[Juno]

What to do on Results Day

So, you wake up bright and early on the morning of August 14. After you've had your breakfast, you set off out to collect your results. But hang on, you need to take a few things with you!

• * Mobile phone (charged and topped up)
• * Pen/pencil
• * Writing paper/notepad
• * Calculator (in case something goes wrong and your modules aren't added up)
• * Results slips from AS (ditto, and also in case you need to phone a uni and plead you can say "but I got X on these modules&quot
• * UCAS/uni letter (so you've got all your info including UCAS number handy, and also so you don't panic thinking "was my offer AAAA or AAAa&quot
• * Copy of personal statement

I strongly advise buying a copy of The Independent before you get your results. The Independent is the only newspaper that will publish the full Clearing lists, although other newspapers may publish smaller regional guides or run adverts for a specific university. If you live in a small village, the local shop might sell out, and you don't want to run around in a panic trying to find one. Also, once you've gone back home to cry, you won't want to have to waste time going out again if necessary.

Once you've opened your results, there are a few things that could happen. But don't panic, no matter what happens to you.

You've made your firm offer!
Congratulations! Go and tell your friends. Phone your Auntie Mabel. Heck, even phone the BBC if you have to. But '''do not phone your first choice university unless they've asked you to confirm anything in advance'''. Leave the lines free for those who haven't met their offers and are panicking.

UCAS Track may take a while to update, so don't be too concerned if it hasn't updated straight away. If it hasn't updated a few days later, consider phoning the uni or UCAS to check everything is OK.

You'll receive an AS12 letter from UCAS, which you should read carefully. It has a slip on the bottom, which you probably have to fill in and send back. However, some unis don't need you to send it back. Either way, you need to keep the letter safe, as you'll need it as proof for bank accounts and things like that.

You can also read the TSR Freshers' Pack to check you haven't missed anything.

You've missed your firm offer
I hope you're not too disappointed. But never mind, there's still a chance they might accept you. You'll need to phone the university. The phone number for this may be listed on their website, or they might have sent it to you in advance; if you haven't got a special number then just phone their normal number.
Some unis will not allow you to plead your case. If so, you can't really do anything more. However, do be prepared! If you had any mitigating circumstances, then you should ideally get your school to notify the uni now as soon as you read this if you haven't already. But telling them during this phone call is better than nothing. Also, point out any good results you may have had (this is where your AS results slip may come in handy!) and really try to sell yourself.

If your firm offer accepts you with your missed grades
Congratulations! That's it. You'll just need to go home and await your AS12 letter in a few days.

You missed your firm offer, and they won't accept you with lower grades
Well, maybe it just wasn't meant to be. Don't be too sad because you'll still end up going to uni somewhere.

If you meet your insurance offer
This is pretty much like for the first bit, really. You don't need to do anything further now. Again, this may take a while to update on UCAS Track. You may like to phone your insurance uni to clarify that you're going there, but you don't really need to.

At some point you will need to change your student loan using the Change of Circumstances (CO1) form which can be downloaded here, but this can wait a few days so just go home and wait for the AS12 letter.

You can also read the TSR Freshers' Pack to check you haven't missed anything.

If you miss your insurance offer
Then phone them up like you did your firm choice. They may still accept you with the lower grades. If they accept you, then that's great! If they don't, then you'll enter Clearing.

I want to defer my offer!
If you don't already hold a deferred offer, once you have had your place confirmed you can contact the uni directly and ask if they can defer you. Have some reasons handy (eg. what are you going to do in your gap year?) and it should be OK. It's best to do this as soon as you know you want to defer, but you can do it right until the start date.

Your university may not agree to this, although most will. If this happens you may want to consider withdrawing from UCAS and reapplying. Or, you could ask them to release you and try your luck through [http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Guide_to_Clearing Clearing].

I don't want to go to university after all
There's lots of choice in Clearing, but maybe you just can't find the right course for you. Or maybe you want to have a gap year and resit a few units. Whatever the reason, you don't have to go to uni if you don't want to.

I'm already holding an offer for this year
You'll need to contact the uni and tell them that you don't want to go. The best way to do this is to fill in the appropriate section on your AS12 slip. This will withdraw you from the UCAS scheme entirely, so you won't be able to use Clearing and will not end up at university anywhere.

I've got a deferred offer for next year
Again, you must tell the uni. You cannot reapply through UCAS whilst holding a deferred offer, so if you don't then you won't be going to uni this year or next year. Either fill in the AS12 slip to say that you won't be taking up your place, or contact UCAS by phone.

I don't currently hold an offer
If you missed your firm and insurance offers and they're not accepting you, then this will apply. You'll automatically be entered into Clearing, should you wish to do that. But if you don't want to go, then you don't have to do anything. Just don't apply anywhere through Clearing and you won't be going.

If you want to officially withdraw from the UCAS scheme, you can do so. Simply contact UCAS by phone and explain this. You can also use the withdraw button on UCAS Track.

A note about remarks
If you think your results look a bit odd you may wish to send some units back for remarking. There is a charge for this, although sometimes your school will pay; if your grade does change then you will get a refund. However, remember your grades can go down as well as up! I would advise discussing that with your teacher first, as they may think that you did deserve the results you got.

If you've missed your offers, you will need to tell the uni that you are having a remark when you phone them. If you apply for a priority remark, then you'll get your results back within a few weeks. If you only choose a standard remark, then it will take too long. You need to meet the conditions of your offer by '''August 31st''', although some unis may accept you if your remarks come back later than that and you have informed them. Do ask when you phone them if they are willing to hold your place for you while you wait for the remark.

[Juno]

What is clearing?

Clearing is a way for universities to fill any spaces they have. It gives applicants another chance of finding a university place, perhaps if they didn't get the grades they needed to get into their first choice university.

Clearing is still part of the UCAS process.

If you haven't met your offers, or have changed your mind, Clearing may be for you!

When does Clearing happen and for how long?

Clearing always starts on A-levels results day. In 2008, this will be Thursday 14th August. However, since Scottish students get their results earlier, Clearing starts the week before for Scottish universities.

Clearing runs until 20th September and this should provide plenty of time to find a place. An individual is only in Clearing until they are happy they have found somewhere; for most people this will take only a few weeks.

Courses are removed from Clearing as they get full. Inevitably the most popular courses will fill up very quickly and may have fewer spaces available during clearing than the less popular courses.

Can I go through Clearing?

Most people are eligible for Clearing if they have applied through UCAS for the coming academic year intake.

You are eligible for Clearing if you have applied in the current application year and if:students researching Clearing vacancies

*you have not withdrawn your application;
*you hold no offers; or
*your offers have not been confirmed because you have not met the conditions (eg you have not achieved the required grades); or
*you have declined your offers or not responded by the due date; or
*your offers have not been confirmed, and you have declined any alternative offers from the same university; or
*you have applied after 30 June (12 June for Route B art and design courses). If we received your application after these dates, we will not have sent it to any universities and colleges.

Where can I apply?
You can apply to any university and any course that has vacancies during Clearing. You don't have to apply for the same type of course that you applied for when making your original UCAS application. If you do change your subject choice then make sure the new course is right for you!

Universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, LSE and UCL don't usually enter Clearing because there is such a lot of competition to attend these universities in the first place. However most other universities will have some vacancies for some courses.


Where do I find vacancy information?

Each year the Independent newspaper publishes a full list of all Clearing vacancies. They publish the first guide on results day and continue to publish guides for a week. Other newspapers may have Clearing guides but they probably won't have a complete Clearing listing of all the courses available - they may only have regional guides.

The UCAS site will have Clearing vacancies on the course search and most universities will publish their own vacancies on their own websites.

You may also see some universities advertising in your local newspaper or on the TV.

How does Clearing work?

Universities see whether they have any vacancies on their courses. If they do, these courses enter Clearing.

Applicants read the list of vacancies, and if they wish to apply phone the university directly - not UCAS. During this conversation the university will ask about your grades and interest in the subject you are applying for. After this, the applicant will either be accepted, rejected or may also decide themselves to apply elsewhere. Clearing acceptances do happen quickly, and you will not have to wait as long for offers as when you first applied.

This is only a brief look into the Clearing process. For more information and detail see the Guide to Clearing (next post).

[Juno]

So, you're entering the dreaded Clearing. You've probably heard many horror stories about it, and you're scared. But it doesn't have to be the mad scramble like the media make out. You can take on Clearing and survive!

You've already bought your copy of The Independent. You did that on your way to pick up your results, right? The Independent is the only newspaper that lists full details of all vacancies, so it's an essential buy. And it's rather good at killing spiders too. Other newspapers may have Clearing information in, but will only be smaller (probably regional) guides.

Vacancy information is also available on the UCAS website, although that will probably be very busy and thus may be slow or even unavailable. Some unis will have lists on their own websites, and may even have webforms to fill in and request further details.

Once you've got your copy of The Independent, you'll probably be daunted by how large it is. Well, that's a good thing. It shows just how many things are available. In 2006, 38032 people got places through Clearing. In 2007, this fell slightly to 29,686, but that's still a lot!

A few Clearing facts:

• *You can apply for any subject you like, as long as you're sufficiently interested in it to want to study it for 3 or more years.
• *Most unis will have places in Clearing, so don't think it's just limited to the crap unis or all ex-polys.
• *Just because a course is in Clearing does not mean that it's a really bad course.
• *Just because you're in Clearing does not mean you're a bad person or have failed! A lot of people go in Clearing with really high grades. I personally did it with AAB. Some people who applied for popular courses will even have higher grades. Equally, if you have lower grades, it doesn't mean that you won't find anywhere.

How do I enter Clearing?
If you missed your firm and insurance offers
If you missed both your firm and insurance offers, then you don't need to do anything. UCAS will send out your Clearing Passport in a few days, and you can start looking for places and applying as soon as you want to.

If you didn't have an insurance offer, then the above also applies to you. However, if you didn't have an insurance place because you only originally applied to one university, you will need to pay an extra £10 since you will have paid the reduced fee of £5 with your application.

If you change your mind about your firm or insurance
If you no longer wish to go to your firm and/or insurance but you met the offer (or they're accepting you with lower grades) then you'll have to phone the universities concerned and beg them to release you. They'll probably want reasons, and they might not do it straight away. It could take up to 2 weeks for it to be processed, which is a long time in Clearing. So do this asap so you don't miss out on the best places. Ideally, if you knew that this applied to you before results day then you will already have done it.

If you never made a firm choice
If you didn't make a firm choice, but did apply through UCAS, you will have automatically been entered into Clearing. You may have already received a Clearing passport as UCAS sends these out as soon as you enter the process. You may not have made a firm choice for a number of reasons: if you rejected all your offers; if you were unsuccessful in your applications; or if you changed your mind about the courses you applied to. Most people will not fit into these categories.

If you have not applied through UCAS yet
If you apply through UCAS after 30th June (12 June for Art & Design courses) then you'll only be going through Clearing. You need to complete a UCAS application as normal on the UCAS website, including all of the usual things such as a personal statement and a reference. The only thing different is that you will not be able to choose 5 universities/courses to apply for. This will cost the usual £15 fee.
UCAS should send you your Clearing Passport shortly after you apply, so you should receive it before August 16th and must keep it in a safe place.

Records of Prior Acceptance
It may be possible to get a place at a university independently of the UCAS system. Not all unis will accept applications this way, so it is strongly advised that you send an application through UCAS rather than relying on this method. If you are sure you want to go to uni you need to be sure the university will accept your application.

To do this, you would need to contact the university you wish to apply to and explain your circumstances. If they can accept you this way, they will give you a form called a “Record of Prior Acceptance”. They should also be able to advise you how to complete this and when you need to return it by.

When does Clearing start?
Clearing starts fully on A Level results day, which is August 14th 2008. However, Scottish students receive their results earlier, so they can start on August 7th.

If you know before this that you will be in Clearing, you can start looking for information and trying to decide where you want to go. Unis may publish vacancy information on their website as soon as they've got it. This may potentially be from the start of results week. Some may say you can contact them before results day to discuss things, but unless they specifically say you can do not call them until the Thursday.

Clearing will remain open until 20th September 2008.

How long does Clearing take?
Clearing officially is open until September 20th. However, most people won't take that long. It depends how quickly you can make your mind up where you want to go. If you're absolutely certain which uni and course is right for you, you can get it done in a few days. But if you can't decide, you may want to take a bit longer. Many people wish to visit several universities, and they may have special open days set up to help with your choice.
Of course, if you entered Clearing by getting released from your firm or insurance choice then you might not actually be eligible for a few weeks. In this case, Clearing will take longer for you.

I'm going on holiday on results day/soon after
In short, don't do it. I went to Reading Festival which is a week later, and I was all sorted by then but some of my friends weren't. Clearing doesn't finish until September 20th, so ideally you should make yourself available until then. That's only a month, and you've got the rest of the summer to make other plans.
If you are on holiday, it will be hard to discuss things with the unis you're interested in. Be prepared for a huge phone bill! Also, your Clearing Passport will be sent to your home address so you'll need someone there that you trust to open it and send to the appropriate uni. And how are you going to get your results in the first place?

Hang on a minute. What's my Clearing Passport?
A Clearing Passport is a special form that UCAS will send to you as soon as you're eligible for Clearing. You'll need to keep it safe, as you can only have one. When you've decided which university you want to go to, you'll give them your Clearing Passport to secure your place. You must give the Clearing Passport to the university themselves; do not send it to UCAS.
You can only give it to one university, so be sure that you want to go there. If you change your mind later, you'll have to try and get released to do the whole thing again. If you're not certain that's the uni for you, explain to them and ask them to wait until you make your mind up.
The best way to send your Clearing Passport to the uni is to take it there yourself. You can have a look around whilst you're there, which will help you decide if you want to go there. If you hand in your Clearing Passport to a uni, you can be 99% certain that they'll accept you. They wouldn't take your Clearing Passport off you otherwise, as you can only give it to one university. So then you can go home happy, and can wait for your confirmation letter from UCAS in the post.
If you really can't visit, or if you receive your Clearing Passport from UCAS after you have visited the uni, then you'll need to post it. I would recommend using Recorded Delivery at least so that you know it gets there.

Do I have to wait until I receive my Clearing Passport to apply?
No. As soon as you know you're in Clearing you can start phoning unis. If you had to be released by either your firm or insurance, you will need to wait for confirmation that this has been done, which may take a few weeks. Otherwise, you can start straight away. Your UCAS Track page should show that you're in Clearing.

Universities may ask for details that you don't have, such as your Clearing number, but explain that you haven't received your Clearing Passport yet and it will be fine. Update them as soon as you have got it.

How many universities can I apply to?
Well, as I said earlier, you can only send your Clearing Passport to one uni. So in that sense, you can only apply to one.
But feel free to contact as many unis as you like before you get to that stage. Find out as much as you can before deciding where you want to spend the next 3 years of your life. Don't just pick the first one that shows any interest in you, because there's so much choice you can end up somewhere you'll be happy.

Where can I go to get advice?
People nearby
The most important place to look for advice is from people that know you. Talk to your parents, your teachers, and even your friends if they're not too busy panicking about their own situation.

UCAS
You can talk to UCAS by phoning 0870 1122211. This is just for queries about your application, or for general Clearing queries. They won't help you decide where to go or anything like that. They are running extended opening hours over the Clearing period which you can check here.

UCAS are also running an exam results helpline: 0808 100 8000. This is a free number, and promises "expert, independent advice on applying for university or college, taking time out or choosing to enter employment."

If you're really stuck, you could try the Stamford Test which is available on the UCAS website. This can show you which areas of study you may be interested in, although if you have already applied then you've probably either completed this test or have found that information elsewhere.

Learn Direct
Learn Direct can offer careers advice, and advise you on a wide range of courses in the UK. They can help you decide if uni is right for you, and tell you about other courses or possibilities. You can visit their website, phone them for free on 0800 100900, or fill in their contact form.

BBC One Life
The BBC has a lot of information on its website, such as this page. They also run an advice line, but currently the details for that are not available. You may hear adverts for their services on their radio stations, such as Radio 1.

TSR
Well, you've already found this page! But you can ask questions in the applications and UCAS forum or try the subject or university specific forum. Do think about where you're putting your question before posting it though: TSR gets very busy during the results period, and you'll receive a better response in the right forum.

Do unis accept lower grades through Clearing?
Some will, but some won't. It depends on many factors really. The only way you'll know for sure is by asking them or looking on their website. They may be willing to accept you with lower grades if you're enthusiastic about the course, or if you have relevant work experience etc, so make sure you really try to sell yourself when talking to the admissions tutor. This is why it may help to have a copy of your personal statement to hand.

Can I use Clearing if I want a deferred offer?
Yes, you can. Just make sure you tell the uni as soon as you contact them that you want to defer your offer.

However, since you're taking a gap year anyway it might be better to reapply through UCAS in September. Then you'll have the choice of all unis and courses rather than just the limited selection in Clearing. You'll also have the advantage of knowing your grades when reapplying, so you can make informed choices.

So, I want to apply. What do I do now?
Well, the most important thing is not to rush. It's probably a good idea to talk things through with as many people as possible before deciding. You might want to go to university in Outer Mongolia, but that's no good if you're relying on your parents to drive you and your stuff there. But remember that in the end it is your decision: so if you're really sure Outer Mongolia is the right choice for you, go for it!

What kind of things should I say?
This is where your pen and paper come in handy. Make some notes on why a particular course and university interest you. Have a look at your personal statement (if appropriate) and jot a few ideas down from there if you think it might help an admissions tutor accept you.
If you have any notable achievements, then mention them. Have you done anything more recently that wasn't on your PS? Did you get any particularly good results? If a certain part of their course interests you and you've done any extra reading on it, then say so.
There isn't any one thing that you can say to be accepted. If there was, and I wrote it here, then everyone would say it and it wouldn't work anyway. The best thing to do is show your passion. They want to know about you personally, so try to sell yourself as best you can.

How soon shall I apply?
Don't rush to contact them, as you want to make a good first impression. Yes, Clearing places do go quickly but a few minutes to prepare yourself will help you more than hinder you. If they're the type of university that will offer places to the first people to contact them rather than those who want to go there most, do you really want to go there anyway?
Do phone as soon as you feel ready. But if you need to go home and have something to eat first then it will be fine. It's best to go home anyway, since someone else will probably pay the phone bill. Obviously, make sure you ask the bill payer's permission first.

How do I contact them, and what happens?
It's probably best to phone the university. And if so, do it yourself. Keep your notes, your pen, and your UCAS number handy. Eventually, you'll need your Clearing Passport too, but don't worry if you haven't received it just yet. They will be very busy, so be prepared to wait. And if you contact them any other way, then they might not get back to you for a while.
At this stage, you might just get through to an advisor who will take a few details. Then after that, if your grades and experience match what they're looking for, you'll either get called back later by an admissions tutor or might have to call them back later. You'll have a chat which won't be that formal but remember you're trying to impress them so they accept you, rather than wanting to be their new best friend.

Some universities will have a form on their website to contact them, and if so it's a similar process. You fill in the form, and will get a reply later. This may be by email, so check your emails (including junk mail) carefully.

If you leave a mobile number, then try to keep your phone with you. Also remember that they may be leaving a voicemail, and comedy messages may not seem as funny to them.

Do I have to visit the unis I apply to?
You'll probably be invited to an open day. It's a good idea to go, as you can meet the tutors and other applicants, and can see the uni. If you don't like it, then it's better to know before you've decided to spend the next 3 years of your life there. Even if you have already visited the unis when you first filled in your UCAS form, that was quite a while ago so it's a good idea to refresh your memory.

Also, as mentioned above, you need to ensure your Clearing Passport gets to the uni. If you take it there yourself then you'll know it gets there, and it's probably quicker than posting.
You don't have to go, but you should have a really good reason if you don't.

* If it's too far then are you sure you'll cope with being that far away from home, and will you be able to get there when you start (and go home for holidays)?
* If you can't afford it then they may be able to help with travel costs, or your school might be able to help. It's also possible that other people from your school will be going, so you may be able to share transport.
* If you're too busy, then is whatever you're doing really more important than securing your future?

If I go through Clearing, will I have to live in a tent?
Only if you really want to. You could try taking a campervan and only paying car parking fees rather than accommodation fees though, as that would be better. Or I've always wanted to live on a houseboat...
But if you want more normal accommodation, you can have it. Some universities will guarantee accommodation for people who come through Clearing. This can usually be found on their websites, or is the kind of thing that you should be asking at an Open Day. Any uni that cannot guarantee accommodation will still help you find somewhere to live. They'll provide lists of approved landlords, or details of private accommodation such as Unite as appropriate.

[Juno]

What is an AS12 letter?

The AS12 is a letter that is sent from UCAS. It tells you that your place at a university has been confirmed, and lists your course choice. Once you have received this, you know you are definitely going to university, unless you change your mind.

When will I receive it
UCAS will send your letter shortly after your place is confirmed. For most people, this will be after they have received their results. Some lucky people may receive theirs on results day, but this is not guaranteed. They tend to arrive on the Friday or the Saturday afterwards.

People who were given an unconditional offer will be sent theirs as soon as they have picked their firm choice in May. This only applies if your firm choice is unconditional, and not if your firm was conditional and you only have an unconditional insurance.

Can I see examples of an AS12 letter?
No, but this will be available soon.

What do I do with it?
You will need to read it very carefully. Check the university and course listed. If either are incorrect, then contact UCAS and the university concerned.

Check if you need to send the slip at the bottom back.

[u]How do I know if I need to send the slip back?/[u]
You'll find out when the examples are up.

I do need to send it back. What do I do?
This needs to be sent directly to the university. Do not return the slip to UCAS.

Tick the appropriate box:
*Most people will tick the first box, to say that they will be taking up their place on the course.
*If you are not intending to take up your place, then tick the bottom box and fill in a reason. This will mean that you are unable to go to university this year, so think very carefully to be sure you have made the right decision.

Sign and date on the lines.

Tear off the slip (well, cutting may be better, but remember what Blue Peter told you, and seek advice from adults before using sharp objects if appropriate). Send the slip back to the address listed, ie directly to the university itself.

Make sure you keep hold of the top part of the letter, as you may need it in future.

When do I have to send it back?
You need to respond within 14 days of the date on the letter. To allow for delays in the postal system, it is a good idea to return it as soon as possible.

What if I will be unable to return it in that timescale?
If you are unable to return it, you will need to notify the university. They may be able to accept confirmation in another way. You may be able to send them an email or a letter stating that you wish to take up your place, but you do need to check this with them.

If you've got someone at home that is willing to open your post, then they may be able to send the AS12 back for you. Since it comes directly from UCAS it will be in a UCAS branded envelope, and thus should be easy to identify. However, it would be wise to only ask a parent or guardian to do this.

I don't need to send the slip back!
Then don't send it back unless you don't wish to take up your place. You may want to tear the slip off and throw it away, or simply keep the letter whole. But whatever you do, don't send it back.

What else do I need my AS12 for?
If you are planning to open a student bank account, they will want confirmation that you are going to university. They will usually ask to see your AS12 letter as proof.

You may wish to send a copy to your friends and family, to prove that you are going to university.

You may even wish to frame it and stick it on your wall.

[Juno]

Hopefully you chose your Firm and Insurance choices carefully. But if you think you've made a big mistake, read on.

Why might I want to be released?
Usually this is because you have changed your mind. For some reason you will not want to go to your firm and/or insurance any more. You may want to do another course altogether, or simply go to a different university.

I want to do a different course, but at the same university
If this applies to you then initially don't worry about getting released. The best thing to do is contact the university and ask them to consider you for the new course. Explain your reasons, and offer to write a new personal statement if you feel this is appropriate.

Minor changes are usually easiest, but it is possible to change to something completely different.

Don't wait until you get there, as the earlier you try to change things the more options you have.

When should I ask to be released?
As soon as possible.

If you are released from your Firm before results day, you will be released to your Insurance choice (if appropriate).

If you are released from your Firm on or after results day, you will be released into Clearing.

What should I say?
Make sure that you make it clear that you want to be released. Do not let the uni tell you that you need to phone UCAS and ask to withdraw as this will be a big mistake.

You'll need a good reason, so think carefully. Why have you changed your mind?
*Do you want to stay closer to home, or if you applied to a local uni perhaps you want to move away now
*Financial reasons are always a good one to mention, but make sure you've researched as otherwise the uni may come back to you and say "ah, but we have this really great bursary scheme..."
*If you want to change subject this can be enough on its own, but as explained before you can sometimes change subject and keep the same uni
*Don't just make something up because it sounds good. Try to tell the truth.

How do I do it?
You'll need to contact the university directly. This could be your firm, your insurance, or both.

The best way is to phone them, as emails can sometimes wait a while before getting a response. If you do phone and they tell you to email then ask for a specific person to address it to.

Make sure you know your UCAS number, or if you have been given any other candidate numbers etc by the uni know those too. You need to make this easy for them.

How long does it take?
If you ask to be released before Clearing, then it shouldn't take that long. Even if it does you've got plenty of time so things can get sorted. Unis will not talk to you after the Friday before results day, so you need to ask by then.

If you've waited until Clearing has started then it can take a while. Unis will have other more important things to do, so may leave you til last. It can take a few weeks, which is a long time in Clearing.

[salz]

Can anyone tell me how the A2 results in August will be sent to UCAS? do I have to do it personally, or it will be sent to UCAS automatically?
And how does it reach the university am applying to?

Thanks

[~|Shock|~]

I believe they are automatic, actually Ucas get your result before you get them

[iceman_jondoe]

its all automatic doing it ourselves would be too much hassle!

[Juno]

It's automatic. This is why it's so important to tell UCAS and your unis of any changes to your exams. If you've dropped a subject, they'll assume your results are incomplete which will delay confirming your offer. Or if you've taken another subject the result could get lost as they aren't expecting it.

[mdhey89]

The universities get your results a week before you do. They have already decided whether or not you're going before results day. It's done this way to ease the pressure on results day so that universities know whether or not they will be on clearing.

[vintage.queen]

You can check UCAS track on results day to see if you have got into ur chosen uni before you go and get your grades

[Minerva]

Originally Posted by mdhey89

The universities get your results a week before you do. They have already decided whether or not you're going before results day. It's done this way to ease the pressure on results day so that universities know whether or not they will be on clearing.

Not always; sometimes it takes longer because they are waiting to see whether people who have missed their offers elsewhere will be claiming their insurance places. LSE took a while last year for some people - and then said No .

[imhiya]

anyway good luck :]

[nelz26]

I've got a bit of a dilemma, as I'm trying to book my holiday, but the only dates I can go are just under 2 weeks after the A2 results are released.

Was just wondering if anyone knows what happens after results, so this query is going to people who are at uni now.

If I were to go abroad on 26 or 27/08/08, returning 04 or 05/09/08, would that give me enough time to sort out whatever may need sorting with the uni that I end up going to??? That means I would have 10 days in England, after results, and roughly 2 weeks before going to uni.

But another worry is if I don't get the grades, and end up having to go through clearing. Any idea of how long that process takes? Can I get it all sorted in the 10 days I have left after exams???

Thanks for reading, hope you can help!!!

[musicbloke]

I expect that 10 days would be enough. Generally clearing offers will come through relatively quickly if they're going to come through at all.

MB

[louisedotcom]

As above, good places tend to be snapped up quickly so id imagine that would be enough time. Some unis only allow you to apply for accommodation after your results so if your university is one of those just make sure you get that sorted and you should be fine.

Cant think of anything else worth hanging around for.

[Minerva]

Originally Posted by nelz26

I've got a bit of a dilemma, as I'm trying to book my holiday, but the only dates I can go are just under 2 weeks after the A2 results are released.

Was just wondering if anyone knows what happens after results, so this query is going to people who are at uni now.

If I were to go abroad on 26 or 27/08/08, returning 04 or 05/09/08, would that give me enough time to sort out whatever may need sorting with the uni that I end up going to??? That means I would have 10 days in England, after results, and roughly 2 weeks before going to uni.

But another worry is if I don't get the grades, and end up having to go through clearing. Any idea of how long that process takes? Can I get it all sorted in the 10 days I have left after exams???

Thanks for reading, hope you can help!!!

Many people get their Clearing place sorted by the weekend anyway, so you should be fine.

[nelz26]

Oh wicked! YAY!!!! Thanks for the reply, holiday is back on

[smalltownboy]

I'm going away on the 18th I think. I'll take a laptop to email if needs be...

[salz]

ohh thanks a lot ppl .. that was of great help .. so i don't have to worry sending my results or anything .. i just need to look at track on results day and thats it right? .. thats very easy lol !