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Making the most of a university open day
No matter what country you live in or where you want to study abroad, almost all universities interested in encouraging students to come and study their study abroad degree programs now offer open days to students and parents alike.
These events are literally, as the name implies, intended to open up a university or college campus for a day and allow prospective students and parents to see what the university is actually like, helping you to make a more informed choice about where you might want to study in the future.
Making the most of the opportunity of visiting a university or college begins weeks before an open day is held. It is crucial that you decide well ahead of time two very important issues: firstly, what subject do you want to study for your undergraduate degree? Secondly, where do you want to study your bachelors degree? Making decisions on these two basic questions will help you determine what universities you want to shortlist for your application and what open days you will want to attend.
Open days are structured in many different ways depending on the university you visit. Some offer sample lectures in individual academic subjects, providing you with a real insight into the nature of the subject area you might be considering for your degree and how it’s taught. Others will be far more general, offering an overview of the life of a student at the university, showing you the facilities and, if relevant, the accommodation you can expect to use. Many open days will be led by current students so that you can ask the questions that are most important to you without being worried about what an academic or administrative member of staff might think of you!
Open days are also an excellent opportunity to ask as many questions as possible. Remember, a university prospectus or catalogue can only give you so much information. Meeting current students and the people that will actually teach you for three or fours years is a much better way to build up an accurate picture of the university and what it may offer you should you choose to study there.
Your questions are likely to fall into two categories: those that are concerned with the degree program you will read and what it’s like to like and socialize at the university. It’s important that you are confident that the academic program that’s offered matches your expectations and ambitions. How is the programm taught and assessed? Do you take options or courses that last all year long, or do you have the opportunity to choose shorter semester or term-length courses, allowing you more variety but less specialisation. Should you be a student not confident or not at their best taking examinations, perhaps you should opt for a programme offering assessment by an essay and class paper method.
Going to university for your first degree is likely to be the first time in your life that you spend an extended period of time away from home – you may even be leaving your country for the first time! Open days are the best way to find out whether a particular university will seem like a home away from home. As an undergraduate student you will spend the majority of your time away from the laboratory, lecture hall or library actually living and socialising. Open days allow you to get a good idea of what kind of atmosphere a university might offer; what the people are like, what activities are available and what kind of student accommodation is offered. It’s only when you have an idea of these aspects of a university that you can really make the best decision about where you will study.
Above all else, open days are there to be enjoyed. If you don’t enjoy the process of visiting the university for a half or full day, then there’s a very good chance that you won’t enjoy three or four years studying there. Good luck!
Student Survival Guide