A parent's and supporter's guide to Clearing

Put simply, Clearing is the process of universities filling their vacant spaces for this academic year, after the main cycle of applications has closed. The unique nature of Clearing means that your child will be applying with their actual grades, rather than predicted, so once they receive their results they can apply.

Generally speaking, there are four main routes in to Clearing:

1. They have changed their mind about their firm choice. If your child has had second thoughts about their chosen university or course, it’s not too late. A lot of students use Clearing to simply change their mind and secure a place elsewhere.
2. They didn’t meet the conditions of their Firm or Insurance offers. Sometimes Clearing is used due to not meeting the entry requirements set by a student's choices. The most important thing in this situation is to remind your child that this is not the end of the world and Clearing is there to help them not trip them up!
3. Their results are better than they thought. If your child receives their results and gets a pleasant surprise, they may want to upgrade their university choice or apply for a course they previously thought was out of reach – Clearing is the chance to do exactly that.
4. They wanted to wait until they had their exam results. If your child planned to apply via Clearing weeks or even months ago, they’re not alone! Every year we see increasing numbers of applicants who simply choose to wait until they get their results to make their university choices.

You are, of course, number one tea maker and hug-giver. The truth is, the best thing you can do for your child over Clearing is just be there to support them through it and keep them calm. It isn’t the ‘big deal’ many students think it is, but reassurance from you will make all the difference. Getting online and researching the institutions your child is interested in can be helpful too - helping them compile a list of phone numbers, courses and questions is a big help.

• Your child can, and should, take their time. Some universities may try and put time pressure on their offer. It’s important to remember that this is a big decision, so your child should take their time and make the best choice for them. Don’t let universities push your child into the wrong decision. Each institution sets their own time restrictions on whether an offer ‘expires’ – at Essex, we have no formal time limit. It's crucial your child chooses the university and course they feel is best for them, not the one they felt they had to reply quickest to!     
• It’s very common to be in Clearing. Clearing is an increasingly common route into university so rest assured that your child is far from the odd one out.  
• An institution offering Clearing spaces isn’t a bad sign. Just as it’s very common for students to enter Clearing, it’s also very common for universities to offer Clearing spaces. It’s not a signifier of a lesser quality institution, or a sign they’re struggling for numbers – it’s just the final part of the recruitment process for this academic cycle. Not all universities will go in to Clearing – it’s true – but the majority will, and there’s no shame in doing so.