When it comes to Clearing, Kingston University hotline supervisor Zoe Cheverton has plenty of advice for hopeful applicants gearing up to receive their A-Level results tomorrow morning, urging students to stay calm and to be prepared.

With the University gearing up for hundreds of calls from Clearing applicants eager to snap up some of the final places on its degree programmes, Zoe knows only too well the mixture of emotions that hopeful students are likely to be experiencing when they pick up the phone to make that all-important call.

Zoe signed up to be a Clearing hotline operator when she was in first year of her own degree studies. Now a graduate with an MSc in Biomedical Science, she will be one of the staff at the forefront of Kingston University's Clearing and confirmation operation this year.

Reflecting on her time as a supervisor, which she has occupied since 2018, Zoe has spoken to hundreds of prospective students and helped them to navigate their path into higher education.

She said: "It's a real emotional rollercoaster at times. You have the highs of helping people who are the first in their family to attend University and you really feel the joy they are experiencing, But, of course, you also have those who are disappointed with their results and are looking for some reassurance."

Seeing Clearing students succeed is one of the most rewarding parts of her job. "I actually spoke to one of the hotline operators I've trained this year on the phone two years ago when they were applying through Clearing. Now she's finished her second year of studying pharmaceutical science, and it's great to see the students you've helped get a place go on to thrive at the University," Zoe added.

The hotline supervisor stressed how important it is for prospective students going through Clearing to remain calm. Underling that although a lot of emotions will be felt, the process can be extremely straightforward if you're properly prepared and, in some cases, a five to ten-minute phone call can be enough to secure a place.

In terms of preparation Zoe recommends that students research which courses they might be interested in and to have their grades and UCAS number to hand to help speed up the process.

One of the more enjoyable aspects of the role for Zoe has been the chance to make higher education more accessible.

She continued: "I've learned a lot about how universities work. What I think makes clearing and the confirmation period so exciting is that it gives opportunities to people who might have missed out on going to university."

Kingston University's Clearing hotline will be open tomorrow during A-Level results day from 8am to 7pm; Friday 19 August, 8.30am to 6pm; Saturday 20 August, 10am to 4pm.

For more information, visit the Kingston University Clearing webpage here.