Open days are IMPORTANT

You know that choosing a university is a big decision. You’ve spent months already visiting UCAS exhibitions, reading up on course information and attending numerous open days. You’re pretty sure you know where you want to go, and you’ve even been offered a place to study there, so job done right?

Wrong. Before you make your final decision it’s a good idea to properly test drive your chosen university.

Many universities run offer holder days, which give applicants a more comprehensive sense of what it would be like to study there. These events are quite different to open days, which only give you a first impression of a university. Offer holder days are all about building on that initial impression, giving you more time to get to know the lecturers and develop a better feel for the course you’ve applied for. It’s also a chance for another look around the university itself and for you to check out the accommodation options.

Offer holder days are also a great opportunity to meet other applicants on your course and to speak to current students, who can not only talk to you about the academic side of student life, but also the social side. Take the time to listen to their experiences and ask for their insights on the questions that matter to you – whether it’s the best cafes near campus or the range of extracurricular activities the university has to get involved in.

The format of offer holder days varies from institution to institution. For example, at the University of Lincoln each prospective student has an individual programme for the day, which will include course-led activities, a welcome talk from a senior member of academic staff and time in the advice zone, with opportunities to talk directly to staff and students from different departments of the university. There’s also a separate programme for family members and guests, allowing them to find out more about the issues they’re concerned about.

Attending an offer holder day gives you the scope to test drive the course you’ve chosen to study, alongside your potential future classmates. Expect to take part in activities that you’d undertake during your degree – at Lincoln this could be anything from participating in legal debates and lung capacity testing, to television lighting workshops and mock crime-scene investigations.

Choosing your university is one of the most life-changing decisions you’ll ever make. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to try before you buy.