How critical are University Open days?

Really? You're a teaching assistant dealing with kids with very low levels of literacy? And you're writing UCAS references for them?

believe it or not, there are such things as dyslexic sixth formers, they also get support. Some of the are actually not well known to anyone EXCEPT me, if they have had a large turn over of teaching staff in the year.

Someone's telling porkies!

some people just have no idea what goes on in schools.

I don't believe you. whatever, up to you isn't it, and certainly no skin off my nose!

Why on earth are you using up precious characters saying that the applicant went to open days? you have NO IDEA what a nightmare it is to find enough to say about many pupils!!

I wouldn't list open days no, I would say something like

"Jane has shown her commitment for making daisy chains, visiting 3 University daisy chain departments in the past few months. She attended lectures on both selecting the daisies, and on making the slit in the stem, returning to school excited and enthused by what she has learnt. She was able to explain clearly explain the most recent developments in petal counting to me, and supported her classmates by applying her new understanding to a group task and stem length"

or similar.

Universities have you on their radar if you've attended their open day, so I would consider it time well spent if that's where you're considering going. It's definitely not part of their selection criteria, but it was mentioned at both interviews that DS went to.

DSs school didn't allow any open day visits during term time (and they had Saturday school) which made it a challenge. In the end, he didn't miss any school to attend open days, but I would have allowed it if necessary.

(which is why I'm confused about a poster writing references now?).

references are rarely down to one person, you collect a short reference from as many staff as possible, and edit them and combine them.

Producing a reference takes the school a long time!

I'm leaving in the summer, so every partial reference I am contributing
has to be ready and with the tutors before I leave.

Even people not leaving the school will be writing their bits of references now. You need to do it whilst the student is in front of you, really, and you need to be able to ask them things. What are they apply for? What are they highlighting in their personal statement?
what do they want you to mention? etc. Some applications will be submitted in September, but some not until January. Even without leaving the school it is very possible not to have seen the student for 6 months, and have very hazy memories of them by then.

If what I write is no longer applicable, because the student has changed their mind about what they are applying for, or something, then their tutor will edit my comments before the final draft.

Writing a reference, as a contributor or an editor, i ask the student things like

What aspect of the course have you enjoyed most? What are you mentioning in your personal statement? What do you consider your strengths? What have you contributed to the school/ class over the last few years. What have you contributed to the wider community? What reading and activitiies and open days have you done? What aspect of the subject can you discuss with me, here and now, that you haven't specifically been taught, but have researched alone, etc

The other reason to start early is because quite often, a student will not have contributed ANYTHING to their school or community, then are dispatched off to contribute something, ans told to return later having contributed.

(Some students surprise me though, one real PITA student who I guessed would be a non contributor in fact came out with a huge list of things they had done for other people over the past year - it all checked out and was very impressive)

Likewise, if a student has done no activities, independent reading, etc, they will need to do this before either the reference or the personal statement can be completed.

This is where open days, etc, come in. Just turning up to an open day and wondering around, not so much, but for example attending a specimen lecture at an open day and being able to discuss the content is the best possible way of showing you are someone who will be able to enjoy and benefit from the lectures of staff in that department.

Of course, if students have no contributions to the school, I am able to help them identify some opportunities, likewise with reading. But open days are largely down to sorting it out for yourself! Schools may arrange the occasional one, but its the individual students who need to organise themselves for the rest.

Sixth forms are able to award bursaries to families with an income of under 45k (both parents income combined normally, even if parents are separated) and one grounds for this is coach fare to open days.

really, yes! I am writing references right now.

1. Why now?
2. Why on earth are you using up precious characters saying that the applicant went to open days? Are you listing which open days? Supposing they didn't go to the exact 5 they've applied for?
3. I don't believe you.

The applications go in during the Autumn Term of Yr 13.
Some schools get pupils thinking about the Personal statements before, but they don't need to be done until the first term of Yr13 (which is why I'm confused about a poster writing references now?).

Most Universities hold open days in the Summer Term and in the first half of the Autumn Term. Generally, people go in the Summer of Yr 12, but if you think it might motivate a dc, or help them clarify things in their mind then you could look at a couple in Autumn of Yr 12.

I am going through the uni application process currently, for the third time - not me obviously, but my children. In fact, dd is at this very moment 300 miles away with dh, visiting a uni tomorrow. Last weekend, I took her round 2 and we informally visited a third, picking up ds2 at the end of his term.

No it is not critical, it is not mentioned on the UCAS form, and yes, some schools can be very awkward about letting students have time off to visit. I know our school only allows 3 days, which is enough as most unis have an open day over the weekend, but it can be hard if, like my dd, you are hell bent on going to a uni as far away as possible and you need 2 days to travel there and back.

Ds2 is at an extremely high profile uni and he did not visit it beforehand. I think he attended an applicant day there, but that was after he had applied and been offered a place, and then chosen it as his first choice.

That said, they are useful though. Having visited 2 unis last weekend with my dd and having sat through all the same sort of talks for the same degree, both dd and I came away with quite clear views on the 2 unis in question. You get a feel for staff, courses, and of course the environment, as well as having the opportunity to ask quite specific questions. I don't think much of that would be attainable from a prospectus.

Open days start spring / summer term year 12 - but often get booked up early so definitely check before Easter. They also happen early Autumn term year 13 in case you miss any in the summer.

really, yes! I am writing references right now.

Really? You're a teaching assistant dealing with kids with very low levels of literacy? And you're writing UCAS references for them? Someone's telling porkies!

And you do need to list "activities undertaken in preparation for your application" on your UCAS form I believe, unless this has recently changed. They do not all have to be open days, but it would be very odd if at least some weren't.

Fuck me if you are genuinely going to be head of VI form the sixth formers there are screwed!

Did you really plan 18 years ahead for university visiting costs?

no, about 6 months or so, I guess, i just meant it is an expense you have ample warning for!

Neither of my two were interviewed for their places (not Oxbridge or wierdly Brighton) so no issue about whether they did or didn't attend the open day. Most normal universities and courses don't interview.

But I would strongly recommend that the potential student goes. You don't need to if there's a cost or getting time off work issue. I went to a few, my H went to a few, and it was really interesting but we couldn't do all of them, so sometimes they went by themselves or with mates.

They can't get a proper feel for the town/city, the university, the course and the accomodation from the prospectus. They really should visit.

Nary a mention of an open day anywhere on any of my offspring's university applications either. One more child to go, though, so maybe it'll be needed at some point.

Did you really plan 18 years ahead for university visiting costs? I mean, to the extent I'd thought about it at all, I would have assumed that they saw the place for the first time at interview, like we did.

The Open Days were invaluable for my ds. He was adamant he wanTed a university based in a city centre, not a campus university. We took him on open days to a variety of unis and he completely fell for the ambience of Nottingham Uni, even though it's a campus one. He just knew it was right for him. If he hadn't gone to the open days he'd have ended up only putting city centre unis on his application form.

He didn't have any interviews, and got offers from all 5 of his choices although he hadn't visited one of them. I presume it depends on the course and the uni if you get an interview. It shouldn't count against you if you don't go to the open day, it's not always practical to do so.

University open days are a massive expense, but foreseeable for 18 years in advance!

Oh yes, because of course when you are paying for childcare when your dc are little, this is something right up there at the front of your mind, that you must put a bit away for a train fare to a university open day

Also likely to be mentioned in personal statement, references and interview.

Really, no

really, yes! I am writing references right now.

And you do need to list "activities undertaken in preparation for your application" on your UCAS form I believe, unless this has recently changed. They do not all have to be open days, but it would be very odd if at least some weren't.

I'm pretty sure this wasn't on the UCAS form when I filled one in four years ago! Nor when dd1 or dd2 did theirs 3 and 2 years ago respectively.

Also likely to be mentioned in personal statement, references and interview.

Really, no.

Atia - you memory is phenomenal!

I've just been here too long, lol. I've never heard a story of anyone being treated worse at an interview. Did they give you any kind of explanation or apology?

University open days are a massive expense, but foreseeable for 18 years in advance! Anyone with a family income under 45k can apply for a bursary towards this anyway.

And you do need to list "activities undertaken in preparation for your application" on your UCAS form I believe, unless this has recently changed. They do not all have to be open days, but it would be very odd if at least some weren't.

Also likely to be mentioned in personal statement, references and interview.

Open days are often at weekends, so there is not issue with missing school.

Don't have to go mad though, I've limited my DC to 5 - at least 1 local.

Atia - you memory is phenomenal!

I just posted about what happened to DD because there is a new audience on this thread. Obviously the fact her non attendance was mentioned was against what I believed to be their admissions criteria. There is also an issue of cost for poorer students regarding attending a number of open days but if they have records of attendance, and they do, I do not think you can rule out this being part of the selection process which is wrong, but happens. It may be a tie breaker - how much does a student really want to study here?

I pointed out the cost factor and their admission criteria to them and that it was not acceptable for poorer students to be told they should have attended an open day. Brighton markets heavily in the Brighton area, so maybe they get plenty of local attendees at their open days.

We travelled for around 2 hours for the interview. My DD had visited Brighton a number of times with friends for a day out which is why we did not prioritise a visit there given the limited time she had available. They also said they expected students to complete an Art Foundation Course prior to the degree when their prospectus made it perfectly clear they accepted students directly after A levels. They invitied her for interiew based on her A levels and a portfolio.

The whole experience was a disaster from start to finish. Even the car park pay machine was broken when we went back to put more money in it due the huge delay in the interview appointment meaning our original ticket was not long enough! Yes, Brighton fined us for not having a valid ticket even though we left a note saying the machine was broken with a coin stuck in it, as did everyone else! We won that one though!

Yes, she was happy elsewhere!

They like you to book in so they have an idea of numbers. They also then have the e-mail address to send you stuff later. It's not connected with admissions.
In some places you can just rock up without booking in - they've not checked who you are when you arrive, and in others they get you to register when you arrive if you've not registered before.

I have to say with both my dc going through the process though, it's been the "feel" of the place that made the choice for them, not anything they read about the course or the place (obviously that initially narrowed down the choice they went to look at).

I remember your thread Bubbles, it stood out because it was so unusual. Very rude and odd behaviour on the part of the university.