Clearing success stories

I have yet to experience the joys and stresses of going through clearing - next year if I don't get into Exeter. Here's hoping! But a friend in the year above me enrolled for an NHS course and eventually had to go through clearing. She phoned and emailed *all* the uni's offering the course she wanted, and eventualy found one that would accept her. But it is costing her more than she was hoping to spend for accomodation and is a few too many hours journey away from her family and boyfriend. The career she intends to go for (NHS) wont exactly have that big a wage as an incentive, either. And two weeks later at least 10 universities, including her no.1 ...  Read the complete review

I had a lousy time during my A-levels. They were the two most miserable years of my life and I did badly as a result. I got my A-level results and needed to find an alternative course. I hunted through the clearing lists and found a course that interested me (Chemistry) at a university in the Midlands (Coventry) because I wanted to stay at home. A phone call to the Admissions tutor (Dr. Julie Saxton, an angel that saved me) and I was told that if I sent her my clearing form then I would get a place. That was in August 1994. Now, six years later I am studying the degree course I originally applied for. My degree had given me the "grades" I needed ...  Read the complete review

There are a great many clearing stories that I've been involved in or know about, but a couple of particularly outstanding cases spring to mind. First there's a young woman, who I'll call Gemma (not her real name). Gemma had always wanted to be a doctor, since she was a little girl. Her parents worked in medicine and they wanted her to be a doctor too. So she took the appropriate A levels and applied to medical school. It was very tough to be offered a place there but she secured a place and went off to study. She didn't get the grades she needed - nowhere near high enough for medical school. She realised then, that as she'd grown up she didn't ...  Read the complete review

I know so many clearing success stories I could write a book! Hey - perhaps I should? I used to work in a University and thousands of people approach us through clearing every year. They arrive for a whole host of reasons. Failing to get the A level grades they wanted is one, but many others just didn't complete the application process in time, have been away on a gap year, have had changed circumstances that allowed them to go to Uni etc etc. Many people actually end up on courses which turn out to be infinitely better suited to their aim and ambitions than the one they specifically applied for. But you wanted some stories, OK here goes: 1. Girl A. Didn't ...  Read the complete review