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University Open DaysTSR Wiki > University > Choosing a University > University Open Days Choosing the correct university for yourself is an important decision - you may spend three years or longer there. Reading a prospectus or chatting with people already there may not be enough to get a real feel for the place. You might be having difficulty choosing which universities to apply. Or you might have some doubts about one university you want to put at ease. A university open day might be exactly what you need to attend.
A Quick Guide to University Open DaysAll universities will hold at least one open day for prospective students. It is the university's opportunity to woo you and your chance to decide whether it is a place you wish to spend the next few years of your life. Visiting a university, especially on an open day, is very important as it gives you the opportunity to look at accommodation, facilities such as the library, sports facilities, students' union and gain a deeper insight into life at the university. Prospectuses will show the university in the best light, often literally when the photos are taken in the sunshine, the nicest places and happy, smiling students. Visiting a university in the pouring rain on a cold day in October is something completely different. Going to the universities will also tell you things not listed in a prospectus, like how far a big supermarket is or the walk from accommodation to your lectures. Open days will mainly consist of talks on subjects and general matters such as accommodation, finance, student life and tours, especially if the university is a campus one. At open days it is important that you speak to current students and get their opinions, ask questions and don't be afraid; they are there to help and they will give the students' perspective, which is what you want. At an open day you will get a feeling for the place, which may be a good or a bad one. Many students, having visited a university, decide that it just is not for them. On the contrary, many students also fall in love with a university after visiting it. When are University Open Days?Most university open days are held in the spring and summer before you apply to university in the autumn, although many universities will hold another open day during the autumn. To find out about each individual university's open days, you can either check their website or go to opendays.com. Some universities will also require booking for an open day, which is generally done through their website. If you are doing a lot of rail travel to open days, get a Young Persons Railcard. Decide if you are going alone or with someoneParents, friends, relatives, anyone can come with you. However you need to decide which option is best. Going alone now seems to be the minority choice, however there are good reasons to do it, the same with going with people. Therefore, weigh up the pro’s and cons of all options, e.g.:
Organisation is key for getting the most out of an open dayIt’s good to be organised for university open days whether with parents, friends or by yourself. Writing down all the Unis you are planning to visit with dates helps, plus remember, some or most Unis want you to book, this can normally be done quite easily by email, online booking or phone.
These will help for at-a-glance comparison. Footnote: Be sure to check out TSR Wiki Travel if using public transport.  A friendly open day banner at Lancaster Know what the day will consist ofMost Unis have the same basic layout. Begin around 10am, and finish around 3pm. In between, there are a mixture of campus tours, subject talks, subject tours, financial talks, parent talks, ICT talks, accommodation tours, there are a lot of things that are available, it can be quite daunting, but remember you can go to as many or as few of the talks/ tours as you like.
Write a checklist for the dayIt is a good idea is to have a checklist for the day. If you are going by yourself this might help you to relax as going to new places can be hard. If going with your parents, then a checklist can make sure that both you and your parents do what each other want. Ideas for the checklist include, Course outline (exam / coursework ratio, practical/theoretical, average time table, etc.) Accommodation (near or far away, catering/self-catering, big/small, cost, ensuite/standard etc.) Social side (societies, nightlife, etc.) Ratings, these although seem like a drag before going, does make everything easier when you get there. If going by train, you can organise it then (especially when there are 5 hours to kill on a train and you have ended up on the family carriage!)
And Finally... Some tips for when you get there
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