What to do if you have to go through clearing.

 

 If any of you have read one of my previous entries then you will know that I have recently started to do some training to help out with clearing here at DMU.  However some people might be unsure exactly what it is and because of this, I've decided to write a student friendly option to explain exactly what will happen.

You will need

• Your UCAS ID number (this is available on your track page).
• Your A-Level/BTEC Results. 
• A mobile/telephone
• Contact details (in the case of a call back). 

What to do 

Ok. So you arrive on August 17th and discover that for whatever reason, you didn't get accepted for your first choice or insurance. Firstly, this doesn't make you stupid far from it. Secondly, what ever you do, don't panic. You can still secure yourself a place at university if you remain calm and act fast.

1. Log onto DMU clearing and have a look at the available courses and the points required for your chosen course. For this example, I'm going to look see if there is room for the Creative Writing and English course which requires 80 UCAS points under the new system. 
2. Check if you have enough points for your course. You can do this via the UCAS tariff calculator.  I have 146 UCAS Points under this new system which is a lot higher than the 80 asked. 
3.  If you have enough points for your chosen course, it is now time to make that phone call. For DMU the number is 0116 257 7000.
4. You will then be put onto the phone to one of us lovely lot. We will need your UCAS number to register you onto our database if you haven't already applied to DMU. We will also do a final check to see if you have enough UCAS points for your chosen course. This will be your last chance to add anything that might make an admissions tutor consider you. So for me, I would ask them to mention that I have already been published and list the books that my poems have been featured in. Also, I might mention my lifesaving in case I could be beneficial to the University's swim team. Please note: 'Please take me', does not count as an acceptable piece of information. We are going to have to deal with a lot of panicked students like you so keep the additional information quick and suitable to the course and uni. We want 1-2 bullet points, not your whole life story.
5. We will now transfer you to the relevant faculty admissions team. They will look at the information, we have given them and will ultimately decide if you are capable of studying your chosen course. 
6. If they accept you, congratulations. Phone student finance and inform them of your change so that they pay the right university and contact the accommodation team to arrange a room for the academic year. Then log onto the DSU Freshfest page and see what's going to be awaiting you in September. 

These stages are also the same for people who have decided to apply for University late (you know who you are). The only time, this will change will be in the case of a call back.

What is a call back?

 We are going to be busy monkeys on August 17th. This chicken is working from 06:15-20:00. This means that admissions for certain courses might be backdated with callers. This means they may put something on our database called 'request a call back.' This means instead of us transfering you straight away, you will hang up after step 4. Then admissions will call you back to start step 5. If this is the case, please wait at least 2 hours before ringing us, this is because we will be busy sorting other people out.

I've heard about adjustment. Can I use it?

Well hello clever clogs. For those who are unsure, the adjustment process is a newish thing by UCAS that is similar to clearing. Whereas clearing is for people who currently don't have a place at University, adjustment allows students to search for courses that require more UCAS points than originally planned.

For example, let's say I was accepted by DMU to study Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science which required 80 UCAS including Chemistry at a D minimum and either Biology, Maths, Physics, Psychology at Grade E. However my Biology and Chemistry papers were really easy (Ha. You can tell this is an example can't you) and I ended up getting a C in Chemistry and a B in biology and 146 UCAS points all together. I could see if I could study the pharmacy course instead which requires
104 Points from 3 A-Levels including Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Maths, Physics, Psychology at Grade C or above. However, I might need to be released from the Pharmaceutical and Cosmestic Science course because I did get accepted onto that course. I would ring the clearing number to see if they could help me with the process.

The good thing about adjustment is that even if you don't find anything, you will still be able to study your original choice. Hence why I advise that you only ask to be released if you are guarenteed an offer for the higher level course and you are 100% certain it's a course that you want to study.

So there you have it. A simple advise guide about clearing and adjustment. Remember, if you have to go through clearing, not to panic. If you have the UCAS points, we want to hear from you and besides not everyone gets to study at a TEF gold university.

Until next week,

toodle pips.

Kelly.