Each year, tens of thousands of students get into a great university, study a programme they love, make friends for life and thrive – all through Clearing and Adjustment. But searching for a positive outcome when you’ve had a setback is hard. That’s why we’ve shared some tips to make it easier for you.
First, take it easy on social media. If it’s only going to make you feel bad, expose you to misinformation or lead to you to making unhelpful comparisons: steer clear.
Second, don’t do this alone. There’s nothing to be ashamed of, so make sure you have friends and family on standby who you can lean on and who offer a sympathetic ear.
Finally, remember to eat and get some fresh air. You’ll probably be on your phone and having a lot of screen time on the day, so take every chance you get to clear your head and look after yourself.
Acknowledge that this might be a possibility. Universities don’t have unlimited spaces across every course, so there’s a chance you’ll have to rethink things slightly – which leads to...
Be flexible. Plan A didn’t work out, what’s your Plan B? Is there a similar, related or even a completely different direction you could take? If it feels right, then choosing a different programme is an option, so do your research.
Remind yourself that you’re not alone. There are thousands of students who are feeling the same emotions, going through the same process.
Bear in mind that while this period can be stressful and uncertain, it doesn’t last forever. Once you’ve secured your place, you’re on track for a brilliant education and fantastic student experience, just like any other applicant.
Remember that Queen Mary is here to help you every step of the way. Not only will we be on hand on the day itself, but you can get in touch before if you have any questions.
“Carefully searching and noting down all the possible options helped me visualise different alternatives and possibilities that I previously was unaware of.”
- Beltran Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha, BSc Theoretical Physics
“I made a list of all the important phone numbers and my UCAS number and so on, I made sure I had a phone available that I could dial an international number from and I made sure that I was around people that I trusted to help me make a decision.”
Find out more about our students' Clearing success stories.