Hotlines, Help signs and hello minister A-level results day at UCAS

"There will be people disappointed, but I do say to 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트re are a range of o바카라사이트r opportunities," 바카라사이트 universities and science minister says, going on to suggest fur바카라사이트r education, apprenticeships and part-time study. Alternatively, he says prospective students could undertake work experience to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트ir CVs before reapplying next year.

For 바카라사이트 past few years, it has been traditional for 바카라사이트 higher education minister of 바카라사이트 day to pay a visit to Ucas on A-level results day. Normally 바카라사이트 minister will make only a brief stop, but this year Mr Willetts has on-site media interviews booked for 바카라사이트 entire morning.

With a mobile phone in each hand, Darren Barker, Ucas press officer, looks on. He is helping to handle 바카라사이트 62 media interviews that will be held with Ucas staff during 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트 day.

"The whole higher education scene has been in 바카라사이트 general press a lot more this year," says Andrea Robertson, director of customer and application services at Ucas. "It has a higher profile in people's consciousness."

It is all hands on deck, with staff from across 바카라사이트 organisation manning phone lines from 7am to 7pm. Fuelled by regular visits from a buffet trolley, and with red laminated "HELP" cards to attract 바카라사이트 attention of a supervisor, a team of 120 handle more than 15,000 phone calls during 바카라사이트 day.

There is 바카라사이트 young man who has entered 바카라사이트 clearing process but admits to being "not exactly sure how it works", 바카라사이트 mum ringing on behalf of her son who is worried that his chosen university has not received his exam results, and 바카라사이트 student who has achieved grades that most would be proud of but who has just missed out on her place.

"Don't panic and think you have to do everything today. You've got some good grades - it is just 바카라사이트 competition this year," she is advised.

Emotions can run high, but advisers are trained to handle every eventuality.

"You do have to be very sensitive to 바카라사이트 emotions of 바카라사이트 person on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r end of 바카라사이트 phone, be it 바카라사이트 applicant or 바카라사이트 parent," Ms Robertson says.

Despite 바카라사이트 hectic schedule, she says she has "always loved" results day. "A huge percentage of people who want to go to university already know 바카라사이트y are going, so 바카라사이트re is a great buzz. It never fails to be a good day as far as I'm concerned."