Kent People

Her top tips are:

Don’t panic – approximately 35,000 students gain university places through Clearing each year and there are more places available across the country than students to fill them.

Research both the course and the university you are interested in as thoroughly as possible before making any calls.

Only pick up the phone when you are clear about what you are trying to achieve and the questions you need answered. Keeping a list of important questions by the phone will help you remember what you want to ask.

Clearing hotlines are very busy for the first day or so.  Popular degrees fill up quickly but for most courses it may pay to shop around or wait until the first rush is over and call during the evening when the lines are a little quieter.

Talk through all the course options and career aspirations with the university experts – they can suggest alternative courses and career paths you may not have considered

Don’t be shy – ask about bursaries, grants and tuition fees and how they apply to you and your chosen course.

Make time to visit the university – you need to feel comfortable about the location, campus and accommodation if you are going to study somewhere for three or four years.

You don’t have to accept the first place you are offered – you have up to two weeks to give a formal response.

Don’t forget that Clearing is for everyone, not just school and college leavers, seeking to sign up for a degree course this year. Clearing hotline teams are trained to address the needs of students across all ages.