‘It felt like a fresh start’: how clearing set two students on exciting new paths

When Kamal Keita-Jones, 22, from London, first applied to university he wanted to study computer network engineering, but his predicted grades were not good enough. “I didn’t get any offers, none at all,” he says. Clearing was his only option and he decided to aim instead for a computer science course to give himself a better chance of getting a place.

Ahead of results day, knowing he hadn’t done well in exam assessments, he made sure he was prepared. “I looked at the league tables and made a list of universities that were good for computer science. I wrote their numbers down and I took it with me on results day,” he says. “Everyone was there opening their results and although I was upset and disappointed by mine, I knew there was no time for that. I called the universities one by one.”

Some said no straight away, but he got a friendly reception from Goldsmiths, University of London, which helped him feel positive about the situation. Staff there explained to him that he would have to do a foundation year in order to get accepted on to the degree programme. “It’s all worked out for me,” he says. “I graduate this summer and I’ve really enjoyed my time. I feel proud of my university. This year I’m going to focus on volunteering to help young adults in the area enter higher education before I start looking for a job in a tech company.”

Olivia O’Leary, 19, from the Scottish Borders, had a similarly positive experience of clearing. She was planning to study sports coaching at the University of the Highlands and Islands, but over the summer after finishing school she started to question her degree choice. She realised she had always enjoyed travel and decided to pursue it as a career. She was nervous about making a change, but her dad encouraged her to do it and helped with the research. “I really needed that push,” she says. Through clearing she was offered a place to study international hospitality and tourism at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. “When I got the email saying I’d got in, it just felt right. It really felt like a new start for me. It was definitely the best decision. At uni I’ve made friends and we are sharing the experience together. I’ve also done well in my exams.”

Stories like these are common from clearing, which has changed a lot in the last few years. It’s no longer seen just as a fallback option for those who haven’t done as well as expected in their exams. Now, applicants are using it as an opportunity to switch courses or trade up to another university.

Whatever your reason for considering clearing, planning in advance is the most important thing you can do. Philip Bloor, head of admissions at Sheffield Hallam University, says: “Think about the institutions you would contact, so when it comes to that Thursday morning [results day] you have their numbers and are ready to have that conversation.”

The process is simpler than ever. Before, an applicant had to contact an institution to be released from a place. Now the student can simply do it online at the click of a button. “It gets over the embarrassment of asking the institution to leave,” Bloor says.

Rachel Chaplin, applicant services manager at Falmouth University, advises students to think about the questions they may want to ask on the day. “Any good institution will gladly answer all your queries. They want to get to know you and you will need to get to know them to be sure that it’s the right place for you. If they are reluctant to help, that’s not a good sign.”

Results day can often be a bit of a blur, so don’t forget to check with the institution you’re talking to about what your next steps should be. “It’s likely that you’ll make your application over the phone so it’s worth double checking what you need to do next by repeating it all back to the person you are speaking to,” says Chaplin. It’s a really good idea, too, to take notes while you are on the phone to help jog your memory later.

Bear in mind that places are limited. David Seaton, assistant director of student recruitment and admissions at the University of Bedfordshire, says that a number of institutions were oversubscribed in 2021 so many students deferred their entry to this year, meaning that this year’s applicants could be competing for fewer spaces.

As a result, being prepared is more important than ever. Whatever happens, Keita-Jones thinks the stress of the day is worth it and there is no right or wrong decision. “Don’t compare your educational journey to others, you’re on your own path. There’s no set way of doing things. Even if clearing is not the idea you had in your head, the outcome can be really positive.”

For more guidance on the right course for you, check out the Guardian university league tables for 2022. The Guardian league tables for 2023 will be out on 10 September in print and online.

For more helpful advice and student news sent straight to your inbox, sign up to the Guardian’s student newsletter.