Choosing a Uni without visiting it
My son is thinking of Manchester or Nottingham Uni’s to study philosophy but he doesn’t seem bothered about going to see either Uni. Is this wise?
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Original post by DottyP1
My son is thinking of Manchester or Nottingham Uni’s to study philosophy but he doesn’t seem bothered about going to see either Uni. Is this wise?
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
I totally get where your son’s coming from—sometimes the thought of visiting unis can feel like a hassle, especially if he’s not super hyped about it. But honestly, visiting could make a big difference. It’s hard to get a real feel for a place without seeing it in person, and what looks good on paper might feel completely different in real life. Plus, he’ll get to see the vibe on campus, check out the facilities, and maybe even talk to current students, which can help a lot in making a final decision.
As for choosing halls, it’s not just about being close to campus, though that’s a plus. Some people choose halls based on the social scene, whether they’re catered or self-catered, or even just the look and feel of the place. It’s worth checking out the options because where you live can really shape your uni experience.
So yeah, if he can, pushing him to go to the last Open Days could be a good shout—it might just help him make up his mind and avoid any regrets later.
Original post by DottyP1
My son is thinking of Manchester or Nottingham Uni’s to study philosophy but he doesn’t seem bothered about going to see either Uni. Is this wise?
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Would you buy a house without viewing it or a car without a test drive?
Visiting is important - talking to existing students and hearing about the course from the lecturers - all vital imho.
Original post by DottyP1
My son is thinking of Manchester or Nottingham Uni’s to study philosophy but he doesn’t seem bothered about going to see either Uni. Is this wise?
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Hello @DottyP1!
I strongly believe that visiting the universities is a good idea as your son may be able to get a feel for the course, the campus and so forth. At the end of the day, completing a degree takes at least three years, so it is best to have as many variables as possible under control before making a decision regarding where to study. Nonetheless, there may be other users that have great arguments that support the position of not visiting the universitites.
In terms of the university halls, it is up to the student (and the current availability) to decide where to stay. To help you decide, the location is indeed a factor that one could consider, but also one can work out whether he prefers self-catered or catered halls, and so on.
There is still an open day scheduled for next month!. There is more information here: Open Days
Feel free to contact us should you have any questions!
All the best,
Abián.
Original post by DottyP1
My son is thinking of Manchester or Nottingham Uni’s to study philosophy but he doesn’t seem bothered about going to see either Uni. Is this wise?
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Hi!
Like others have said, I would really recommend your son visiting the campuses in person, even if he is not the most enthusiastic. Sometimes, students can feel slightly overwhelmed if they move to a university they have never visited before - this happened during COVID! It is not just seeing the campus in person, but it is speaking to academics, students, support staff and also the local area / city centre.
It is hard to remember that this is the place your son will be living for three to four years, so these things need to be thought through, as it is a really big step.
If you can get your son to a university campus, that would be great. It is peace of mind for you too!
I hope this helps.
Estelle
Graduate Advocate
Even if it just confirms his current thinking, I would highly recommend visiting both if at all possible, because countless students visit a campus for the first time and get a bad vibe and can't imagine being there for 3-4 years.
I can still remember good/bad open day experiences and mine were decades ago
I can still remember good/bad open day experiences and mine were decades ago
Original post by DottyP1
My son is thinking of Manchester or Nottingham Uni’s to study philosophy but he doesn’t seem bothered about going to see either Uni. Is this wise?
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
It’s worth look at as many unis a you can but ultimately this is his decision any university apples to will probably have an applicant day so if you missed he open day it’s probably worth your while going to these heck even if you did go to the open day it’s worth while. In the end you can only choose 2 offers to accept anyway (insurance and firm).
On halls you’ll see some on the open day there will be lots not all will be close to the uni but all will have an easy way to get to university for instance Southampton has some halls Right in the Centre of town but you’ll need a bus to get to and from university luckily they are very close to the bus stop with buses every 15 minutes and when I was looking around a free bus pass for all students in halls. But you don’t need to apply until he has chosen his firm in fact I don’t think I got the booking form until I got accepted also avoid catered halls self catering are much more social.
If it had been up to me we would have probably visited 10 Unis but my son was reluctant and we went to 3.
2 of the 5 Unis that he put on his UCAS form he had not visited.
The Uni that he will start at next week was one of the two that we did not visit prior to applying and when he put it on his UCAS form it was a last minute decision despite being a top 10 Uni - he actually wanted to go somewhere else, they do change their minds.
I would really encourage your child to visit, I think it helps but remember that there may be all kinds of reasons that they don't want to go to the Open Days - with hindsight I can see that it was anxiety with mine but at the time I really could not see that.
These are huge decisions that they are making and it is scary! Seeing the cities and the Unis is definitely helpful but maybe there is already a particular reason that he has these Unis in mind ie, they are great courses and very good Unis. And maybe that is enough for him, he doesn't need to see them? Has he looked at the course info for them online?
The Open Days were helpful - although there is a lot of information to be gained online and all Unis these day, since Covid, have very good virtual tours etc.
When my son had firmed his choice for this year and it was not a Uni that we had visited, we actually attended a summer Open Day (this June) primarily to see the accommodation because we really felt that we needed to....luckily he really liked it, phew!
Open Days can be full on, loads of people and lots of fairly vocal parents, it can be offputting - I think you need to work out what's important for you to see and just do that.
I would also add that accommodation at Unis these days seems to be a lottery and from everyone who I know who is about to start Uni this month, no one gets their first choice....too many students, not enough accommodation and that is the case at most Unis. We looked at all the campus accommodation but my son was not allocated any of it on Results Day in August, he's in the city....so be prepared to be flexible about it. Campus is better but my son is in city halls which look very nice and are full of first years so I am sure it will be fine.
Know your budget, know your dealbreakers ie, can he share a bathroom, does he want self catering etc? Are there other aspects that the Uni offers that appeal to him - ie, sport, music etc?
Perhaps he could do an Open Day with a friend?
There are lots of way to gain Uni information.
Remember that how we feel and how we'd do it, is very often not how our 17/18 year old children would do it - unfortunately!!
At the end of the day my son will now be attending a Uni that we did not visit initially and that he did not know much about (which I found completely bewildering and slightly scary as did other parents!)....but it has worked out very well, he cannot wait to go and it's an excellent Uni.
Good luck!
2 of the 5 Unis that he put on his UCAS form he had not visited.
The Uni that he will start at next week was one of the two that we did not visit prior to applying and when he put it on his UCAS form it was a last minute decision despite being a top 10 Uni - he actually wanted to go somewhere else, they do change their minds.
I would really encourage your child to visit, I think it helps but remember that there may be all kinds of reasons that they don't want to go to the Open Days - with hindsight I can see that it was anxiety with mine but at the time I really could not see that.
These are huge decisions that they are making and it is scary! Seeing the cities and the Unis is definitely helpful but maybe there is already a particular reason that he has these Unis in mind ie, they are great courses and very good Unis. And maybe that is enough for him, he doesn't need to see them? Has he looked at the course info for them online?
The Open Days were helpful - although there is a lot of information to be gained online and all Unis these day, since Covid, have very good virtual tours etc.
When my son had firmed his choice for this year and it was not a Uni that we had visited, we actually attended a summer Open Day (this June) primarily to see the accommodation because we really felt that we needed to....luckily he really liked it, phew!
Open Days can be full on, loads of people and lots of fairly vocal parents, it can be offputting - I think you need to work out what's important for you to see and just do that.
I would also add that accommodation at Unis these days seems to be a lottery and from everyone who I know who is about to start Uni this month, no one gets their first choice....too many students, not enough accommodation and that is the case at most Unis. We looked at all the campus accommodation but my son was not allocated any of it on Results Day in August, he's in the city....so be prepared to be flexible about it. Campus is better but my son is in city halls which look very nice and are full of first years so I am sure it will be fine.
Know your budget, know your dealbreakers ie, can he share a bathroom, does he want self catering etc? Are there other aspects that the Uni offers that appeal to him - ie, sport, music etc?
Perhaps he could do an Open Day with a friend?
There are lots of way to gain Uni information.
Remember that how we feel and how we'd do it, is very often not how our 17/18 year old children would do it - unfortunately!!
At the end of the day my son will now be attending a Uni that we did not visit initially and that he did not know much about (which I found completely bewildering and slightly scary as did other parents!)....but it has worked out very well, he cannot wait to go and it's an excellent Uni.
Good luck!
(edited 3 weeks ago)
Original post by DottyP1
My son is thinking of Manchester or Nottingham Uni’s to study philosophy but he doesn’t seem bothered about going to see either Uni. Is this wise?
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Hi @DottyP1 ,
I would agree with what others have been saying here - I think it's a good idea to visit the university before you commit to going there! I found that going and visiting universities really helped make my mind up about where I wanted to go, and some places that I really liked the sound of and were high up on my list, I didn't really like as much when I went to the open days so I think it's a good idea to go. I think it's the best representation of the uni and you never know if you like the uni or city until you have been.
If you can go, I would also recommend going to some subject talks as these give you a good idea on the course content and also the lecturers that will be running the course and you can only really get a feel for the course and the tutors if you go to these talks so I think they are worth going to. It's good to talk to the tutors and also other students that are on the course as they will give you good information about how they have found it and it's always nice to have a current students opinion.
As for accommodation, this will depend on the university as they each have different processes for how you apply. Usually you look at the halls and you can tour around these on the open days and see which you like the look of and also how close it is to your campus. Different halls will have pros and cons and some might be quieter or more sociable so it depends what your son would be looking for in accommodation. I think it's a good idea to have a look at them as you get a better idea of what they are like from looking at them in person, but it's ultimately up to you. Some halls will do virtual tours if you can't get to the open days but you want to look at the accommodation so it's worth looking at the website and seeing if you can do this.
If you don't get to any open days, I would recommend trying to talk to some current students so he can see what the university is like from their point of view. If you look on the university website, sometimes they have a feature where you can chat to there students, or there is a platform called "The Ambassador Platform" where you can speak to current students too. Or, you can ask students on here questions too.
I hope some of this helps,
Lucy -SHU student ambassador 🙂
Original post by DottyP1
My son is thinking of Manchester or Nottingham Uni’s to study philosophy but he doesn’t seem bothered about going to see either Uni. Is this wise?
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Hey @DottyP1
I understand your concern, but I chose my university course and accomodation all online, without visiting, my constraint was because i am an international student. But i did my research and spoke with other students and student ambassadors. So you can suggest your son to speak with fellow students, regarding any questions he has.
Hope this helps.
Ravina
(Kingston Student Rep)
Original post by DottyP1
My son is thinking of Manchester or Nottingham Uni’s to study philosophy but he doesn’t seem bothered about going to see either Uni. Is this wise?
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Hi @DottyP1,
I believe visiting the campus can be an essential deciding factor for which university your son may want to attend. Personally I was split between my choices, but once I visited UCLan I instantly felt it was the right place. I see you have already had some fantastic replies, but I'd just like to reiterate or add to what's been said!
Here are some benefits of attending an open day:
•
Viewing accommodations.
•
Talking with tutors.
•
Asking current students questions about their experience.
•
Meet other prospective students
•
Tour campus
•
Find out exactly what the university offers you
I hope this helps, please feel free to ask me any questions,
-Sophia (Business and Management)
Hi, I go to Nottingham uni and I chose it without visiting. My view was that most uni campuses are probably pretty decent, it had the exact course I wanted and I could get in so it seemed like a waste to visit. I haven't had any regrets 🙂 it probably would be better for him to visit as others have said, but if he's really resistant I don't think you need to worry!
Original post by DottyP1
My son is thinking of Manchester or Nottingham Uni’s to study philosophy but he doesn’t seem bothered about going to see either Uni. Is this wise?
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Also, how do you select which halls you want to go in? Is it based on nearest to your campus? A clueless mother as you can tell, here! I didn’t go to Uni so have no idea how to help him. I do think it would be better for him to have a look at them but he’s really not engaging with that and the last Open Days are almost upon us for next year’s intake.
Hi there,
I was in a very similar spot, having applied to university during COVID lockdown! As others have said, going to an open day is recommended as you get a better impression of the university, but its not totally the end of the world if you don't - I ended up choosing Cardiff as my top choice and quite happy with it. That being said, there were virtual open days when I applied - so attending some sort of event (whether in person or virtual) that introduces you to the university is quite helpful.
I figured out which university I wanted to choose by doing lots of online research, looking at the information universities provide but also on online forums such as TSR. Most universities are also on platforms where you can chat to current students and staff about the university and course. Usually these platforms are called Unibuddy - I recommend giving it a look.
In terms of halls, it depends on your son's personal preferences - whether he's open to shared bathrooms or rather ensuite, how big he wants the rooms, how close it is to lectures, budget etc. Sometimes they do accommodation tours during open days. If you find yourself not going to an open day though, I find room tours on YouTube a helpful resource as well (in addition to looking at the university's accommodation website) as it shows a realistic impression of what the rooms would be like.
Hope that helps!
~ Fatiha, Cardiff University Student Rep
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