20/08/09
Students have been calling Kingston University’s Clearing headquarters to try and secure the few remaining places on degree courses. The hotline, staffed by student volunteers, went live at 8.30am this morning and by 11.15am had received 2,225 phone calls from higher education hopefuls.
Professor Martyn Jones, Pro Vice-Chancellor for External Relations, said he expected thousands more calls during the next few days. “The first few hours on results day are always the busiest for us as students rush to the schools and further education colleges to pick up their results,†he said. “Our team of student hotline operators have been taking calls from students who have narrowly missed out on their predicted A-level grades.†Callers to the Clearing hotline would have an initial chat with a specially-trained student operators and provide details of their exam results, Professor Jones explained. If their grades met course requirements the prospective-student would then be put in touch with an academic member of staff to see whether they could be offered a place.
Third-year environmental studies student Tiffany Cavanagh, one of the hotline operators taking calls, remembers what it is like to be on the other end of the phone. The 20 year old, from Kent, was due to study law at Reading but just missed the marks she needed for the course. “I was disappointed but I forced myself to think positively,†she said. “I picked up the phone to some of the other universities including Kingston that I’d originally applied to. I was given offers for all three but chose Kingston and haven’t looked back since. Now I’m hoping I can help other students get their university career back on track.â€
Kingston University’s Clearing hotline number will be open between 8.30am – 6.30pm on August 20 and 21, from 10.00am – 3.00pm on August 22 and between 9.00am – 5.30pm from August 24 until 28. Professor Jones said: “It’s very difficult to say how many places will be available through Clearing because we are also waiting to find out how many students have decided to accept their Kingston place. The best advice is to phone the hotline staff who will have the most up-to-date information about which courses are still available. The lines will be busy but our advice to students is to be prepared to call back a few times until you get through.â€