Feature: Clearing Top Tips

This Thursday 15^th August will see thousands of students receive their A-Level results. Whatever the outcome, St Mary’s University College, Twickenham is helping students to prepare with its Clearing top tips. 1. Don’t Panic If you only just missed your grades don’t submit yourself to the Clearing process straight away. Call us on 0208 240 4225 to speak to the admissions department, explaining your circumstances and ask politely if there's a possibility of a place. Lines open at 8am on Thursday 15^th August. 2. Check Vacancies If you haven’t been accepted by your firm or insurance choices, check out our Clearing pages on the website for all our latest vacancies available to start this September. 3. Do your Research The key to Clearing is to do extensive research before reapplying. Use our website and prospectus to look at the different courses on offer and find one that suits you. Check out the entry requirements, teaching and assessment methods. 4. Use Social Media Follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts for all the latest Clearing information, you could also try following academics or staff related to the course you are interested in. Remain active by asking questions and chatting with other students. 5. Be Open Minded Make sure you’re open minded when looking at courses. If you’ve originally planned to study a straight undergraduate course don’t be afraid to consider other options such as a joint-honours degree. This could be a viable option when applying through clearing. However, don't opt for a course just to get accepted, you'll be a student for three or four years, so make sure it's something you’re truly interested in. 6. Before you Call It’s vitally important to have all your personal and academic information to hand when making a call. By the time you've put down the phone and found everything, someone may have pipped you to the post. 7. Be Prepared Treat calls as an interview. Be prepared to answer questions about your background, your motivation, interests and experience. It’s impressive to flip the conversation and ask questions too. Wow us with your knowledge of the university and project your desire to be an active student. 8. Get in Touch Make sure you call us as soon as possible on 0208 240 4225 from 8am on Thursday 15^th August. Whilst it’s important to get advice from family and friends, do ensure that you call the Clearing hotline yourself. Our phone lines are open from 8am to 8pm, but do become very busy during this period, so be prepared to potentially call more than once. 9. Visit Campus If you can, try to visit the campus before you make a decision. St Mary’s is holding an informal Open Day on Friday 16^th August from 10am to 5pm. Feel free to pop along with any questions, we could offer you a place on the spot ensuring you a September start date and a stress free summer! 10. Persist If the course is full, try asking to skip next year's queue. Make the most of your year out to gain experience in the subject or field you’re interested in. Always focus on improving your credentials, this will greatly improve your credibility as a well-rounded student.