- What questions should I ask?
- What sessions should I attend?
- What do I want to see?
Prepare your questions !
Write down the questions you have about the university or college, location and course. These will be different for everyone but some examples are:
- How far is the university or college from home?
- Do you like the city or town?
- What is the cost of living?
- How is the course assessed – coursework? Exams? Practicals?
- What will your timetable look like?
- Does this change as you progress through the course?
- Are there any placement options?
- How big are the class sizes?
- What careers are open to graduates?
The staff and students will be happy to help you and will spend as much time with you as you need. If you can’t get the exact information you need right away, they will be happy to take your contact details and get back to you with an answer as soon as they can.
You still might think of some questions when you get home, so make sure you take a pen and pad to jot down the contact details of the people you speak to. Still want to know more, check the social media pages of the admissions office of the university or college to pose further questions.
Which sessions to attend?
There’s so much to see at an open day, we recommend that you go to the talks that interest you the most to avoid information overload.
Is there a secondary subject you’re interested in? If you want to study psychology, for example, you might also want to check out the sociology and criminology talks. You never know, you might just fall in love with a subject you hadn’t considered before.
If you can’t go to every session you want to, you can always grab a prospectus and more detailed course information at the many information stands.
Do you feel at home?
You’ll potentially be spending at least three years at the university or college you choose, so you need to know you feel at home there and are happy with the facilities.
There’s more to the university or college than your course as well. What do you really want from your university or college experience? If you want to stay in halls, then an accommodation tour is essential.
If you’re focused on getting as much experience as possible, make sure you visit the Careers and Employability stand, so they can fill you in on the many ways they help you become more employable – masterclasses, mentoring, internships and much more.
Don’t forget to visit the Library too. There’s a quiet study zone, modern group working areas, areas to practice your presentations, smart boards, PCs and Macs and even coffee for those long study sessions.
Into fitness and wellbeing? Don’t forget to have a look around the gym and fitness facilities.
Can you get a second opinion?
Bring your parents. They can usually chill out in with free tea, coffee and Wi-Fi, or come with you too on the various talks and tours. Parents can give valuable insight and a second opinion, so ask them for their thoughts on what you’ve seen on the day. Best of all? They’ll pay for lunch.
So there you have it. With a bit of planning, we’re sure you can maximise your Open Day experience.
