A parent's guide to Clearing and results day

We realise results day can be just as stressful for parents as it is for students. Knowing the effort that your child put into their studies (good or bad) can lead to an uneasy night's sleep for everyone in the household the night before results day, so we've got some information to make your child's options easier to understand.

Lots of factors on results day could lead to your child entering Clearing; they might not quite have got the grades for their first choice uni, or they might decide they want to go to a different university or want to study a different course.

Clearing can be confusing, and not just for students. So if you’re not familiar with the C word and how to best support your child during this time, we’ve put together a handy guide for before, during and after results day. But first, what is Clearing?

What is Clearing?

Clearing offers your son or daughter a chance to find a full time undergraduate course to start this September. Many students find their university place through Clearing, so they wouldn’t be alone in exploring their options.

1. Before results day

Ensuring that you have a back-up plan can prevent panic if the envelope doesn’t contain the grades your child was after. If they aren't feeling great about their grades, you could encourage them to look at other universities or courses they would be interested in. It may not sound like the most supportive thing to be thinking about, but having a rough plan B, even if it’s just an idea of other universities that your child may like, means you can already be a step ahead of everyone else once the university Clearing hotlines open.

Have a look at what other unis offer the course your child has applied for and see if they are offering it through Clearing. What grades are required? Would they need to go to an interview after results day? If your child is thinking about a different course encourage them to look into what else they may want to do, again noting down the courses and if they will be in Clearing.

If your child is already thinking about Clearing before getting their results, doing your research ahead of time can be a massive help on the day itself. Reassure them that Clearing is a positive thing and shouldn’t be seen as a taboo. This will avoid wasting valuable time worrying about what you may think so they can get straight on with getting a place when Clearing starts.

2. During results day

Being supportive can be crucial. If they get the results they needed but decide they want to change course or university through Clearing, back their decision. You can still have share your opinion on what they do next but if their first choice isn’t for them any more, that’s their call. 

Your child won’t have had any prior experience with Clearing and may not know what they’ll be asked on the phone, so even if they want to be totally independent, you can still help. They’ll be asked for a lot of information and with the stress of the situation it’s easy to say the wrong thing. Suggest that they write down key facts that they will be asked for again and again - UCAS points, their grades, and their UCAS ID number, as well as any questions they want to ask. We also suggest writing down the name of each university they’re speaking to, so they don’t forget. Underneath this they can then write down everything they’re told by that uni.

3. After results day

Although it will be a rush to find places and get on the phone with universities, once you have your offer, you’ll have 24 hours before you need to accept one. Students often like to have accepted their Clearing place by the end of the day so they can celebrate this with their friends, but there is nothing wrong with waiting until the next day to decide.

Once they have accepted, your child has got a uni place! This is what they wanted at the start of results day and now they have achieved this. You can now help them by preparing to start their studies. Make sure they apply for accommodation and look into the appropriate student finance. These details can sometimes be forgotten after the joy of securing a place.

Lastly reward yourself. After all, you’ve made it through Clearing with them!