How to make the most of an Open Day
When you’re planning to go into higher education it is just as important to choose the right university as to find the right subject. With so many different experiences of higher education on offer, it can be overwhelming to figure out where to apply. The best way to get a real taste of university life is to attend an open day.
As well as getting to tour around the university, an open day is a great chance to discover more about the different courses on offer from the people who could be joining you over the next 3 years, those who teach and study it, current students as well as the academic team.
It’s important you make the most of your time when you’re on campus. So here are some things to consider ahead of an open day at UON:
1. Plan ahead
The best way to use your time effectively is to plan as much of the day as you can in advance to make sure you have time to see everything that you want to.
We offer an Open Day Guide that you can download from our website before the open day, the guide has a schedule of all the talks and events happening on the day as well as a lot of other information and a handy campus map!
You can find this guide at our website here.
2. Ask the students
When you’re on campus, you’ll be joined by academics, current students as well as other people like yourself who are looking to study at University. You’ll also find our student ambassadors dotted around wearing blue hoodies, these are current students who are there to help and guide you around campus.
You can also ask them any and every question you have about university life, e.g. what it’s like to live away from home, the nightlife in Northampton, how difficult are the lectures, you name it!
3. Use the drop-in sessions
As well as the subject sessions and 1–1 talks with the course tutors, we have various other talks and drop-ins available. If you have any questions on student accommodation, finance or additional support needs you’ll be able to talk directly to our student support team. If you want to learn more about our employment promise and how you can boost your CV while at university you can speak to our changemaker and employability teams.
4. Explore the Students Union
Make sure to visit the Students’ Union, located in the Engine Shed. The Students’ Union helps to ensure that your time at the University is fulfilling and unforgettable. You automatically become a member when you enrol at university and it’s completely free. The union provides access to many sporting events and societies, student bars, shops and entertainment.
5. Take a tour
You are free to explore the campus when you’re here, but you could also take a guided campus tour to get a more detailed look at the campus. Tours are run by student ambassadors so you’ll be able to see the campus from a students’ point of view. You’ll be guided around the buildings, sport facilities and some of the different accommodation available. This is a great time to ask questions about the campus and take photos that you can look back on later.
6. Review
At the end of the open day, you should review everything you’ve discovered about the university and make sure all your pressing questions have been answered. Have a look through all the leaflets and goodies you’ve received, browse the photos you’ve taken around campus and read any notes you’ve taken from the day.
If you have questions that you didn’t get a chance to ask, please contact us at study@northampton.ac.uk and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction.
