GCU’s Clearing operation gets off to a great start
GCU’s Clearing operation got off to a great start as students across Scotland raced to secure university places through our dedicated Hotline Centre after receiving their Higher exam results today (August 9).
An expert team of volunteers from the University including Professors, academics, management, admissions and recruit staff were on hand to help students find the right course for them. Clearing will continue until September 16.
One of the academics taking calls on the big exam results day was School of Health and Life Sciences Associate Dean International Dr Karen Thomson. This is the third year running she has volunteered to help out at Clearing.
Her first call was from an anxious mother whose daughter was initially too upset to come to the phone. Within 15 minutes, Dr Thomson had found her a much sought-after place on the BSc Ophthalmology programme and both mother and daughter were absolutely delighted.
Dr Thomson said: “That’s what I love about Clearing – being there for students when they really need advice and support. It can be an extremely stressful time especially for students who don’t get the grades they had hoped for. We are here to get them into a degree that perhaps they hadn’t applied for or thought about.”
Many of our courses are full but we still have places across our Schools of Health and Life Sciences, Business and Society and Computing, Engineering and Built Environment.
Stephanie Pitticas, GCU Director Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions, said: “Today is a hub of activity because students from across Scotland have received their exam results. All our phone lines have been busy and we are helping students to get into university degrees in September from whatever situation they may be in whether it’s grades-related inquiries, or a change of course or university. You name it, we get those inquiry on those phone lines. We are here to help everyone who calls our hotline.
“Clearing happens every year and every year we have volunteers from across the University who dedicate their time because they want to help our next future student community get into university.
“We’ve got Professors, academics, management, admissions and recruit staff on hand to give their expert advice on a range of courses still available to them. Everyone is involved in Clearing because it’s such a stressful time for students but it’s also such an exciting time. There are two days in the academic calendar I love the most – one is clearing and the other is graduation.
“There are so many great stories where we’ve helped students over the years. We’ve had students who wanted to study business but have had a total change of heart because of the pandemic and are now with us doing Paramedic Science or Nursing.”
Stephanie urged students not to panic if they didn’t get the exam results they had hoped for and that making that call to GCU’s Clearing Hotline could change their lives just like our BSc Games Development student Leeann Jancorda.
Leeann, 20, originally from the Philippines but now lives in Glasgow, quit her Computer Science degree after a year at Strathclyde University at the height of the pandemic because she wasn’t enjoying it.
She had always been interested in games development but was confused and worried about where to turn to for help. She finally plucked up the courage to call the GCU Clearing helpline and has never looked back.
Leeann is in her second year studying a BSc (Hons) Games Development and is loving every minute of her new life at GCU.
She said: “I can honestly say that calling GCU Clearing that day changed my life. I got great help and advice and I have never looked back. I have much more confidence now.”