Today is a big day for young people in the UK – exam results day. A levels or advanced levels, are the exams young people take to gain a university place and today is the day they find out if they have got their place of choice.

Many who don’t get the grades they needed will find an alternative place through the university clearing system. And quite a few applicants will find new places by the end of today or tomorrow.

But there has been a 10% increase in university applications this year and this means fewer places available through clearing.

So what can you do if you aren’t one of the lucky ones?

Take a deep breath, sit back and relax. Emotions are running high today and that isn’t always the best state in which to make life-changing decisions.

The first option is to try again next year. Take an honest look at the facts: did you leave your revision to the last minute or do you feel you did absolutely everything you could? Sometimes you just need to take a different approach to studying, especially if you don’t learn well in the classroom. It might be that other methods, which are more interactive or make use of audio and video will work better for you.

The next option is to go for a non-academic course which will train you to work in a trade. There is a huge range of possibilities for apprenticeships – many in subjects you might never have thought of.

Getting a job is difficult these days for school leavers, but not impossible. This article will give you some tips to help you find a good entry level job.

Or you might want to think about starting your own business. Organizations like The Prince’s Trust help young people get started in business.

And if the idea of working at home on your computer in your pyjamas appeals to you, a lot of young (and not so young) people are making money online.

Discover how you can get started online and avoid student debt, with this free 26 part video course.

If you are just starting college, you’ll need to know how to write an academic essay.

Essay styles vary from college to college and so the first step is to find out what is expected by your tutor.Try to have a look at some samples – the study support centre at your university should be able to help you. Or you can find second year students in your subject and get some tips from them. Just don’t copy their work if they allow you to have a look at it. You don’t want to be kicked out for plagiarism.

Your tutor may recommend books – there are many essay writing guides out there.

If you struggle with reading large amounts of information, consider investing in a speed-reading course. I’ve found that this speed-reading course does work,and you can actually double your reading speed quickly – you do need to practise a bit to embed the changes into your life. I’ve put some tips to help you speed up your reading here.

When you are faced with writing a college assignment, you can feel overwhelmed by the number of books on your reading list. I’ve also posted some tips to help you make your reading more efficient here.

Most students need a source of additional income. So what are the possibilities? First of all, you need to start out early if you want a job on campus or close by, as the competition for student jobs will be huge.

You need to think about the implications of working – how much money you need and how much will a student job pay you? How many hours will you need to work each week and how will that affect your studies?

Depending on the subjects you will be studying at college and the subjects you were best at in school, you could consider tutoring or coaching high school students or others who are studying the subjects at a lower level than you are.

Tutoring pays more than a job in a bar or fast food restaurant and has the advantage of being more flexible. So you can arrange sessions to fit your schedule and cut back if you take on too much, or advertise for more students if you need extra cash.

Coaching for kids coming up to exams is always in demand and can be pretty lucrative. Just make sure you are well prepared for your own exams first!

You can use some of my ideas in study-tips for students and my basic essay writing guide.

If you are heading off to college in the next few months, you’ll need to think about getting into a study routine. This might not be too difficult if you have just left school and are used to hitting the books, but there is one major difference – you’ll be left pretty much to your own devices at college. You’ll have submission dates for your assignments, but it’ll be up to you to get them in on time. No homework to hand in on a weekly basis to make sure you are keeping up.

And if you are going back to college as an adult, with a long break since school days, you may feel a little anxious about getting into your stride.

The first thing to do is to have a look at your timetable and at the assignments you have to complete and the dates they have to be in by. Then put together a plan. You can study on your own and also with a group of other students, if that works well for you.

It’s important to make sure you know exactly what is required for the assignment. So if you have any questions or are unsure about anything, ask your tutor right away.

You can also attend workshops on study skills to help you understand how to structure your work and organize your study routine. Most colleges have their own preferred layout for essays, method of referencing and so on.

Try to get to know some second year students – they will be able to point you in the right direction.

In the meantime check out our study tips

And our basic essay writing guide.

The new academic year is always a busy time as young people and their parents look for financial aid for students. If you are a new student about to start a full-time degree, you will probably already have applied for student grants and loans.

But what else can you do to alleviate student poverty?

The first step is to learn how to budget, perhaps not the most exciting thing on the agenda when you are about to start a whole new life at college. But if you take control of your finances early in the year, you could save yourself a lot of grief further down the track. Get some tips on budgeting for students.

Part-time student jobs are much in demand and so it’s a good idea to search for a job as early as possible, preferably before your course begins.

Accommodation is one of the main student expenses and again you should look early. A good option is shared student accommodation a little way from the campus, where rents tend to be lower and there is a large student population.