Open Days
I visited 3 open days this week across the country and I found it a really worthwhile experience.
Getting on the bus first thing in the morning from the Park & Ride into Bristol I noticed just how young everyone else was. The only older people were parents of the 17 yo students - not the most encouraging start! Bristol open day was really well organised with loads of helpful guides about. I had booked onto a bunch of different talks about my subject of interest and finance etc. I hadn't managed to get a place on the Mature Student one in the afternoon though so I was a bit worried that things wouldn't be pitched at the correct level.
My concerns were put aside though by the centralised info area where I met the Mature student rep and the admissions officer for the course I am interested in. In the space of an hour nearly all my questions were answered and fears laid to rest. I spent the rest of the day chatting to tutors and a few different students about their experiences and walked away feeling upbeat about it all.
I also visited Oxford and have to say I was really underwhelmed by the department. Oxford itself is a beautiful place with a great reputation but the open day felt a bit half arsed. There is clearly a lot of demand for places but I left with the impression it really doesn't matter how good the course/facilities are because people will always want to go to Oxford. Worst bit of the day was watching a lecturer tell an enthusiastic 17 yo girl that they wouldn't even look at her application because 2 of her 4 A-levels were in non technically related courses - Art and History. Harris Manchester college was helpful for getting mature student advice that would be relevant to any University though.
Durham was my last stop for the week where I managed to speak to a fair few older students during my tour. They have their PhD students give demonstrations, most of whom had gone straight onto further study from their original courses. This was a perfect opportunity to gain some insight from an older student perspective. Beautiful city, great department and loads of interesting information gathered.
What struck me about the whole experience across all of the Universities was the interest the tutors and admissions staff showed towards me. They all gave me contact details for follow up information to help me with my application. Just a few days speaking to the correct people has boosted my confidence.
Getting on the bus first thing in the morning from the Park & Ride into Bristol I noticed just how young everyone else was. The only older people were parents of the 17 yo students - not the most encouraging start! Bristol open day was really well organised with loads of helpful guides about. I had booked onto a bunch of different talks about my subject of interest and finance etc. I hadn't managed to get a place on the Mature Student one in the afternoon though so I was a bit worried that things wouldn't be pitched at the correct level.
My concerns were put aside though by the centralised info area where I met the Mature student rep and the admissions officer for the course I am interested in. In the space of an hour nearly all my questions were answered and fears laid to rest. I spent the rest of the day chatting to tutors and a few different students about their experiences and walked away feeling upbeat about it all.
I also visited Oxford and have to say I was really underwhelmed by the department. Oxford itself is a beautiful place with a great reputation but the open day felt a bit half arsed. There is clearly a lot of demand for places but I left with the impression it really doesn't matter how good the course/facilities are because people will always want to go to Oxford. Worst bit of the day was watching a lecturer tell an enthusiastic 17 yo girl that they wouldn't even look at her application because 2 of her 4 A-levels were in non technically related courses - Art and History. Harris Manchester college was helpful for getting mature student advice that would be relevant to any University though.
Durham was my last stop for the week where I managed to speak to a fair few older students during my tour. They have their PhD students give demonstrations, most of whom had gone straight onto further study from their original courses. This was a perfect opportunity to gain some insight from an older student perspective. Beautiful city, great department and loads of interesting information gathered.
What struck me about the whole experience across all of the Universities was the interest the tutors and admissions staff showed towards me. They all gave me contact details for follow up information to help me with my application. Just a few days speaking to the correct people has boosted my confidence.
(edited 10 years ago)
I'm looking to study Engineering, not yet decided which specialisation to go for but I have previous knowledge of Electrical and Mechanical. I won't be doing an access course personally because it turns out a few of my previous qualifications from nearly 10 years ago are suitable. I have started a fast track one year A level Maths course which seems to be enough for every university I have enquired at. Trains are stupidly expensive imo. Some universities seem to offer financial help for visiting - I know Durham was one of them. Coaches are a lot cheaper and you can even stay in Uni accommodation for the night at a very reasonable price if you need to. Getting about is a pain though, I'm probably only going to visit one or two more later this year, UCL and Manchester maybe.
Bristol had great workshops and made a big play on their Industry links. The department appeared to be well funded, the lecturers I spoke to were very down to earth and helpful. I didn't look at accommodation because it's not a big issue for me - I have lived in some bloody awful conditions through my life, if it has a roof and a somewhere warm to sleep I'm sorted! Student support facilities seemed well placed and useful. I know the area has its problems with crime and drugs but then where doesn't now? TBH I wasn't expecting much when I went along but was really surprised by how much I liked it, I will definitely be applying for the MEng course.
These events are very well staged and being a bit of a cynic I often take it all with a pinch of salt. I did speak to a few of the students around campus though about their experiences and found them to be very honest and open. All of them had a good experience even if some felt that they had picked the wrong course.
These events are very well staged and being a bit of a cynic I often take it all with a pinch of salt. I did speak to a few of the students around campus though about their experiences and found them to be very honest and open. All of them had a good experience even if some felt that they had picked the wrong course.
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