Helping your child through Clearing

Clearing can be a nerve-wracking time for parents as well as prospective students. Being there to support your child (even if they are 18+!) as they try to find a university place might make all the difference. 

Your child may want advice on getting the answers they were looking for or maybe they just want an extra pair of hands to get on the phone.

No matter why you've been enlisted, we’ve compiled a handy list that should help ensure you (and them) are fully prepared when it comes to calling about Clearing.

Do some thorough research:

If your child has a rough idea of what course they want to study, make sure that they conduct some thorough research – make sure the course is available in Clearing and check what grades are required. This way, your child can call feeling confident about what to say.

Write down key facts:

It's easy to avoid saying the wrong thing with just a little bit of prep. Suggest your child writes down the key facts they’ll no doubt have to repeat – UCAS points, grades, UCAS number and any questions they want to ask.

Act it out:

Role play anyone? Sit them down and act as the telephone counterpart, asking them questions that could crop up (grades, desired course and other related topics). Such exercises can make the real thing feel a lot easier.

Be there for them:

Having support can be crucial. Be in the room with them, so you can offer help and advice should a difficult question arise or give them time to themselves. Basically do whatever helps them feel comfortable about their call.

Talk for them…a little:

We can talk to you rather than your child if they’re feeling too nervous. However, this can only be to discuss grades and what course they wish to study. When it comes to actually making an offer, we need to talk to the applicant directly.

Use social media:

If they want to avoid the phone, it doesn’t mean there are no alternatives. We're making offers via social media, which means your child can get in touch through Facebook or Twitter, which could result in them being offered a place without even having to touch the phone.