An insider's guide to Clearing

Clare Rudebeck speaks to two experts on the best way to approach the applications process

Jeannette Perkins is area manager for Connexions in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Nicky Heath is Clearing suite manager at Sheffield Hallam University.

How can I make sure I choose the right course for me in such a short space of time?

JP: It's a difficult one. Research really helps. You mustn't just jump in. It's not just about the course; it's about the university and its location. You might get onto the right course, but you might hate the place. It helps if you make a shortlist beforehand of universities that you're interested in.

NH: You need to think about what you want but also what you don't want. Don't feel you have to accept a course that you're not sure about. If you're given an offer, try and visit the university.

Would it be better if I took a gap year and reapplied next year? Should I consider retakes or getting my exams remarked?

JP: It depends on the individual. Some people will have just missed their grades and there'll be lots of suitable university places for them in Clearing. But others might want to step back and think about retakes or getting their papers remarked. One young man who I dealt with was offered a place at Bristol University to do business management and German. He needed to get three Bs, but he got ACC and Bristol rejected him. He then had his exams remarked, got ABB and is now happily studying at Sheffield University.

NH: With gap years, it's best to contact the university. Some are keen on their students taking them; others are not. People who take gap years are often more rounded when they get to university.

What kind of spiel should I have prepared to wow the admissions tutor when I phone up about a course?

NH: Stick to the facts. Try and convey your enthusiasm for the course. But most of all be honest. People will see through stories. Students often try to build up their previous experience and get themselves into hot water because they're talking to admissions tutors who are experts in their field. Also, make sure you leave a number that you can be contacted on. Often, we can't get back in touch when we try and call students.

JP: It's a good idea to write down five or so points that you want to get into the conversation. You also need to be persistent. You need to set aside a lot of time for calling universities. And remember, you must make the calls yourself – your mum can't do it for you.

I'd really like to visit the universities I'm interested in before I make a decision. Is there enough time?

NH: Try to make time. I went through Clearing myself. There was one course I was really keen on at Stirling University. I visited Stirling and it was beautiful but I knew immediately that I couldn't live there for three years. I went to Newcastle instead and I was really happy there.

JP: A lot of students from Cambridgeshire think they want to go to university in London. But when they go and visit they realise it's too busy.

Won't all the good courses be full up? I don't want to spend three years doing a second-rate degree.

NH: If it's the right course for you, it's not second rate. When students first apply to university, they often don't think outside the traditional subjects that they've studied at school like English and psychology. There are many vocational courses in Clearing that people haven't heard about but which have extremely good employment rates after graduation.

JP: Last year, several of the top universities did have places in Clearing, but they were snapped up very fast. So if you are going for a popular subject, you need to do your research beforehand and get in there quickly.

Some students who get in through Clearing drop out. How do I make sure that doesn't happen to me?

JP: The main reason that people drop out is because they didn't do proper research beforehand. They've often taken the first course they were offered and not visited the university beforehand. Also, it's important not to panic if you aren't happy in the first few weeks of university. Many students are lonely at the beginning and decide to leave, but if they wait a few weeks they often make friends and feel better.

NH: Remember that universities have support structures available if you are unhappy. We know students will often feel scared and insecure when they arrive. In our student services, there are people who can talk you through your options if you feel like you want to leave. Never suffer in silence.

Where can I get advice that's informed (unlike my parents) and impartial (unlike university prospectuses)?

JP: Students can go to their local Connexions companies or careers services. To find your nearest centre, go to www.connexions.gov.uk. You can also look at the Virgin Alternative Guide to British Universities 2003.

What's the biggest mistake I could make right now?

JP: Jumping in without thinking.

NH: Hasty decisions and not having clear goals.

Will it look bad if I apply for lots of different subjects?

NH: The universities won't know, but applying for lots of different courses will make it harder for you to make decisions. Try and stay focused.

JP: If a student is applying for lots of different subjects, you've got to question whether they should be applying for the courses in the first place. You need to work out what you're interested in before you apply.

Will the university be able to find accommodation for me in time? I don't want to be the only loser living 10 miles from campus.

JP: Students who drop out after getting in through Clearing often say it is because their accommodation wasn't sorted out in time so they found it very hard to settle in. Some universities can't guarantee an accommodation place to students in Clearing. Last year, a student dropped out because he got in to a radiography course which he was very pleased with, but he was housed about 15 miles from the university.

NH: At Sheffield Hallam, if someone can't get into halls, we run a house-hunting service. The students are put up in bed and breakfast for the night and go round looking for accommodation with other students. You need to check how each university deals with the issue.

How can I make sure the university will be committed to teaching me not taking my money so it can spend more time on research?

JP: If you are worried, you can look up how the university department is rated by the Quality Assurance Agency. Their website is: www.qaa.ac.uk. You can also look at the employment destinations of people on your course. It's a good question to ask the admissions tutor.

Could I get in through Clearing and then change course later if I decide I don't like it?

NH: There's no guarantee you will be able to get in through the back door. You certainly shouldn't pin your hopes on getting onto very competitive courses by swapping after you've got in. You should speak to the support services at the university to find out how possible it's likely to be. But it's much better to make sure the course you get in for is the right one for you.

JP: If you're unsure what to study, there are some courses – such as humanities – where you have a varied first year and narrow down to one or two subjects in the second year.

What is more important: the right course, the right university or the right nightlife?

NH: The right course and the right university are very important because, if you make the wrong choice, you might not stick around long enough to sample the nightlife. At careers fairs, I have sometimes been questioned more about the nightclubs in Sheffield than the courses we offer but I don't think it's the best way to make a decision.

JP: You need a combination of the three. Make sure you've thought about whether you want a campus university or one in the middle of a town.

NH: Each university will also have a different atmosphere. You will instantly feel at home in some places. It might depend on where it is in the country, the architecture or the kind of people who go there. Also, if activities like acting or sports are really important to you, make sure you are able to do them at the university you choose.