Results Day, Adjustment and Clearing… it’s not as scary as you might think

Around this time four years ago I was in the same position as a lot of A-level students. Having just completed my exams I was enjoying my summer holiday with the ever-looming results day drawing nearer and nearer. I was anxious for the results to come out but also nervous of the outcome. However, there’s no real reason to worry about something that is out of your control i.e. examiners marking your papers; so instead of worrying I started thinking about my options.

If I get the results I need then great, all I need to do is accept my conditional offer from my firm choice university. If I get results better than what I expected then I can still accept the offer from my firm choice university or I can choose to apply to better university/course through Adjustment (you can find out more on the UCAS website.

If I get results slightly lower than the conditional offer for my firm or insurance choice university course. I would first need to call up the university to ask whether or not I can still have a place on that course. It’s up to the course administrator’s discretion but it is possible that they can accept a candidate with slightly lower grades if they have shined elsewhere (this is where any interviews you did come into play), subject to availability of spaces on the course. If after contacting your firm and insurance choice universities you still do not have an offer, there is still Clearing (you can find out more on the UCAS website which you can used to find a suitable course.

Not getting the results you want is disappointing, but it’s not it’s not the end of the world and you shouldn’t let it stop you from pursuing your passion. I used Clearing myself and although I was disappointed at the time, looking back on it I can only describe it as a blessing. My firm choice university at the time would only let me study biology but studying the Natural Science course where I encountered multiple sciences I learned that although I enjoy studying biology, I would rather pursue a career in the physical sciences. Such a drastic change would not have been possible if it was not for Clearing. So I’ll conclude with wishing any student reading this the best of luck with results day and if things don’t go as planned, keep your chin up, you have options.