Uni open days question please!

[CiderwithBuda]

How much do parents get involved?

Obviously DS is deciding which unis he wants to see, course etc.

We are going to an open day at Newcastle on Friday. Do parents go along or do I just let him go himself? I’m flying up with him and obviously can go but don’t want him to look odd having his mum there. Or odd not having anyone with him!

This is all new for me!

Not worth choosing your favourite hall of residence, but many universities have a cluster of residences close together and it can be worth visiting to check distance from campus, what the area is like, etc.

Ds hadn't seen a room/flat in a hall at all, so it was useful to see one. Agree that you probably don't need to see them all.

Thanks all. Lots of good advice. Especially from GnomeDePlume and her DD!

And like the breakfast recommendation from Atia - thanks!

Newcastle is fantastic OP. (I might be a bit biased)

I hope you're not staying in the Jurys Inn though. Hen night and a couple of stags when we arrived on a Friday night, with loads of police - all milling around the lobby. One person on the desk, took 20 mins to check in after a 6 hour drive. Crap.

It is totally worthwhile going to look at accommodation. For the prospective students it really helps them get a feel for where they might be living and what they might feel like.

It really helped my DD to have me with her on all the visits because it meant she could relax, not worry about the travel or arrangements etc, and just focus on the course and the place.

It's a small city, so much to do and see, plus lots of beautiful scenery. The uni itself is very well respected and the lecturers provided a couple of brilliant taster sessions.

She turned down the Newcastle offer in the end because she felt it was too far away from home.

I went to 3 with my daughter, one she did with friends. I'd say it was 80% with parents. The huge advantage is that you can compare and contrast afterwards. If you haven't been with them, heard all the talks and seen the campus/lecture theatres/libraries etc, you can't do that.

Even within the same course/subject there were different modules/pathways at different unis. Campus vs city unis. A parent notices things that the kids don't, imo, often the more practical aspects. Where the supermarkets are, ask about transport, what the town looks and feels like, important when they are looking for accommodation after halls. It was also useful to see the different halls accommodation as they vary, although most have fairly modern blocks now.

We stayed at the Premier Inn on the Friday, and endured a hen party.

We went with our daughters and looked at accommodation etc. Most teenagers had parents with them.

We are staying at the Malmaison. Looks nice. Didn’t think about hen parties!

Funny potential coincidence. DS was an ivf baby and we were living overseas at the time. Some good friends also had a successful ivf baby at the same clinic with the same doctor. She is potentially going to Newcastle this year. We currently live at opposite ends of the country. Bizarre.

I went to an open day. The actual open day I went to my family and best friend came with me. My friend come to the uni with me. I think it's good to have someone else there to take in extra things and ask any questions the person applying or considering applying may not think of.
Now actual applicant days are very different. I went to applicant days for all my choices. For them having someone with you is a must I feel. There's a lot of information to take in and things to sort. So it's good to have someone else there.
But even for open days it's nice to have a second opinion.

We rather took the view that there would be transport systems and food available from supermarkets because it was a university city and not an oil rig. There are supermarkets and buses. It’s not worth worrying about unless you need to worry about such things.

When you visit initially, try and decide if this university is the one for you. What is it that makes it stand out. If you want a city university, it will have its noisy nights. Newcastle is famous for its night life. The Geordies wear just t shirts in the middle of winter. It’s a fun city. Is this for you? It’s known to attract students who want a good time. So don’t expect quiet types in large numbers.

I think looking at things like shopping & public transport is a good idea. It is risky to assume that everything will be okay just because you want them to be okay.

How much the public transport costs, which supermarkets are available can make a huge difference to affordability for students. Some places have great and affordable public transport for students. In others it is rather less so. Public transport in the area where I live is poor and expensive.

Dont assume.

How do thousands and thousands of students manage then? If there is poor infrastructure. They manage. Students rarely choose a university based on supermarkets or transport within the city. Realistically, who would do this? It’s always cheaper than being in the country and it’s just the way it is. Students get on with it and the costs of housing in second year far outweigh the odd “expensive” bus journey from halls to campus.

Maybe food shopping is just getting a tad worse regarding choice with M and S closing stores!

*"We rather took the view that there would be transport systems and food available from supermarkets because it was a university city and not an oil rig."

Very ignorant comment. And illustrates exactly why it's really important to visit and actually think about these things. DC is in Exeter and there isn't a supermarket within a half-hour walk, only a very expensive garage. Have you ever tried to do a shop and carry it back yourself on public transport / walking? Obviously you wouldn't base your uni choice on the proximity of a supermarket but it's important to understand what you're committing to.

Of course they manage. But if availability of halal/kosher food or even just the favourite pot noodle is important then it is worth checking it out.

DD was pleasantly surprised at the public transport in her firm choice city. A prospective student coming to our local university might be unpleasantly surprised by the public transport. Based on her experience of public transport at home DD was rather sceptical of the claims made for her firm choice city until she experienced it for herself on the offer holder day.

When there are a number of very similar courses at different institutions the 'other' factors may help in the decision making.

Interesting point TwitterQueen1! Definitely something to bear in mind when he eventually picks a university and we are looking at accommodation.

Although I suppose on-line shopping would help too.

Yes OP, but don't forget the £5 delivery charge and minimum £ order requirements..... you would need to split online deliveries to make it financially viable.

Twitter, I agree. Its probably not something you think about at the time, but DDs hall in Bristol is a good 30 minutes walk from a supermarket which means that "borrowing" of milk, bread and cereal is endemic, and some students are spending a lot on take aways and taxis. Ditto, she is there now and the University bus service has stopped, meaning a long walk anywhere and few option given University advice not to walk through the Downs at night.

Again not something you think about at the time but which can become important is access to support. Good provision, available before problems get out of hand, can make a huge difference in helping a student get back on track.

1. Do halls have on-site wardens, or does the University operate a centralised off-site service. How big are the flats? Do security patrol, or are they deaf and blind until they get a complaint from a student. It probably won't happen but life quickly becomes miserable if you have a neighbour for whom freshers week never ends. Ideally flats are not too large and management is on-site and pro-active. Private halls can be better as they be more likely to want to protect their investment.

1. What are the support arrangements within the department. Where does a student go if they find themselves struggling academically, perhaps caused by health problems. Do they get a personal tutor, who can then help support/signpost, or are they expected to self present to a centralised welfare function. Many students will not need much, but most are likely to need a bit of support at some point, and the right support at the right time can really help with the academic transition from school to University. DS found himself overwhelmed in his second term by the volume of new maths content he was expected to pick up each week. His tutor kindly took him out for a coffee to discuss study methods and DS wound up with a first in that paper.

1. Health services. Does the University have a centralised GP function or do students select and register with GPs. Again not something you probably think about on a tour, but if there is a problem and you find that bookings are on the day and booked out by 9.05, tough on scientists with heavy teaching schedules. Again it is a worst case scenario, but if things go wrong you really don't want an 18 year old struggling to negotiate an inflexible and under-resourced health service.

I've been to all of mine but left them to go to talks on their own if they wanted to. Move have found post offer visits much more useful. Don't bother with accommodation tours. They are all similar & they show you the best ones. Chances are your DC might not be in that one anyway.

Off on Friday to look at a couple with DD. I never went to uni and she’s never done an open day so at least this weekend we going together. Let’s see what happens

If you sign up for ocado pass delivery is free for a set amount a month. You can have deliveries to more than one address . Ds used to get shopping delivered at uni on my ocado account.
Although had an amusing conversation with a driver once who was lost on Surrey Campas.
Going to do the same when dd goes to Cardiff in september

One thing I picked up on, going to open days currently with DD vs four years ago with DS1, is that clubbing together with flatmates for a supermarket delivery seems to have become as popular an option as actually going to the supermarket and clubbing together for a taxi back with your shopping (at least with the accommodation guides with whom we spoke).

On that front, for those looking at the University of Birmingham, the 'Selly Oak Village' accommodation is practically on the doorstep of the local Aldi.

Online shopping can help but then the cost of delivery needs to be factored in plus it does mean that they cant take advantage of the bargain shelf.

So far as open days and online research are concerned just gather as much information as possible. Not many people approach a decision with the thought 'I wish I had less information'

Gnomedeplume, ocado has a bargain shelf as you check out, not as cheap as tesco. There are ways of getting cheaper deliveries.

I took my parents to all of them, most people did as parents can spot things/know Qs to ask that kids don't think off

Mine always did on line shopping with a group of friends after 1st year and DD at Bristol had a catered hall for y1. This is always worth considering, if available, should shopping be too difficult. (No public transport where we live but my 90 year old Mum pops to her local Tesco on the bus to do shopping).

I just don’t get the angst about shopping outlets on an open day. I was obviously truly a negligent parent. I just let them make decisions about which hall and they sorted their shopping and transport out when they needed to. Thousands of students at Bristol, and even Exeter, manage to do this.

Of course if your course doesn’t fit the standard terms, then naturally transport becomes an issue if you have relied on the term time university bus service. However, again, there’s been a year to work that out and budget accordingly. If a few are in the halls, club together for a taxi. DD never walked alone at night and you have to pay for safety if you have stayed on or indeed if you are out after the busses cease at night in term time. You would not change courses or university because of that.

Most visitors don’t find time to check out every single thing. You can always email the accommodations office (or anyone else) to ask unasked questions later. Make a list of what matters to you. Obviously students are all different in their needs and wishes. You don’t have to do everything on an open day and students who go alone certainly don’t cover all bases. It’s impossible.