Do most Unis run offer holder days?

[Tenpastseven]

I’m feeling optimistic following the vaccine news and thinking ahead to the possibility that DS might actually be able to look at the Unis he chose in real life in order to make his final decision for firm/insurance choices.

Do all Unis tend to offer offer holder open days? He’s got Cambridge, Bristol, Newcastle, UCL and Southampton on his long list though I realise he may not get offers for them all.

Southampton and UCL do. They and others may also do applicant days, some including an interview, before offering too. Cambridge didn't because you usually visit as part of the assessment process.

Newcastle do. Ds was due to go in February but Storm Dennis got in the way. Storm Dennis, innocent days before other obstructions!

Newcastle does. Not do.

Oh great! Fingers tightly crossed that they may organise them for the Spring. I haven’t envied this year’s applicants having to make decisions based on virtual open days.

Thank you @mimbleandlittlemy and @LIZS 😊

Ds ended up doing a virtual offer holder day at Warwick and he really enjoyed it but he had had the advantage of having been there. I think it’s so tough on them this year - but then I know various kids who end up going to unis they hadn’t seen —because they couldn’t be arsed—

Why doesn’t strike through work on iPad?

I wouldn’t even know how to do it regardless of device. Ha.

DD was invited to an offer holder day at the Cambridge college which made her an offer. But I don't know if all colleges run them.

Cambridge does depend on the college - DDs had an offer holders event which an overnight stay, sleeping bag on a first year's floor.

And other places may depend on the subject - all of her other choices including Southampton interviewed and those included good department and accommodation tours so there was no need for an offer holders day as well.

At the uni I work at ours are mostly held Nov-April, so most will almost certainly be virtual - but those can be very valuable too

Thanks @AChickenCalledDaal and @ErrolTheDragon.

But 😭😭😭 @tunnocksreturns2019. My bubble has burst (and not in the contemporary self isolation sense) . Don’t you imagine they’ll delay them?

Sorry! And tbh I don't know for sure, and universities vary a lot in terms of the number of these they hold and when. So definitely worth having a look on the relevant uni websites - there may well be info on there re plans

I'd be a bit surprised if the unis would want to try to plan anything other than virtual for this academic year. Too much uncertainty re lockdowns, the vaccine won't be rolled out that quickly, certainly not to all the school and student ages.

Seeing places for real is obviously great, but hopefully going forward unis will keep virtual events in the mix - it could be a real boon for widening access for students with constraints on ability to travel. If I was involved in such things that's where I'd put the effort now.

Ha. Thanks @tunnocksreturns2019 and @ErrolTheDragon. I know you’re both right, I was just hoping against hope. I don’t think the virtual events are going to offer DS what he needs. But I will plan to take him to the cities to have a look round/get a feel in Spring.

I'd be a bit surprised if the unis would want to try to plan anything other than virtual for this academic year. Too much uncertainty re lockdowns, the vaccine won't be rolled out that quickly, certainly not to all the school and student ages.

This ^

I was hoping that my middle dd, who finished her degree this Summer might have had her Graduation rearranged for the Spring, but it is looking less and less likely now that it will ever happen.
I can't see 'offer days' being held in person this Spring. The whole country is being encouraged not to use public transport and not to mix with other people if it isn't strictly necessary. The fact that lots of Universities don't hold offer days, and, where they do, lots of applicants don't attend suggests that these aren't 'essential', even though they would be helpful to this years Yr13s in particular

DS1 went to 5 in 2018 - really useful to help back up his gut feelings re choices - at most of them there were parent sessions too. DS2 UCAS form went today - its going to be very different I think - can't pin hopes / decisions on there being offer days - that will be a bonus!

Be warned. If it is a competitive course where decisions are being made right up until the deadline, there is a chance that offers will come in after any offer holder days.

DD went to the Newcastle offer holder day in 2019, wondering if she had made the right decision, by the end of the day she was confident that she had. She is in her second year now and loves Newcastle.