Clearing / A-level Case Studies

News release

10th August 2012

Late Change of Mind Was No Problem for Nicolle

English literature student Nicolle Loughlin changed her career plans late in the day and was delighted to discover a course she wanted to study at Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln.

Nicolle (19) from Norwich had applied to study nursing at other universities but changed her mind and entered the Clearing process in 2010 to look for a different course.

She fell in love with BG’s campus in uphill Lincoln on her first visit and managed to secure a place to study English Literature.

“I found Clearing to be quite an easy process, and one that I am glad I took part in as it worked out for better for me,” said Nicolle.

“I originally applied to do a nursing course but changed my mind later on. When visiting the BG campus I immediately fell in love with both the place and the course, so I knew this was where I wanted to go.

“Everything is in such close proximity at BG and the support offered here is fantastic. You really get a personal feeling, it’s great!”

Nicolle has even been joined by her boyfriend Luke Scargill who liked BG so much he left his degree course at another university and enrolled at BG to study Education Studies and Special Educational Needs.

“After visiting me a few times Luke became jealous of how wonderful my university lifestyle was here compared to his own, so he enrolled here,” she said.

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Clearing Student Looking Forward to Postgraduate Study

Alexandra Foulger from Suffolk didn’t get the A-level results she needed two years ago – but she found the course she wanted at Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln by going through the Clearing system.

Alexandra (20) had applied to study primary education at other institutions but discovered on A-level results day that she would have to go through Clearing as she was unsuccessful in getting into her first-choice university.

“I would highly recommend to anyone who has to go through Clearing to try to stay calm and not to panic,” said Alexandra, who has just completed the second year of her Education Studies and Theology degree at BG.

“BG was not one of my original first choice universities, but when I began to go through Clearing a few of my friends had gone there previously and I recognised the name of the university and saw that they offered a course I wanted to study.

“I am so glad that I have now come to BG. Lincoln is a beautiful city and with BG being quite a small institution I find that the teaching is a much better quality and you feel that you know your classmates and tutors on a more personal level.

“Even though I came through Clearing BG were fantastic and accepted my application quickly and efficiently, meaning I didn’t sit worrying for days on end whether I had got a place.”

After graduating next year Alexandra hopes to continue her studies by undertaking a postgraduate degree in secondary education.

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Help is at Hand on A-level Results Day

Thursday 16th August is A-level results day, and Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln is ready to help guide students still looking for places on a degree course through the Clearing process.

If you’ve failed to get the grades you need for your first-choice university, if you’ve changed your mind about what course you want to study or if you’ve done better than expected and have decided to apply late, the Clearing process will help you to find the right course.

Bishop Grosseteste University College has a dedicated Clearing call centre and has installed more telephones this year to cope with the anticipated demand.

Although BG has bucked the national trend this year with an increase in applications, some programmes do have a few places still available.

Around 25 members of staff will be answering calls which come in on the dedicated Clearing hotline, including Deputy Principal Hâf Merrifield and a number of existing BG student ambassadors.

The call centre will be open from 7.30am until 6pm on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th August and from 9am until 4pm on Saturday 18th August.

The number to call is 01522 583698.

“It’s going to be a busy few days for us but we always work exceptionally hard to ensure that students are not left worried or uncertain about their place at university,” said Karen Richardson, Head of Student Recruitment and Admissions at BG.

“If students and their families want to look round the university college we will be offering campus tours on the hour on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and colleagues from all departments will be helping out to ensure we give the best possible experience to anxious applicants.”

Karen offers the following tips for students who will be entering the Clearing system next week:

• Don’t panic! If you stay calm you’re more likely to take in all the information you need to succeed.

• If your grades fall short, wait for that important acceptance/rejection indication on Track before you put yourself into Clearing. You never know – your first-choice university might still accept you.

• Don’t give up! You may well get a place on a similar course that’s just as good – but you’ll need to shop around. Don’t rush your decision. The UCAS system doesn’t even let you trigger the formal process of accepting a Clearing place until 5pm on results day, so you have the chance to shop around.

• Be realistic. If you’ve seriously blown it then think hard about re-sits or another course altogether – you can always re-apply next time around. UCAS is offering a free (for landlines) Exam Results Service on 0808 100 8000 where trained, professional careers advisers will be available to give help and advice.

• Be prepared to make lots of phone calls and to be persistent!

• Keep your nerve – you may need all your negotiating skills to persuade an academic that they should take you on.

• Enlist the support of friends and family – keep them informed, as they’ll be a great help to you when you have to make that difficult final decision.

• Be prepared to explain to universities why you didn’t do as well as you hoped in your exams – and be honest.

• If you don’t get the grades you need it’s not the end of the world – there are plenty of other opportunities to consider.

Notes to editors

• Clearing is a service run by UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, which helps applicants who have not secured a place at university to find vacancies on higher education courses.
• This year’s A-level results will be announced on Thursday 16th August 2012.
• Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln was established in 1862 and celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2012.
• It is an independent higher education institution based in Lincoln and awarding its own degrees at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
jez@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @jezashberry

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