Not clearing clearing – what to do about university

Although one in four students who took A-levels got As this year, 46,000 more students than last year will not be granted a place at university. If you have found yourself in this position, wondering what to do, it is time to consider your alternatives.

The BBC has recently run an article detailing the positive aspects of international travel, citing specifically the Netherlands university Maastricht as a place that offers a reasonable admissions process and a world-class education at an affordable price. This may be a great option for students who really want to study but just haven’t made the cut in what many are calling the most difficult time to get into university in a decade.

For those who find the idea of living abroad for three or so years troubling, there is always the option of a gap year, which, although it might not have been your first choice, can be a time to enrol on local courses, improve your application for university and learn a new language. If you are looking to enhance your CV as a counterbalance to disappointing A-level results, such things as a second language could help – they also provide you with the opportunity to move somewhere new. However, if you don’t want to go away but want to take Spanish or Italian classes London is filled with language schools.

That said, even moving to a big city is not necessary to improve an application to university. Studying from home, online and working are other options for those who feel like they can’t afford or don’t want to move out of their family’s home. With the economy projected to bounce back in the following years, work experience and time may be all that is necessary to get your application cleared next year.Maastricht

When looking for a job, it is important to remember two things:

  1. University education or not, this is a difficult time to begin a job search.
  2. It is not necessary to have a degree to enjoy a successful career.

Seeing this next year as an opportunity to re-evaluate what is most important to your future happiness can be a great gift. So, if you decide to use this year to learn Spanish London language schools or study abroad programmes could be the answer. But, whether you go abroad, stay at home, travel, take courses or get work experience, don’t lose heart. Everything happens for a reason.