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Higher education

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

Original poster

open days and visits

21 replies

seventyfits · 25/10/2021 15:59

Do people expect uni open days to be back to normal in-person events by next spring/summer? I've got a dc in Y12, not much interested in doing online open days. I also know from my older dc that in person open days made a big difference to her choices (one she thought was her top choice she didn't even apply to after an open day). So I'm wondering whether others are just sorting out their own DIY visits - looking at the campus and town, checking where the accommodation is, etc, or expecting open days to resume in the new year? I'm aware that a few have re-started, but unfortunately not the unis ds is interested in yet.

OP posts:
NoNotHimTheOtherOne · 25/10/2021 16:13

Many open days are back to being in-person events already. I've done two in the past month. They might not be completely "normal" - e.g. there might be restrictions on how many people can be in a room at a time - but they are definitely in-person. Obviously, different universities will take different lengths of time to reach this state, and there will almost certainly be some kind of further lockdown over the coming winter, but in general universities are moving back towards on-site open days.

Personally, I think it will be a shame if we abandon online open days completely, as they are very useful for prospective students who can't afford to travel to multiple events all over the country.

cloudtree · 25/10/2021 16:24

Lots going on at the moment. Ds is only year 12 but we’re doing them now just in case things shut down again

Chilldonaldchill · 25/10/2021 22:47

Could we make a list of places and dates?
DC2 also in year 12 and we've googled all the unis he thinks he might be interested in and can't find any open days at all.
Maybe I'm missing something?
I have friends with children in year 13 who have been going in September but not too any of the unis that dc is interested in.

LeekChic · 25/10/2021 22:53

We've been to a few in the last few weeks.

I've noticed the newer universities seem to be holding more than the older ones, not sure if that's just where I've looked or if it's true everywhere.

Chilldonaldchill · 26/10/2021 07:35

Ok that might explain it. DC is looking currently at Exeter, Bath, Nottingham...
I'm hoping they will have open days in May and June. They will probably want to be able to have some of the early applicants looking at their unis.

RampantIvy · 26/10/2021 07:40

@LeekChic

We've been to a few in the last few weeks.

I've noticed the newer universities seem to be holding more than the older ones, not sure if that's just where I've looked or if it's true everywhere.

A lot of the older, more popular universities are over subscribed, and some have had to ask students to defer.

I suspect that the newer ones have to try a little harder to attract students.

cloudtree · 26/10/2021 07:46

Exeter have had loads recently. They were over the summer with some going into September/October.

cloudtree · 26/10/2021 07:48

We’ve done Lancaster, warwick, loughborough, Exeter and then looked around york ourselves. I know ds’s friend did Cardiff last weekend.

cloudtree · 26/10/2021 07:50

York is a bit crap. They do online open data or self guided tours with an app and then they only do full open days for those they give offers to.

Cambridge were online open days over the summer

kitnkaboodle · 26/10/2021 08:28

I think they've changed in that the subject talks seem to be mostly online - presumably to avoid having big crowded rooms. We've been to a very good open day at Southampton- almost normal - and for oldest DS last year we went to Exeter, Bath, Swansea and Sussex for our own walk-arounds. Most campuses seem easily accessible for that.

Original poster
seventyfits · 26/10/2021 14:48

This all sounds more hopeful than I expected. Ds has googled the ones that interest him and they're not having in person days yet. I think York, Bristol, Lougborough are his three top choices.

I'm tempted to find a local one and take him even if not on his list, to help him get an idea of what kind of things he's looking for - campus/city, accommodation, facilities, etc. I did try to persuade him to look at Southampton as I saw there was an in-person day there, but he wasn't interested, and I didn't have a car that weekend so didn't push it.

I'd be happy to have the subject talks online, although it's nice to see the department and have a chance to talk to staff and students if possible. With my older dc what mattered most was the feel of the place and whether it was somewhere (town and campus) that she felt comfortable and would want to spend 3 years.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 26/10/2021 15:28

All of the universities ds is interested in have been holding in person open days.

Piggywaspushed · 26/10/2021 15:40

Loughborough has definitely had in person. Bath is good if you get on mailing lists, likewise Exeter as they send out details of in person tours and visits. Birmingham has done some, as have Sheffield. York, tbh, is easy to just wander round.

Piggywaspushed · 26/10/2021 15:41

Most of them aren't letting anyone in accommodation though.

RamblingFar · 26/10/2021 15:47

Loughborough -
www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/visit-us/open-days/
You go to the online event and then book the experience day. They are currently fully booked, but you could sign-up to be notified when they add more.

Bristol -
www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/visit-us/open-days/
Again online info and then campus visit separate. Again all campus visits fully booked already.

York -
www.york.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/visits/open-days/
Virtual tour, can be done at home or on location. Not taking booking for in person.

Original poster
seventyfits · 26/10/2021 16:03

Thanks for that info @ramblingfair. I probably need to check this out myself and not just leave it to ds.

OP posts:
clary · 26/10/2021 16:27

@seventyfits

This all sounds more hopeful than I expected. Ds has googled the ones that interest him and they're not having in person days yet. I think York, Bristol, Lougborough are his three top choices.

I'm tempted to find a local one and take him even if not on his list, to help him get an idea of what kind of things he's looking for - campus/city, accommodation, facilities, etc. I did try to persuade him to look at Southampton as I saw there was an in-person day there, but he wasn't interested, and I didn't have a car that weekend so didn't push it.

I'd be happy to have the subject talks online, although it's nice to see the department and have a chance to talk to staff and students if possible. With my older dc what mattered most was the feel of the place and whether it was somewhere (town and campus) that she felt comfortable and would want to spend 3 years.

Yes agree with others, Lboro deffo having open days; in fact it was one of a few that had an actual in-person event last summer bc DS2 went.

Bristol (big city, spread out, sprawling, southern), York (northern, small city, campus but broken up, fairly compact) and Loughborough (small town frankly, big campus, very campus orientated, very compact, great sport) are very different so it would be great if your DS could look and get a feel for what he would enjoy.

I went to Bristol and DS2 is at Lboro and unless Bristol has changed a lot (unlikely) they are a world apart as far as I can see.

LeekChic · 26/10/2021 17:33

@RampantIvy I understand that, have kids in both types. Am glad this one is looking at ones with in person open days as I have found them invaluable for my children. They've done online ones too which have been OK but nothing like the in person experience.

I feel for the kids looking at the oversubscribed places missing out on that chance.

PS We've done accommodation tours at all the ones visited recently

Oblomov21 · 26/10/2021 17:35

Yr 13 and we've been to a few 'proper' ones : Southampton, Sussex, Queen Mary London.

On the yr 13 thread children have been to tonnes, most of the uni's.

VerbenaGirl · 26/10/2021 17:38

All seem to be back to normal this year, we’ve been to two and have one more coming up. Some are still offering online as well as in person.

Original poster
seventyfits · 26/10/2021 18:58

DS is now saying it isn't Loughborough but Durham (not sure how I got those two mixed up). They don't seem to be doing open days, but I have a couple of friends with children there, so I think I could ask them to show us around if need be.

Thanks for all the replies and I'll take a look at the Y13 thread too.

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