RESULTS NOT WHAT YOU HAD HOPED FOR?

As you will have heard in the media there is a strong likelihood that if you have not achieved the grades required for your first choice or insurance university places that you will not be offered a place on these courses.

Suggested Action Points

• Check on the UCAS website in the personal tracking section to see if you have been offered a place at either your first or insurance university
• If you have not been offered a place then we would suggest the following actions:
  • Try not to panic or get too upset. There will be other students in the same position and although you may be understandably disappointed there are a range of options to consider and you should try to keep a clear head.
  • Share your news with a sympathetic and supportive person.
  • Come into college to find our your actual results and to talk to our Progression Manager (Sarah Jarrett) or one of the Student Support Leaders (Sarah Carter, Aidan Long, Steve McAlinden or Tina Rutter).

Scroll down to found out more about the possible options open to you. You may wish to consider them prior to receiving your results so you have all relevant information available when your results are known. Click here to look at the Colleges' Career/Progression page where there is even more information.

Going Through Clearing

If you decide that once you have seen your results that you would still like to go to university, then you need to consider which courses are available and where. You must go onto the UCAS website and register to go through the clearing process. National publicity is suggesting that there will be fewer places on offer through clearing this year, and a record number of students applying. This should not deter you from applying – but it does mean that you need to be able to react swiftly to the news of your grades. To help you in this task you may wish to think of the kind of courses that you would be like to pursue and the kind of universities that appeal in advance of results day.

On results day the UCAS website will show lists of courses and universities where there are places, and there are also contact details for the Admissions Tutors in each of the universities. You will need to be patient and persistent on the day. Although the college advisors will want to help you, it will need a significant personal effort on your part to show the universities that you should be given one of the scarce places.

You will need to contact the universities yourself and talk to the Admissions Tutors.

Taking A Gap Year

You may wish to delay going to university for a year. This will mean that you will need to re-apply to UCAS in the autumn term of 2010. You will have the benefit of knowing your results and therefore your application can be realistic. During your gap year there are ways of earning money and developing your skills which will make you more attractive to universities but also make for a smoother transition to university and more independent living.

You may wish to look at the following website -  www.gapyear.com

Finding A Job

This could be a short term or long term decision. If you are considering employment for the long term then we would advise you to look for a job with training or maybe an apprenticeship or management traineeship. We can help you with your search. As you will know the job market is not buoyant at the moment however there are reports nationally of some large companies looking for A level recruits rather than waiting for students with degrees.

You may also find a job which allows you to continue studying or to take on training. This gives you the opportunity to earn money whilst improving your skills and employability.

You may wish to look at the following website - www.connexions-direct.com

Returning To College