Book your place
Booking means you save valuable time by avoiding having to queue on arrival, and often means that you get sent a programme in advance.
Plan the day
Check out the programme to make sure you arrive in time for any vital talks or tours. If you're thinking about teacher training, you will definitely want to find out about the course, placements, facilities, and what the admissions tutors are looking for in applications for these highly competitive programmes. Edge Hill open days include talks about each age-phase and type of course that give a detailed overview, then if you still have questions you can talk to individual tutors.
Read the prospectus
Looking through the prospectus or website will give you a sense of the courses and the university. You will probably have questions based on what you read!
Get your questions answered
This sounds obvious, but don't leave with a burning question unanswered. Universities run their open days for you, and people are there to tell you what you need to know –someone should be able to answer any question or concern you may have. It's a good idea to have a list – which could include
• What makes a great application?
• What do you need to do about Professional Skills Tests?
• How did the university rank in the National Student Survey?
• What support is available in terms of careers advice?
• When you graduate, what ongoing support can you expect – as an NQT and a teacher?
• How many students are there? How big are seminar groups?
• Is the library well stocked?
• Are there any opportunities to study/travel abroad?
• What is a typical week like, during each phase of the course?
• What support is there for student with disabilities?
Talk to students
Current students will give you an honest point-of-view of the university, the course and their placement experiences.
Check out the accommodation
Unless you plan to stay local, the university you choose will be your base for living as well as studying. You should be able to get a look at all the types of room available on campus, as well as details of how to apply and costs.
Explore
Spend some time exploring the campus and its surroundings, get a feel for the place and imagine how it will be as your home-from-home. Bear in mind that if you're on a three or four-year degree, you will probably be living off-campus after the first year.
An education degree is a pretty intense programme, so it helps if everything you need to make the rest of your life work – such as shops and places to socialise – is within easy reach. Again, talk to current students to get their perspective.
Find out about Finance
Student finances are a bit of a maze, and your entitlement to loans, grants and bursaries will depend on a range of factors. Also there are usually additional sources of funding such as scholarships that you can compete for, specific to each university – for instance Edge Hill offers scholarships for that new students can compete for, based on their achievements outside the classroom – sport, volunteering, arts and enterprise. At an Open Day you should be able to find out everything you need to know to start planning your university budget.
Take someone with you
It is a good idea to take someone with you – they can pick up things and answer questions that you may not get around to. If the Open Day programme is really packed, you may even want to split up to cover everything.
Can't make the Open Day?
It is still a good idea to arrange a visit. Most universities will run additional events as well as full open days, or will at least arrange a campus tour and a chat with tutors.
You can practice these techniques at an Edge Hill University Open Day – details and booking form here. The next one on Saturday 21 June 2014.
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