Any student considering going to University should always attend 'Open Days' to get a feel of what a University is like and what facilities it has to offer.
All Universities will offer Open Days to prospective students at various times throughout the year, and it is important that you accompany your son/daughter on such trips - if they wish you to!
Information regarding Open Days can be found on www.opendays.com and the individual University websites.
An Open Day is an ideal opportunity to ask questions about the University itself and the courses it offers. It is always a good idea to allow your son/daughter to ask as many questions as possible, but just in case below are a few things you may wish to consider:
Questions to discuss with your son/daughter prior to your visit can be:
- Is the distance from home too near/too far?
- Do you like the immediate and surrounding area?
- Is it the type of place you could see you son/daughter living in for at least 3 years?
Example questions to ask on the day can be as follows:
- What clubs and societies do the University currently offer?
- What support mechanisms are in place if your son/daughter should need help?
- What sports facilities does the University have?
- How secure is the site/accommodation?
- Is the accommodation catered/self catering?
- Is the accommodation en-suite?
- Is the accommodation single or mixed sex?
- Is the University 'campus' based or split across different sites?
- What are the public transport links like?
- Will my son/daughter have internet access in their accomodation?
If you do not attend the Open Days yourself make sure your son/daughter has an idea of the types of things they should be looking for and asking about.
