Thinking of going to university? Picking the right one can seem like a huge task, especially as there are over 150 universities in the UK. Heading to an open day is one of the best ways to get a feel for a university and a new city. You will get a chance to see the facilities, meet the staff and discover if you could see yourself living there for at least three years. Our guide to university open days will ensure you make the most of your trip.
Plan Ahead
The most important tip when thinking of heading to open days is to plan. Travelling to different cities can become expensive and time consuming, so pick the ones that you are most interested in. Sometimes open days require you to book a ticket ahead of time so make sure to check the website. There will often be an itinerary for the day online closer to the date, so take a look and decided what you want to see.
Prioritise
There is a lot to see and do in one day. You will be offered a whole host of activities from tours of the university and accommodation to department talks, to give it a go lectures. It can be hard to fit it all into, especially if you want some time to explore the city too. Prioritise what matters to you most. You will be given a programme of events when you first arrive so plan what is most important to you.
Skip the Guided Tour
Guided tours are great for getting an overview of your potential university. However, you will most likely be taken around department buildings that you might never enter as a student and libraries that look the same no matter which university you tour. The best thing to do is grab a map and do a self guided tour, hitting the departments, buildings and accommodation that you are most interested in. There are plenty of student representatives around if you get lost or have any questions.
Check Out the City
Getting a feel for the university is great, but you also need to love the city. You will be living and going out in this brand new city, so you need to make sure its for you. Take a walk around and see what it has to offer. If you want to make a day of it, even head out for dinner in the city.
Save the Pennies
Sometimes universities will offer travel expenses or a free meal at the students union to those going for an open day. It can be expensive to tour different universities so this is definitely something to look into. Check the university website and any eligibility criteria as you may be eligible for expenses.