I can only go to 1 open day but have 3 choices... help?

I have universities across the country booked, and my parents are willing to take me to to one of the following for an open day: Sussex, Bristol, or Exeter. My passion is film, and so I'm looking to take a film production or film studies course. All of them look fairly good on paper, so I was wondering if any users here had advice of which is the best, or personal feelings about any of the 3. Thanks.

Reply 1

greenmang0

Can you not travel on your own?

Exeter

Original post by Willow223rd

I haven't been to Sussex or Exeter, but BRISTOL!! I loved Bristol so much, I felt as a uni it was really honest about the courses, the students are lovely and the city is bustling and full of life - also very beautiful! :smile:

Reply 4

Artjen

Depends where you are starting from? Get on a train?

Reply 5

knope

They're 'willing to take you' to those? Why not take yourself? Should make it cheap enough that you can go to all three (and more).

The only reason unis tolerate parents coming is that too few people have the independence to go by themselves. Plus, helicopter parents would throw a fit at the idea.

Reply 6

Willow223rd

Original post by Artjen

Depends where you are starting from? Get on a train?

Northamptonshire. I could get a train to any of them, and probably will, but it's incredibly expensive.

Reply 7

Willow223rd

Original post by greenmang0

Can you not travel on your own?

I am more than willing to go alone, but a) can't afford the train fare and b) most of the open days are on the same days as I'm supposed to work, and I can't have 3 more days off within this year.

Reply 8

Willow223rd

Original post by knope

They're 'willing to take you' to those? Why not take yourself? Should make it cheap enough that you can go to all three (and more).

It's pretty expensive to do 3 long train journeys and returns, even alone. I don't earn enough, simply put.

Reply 9

Willow223rd

Original post by erinls2

Thanks for the feedback!

Reply 10

Lissy14

My parents only took me to one open day.
I got to the rest by my self on the train (including an over night stay in Newcastle)
Tbh I think it helped me.
I got a better sense of how far away the uni would be from home, how easy it would be to get home and the cost of travel.
If you can't face going to look round the uni by yourself, how will you be able to go to it by yourself next year?

Reply 11

greenmang0

Original post by Willow223rd

It's pretty expensive to do 3 long train journeys and returns, even alone. I don't earn enough, simply put.

Yeah that's true. You may find that there are some affordable coaches though. The coach journeys are rarely enjoyable (crowded etc) but open days are really useful in my experience. Also some universities offer bursaries to help with the cost of travelling to their open days (I know Exeter does, but only for for one of its campuses, don't remember which) so there's that to consider. :smile:

Reply 12

Artjen

Ask them to spend the money they would have spent on taking you, on a 16-25 railcard instead. Eexter is the most expensive on the train so go to Bristol and Sussex. You have to go to two, so you get an idea of what CAN be different between unis.

Reply 13

ThatOldGuy

Those are all good Unis, and nobody can tell you the right one, but...

Take a look at the cities that all 3 are in. Do you have a car? Is it walkable? Which city has access to things you like? Which has societies you want to be part of?

Only attending one Open Day means you can't compare any. That's fine, since you're basically deciding which one you're going to, but there are so many factors you'll need to look at.

Reply 14

username2571271

If you can't go on the actual open days, you could contact the specific department (of the subject you want to study) of those unis and organise an other day when you wouldn't be at work

Reply 15

Lissy14

Original post by Willow223rd

Northamptonshire. I could get a train to any of them, and probably will, but it's incredibly expensive.

It you book in advance it can be OK. And a lot of Unis offer to subside your travel.

Reply 16

Willow223rd

Original post by Lissy14

I'd like to go alone, and might really try given some responses here.

Reply 17

markova21

This is a problem we have. We live in Northern Ireland. All of the unis my son may be interested in are in England or Wales. The ferry, a full day looking around not only the Uni but also the city or town the uni is in means staying overnight in a Travelodge or Premier Inn for at least one night as well. We're talking a few hundred pounds, just for visiting one uni. Sigh.

Reply 18

swansea jack 1

Original post by markova21

Depends which ones you intend going to. It might actually prove cheaper to fly. check out Flybe. They fly into Cardiff Bristol and Exeter as well as m.any other airports and are usually cheaper. If you wish to pm I will advise you regarding Wales