Class of 2024 - Open Days

[Swimmum1206]

DS has just started Y12. When should he start thinking about University open days? All he knows right now is that he interested in studying some form of Engineering. Someone today said he should be looking now, but to me it seems a bit early. He's still getting used to his A levels and the transition into 6th Form, let alone thinking about University! We've booked to look at our local university in a couple of weeks. He doesn't want to study there, but it'll give him an idea of what he's looking at. Any advice would be gratefully received!

Dc1 went to several uni open days at the beginning of year 12. Most of these on his own.
Dc3 won't be confident traveling on her own so hasn't booked anything.
Well we did visit the local uni🙂

I think booking to go and look at your open University is a really good plan. It gives them a frame of reference then for others they might consider, and probably helps them get a lot more out of the first one they visit that they might be interested in.
I would say, if there is another one he might be interested in that you can make in this round, they go. Generally, the Summer of Yr 12 is fine for most people, but if you have other things going on in your lives - as most families do - then you can't always get to them on the dates they hold the open days, so, having one r two already under your belt is good, and he might then feel comfortable going to one you can't make in the Summer, without you.

DD Y12 refuses to go to any yet, she’s at a new school for sixth and is still settling there.

to be fair, DS didn’t visit any until Y13. Problem is, DD is a lot fussier about what places look like than DS so wants to visit more. (DS visited 3).

DD also doesn’t know what she wants to study yet - even though I’ve said this isn’t vital when visiting she won’t budge. I know offer holder days are spring but wondering if she doesn’t do any this autumn if she will have another chance before autumn next year.

The whole process is exciting but exhausting, and expensive! Takes up so much time, which needs to be factored in. Will be a little easier for us this time as DS no longer at home so just the 3 of us to think about.

Early engagement with Open Days and more general research can be beneficial: Allows time to really understand and consider what type of course suits best (important for engineering) and allows plenty of time for a change of view without upsetting the UCAS process. In addition, there are only so many Saturdays in the calendar year that universities can realistically set for Open Days and often you get clashes, so spreading out Open Day attendance over time can help overcome that problem.

Having said the above, Open Days are by their very nature contrived exercises - showing off the best bits in the best possible way and are swamped by other visitors on the day itself! Lots of excellent previous threads encourage Open Day visitors to focus on talking to existing students and visit labs and workshop areas (where relevant to your subject) rather than prioritising attendance of subject or general talks, which often largely repeat info published on uni websites.

Not everyone has the time or financial resources to attend many or any Open Days. There are other ways of gathering information, especially digitally eg uni chat functions to match DC to an existing student studying the degree of interest. There are 'many routes to the same destination', so it is important to keep things in perspective.

Finally do not underestimate the value of an informal visit to a uni area/campus and city/town outside Open Days. A lot of actual and gut feel info can be gathered in this way. Consider passing through the residential areas where students might life in second and subsequent years. This is particularly helpful where DC are focusing on the beauty of the university setting and/or the wider location. Oldfield Park (Bath) is not the Royal Crescent and Tang Hall (York) is not the Shambles. This can help DC see that the student experience might not quite align with the uni website photo gallery.

We started in September year 13. That was fine. We went to Scotland in the half term to look at 2 uni’s - I really enjoyed our little trips, it would feel too early if we did it in year 12 as once we started looking he was so excited to apply and go! It was a long year waiting but he moved in on Friday

We have started visiting as I can envisage clashes and a very busy June otherwise. It's been very useful as Ds is largely undecided on which degree but has seen some interesting options at the open days that he hadn't considered before.

Some further discussion on this thread.

Post GCSE’s 2022 - Year 12 2022/23 General support thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/4624910-post-gcses-2022-year-12-202223-general-support-thread

Hi

My DS Yr 12 here ansd iis contemplating possible unis/ courses so I am very happy to see this thread xx