Open days are crucial for giving you the opportunity to get a feel for a university in terms of the course, lecturers, facilities and the location. I remember Cardiff being the very first open day that I attended with my mum. Clearly it was the one that topped the rest for me. I was both nervous and excited for this day as it was the start of a journey into the next phase of my life. In this post I will point out the main things to expect on an open day and clarify what they actually are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is an Open Day? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An open day is your chance to experience a university fully in person and see all that it has to offer. This is the best way to get an idea of if it is the right one for you academically and socially. Going to multiple open days will allow you to compare the different experiences and weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of each institution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What to expect\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lots of people <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only will there be thousands of excitable prospective students milling around and exploring the area but there are also tons of helpers from the university to help make your day as stress free and easy as possible. I know the campuses can be a bit overwhelming but university staff and students are there to answer all of your questions and direct you to the right place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You (or your parent) will ask lots of questions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, this is the recommended thing to do for sure! No question is a silly question and if you\u2019re thinking it then there is a high chance that somebody else is too so don\u2019t hold back and ask away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Talks and presentations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You will be able to attend numerous talks about both your course and the various departments and services offered to students. For example in Cardiff, there are talks on student life, sports clubs, societies, finances and more. This means that you can tailor your day to what is useful to you and find out lots of information in one place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Visiting residences <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Most first years will be living in one of the many halls of residences that Cardiff provides. On an open day you can visit a few of these to help you decide which you prefer. Usually this includes the Talybont residences Court and South \u2013 the most popular option for first years due to its sociable reputation and good location. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sports facilities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re into your sport, on an open day you can visit the sports facilities on campus and also attend a sports talk to get more information about joining teams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Campus tours<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are frequent campus tours put on throughout the day with student guides who will show you the layout of the uni from the Students’ Union to the library. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A chance to explore the city<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n This was my favourite part of the day and one of the key reasons I decided to study at Cardiff. A free guided bus tour is also provided so you get to see even more of the beautiful city and the many things you can do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n