open days - how open are they?

[NadiaWadia]

DD (year 13) and me are kicking ourselves because she wanted to go to a Uni open day on Saturday 9th and we had not bothered to register online yet. Went to do it last night and the uni website says "online bookings are now closed".

Realistically what would happen if we just steamed up there? She would really like to see the place. It is quite a drive from where we are.

Any university staff know? Or anyone done this?
(and why do the universities just 'close' the bookings?)

Can you not just give them a call?
Sure they would be happy to have you. You don't say where but maybe someone might know info on the specific uni.

It depends on the uni. Some unis have limits on numbers and once the booking is closed it mens the open day is fall and you can't go. But other unis are more flexible so I would just give them a call and see. Most unis have more than one open day in the year so if your DD can't go to this one perhaps she can go to the next one,

It was University of Sussex - and also the University of Kent (Canterbury) had one on the same day and the same thing happened. DD would really like to go to one of these if possible.

We have had the same problem! I'm taking the attitude now that you can get so most of the important info nowadays online and in books about quality of courses, student satisfaction etc, and the building will just be a building. There is nothing to stop us jumping in the car and looking round the town, seeing the location of the campus, the student residential areas, nightlife, part-time job opportunities etc, and getting a feel for the place - which is probably just as important as going into the institution itself for a day of milling round making small talk with people in name badges.

Well I hope so anyway - or we are stuffed!

FNelson - I like your thinking .
I've been tying myself in knots wondering how one goes about this ...
Your approach makes sense ,and sounds doable !

The University that I'm at (Russell Group), and work open days for, had online bookings, but we really don't understand why as it was entirely unnecessary. Larger universities physically cannot register and book-in the 20,000 or so students who may turn up, so I'd definitely suggest just going.

Also, surely there are people who have registered that won't turn up on the day, so if you did have to register for limited places then there may still be places on the day...?

Sussex is my local, I'd just go and womble around if I were you. They didn't take names for a lot of the tours and lectures/advice talks.

Thanks Goblinchild, maybe we will!

My son went to UEA last week and forgot to take his registration ticket. I asked if they looked him up on the computer to confirm his booking and he said no, they just let me in!

Maybe they just want to know how many biscuits to buy?

Obviously!

Manchester last weekend just gave us the bumph when we'd forgotten the registration letter - tbh DH had got it in his car!!!

We've just walked around a few unis, but get more of an idea when on a tour or open day.

We booked for a couple and didn't turn up and went to some that we had booked for. Some registered us, some didn't. Just go and hope for the best.

I truly don't believe that they will chuck you out.