Having spent yesterday at the Worcester University open day, here are my tips for getting the most from your open days and visits, to help with those tricky university decisions.
- Prepare a list of questions and areas to find out more about, before the day
- If there is a pre-published programme of events, spend some time before the visit planning your day to ensure you don't miss anything!
- Ask lecturers of courses you are interested in what they like to see on Personal Statements.
- Make sure you talk to student ambassadors or representatives, who are working there on the day and ask them lots of questions.
- Find out about opportunities to gain experience outside of the course, such as study abroad, paid work placements, student vacation bursary schemes, voluntary work and community involvement.
- While the amount of research the lecturers are involved in demonstrates their knowledge of the subject, it is also important to find out about actual teaching: i.e. how much feedback is given, how are students helped to develop, are there practical sessions as well as lectures to help embed learning.
- Finance-check for extra costs associated with the course. For example, for courses with field trips some universities include the cost of them in the fees and some charge extra for them
- Make sure you find out about:
- Course links to industry and employer involvement
- Class sizes
- Contact time per week, including classes, lectures, lab work, practical work and tutorials. (This varies from 4 hours to week up to 20 hours a week)
- How the course is assessed
- How flexible are the entry grades
- Graduate employment
- Clubs and societies
- accommodation options
- Lastly don't forget to sample the catering facilities-eating lunch early or late can help avoid queues!
- Enjoy your day!