When Harriet Dempsey went to an open day at the University of Lincoln she decided during the car journey home that she wanted to study there. “I literally fell in love with the place,” she says. “When I got back in the car, I said: ‘I’m going to accept my offer.’”
If you’re deciding which university to go to, it’s a good idea to attend open days, where prospective students get a chance to talk to lecturers and students, visit the campus, check out the accommodation, have a walk around the city and just generally get a feel for a place. “I can’t explain how valuable I think they are,” says Dempsey.
Dempsey originally went on an open day for bio veterinary science at Lincoln. She later switched courses and is now in her second year of a biomedical science degree, which she loves.
One of the highlights of the open day was a lab session, she says. “We were each given a fish and shown how to dissect it to be able to attain parasites from its gut, which we then analysed under a microscope,” she says. “It was really interesting.”
When the lab coats were off, Dempsey went on a campus tour and looked at the accommodation, before exploring the city with her parents. “I liked the vibe of the campus,” she says. Talking to other students was also helpful. “They were happy to talk about whatever topic we wanted and gave us so much information,” she says. “They were relatable.”
By the end of the day, Dempsey says she “could 100% picture herself” at Lincoln and has no regrets now she’s there. “It’s such a friendly city. Everyone kind of knows each other in a roundabout way,” she says. “The labs and lecture theatres are modern and amazing. I also joined the trampolining and yoga societies, which was a perfect combination.”
Dempsey isn’t the only student to make their decision after visiting on an open day. Connor Martin has just finished a history degree at the University of Lincoln. He says he found it helpful to visit universities in person to get a feel for the place. He liked the sense of community at Lincoln when he went. “It just felt like a home away from home,” he says.
When Martin visited with his family, he enjoyed walking around the city and having lunch overlooking the water. He sensed it would be a good place to study history. “The mix of old and new sold it for me. At the bottom of the city there are new areas, which young people love. But there’s also the historical side, with the cathedral and the castle, the [home of the] Magna Carta, and the old Roman wall.”
Martin was so convinced that he confirmed his position with Ucas on the way home. “I felt like it would be a really good way to study history – surrounded by it,” he says.
Lecturers even use the city’s historical landmarks in their classes – for example, Martin was taken to the cathedral to analyse how it was built, as part of one module. The flexibility of the modules at Lincoln also meant he could specialise in modern history, enabling him to explore the social side of the first world war and the Vietnam war. Martin loved the course so much he’s now training to become a history teacher.
Joseph Lake, who has just finished his second year studying medicine, also liked the feel of Lincoln when he attended an open day. “It was a scorching hot day,” he says. “The bit I remember most was walking around the campus and the city.”
Lake particularly liked being by the water. “It’s on the waterfront and it’s absolutely beautiful, with lots of geese and swans,” he says. “It’s one of those things where you know. You just get that feeling that it’s right.”
Lincoln has a brand new purpose-built medical school building. “To be part of the first ever cohort has been quite special,” says Lake. “It’s great to be able to be part of a modern medical school. The course has been absolutely fantastic.”
What advice would the students give to others going on an open day at Lincoln?
“I would say to throw yourself in at the deep end – don’t do what I did and be quite reserved,” says Lake. “Go with lots of questions, and interrogate the academics and students,” he says.
Don’t worry about asking silly questions, says Dempsey. “Ask questions, especially to [current] students. None of us are going to care if you ask a question that you think is a bit weird.” Dempsey also says you can make friends on an open day. “Get stuck in and make connections,” she says.
Martin advises prospective students to have a look around the town and to bring a notebook. “I took a notebook with some of the questions I wanted to ask,” he says. “But I didn’t ask them all because I was so in awe of the place.”
Overall it’s about the feeling you get when you’re there. So go with an open mind, talk to people, and you could end up making your decision in the car on the way home, too.
In line with the expected easing of Government restrictions, the University of Lincoln is hoping to welcome prospective students to its campus for open days this autumn.
Book your place at a University of Lincoln open day at lincoln.ac.uk/ugopendays
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