EDUCATION
SEnine
Clearing
by John Webb
In a long top floor room at Greenwich’s
historic riverside campus, there are banks of
phones installed and teams of trained staff
are standing by.
The
annual ‘clearing’ exercise immediately after logging
bursts into life at 7am on on to see their UCAS page.
Greenwich themselves. “Who better to
Thursday August 20th when A level
explain about our facilities than people
students find out whether they have In the teams are academics from all
already here”, she said.
won a place at the university of their Greenwich’s university disciplines
choice. which include the broadest spread
Either way, mid-August the phones at
of possibilities on their three sites in
Greenwich will be red hot. And it’s not
Those short of the necessary point score Greenwich, Avery Hill and Chatham.
just because of the weather.
from their A level results will have quick
decisions to make about their academic Of course, any university applicant can
futures. ring, not just those who put Greenwich
Top Tips
down as one of their choices. The
clearing system allows a student to try
Keep Calm: Breathe deep and prepare to
their luck elsewhere.
make some life changing decisions
Some students may find they can be
Don’t Despair: If you missed your grades,
accepted during the course of the
contact your first choice university; they
phone call.
may still let you in. If not, your insurance
choice should confirm.
Beverley said: “Our academics know
the kind of student they are looking for
Be Positive: If you missed the scores for
and the grades they need. If they are
both, you’re in Clearing.
impressed they will sign a caller up there
are then.”
Be Prepared: Search Higher Education
But help is no more than three telephone
Institutions for courses you’re interested
rings away on the university’s CLEARING But for others, there is a need to be
in and check entry criteria; be realistic
HOTLINE 0800 005 006 realistic about what course they might
about your chances.
be able to sign up for.
Expert advice from the hotline is
Check It Out: Look around at the college
already available for those seeking early As ever, some courses are more popular
you might want to attend. Greenwich
information in preparation for results day. than others.
has open days at all campuses on
Saturday 22 August, Thursday 27th and
This year, the university ‘challenge’ is “Anything with media tends to be
Saturday 12 September. Also tours by
expected to be harder as there has popular”, said Beverley. This is followed
appointment, contact Derek Norris on
been an increase of more than 50,000 by courses dealing with children, health,
8331 8354
applicants due to the recession, with social work, psychology and law.
only 3,000 extra places on offer.
Better results than expected: You’ve five
Maths, science, technology and
days to ‘trade up’ your university for one
School leavers are being joined by a engineering are traditionally areas where
elsewhere.
record number of mature applicants there is more availability. But there it’s
seeking to re-train or unable to find work. always a mixed picture in each discipline,
Money: Check for bursaries; many are left
so well worth making a connection with
unclaimed.
So Beverley Woodhams’ teams will the experts.
have more disappointed university
Push the (TRACK) button when you’ve
‘wannabees’ hitting the telephones Many of Beverley’s team are students at
decided. You’re in!
18
Your Community, Your Voice…
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