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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

How many universities are you visiting?

44 replies

228agreenend · 24/06/2017 12:33

Just saw a post on facebook from a friend commenting from the latest uni they have visited. They went to a different one yesterday, and another one last week. We haven't even been to any yet, and are only planning a few. Now I'm panicking we should be going to more.

OP posts:

BubblesBuddy · 26/06/2017 12:16

My DC were enthused because all their friends were talking about visits and subjects. In my experience DC are not always happy to be anywhere. Lack of suitability often leads to dropping out so doing a bit of legwork can really help with the right fit. There is a huge difference between London, UEA, Newcastle and St Andrews for exampe, and not just location!

Needmoresleep · 26/06/2017 13:50

Before starting out it is worth thinking hard about what a DC wants from a University, and then looking at entry requirements and competition levels (is whether a course is selecting or recruiting.)

DS was 95% about course. He was forecast good grades but the courses he liked were very selective. He only went to one open day but we managed to do self guided visits to some other places, which helped him realise he wanted city rather than campus. And that his fall back would be a gap year rather than take a course that looked less interesting.

DD was similar in that she too was applying for a competitive course and was happy to have a second attempt the following year. She went on her own to two, quite contrasting, local Universities and realised she wanted a middle road between the highly academic and more practical courses and a city/campus with lots of sport. To be honest then it was a case of working out who might take her and what teaching approach she wanted.

Visiting Universities is expensive, and distracting, so narrowing choices down beforehand not only saves time and money but enables you to get more out of a visit.

Dunlurking · 26/06/2017 17:37

I think visits are essential before firming, at the very least. Ds threw Royal Holloway into 5th place unseen, as it looked OK on paper. They gave him an unconditional offer and I was extremely worried he would take it just because it relieved the pressure of the imminent A2 exams. Luckily we were able to convince him he had to go to an offer holder day and he discovered a detail about the course at the talk, which wasn't on the website, which made him realise it wasn't for him. He is at his first choice and thriving.

TalkinPeece · 26/06/2017 17:42

Not visited any so far!

DS knows what course he wants and has the prospecti from 5 possible options
booked to go on one open day week after next
and we'll try to do an informal one or two next month

DD visited 4 - she's happy where she is

Maladicta · 26/06/2017 21:40

Dd's been to 5 so far. She knows where she wants to go so these are more for insurance options.

voilets · 02/07/2017 19:57

We've done 2 and will do two in summer. One campus tour and one where we will just turn up and look around. Did a different 4 with my DS. They do get vibes of what they like but offers days are as good if not better than open days. For DS we did two open and two offer days.

Anyone go to Durham this weekend?

SadAboutTheBoy · 02/07/2017 20:55

We've done 7 (a combination of visits with school and parents) and have 2 more to go.
They have been absolutely invaluable. DS was being fairly lazy about it all so it shocked him into having to think about things and it also opened my eyes to how much he values different things to me! Universities we thought were a 'dead cert' left us cold, and a couple of outliers turned out to be better than expected.
Accommodation has turned out to be the biggest discussion. He was adament that he wanted a modern ensuite room, but when he found a hall/college he really liked he was suddenly willing to entertain the idea of a shared bathroom . I think seeing what he'll be living in next year has made him appreciate his home more now too! Ha!

We went to York and Durham this last weekend - both good, but preferred Durham overall for the course.

antimatter · 02/07/2017 22:14

with my DD we visited 7 in total but she changed her mind about degree and we had to do it

with DS 3 so far and he wants at least 2 more, he is going to apply for 2018 entry

goingmadinthecountry · 02/07/2017 22:36

Dds 1 and 2 went to a couple with me and a couple more with friends/on their own. Ironically, both ended up choosing universities they didn't visit!

Original poster

228agreenend · 03/07/2017 06:20

We went to Surrey and really liked it, a nice campus university, with fairly new buildings.

I knew what to expect from accomadation but my my husband found it a bit of an eye opener.

Also, Surrey was one of our nearer ones, and that was something we discussed as well. Ie. Ease of getting to and from uni.

What was Durham like (or any other uni) visited?

OP posts:

corythatwas · 03/07/2017 09:21

Dd visited drama schools instead and she only let us come on one single visit (and that was Surrey, because of difficulties of getting there on public transport). I felt very hard done by: I so wanted a peek inside RADA! Stuff this teen independence!

2014newme · 03/07/2017 09:24

Your friend on fb has been to 3, you're planning on a few, so sane surely?

PettsWoodParadise · 06/07/2017 18:46

For anyone on a low budget reading this in dismay, most schools will have an access budget to cover some or all of the travel costs. At least I know DD's school and nearby ones do. Way-back-when I had to work extra shifts to pay for my University trips and ended up turning RG unis down in favour of a good but not so high profile uni as I could afford to get back home from that Uni each term but not the others.

PearlyPinkNails · 09/07/2017 17:09

I've been to lots of different university open days over the past three years, and have to say it's surprising how many are totally different from what we had expected.

I've been to three with current DS. My friend has just set up a Facebook group called what I wish I knew before going to university, which might help people on here too.

PearlyPinkNails · 09/07/2017 17:12

*about university.

WIWIKAU.

GnomeDePlume · 11/07/2017 23:17

DD is visiting 8 in all. Two down so far. The course she wants isnt offered at too many places. She is going to a mix of potential firms and also insurance places. It is worth going if possible as the reality of a course and university can be quite different from what is read.

I go along as a sounding board, money and transport. So far we have looked at accommodation and libraries together but I leave DD to go into the course talks on her own.

DD has ASD so perhaps needs a bit more support than others.

voilets · 13/07/2017 18:01

Off to Exeter tomorrow for a campus tour and a chat with someone in dept. Very long trip. Hope it's worth it. Uni visit no. 4

a1mary · 14/08/2017 12:38

As a student myself I can honestly say I found it SO important to visit universities! That being said, I only visited about 5 or 6. I know that everything is subjective etc etc but for example I was dead set on Newcastle until I went to the open day!

a1mary · 14/08/2017 12:40

Also sorry for double posting but whilst at university (Uni of Sheffield for those interested) I worked the open day shifts to earn some extra money. I found them really useful to attend when I was applying for university - especially being able to see the halls, which was something I've been able to cater to when showing prospective students round on Open Days.

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