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How to make the most of university open days

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University open day season is truly upon us once again! This is your opportunity to find out if a university is the right one for you. You’ll be spending the next three, four or even five years of your life here, and with tuition fees hitting £9,000, attending open days can help you make a well-informed decision about what and where to study.

Preparation

Plan ahead by:

  • Checking out the courses you’re interested in
  • Downloading or printing a campus map – very useful!
  • Book anything you need to in advance and print out confirmation
  • Writing down any questions for admission tutors or current students

On the day

Attend:

  • Student finance and UCAS talks
  • Subject talks, sample lectures or taster sessions
  • Tours of campus, accommodation and the Students’ Union
  • Time for extra exploring
  1. Your prospective department and course facilities

Your goal is to ensure that the university is able to offer you the right opportunities and that you will benefit from an education at the university.

  1. Lecture theatres and other teaching rooms

Lecture theatres and other teaching rooms will play a large part in your life during your time at university and you should have the opportunity to see some during the open day. You’re very likely to receive a talk in one of the lecture rooms – remember to assess the facilities and sizes of the rooms.

  1. Accommodation

Remember to see both sides of the spectrum, i.e. en-suite rooms as well as shared accommodation, which will give you the best gauge of what you’d prefer and whether you could live there.

  1. Library

When you are shown the library, look out for the amount of space available for students to work in and maybe even see how well-stocked the library is for your course.

  1. Meal facilities

Most UK universities provide self-catered accommodation as well as catered; after all, university is also about being independent. But don’t expect the standards to be the same as at home!

  1. Communal social areas

The majority of universities will have a Students’ Union, bar and other spaces for socialising on campus. Whether you want to grab a coffee, have a drink or get dinner, there’s something for everyone.

  1. Surrounding grounds (and city)

The surrounding grounds are an important aspect about how you feel about the university so check out the greenery!

  1. Questions

Ask as many questions as possible, the more the better by talking to academics and current students.

It may seem daunting but ask academics questions such as:

  • What do you look for in applications and personal statements?
  • How is the course assessed?
  • What’s the split between tutorials, lectures and self-study?
  • How many teaching hours are there and how does this change throughout the years?

Also, try to speak to current students. Their opinions and perspectives will be different:

  • What societies and clubs are available?
  • Why did you pick this university?
  • What is there to do at weekends?
  • How are you finding your course?

University is one of life’s greatest experiences and there’s no harm in shopping around. Make sure you find the right university for you. University open days are the perfect way of getting a feel for the university, and nothing will beat the feeling of confidence, happiness and excitement that you have chosen the right place for the next chapter of your life.

Have you learned how to make the most of university open days? Let us know in the comments below!

Photo: Thomas Abbs / Flickr

Baljeet PanesarHow to make the most of university open days

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