Advice On Results Day, from Dr Stuart Miller
After what probably seems like a lifetime of waiting, you have reached the culmination of the last two years of coursework, revision, exams and hard work and now here it is, A-level results day.
For many, it means finding out whether or not you have gained the university place you wanted and applied for back in January or earlier. But for others, there are going to be plenty of choices to consider and decisions to make.text.
UCAS Track will update at 8 am on Results Day, and you will likely know whether you got the grades you needed before you open “the envelope”. Please do not panic if UCAS Track bears bad news; come in and see me, have a cup of tea, and we’ll open “the envelope” together and talk through your options. To help, I offer some very general advice on the different scenarios you might face below:
I achieved the grades I needed to go to my first choice university
The ideal scenario for many when they open the dreaded envelope is that they get the grades they want, and receive an offer from their university of choice. If this applies to you, congratulations, please keep in touch!
I did not achieve the grades I needed to go to my first choice university
Despite not meeting the Offer made by your first choice university, you may still have a place, so don’t reach for the tissues just yet. Last year, a large proportion of pupils “missed” their first choice by a grade or two (their “CF”) but were still accepted. You may well already know this because of Track. If you missed out on your first choice, you might well have got your second choice. You do not need to do anything, there is no need to contact the university.
My grades were much better than I expected
Well done, this gives you the option of “trading up”. That is, you are eligible for UCAS Adjustment and can use Track and look for courses and universities that you perhaps, initially did not consider. You do not lose your first choice, and you do not have to enter Adjustment. The majority of students eligible for Adjustment chose to stick with their first choice, and I personally think that this is perhaps the wisest thing to do. However, the choice is yours.
I achieved the grades I wanted, but I have decided I don’t actually want to go to university right now.
After all the stress and hard work of the last few months, some students simply want to take a break from education. If this is the case, you must contact the university directly and ask to defer. Although some will deny your request, many will allow it, and the quicker you contact them, the better. However, this decision should not be taken lightly.
I did not achieve the grades I wanted, but I still want to go to university
If you did not do as well as you expected, do not panic. Even if you did not get into the universities you applied for, alternative routes are available.
- Clearing – Clearing is a way for universities to fill the spaces they have left for the academic year. Last year, 55,700 applicants were placed through Clearing. That’s about 12% of all university places.A list of Clearing spaces will be available from 8am on results day. The earlier you apply, the greater your chances of success. The Daily Telegraph has a dedicated Clearing app which shows live spaces, to help you keep up-to-date.
https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/results-confirmation-and-clearing/what-clearing
- Retakes – If Clearing is not an option, or you have your heart set on a particular campus, then re-sitting your exams may be an option. Before you decide to do this, take the time to talk with your teachers and your Tutor. Be honest with yourself. Did you really give everything you had, or could you have done better?If your answer for the latter is yes, you can apply to repeat your exams but beware. You will likely need to be far more disciplined, and as you will still have to do all of that exam revision and preparation again only this time, you will not be in a classroom. Just “re-sitting” does not guarantee an improved result.
- Reapplying – If you just missed out, cannot find anything you like in clearing but are confident that your grades are still “good” then you can apply for a place at university for September 2019. You will need to make a fresh UCAS Application, and your Personal Statement will need a little bit of editing but as a student applying with grades-in-hand rather than “predictions,” you will be in a strong position. You could also use the intervening months to “bump up” that Personal Statement by volunteering or getting some relevant work experience.
- Other qualifications – If you do not feel like you will do any better and feel that, on balance, A-levels were “just not me” there are alternative options. 95% of universities will accept vocational qualifications, for example, OCR Nationals, NVQs and BTEC qualifications, such as an HNC or HND. These qualifications are generally more vocational, combining theory and a practical approach to work and study. They are not necessarily “easier” than A-levels, they offer a different mode of study
The job I want does not require a degree
University is not for everyone. And, regardless of your results, there are a number of other options available to help you embark on your career. Apprenticeships, internships and volunteer roles are great ways to get started in a profession, and there are thousands available. If you have gained a place at university and now wish to turn it down, please contact the university immediately and let them know. Your place can then be offered to someone else.