How to make the most out of Open Days

Open days allow you to get a feel for a potential university and your future academic study. They are often packed with various talks, activities and tours; it’s important to try and get the most out of these days so here a few things to do to make sure the trip is worthwhile.

The first thing to keep in mind is to try and split your time equally between your potential course and getting a feel for the university itself. It’s important to know that both of these are a right fit for you and not just one or the other. Of course, it is different for each student, and a course of study that’s perfect for you might outweigh worries you have about the social side of the university. On the other hand, you might find yourself willing to compromise on the course if you find a university you know you’ll be happy to study at for three years or more. Overall these are two equally important areas and both deserve consideration, therefore make sure you get to know your potential faculty and talk to the staff wherever possible, but make sure you also take tours of the student accommodation and social areas, and talk to current students about their experience of studying and living in the area.

Take your time to make the most of the students at the open days. Students will often be a lot more honest with you and have a closer understanding of what you find important than university staff will. Of course, don’t go around harassing busy students on their way to lectures, but talk to the student ambassadors (often wearing very visible clothing or badges) who are there to tell you as honestly as possible what you want to know. They may be getting paid by the university for this service, but they are people who have gone through the same decision process you are currently going through, and want to help you make the right decision.

Often, your potential university can be quite far away from your current home. This might mean a long trip to get there and potentially going to towns or cities you’ve never been to before. Make sure to take the time to explore your potential new town or city. It can be a chance to see what is available outside of student life and other housing options such as Wolverhampton student accommodation, which offers city centre benefits while still being in student style accommodation. This can be particularly worth checking out if you know your potential university has limited on campus housing.