Open days are back, and boy have we missed them! An open day gives you a chance to really soak in the atmosphere of a university campus and helps you to imagine yourself as part of the university community.
An open day is the one-stop-shop for all information relating to the university – course-specific talks and facilities tours, tours of accommodation, information about support services and extra-curricular activities as well as an opportunity for you to meet students and staff.
Choosing a course and a university is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make, you are investing in your future and an open day is like your test drive.
Here are some of the best things to do on an open day:
Subject talks – You can attend talks about specific subjects that you might be interested in. These sessions are normally delivered by an academic lecturer from that subject, and they will tell you all about what the course will be like. Not only that but the subject talks also cover advice on your application including what might be important information on your personal statement or information about the interview process.
Support and university life – You might want to find out about some of the support services available at the university, such as help for disabled students. Meet the people who offer the help that you might need and take their contact details as you might have more questions before the course starts.
Accommodation – If you are considering moving to the university you will need to think about your preferences when it comes to choosing accommodation. Seeing the sizes of rooms and social spaces might make it easier to create your shortlist.
Campus/facilities tours – Whether you are studying English and want to have a good look at the Library, or are studying Physiotherapy and want to check out the facilities in the School of Health & Life Sciences you will have facilities that are related to your course that you will want to see.
Talk to current students – Current students and student ambassadors are always on hand during open days and they can be a great source of insider information. Ask them about the university experience like the nightlife, where has the best or cheapest food/drink, and what they really think about the university. It’s even better if you can talk to someone on the same course as you.
By Alice Atkinson.
