We’ve already discussed some Top Tips for University Open Days on our blog, but here we’ll be taking a closer look at how to make the most of open days put on by universities and colleges.

First things first, make your selection of universities that you’d like to attend depending on the courses you wish to take. Bear in mind that the nearest educational establishment to you may not be the best option for exactly what you’re looking for, even though it may be close to the family home, or where your friends are going.

It is a three or four-year course and has the potential to set you up for life in your chosen career – you need to think with your head as well as your heart.

You can use search tools to find open days near you, and once you have a few in mind to ensure that the dates don’t clash for each of them. You can search by location, by course and by type of degree.

Some open days far away at the other end of the country may mean you need to opt for an overnight stay so book that in advance once you’re settled on the college open days for you. This will give you the wider picture of the location you’ll be studying in, what it’s like for shopping, bars, restaurants, nightlife, theatre and music venues, as well as all of the libraries and other complexes designed to boost your student life.

Next, make sure you get to your open day as early as possible so it gives you the chance to not only explore the university but the local area where you’ll be spending a large amount of your time too.

You can make the most from your open day by ensuring that you sit in on course lectures, speak to the faculty members, and even see what facilities the university is offering when it comes to your hobbies and sports. There may also be several talks on offer covering everything from finance to accommodation, so be sure to plan your day considering those too as they will give much-needed advice.

The whole of your course should be laid out and it should also be clear in your mind about what each section will entail. A one-to-one with the department head or even the lecturers allows you to unpack what is expected of you on the course, and also what the course will give you in return. Make a list of questions to ask if you think you’re likely to forget some important aspects.

Remember that you are paying a large amount of money for this course, so you are well within your rights to ask any questions that you like, on the open day and in follow up correspondence too.

Finally, it’s important to have fun on your open day and feel relaxed. This, along with a solid plan of what you intend to do there, is going to help you make the most of the day because if you’re going there with a closed mind and on a fault-finding mission, you could very quickly talk yourself out of somewhere which is a great fit for you.

Check out our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages too to discover more helpful hints.

Learn more about getting more out of your university open day with our post on How To Pick The Right Degree Course?

Share on facebook
Share on twitter