If you are thinking of applying to a university, it is highly recommended that you visit open days as this will help you decide which university and course are best for you. This week’s blog post is about how you can make the most of university open days to ensure you make the right decision.
1. Plan
Preparing for an open day is essential so it would be useful to research beforehand and make a shortlist of universities you would like to visit and what courses you would be interested in studying.
2. Organise
Booking your open day and events such as talks and guides usually take place online, on the university website. Keep a track of the different university open days you have booked as a reminder and to avoid clashes. You should also consider transport. Are you going by car/train? If so, you may have to book yourself a parking space at the university or book your train tickets in advance.
3. Explore
If you have the chance to look at the accommodation and the time to have a look at what’s around in the town/city then you definitely should make the most of the day, especially if it’s somewhere you haven’t visited before or far from home!
4. Ask Questions
Once you’ve planned and organised, you can start to draft some questions you may want to ask, such as ‘How will I be assessed?’. Write these down on a notepad and don’t forget to take it on the day. Make sure you note down key information on the day during your talks as you may find this useful later.
5. Reflect
Attending numerous open days can be overwhelming and you may be struggling to find which university and course are best for you. It is important you are actively researching, asking questions and making notes as this helps you determine what is best suited to you. Gather the notes from the different university and compare them. Think about what will be the most beneficial, useful and enjoyable for you.
