So, what happens on A-level results day?

• If you haven’t already done so, you should log on to UCAS Track. This is the only way you will know the exact status of your application.

• Hopefully you have got the grades you needed, and you are in. Congratulations. Make sure you check the details carefully in Track. You should then receive details from the university or college about what to do next. You will also be able to view your confirmation letter in Track five to seven days after your place is confirmed.

• If you have just missed out on your grades, the medical school may have accepted you anyway, so it is vitally important that you check. So vital first rule – ALWAYS check track.

• If your firm choice is confirmed, you cannot simply disregard that and accept your insurance choice.

• Sometimes a decision may still be pending on results day – all you can do is wait. I agree not an ideal position to be in.

• Sometimes your firm choice could be pending whilst you can see the insurance choice will accept you if your firm choice declines you.

• Sometimes your firm choice has declined you and your insurance choice is pending. If you see this, start to look at the UCAS search in clearing so that you have a backup plan waiting. This is a frustrating situation to be in and from our experience happens to relatively few students. Contact your school if you need any advice.

There are few things to consider this year: -

Self Release - Don’t do this without advice from your teachers. Consider adjustment first.

This year for the first-time students can self-release from both conditional and unconditional offers. This means it is easier than ever before to switch to another course or university. I cannot think why a student with an offer for medicine or dentistry would do this as it means losing the place at university!

However, those of you with only a ‘5th choice’ that you really don’t want to attend may wish to consider this. Discuss the options with your school careers tutor first and don’t forget the adjustment option first as it allows you to keep your firm choice whilst you are considering your options. (see below).

Deferred entry to 2021 for medicine

Note if you wish to try and defer entry you must NOT self-release – as this may mean a reapplication next year and needing to repeat UCAT, BMAT and interviews with no guarantee of a further offer. You will need to contact the medical school and see if they will allow you to do this. This may only be permitted for a small number of students with a valid reason. We have a specific blog on deferred entry which you can read using the link below.

READ ABOUT DEFFERED ENTRY TO MEDICINE

UCAS Clearing+ and medicine applications

If you do decide to self-release or find yourself in Clearing, you will have access to Clearing+. This is a new service for 2020 and if you select the option on the Track app, it will show you a range of matches suggested by UCAS.

It can do this as it already knows quite a bit about you from your application. They know what courses you originally applied for and at what universities. On results day they also now know your grades. There is nothing to stop you from browsing the UCAS clearing search on the website anyway and have a look what is available.

It is not sure how accurately this will relate to medicine – hopefully it will bring up a list of medical schools with clearing places (including those with a foundation year) but you may have to manually search. Doing a search at present brings up all sorts of courses that are ‘allied’ to medicine and not just medicine so you have to carefully sift through the list. We have a more detailed blog about UCAS Clearing for medicine. Have a read using the link below.

LEARN MORE ABOUT UCAS CLEARING FOR MEDICINE

UCAS Clearing maybe busier this year due to the coronavirus

We expect clearing to be much busier this year. In the past you have not be able to make a final decision on clearing until the afternoon at 15:00, so there is plenty of time to ring medical schools. With the turbulence going on with coronavirus there may be an increased number of medical school places with places through clearing.

Some students will not have achieved the grades needed for a medical school place and others may have been permitted to defer entry. Some medical schools have been present in clearing for a while now, for example St Georges. Universities can usually be contacted by telephone, email, webchat and possibly social media.

However, I would always be proactive and ring yourself – if you can’t get through straight away, keep trying again and again. If you do get through, you may have to speak to a medical school admissions tutor (or they could ring you back). Know something about the medical school as it could be possible you get a very short interview. Informal offers can be accepted over the phone but they may well call you for a further formal MMI interview. If you need medical school interview training, we may have sessions available. Have a look at the link below.

CLICK TO LEARN ABOUT MMI INTERVIEW TRAINING

Another tip is that you can get friends and family to ring as well using their own mobile, although the medical school may insist that they speak to you as the applicant once they get through. This does allow you to ring several medical schools at once through and may be more efficient if there are extended waits.

UCAS Adjustment for medicine - should you consider it?

If you have done better than expected and you’ve met and exceeded the conditions for your firm choice, it is possible you could swap your course or university whilst still holding your original offer. UCAS has started something called ‘adjustment’ this year that lets you do this. This is different from going into clearing as you do not have to give up your firm offer, so it allows you to look around and then weigh your options.

If you want to use Adjustment, you will need to register this on Track. I feel that for medicine, the vast majority of students would be happy having an offer whatever the medical school and those with an offer should keep away. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic there may be more places available on results day for medicine this year.

If you really are holding an offer in a medical school that you don’t really want to go to, you could give this a go. Remember you have nothing to lose as you do not have to give up your firm offer. Also, if you have a firm ‘5th choice’ and your grades are higher than expected you have nothing to lose by trying for medicine again – here is your chance. Please note you must meet the entry requirements for wherever you apply to and this may include UCAT & BMAT scores and having to attend an interview, so this option may not be as attractive as it first appears if you already have a firm offer for medicine.

Reapply in 2021 for Medicine

If you wish to reapply for UCAS next year, remember there are UCAS deadlines for 2021 entry that need to be met. Also discuss with your sixth form whether your tutor can still provide you with a reference.

Where can I get more help and information?

• The UCAS website contains the most up to date list of vacancies if you are going through Clearing. This changes all the time so keep looking. There are several videos which talk you through how to go through Clearing, use Adjustment etc.

• The UCAS Helpline service (0371 468 0 468 or +44 330 333 0230 from outside the UK) is available. To access this service, you need to know your UCAS Personal ID.

• You should be able to access advice help from a tutor at your sixth form or college. They should be open on the day. Note due to the coronavirus pandemic, in person attendance may be restricted or limited with waiting times and social distancing.

We wish you the very best of luck and hope you are able to succeed in your dreams of securing a medical school place.