This advice mainly applies to A and AS Level, but can still be used by GCSE students. Also, let me know what your plan of action is and any advice in the comments below, sharing is caring!
Hey Skwad!
With everything that's happened this year, 2020 has been a bit of a weird one. While Scotland recently got its results with major controversy over the fact that it had become a bit of a postcode lottery, with those living in "deprived" areas seemingly automatically getting lower grades than those living in the more "privileged" areas who got straight A's. This isn't to say that there weren't students on either side who didn't deserve the grades they got, but when even the brightest students are getting D's and Fails it does seem like injustice on the basis of class.
This aside, with Wales, Northern Ireland and England's Results Day fast approaching (August 13th for A and AS Level and August 20th for GCSE), here's my advice for what you can be doing to prepare before that dreaded day arrives!
1: Stalk ALL the Unis and Sixth Forms you applied to
No, seriously, I mean it.
Go through all your old and junk emails, find any letters and promotional material they've sent to you, everything and anything! At the bottom of emails and letters and on the back page of prospectus guides you should be able to find contact details, such as the institution's telephone and email. However, the main contact details can be found by a quick google.
No, what you're looking for is the specifics;
Admissions
Course Enquiries
Student Services
Accommodation
Scholarships
Be sure to find subject/course/school-specific contact details (ie those for the "School of Business") or any members of staff on your course that you spoke to at Open Days (ie Heads of departments). Hopefully, you made a good impression and they remember your enthusiasm for the subject and delightful personality. There may also be a Results Day and Clearing specific phoneline you can ring. Anything that will help guarantee you a place at the Uni of your dreams no matter what grades you get in a week's time.
Having all these different people you can ring will make you better prepared to argue your case as to why they should let you study there. Take a leaf from the contestants of The Apprentice (preferably one of the successful ones) and negotiate, barter and haggle your way onto the course you have your heart set on;
Look, I know you initially made an offer of 'AAA', but all I can give you is 'BBC', final offer!
Whilst they may have said you need certain grades to do a certain subject when it really comes down to it, what's the difference between "ABB" and "BCC"?
Remember on Results Day, no one else can do this for you. So no matter if you hate speaking to real-life, actual people, it's time to put your big-girl pants on and crack on with it.
2: Start registering your interest in different Unis for Clearing
So once you've Sherlock Holmes-ed your way through your archives and you know everything is to know about the Universities you actually considered going to, it's time to find out about the ones you didn't.
Circumstances change, especially with the devastation a global pandemic can cause. So it's time to consider not only Unis with different grade requirements, but Unis in different areas. Perhaps with everything that's going on you'd prefer to be closer to home or on a campus where everything's contained to one area?
Whilst the ranking tables are constantly changing have a quick look on Complete University Guide and The Guardian for the best Unis in general (they might have changed since you first applied a year ago) and for your department/subject.
Then head to that institution's website, some Unis are currently advertising which courses still have spaces, whilst others may only let you register your interest at going to that Uni but won't tell you which courses are available until Results Day. Other Unis might not let you do anything at all until August 13th but it's always worth checking.
Make a list of every University and Course you registered an interest in and their contact details, you will need these should worst come to worst on Results Day. Your list should definitely include the three other Universities you rejected when you made your Firm and Insurance choice, as you wouldn't've applied to go there in the first place if it wasn't a University or Course you wouldn't mind doing.
3: Keep your eye on UCAS Track
This goes without saying, as I'm sure you'll be refreshing the UCAS Track page every 5 seconds without me telling you to. But throughout the next week, do have a look for any updates on government advice, universities and how it's going to work this year. Another point of call would be your school email, check what precautions have been put in place this year for COVID-19 and decide if you would like to get your results emailed or phoned to you. While it's most likely you'll get the grades (as it's in the best interests of the school if you do) most, if not all, schools will be open to help with the clearing process.
4: Have a socially distant hangout the day before
It goes without saying that no matter how hard you try to convince yourself that you're "Not stressed" (Sureeeee, I believe you), the day before is filled with anticipation designed to set you up for a nervous breakdown. But it doesn't have to be one you have to suffer alone!
Whilst COVID-19 is still very much at large, you can still hang out with your friends and wait patiently together via video chat, group messaging or, if no one is or lives with anyone susceptible to COVID-19, you could all have a picnic in the local park (sitting a minimum of 1 metre away from each other with masks on, of course!)
Before Results Day, you may also want to get these things ready the night before, so you're the least amount of hectic as possible the next day, as you'll need these items on your person:
A (fully charged) mobile phone
Your UCAS Details (Personal ID, Username, Password, exam number, etc)
The array of contact details of Unis you've now acquired
Your Personal Statement (preferably in PDF form so you can send it to any device, should you end up in clearing)
Notepad and a couple of pens (should one run out)
The big day (no wait, that sounds like your wedding)
So the dreaded Results Day is here... What's happening again?
UCAS Track SHOULD update itself at 8 am on Thursday, August 13th, but it can take up to a few days to do so. HOWEVER, if it hasn't been updated by the following Monday, August 17th, ring your firm choice immediately to confirm your place.
When phoning about your application remember to make a note of (and don't be embarrassed to ask for):
The number you called
The date and time of the call
Who you spoke to (FULL NAMES) and their job title
What each of you said
The staff know they will be held accountable for anything they have said or forgotten to say, so they have no reason not to give you accurate information.
When UCAS Track (eventually) updates itself, it might show conditional, meaning that whilst you haven't achieved the grades, the university may still be willing to take you as part of their cohort or offer you a place on a different course that requires the grades you have achieved. Use those contact details you dug up earlier and find if they've made their decision and if necessary, convince them to take you on (I'm crossing my fingers for you!).
If neither your Firm nor your Insurance choice accepts you, then you are eligible for Clearing and the new Clearing Plus tool that launched this year. Using the list you made of Unis that you registered an interest in, phone up and see if those Courses still have availabilities and if not look for the Clearing listings for any other Courses that you didn't notice earlier. Although by having a pre-made list of effectively your third and fourth, etc choice of Uni, you have the advantage of not going to a Uni you really hate.
If nothing on Clearing tickles your fancy, you may want to take a gap year, go straight into work, become self-employed, retake your exams or if possible try getting your grades appealed.
Or if your grades turn out better than you thought you might want to try Adjustment, where you'll have 5 days (including weekends) to find a "better" University which begins as soon as the conditional place on your Firm choice Uni turns into an unconditional place.
Hope this gave you a few ideas of what you can be doing over the next week to prepare and be slightly less stressed overall, knowing you have a plan, a backup plan and a backup-backup plan.
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