No place for A-grade student

Four As cannot guarantee a university education

A student with four A grades at A-level has been refused admission to six universities.

Gillian Vater, of Abergavenny, found out her top-level results on Thursday.

But the 18-year-old high achiever has still had no luck in finding a place at university.

While fellow A-level student Samantha Dennison, of Brecon, gained the same grades and was offered a place at Harvard University in the USA, Ms Vater was turned down by all her choices.

Students should phone colleges

"I applied to six universities to do veterinary science but it's so competitive, I didn't get any offers," she said.

She has now abandoned her hopes of becoming a vet and plans to take a year off before applying again to do medicine.

Many other students awoke to an uncertain future on Friday, after failing to get the results required by their chosen university or college.

Most will begin the annual "clearing" rush for remaining places on alternative courses, via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Students are being advised to contact institutions which have the courses they want.

Still waiting

The University of Glamorgan in Pontypridd took 2,000 calls alone on Thursday.

But the message from admissions tutors to those still looking for a place is: "Don't despair."

One in seven people found a place through clearing in 1999, and UCAS has improved its web site to cope with this year's demand.

Andrew Parry of the North East Wales Institute of Higher Education in Wrexham said 95% of students got the university places they wanted after achieving their required grades.

Clearing will continue until early October with universities across Wales holding open places for students from Scotland, who are still waiting for confirmation of their results.