Although you’ve probably had results days before now, you may not know how your university results day differs from previous ones.
To get into a university, you would’ve had to do some GCSEs and A levels/equivalents, which would’ve meant going to a result day. Having done it twice before, you might think ‘well, what else is there to it?’
But actually, university results day is a bit different.
What You’re Used To On Results day
If your GCSE/college experience was anything like mine, then you wouldn’t have known your results until the day of. You might’ve received an email that morning congratulating you on getting into university, but you wouldn’t have known your results until later on that day.
Maybe, you met up with friends beforehand or went in with your mum and dad. You may have said your name or walked over to a big table with everyone’s results on to find the envelope with your name on it. Your heart was thudding as you pulled the slip of paper out of the envelope.
And that would’ve been it! You’ve already had your prom or a ball to celebrate the end of GCSEs/A-levels. This was the last piece of the puzzle. Your family might take you out for dinner or maybe there’s a small party to go to, but, really, that was the end of it.
Not this time.
What Happens On University Results Day
More than likely, you’ll be told when your results are available. It’ll be in an email, or on your uni site – no pieces of paper in sight. It’ll be in the morning, so maybe you’ll still be in your pyjamas and sending a quick text to loved ones about how you did.
They’ll be no nervous hands opening an envelope, no humid hall for you and your friends to enter.
For me, it felt a little anti-climactic. I didn’t have any exams at university, so I kind of knew what my results were going to be before I got them. It was a nice relief, definitely, but I couldn’t help thinking ‘is that it?’
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Of course, the big event is graduation. You’ll dress up nice with friends and family and everyone will be gushing about how proud they are. Or, if that’s not your thing – you’ll have your own bigger celebration coming up. But actual results day? It’s over once you’ve read the email.
You might get congratulatory emails from lecturers (I didn’t, so don’t get your hopes up), but all in all, it’s much less of an event than previous results days.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t recognise your massive achievement though. It still should be a big event for you (if you want it to be). Just don’t expect the same day as before.