How I used Clearing to change university
Katie Boyer
PSYCHOLOGY BSC(HONS)
Hi everyone! My name is Katie, I’m from Barnsley, and I’m currently a first-year student studying psychology.
How I used Clearing to change which course I studied at university
Hi everyone! I’ve just completed my first year studying psychology at Huddersfield.
I applied here through Clearing and I’m going to share my experience because it's not the typical story you might expect.
Firstly, I think that it’s important to mention that Clearing isn’t just for those who unfortunately don’t get the grades they need. Clearing can be used for so many other reasons. Personally, why I used Clearing is somewhat different to what many people assume Clearing is solely for.
I applied to the University of Huddersfield through Clearing, as I wanted to change my course from the one I originally intended to study, despite having an offer from my firm choice university.
Throughout the A-Level summer, I knew that the course I applied for wasn’t what I wanted to do anymore, and decided that on Results Day, applying through Clearing would be the best option.
Research
A couple of weeks before I received my results, the lists of courses available for Clearing at each university were put onto their websites - this is how I figured out which universities I could consider.
I spent a few days looking at each university and thinking about which would be the best option for me, which is when I decided on Huddersfield. Many different reasons, including the distance away from home, the price of the accommodation, and the course modules played a part in my decision.
The days prior to Results Day, I wrote down all the information for the psychology course, the Clearing helpline number, and my UCAS ID.
Making the Clearing call
On Results Day itself, after receiving my results, I phoned the Clearing line at Huddersfield, and spoke to one of the staff members. They took my details, my grades, and asked which course I wanted to apply to.
The staff on the phone were genuinely so friendly, and the whole experience felt very well organised. They were so helpful, and had the answer to all my questions about Clearing, including the application process on the UCAS website.
They talked me through what the next steps were, and confirmed my place, which meant I could put in an application as soon as the phone call had ended. The process was actually super- fast; no waiting in long queues or being placed on hold at all, which many people did experience with other universities.
After this, I went onto the student accommodation page and checked to see which rooms were still available to book. When my place was confirmed, and I had received an offer on UCAS, I put in my application for student accommodation.
Later in the day, the psychology course leader, and a current student phoned me and asked if I had any questions about the course, or student life at Huddersfield in general.
Get organised
One of the main things I would advise anyone planning to apply through Clearing, or wanting to be prepared for Results Day (just in case), is to make a list of all the Clearing numbers for universities you might be interested in going to (Huddersfield's is 0333 987 9000).
Do the research beforehand, as it saves so much stress on the day, and means that you won’t be rushed into a decision you aren’t sure is the right one.
However, if Clearing is something you unexpectedly have to go through, and haven’t planned, stay calm. Many of the Clearing options stay available for a few weeks, meaning that taking a couple of days to think about what’s best for you is completely okay, it doesn’t mean that there won’t be any places left for you.
I hope to see you around campus next year, and good luck with your results!!!
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