If you got your A Level exam results yesterday, and they weren’t quite what you were expecting, or alternatively if you went into the summer without any offers, as you’ll no doubt be fully aware now is the time to use clearing to get a place at university for the coming academic year.
Although some people see clearing as something of a frenzied final attempt to find a place at university, as we’ve discussed before there’s no need to be panicked into signing up for a course through clearing without first taking the time to make sure it’s right for you. Nevertheless, the fact that it’s a good idea not to be rushed when using clearing isn’t an excuse to beat around the bush and put off your search for a place through clearing. It’s all a question of more speed, less haste, as one of your older and wiser relatives might say.
If you are planning on using clearing but have so far not made any moves towards finding a place, here are our top three reasons why you should get your act together.
1) The best courses and universities fill up first
The idea that clearing is some sort of jumble sale of second-rate courses has been thoroughly discredited in recent years. This year many–probably even the majority–of the UK’s premier-league universities have places available through clearing. But this isn’t a secret; it’s something that all your clearing rivals know full well. So to stand a chance of getting a place at the top table, though, you’ll need to act fast.
2) Acting swiftly gives you more thinking time
The clearing process isn’t just about seeing a course and firmly committing to it. Through clearing you have the chance to speak to the people who run the course, and get more information from them about it. And you’ll probably also be weighing up various options alongside one another. The faster you start contacting course providers, the more time you’ll have to think things over and do your research into the different courses’ you’re looking at.
3) The faster you arrange a place the more time you’ll have to sort out things like accommodation
Accepting an offer through clearing certainly isn’t the final hurdle to jump over before you can head off to university. One of the most crucial things that you need to arrange is accommodation, not just because you’ll need a roof over your head but also because it can have a big effect on your first-year social life. And with places at university accommodation always in high demand, the faster you get your place arranged the more chance you’ll have of getting into the hall, house or flat block that appeals most to you.