Reallt worried about the clearing process!

Receiving exam. results is a stressful time, whatever the outcome. Firstly, I suggest that, if your grades are short of what your Firm choice university asked for, you check on UCAS Track what decision that university has made (they have had A Level results for several days). If that uni. has rejected you, you might still be taken by your Insurance choice, even with grades short of your offer. If you are waiting for a decision from either uni., try to contact them to find out when that decision might be made. Meanwhile, you might start looking for courses available in Clearing.

If you are in Clearing, beware of jumping straight into a course which will have you. It is very tempting, after rejection by Firm and Insurance unis., to leap at an offer of a place. However, I would strongly urge you to visit the uni., if at all possible, and ask the department which you are considering joining to hold over a place until you have done so. Try to find out whether uni. and course really do suit your needs: methods of teaching, tutorial support (for, e.g., Maths problems), size of classes when you discuss topics with a tutor (5, 15 or 35 students in a group?). These, I think, are more important issues than whether there is en suite accommodation!

Final advice: get contact details of anyone you speak to at a uni. on the 'phone and confirm all details by sending an Email. This is especially important, if an offer has been made to you in a 'phone call. One of my students found a university subsequently denying that an offer had been made to him!

Good luck.