Other Important Questions

Studying at a university is obviously not just about study. You may also want to check out what type of accommodation is on offer, and actually go and see one or two of the Halls of Residence. Similarly, check out the Student Union and ask if they have the clubs and societies you are interested in; be it Drama, or a sport, or a religious group, or what concerts they put on last year. You might even want to persuade your parents (if they are accompanying you) to eat in the university restaurant or Food Hall. One advantage of an accompanying parent is that they might also be persuaded to buy you a small drink and check out the Student Bar.

You should definitely set aside an hour if not more, to go into the local town or city and get a feeling for it. Could you be happy there, does it feel right, or is it too busy or worse? Spending some time wandering around the campus you would be on, is also time well spent. It is surprising how much of a feel you can get for a university by spending some time walking around, without everyone else.

Finally, rest assured that you will not answer every question you can think of on an Open Day, but you will get information that you need. Nothing can replace a hands-on experience, no matter how much research you do on the web. Yet make sure you do some pre-visit research, as you will definitely get more out of an Open Day if you know what you now need to find out. We have even heard of some using their social networks (Facebook, etc), to ask if any past or current students can give you their thoughts.

However, it is your choice, and the questions you ask should be your own. An Open Day should be an important contribution to your final decision, and remember, you can go back again. There is no rule that you can only visit once.