when they start first year and ultimately drop out to reapply.

Ultimately, accepting the very first offer you receive is not the best idea. Decide whether it’s the best choice for you or if you should keep trying for something better suited.

Check out our university comparison page. >>

4. Be Open-Minded

If you applied for law initially, consider applying for other law courses in Clearing. You could try your hand at some non-law courses that might be of interest to you. Non-law students that convert to law can achieve just as much as those with a qualifying law degree.

Therefore, you might consider doing a different course that you are passionate about and that you can do very well in.

Have a look at how you can kick start your career as a non-law student. >>

Law firms also love non-law students! Check out this blog post to find out more. >>

5. Make Sure Everything is Noted

To make the most out of Clearing, you need to have evidence of what was said, who you spoke to and the outcome of the call. That’s why you need to ensure that everything is noted down or confirmed by email.

It’s not good enough for a university to make you a verbal offer. You can’t prove this offer was actually made. If you find yourself in this position, politely request the person on the phone to send you an email confirmation of the offer and/or outcome of the call if something important was said, such as needing to send additional work.

In summary, I can attest to the fact that if you use these tactics, you will make the most out of your UCAS Clearing experience. Clearing can be a daunting experience but you can maximise your chances of success by being tactical. Best of luck!

Author: Ali Chaudhry

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