Applying to university through Clearing - twice!
Chloe Jackson
Nursing (Mental Health) BSc(Hons)
Hi, I'm Chloe. I study Mental Health Nursing and applied to Huddersfield through Clearing, but my application story isn't a typical one - this is actually my second undergraduate degree!
Hey, my name’s Chloe and I’m a first year Mental Health Nursing student.
My route to student life at Huddersfield is on the unique side, as this is actually my second undergraduate degree.
I initially went through Clearing in 2019, and spent the next three years completing my BA Hons in Drama. A couple of years later, I realised I wanted to re-train in mental health, and here we are!
So, coming from someone who has done it twice, read on for the insider’s scoop about Clearing.
Why did you apply through Clearing?
To put it simply, I didn’t have the grades. I had been through some challenges in my personal life that meant grades and university courses had been on the back burner.
I had all but given up on university, but then my certificates came through from college in 2019 and I realised I’d done well enough to go through Clearing.
So, I rang the Clearing line. I thought, I’ve got nothing to lose. And honestly, it was so easy. The phone advisor was absolutely lovely, and they offered me a place that same day!
The second time round was fairly similar. When I decided to take the leap and re-train, I rang Huddersfield’s Clearing team and they sent off my details to the Nursing department, who asked me to hop on a Teams call to chat with them. A few days later, my place was confirmed!
How did it feel to be offered a place from Clearing?
There’s no feeling like it, really. It’s a little bit stressful, because you know that going to uni is a big change. But it’s amazing. It’s like that feeling when you get offered a new job, but even better in my opinion.
The days that follow the offer can be busy as you sort everything out, so remember to pace yourself and pat yourself on the back for your achievement. The hardest bit is done, now you can get ready for life on campus.
At the end of the day, you’ve spent years in education, work, or in general life building on skills, often without even realising it. And if you have the right attitude and a hunger for learning and developing, uni is the right place for you.
What do you wish you knew about the Clearing process before applying?
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Even if you’ve not applied for any courses, or applied for different courses, you can still apply to university through Clearing. All you need to do is update your UCAS account. You can even apply through Clearing online.
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Your tutors won’t be weirded out if you start the course slightly late. Neither will your new classmates. Relax, find a seat and you’ll have this down in no time.
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It’s really easy to enrol, and it’s mostly done online through a software called MyHud. If you’re confused about anything, you can speak to the student recruitment team, or go to iPoint.
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Going through Clearing doesn’t mean you’ll get bad grades at university. University is completely different to college or apprenticeship life, and is a lot more self-led. Some of the highest achieving students go through Clearing!
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You can speak to a student! I wish I had known about this, but there’s loads of student reps like me ready to support you and answer your questions.
Personally, I was wondering a lot about what happens AFTER Clearing. The most crucial thing I wish I knew? Take it one day at a time.
You aren’t going to have all the answers from day one, and you’ll get loads of emails from uni in the days following your offer which will clarify a lot of burning questions.
But if in doubt, get in touch. You won’t be the first or the last to have pre-uni nerves, especially if you’re going quite suddenly, so use the help that’s available.
What are some top tips for going through Clearing?
1. Make sure you’ve got all your certificates to hand before you call. Each course will have a different threshold for UCAS points through Clearing, so the advisor might need to take note of all your qualifications and grades.
2. If you’re nervous, consider having a friend or family member there with you when you make the call. Moral support is always helpful, whether it’s good or bad news.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask your advisor to repeat themselves, and don’t worry about asking questions. They’re there to help, and always want to get you on that course if they can. You could also have a notebook and pen to make notes if it helps.
4. Apply for student finance straight away if you haven’t already. You don’t have to have secured an offer to apply, and you can always cancel or change your application. It can take some time to process your application, so get the ball rolling ASAP and get your funds on time.
5. Research your commute to uni, whether that’s rolling out of bed and onto campus from student halls, or an hour train journey. That time between you getting an offer and you starting classes will fly by!
6. Once your Clearing process is complete and you’re officially off to uni, make sure you celebrate! There are loads of amazing places to grab a bite in Huddersfield. If you’re a fan of performance, the Lawrence Batley Theatre has loads to see, or if you like your retail therapy, Kingsgate Shopping Centre is worth a look.
Whatever you do following your Clearing journey, give yourself a pat on the back. You deserve it.
I know it’s a lot to take in, and daunting. But ringing that Clearing line could be the best decision you ever make. It’s a five-minute call to better the rest of your life, and I just know you’ve got what it takes.
I’m wishing you the best of luck, and I hope to see you on campus!
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Find out everything you need to know about applying through Clearing at Huddersfield.