Which Way: Clearing by phone

What to expect when you make a call

Paul Chipman, admissions tutor for environmental and geographical sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University

You should have your name, address, UCAS application number and results with you when you ring the admissions tutor. Make a note of what you want to ask and have a copy of your personal statement to hand. It is important you ring as soon as you have your results. If you did not make your points, tell the university or college what you think happened. Institutions know that students can miss their grades for all kinds of reasons.

We are looking for enthusiasm, backed up by knowledge of the subject. So, if you have been a member of a club, society or organisation, or have any relevant travel experience, talk about it. With our courses, we like students to have worked as volunteers, or to have been members of local wildlife or environmental groups.

You may feel under pressure to find something quickly, but we want to make you feel relaxed, so you can make an informed and sensible choice of course. We do not expect people to make snap decisions. Spending time at this stage ultimately improves our retention, because we don't get problems down the line with students who have made a poor choice.

Sometimes we will suggest alternative courses, or that a student should go away and rethink things. Talking to students' parents is fine by us. Ultimately, though, we need to talk to you, because you make the final decision.

The right environment

Edward Charnley, 20, is studying human geography at Manchester Metropolitan University

Originally, I was doing management at UMIST [now part of the University of Manchester]. I had to do a couple of retakes and decided it wasn't for me. I liked Manchester, and was keen to go back, but I needed a course to do.

I decided I wanted to do a degree in human geography, having done geography at A-level. Through the UCAS listings, I found the Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) course.

I called the university and spoke to an admissions tutor who was really friendly and very helpful. I asked them a few questions, told them what I had done so far, and what I had got for my A-levels. I think it was probably the A-level mark that decided it.

Much of the trouble I had at UMIST was to do with the mathematical element of the course. There is a lot of data collection in geography and I wanted to make absolutely sure it would be OK for me. I put my questions and concerns to the admissions tutor and he told me exactly what was involved and reassured me about the course.

I never would have known about this course, and I probably wouldn't have applied for anything, if it were not for the UCAS listings. I've got so much out of this year: I'm the student representative for my course and I've been doing some work for the university. It's been a real turn-around.