Uni Open Day Logistics

[sniffydog]

On a steep learning curve about uni things for DD who's in yr 12. We're looking at open days with her are 3-4 hours by car or train (Liverpool/Leeds/Manchester). Wondering if it's better to go overnight? Is it a long day/need to be there early? I'm worried that very tired teen will be miserable and not take much in. Thoughts appreciated thanks!

We got 18-25 rail card and 60 plus railcards which we made back on the first trip.

For logistical reasons, I did all the open day visiting with DD (we stayed over in quite a new places and made quite a nice spring / summer / early autumn of it), I think the most expensive journey for us was Exeter; one of the reasons I dragged DS2 along with us to that one was that he was the family's residual 'child' for the purposes of our Friends and Family railcard, which made quite a difference.

I have to say that really didn't like the university (although DD did apply there), but we all really enjoyed the breakfast at the B&B we stayed at.

It was a helpful measure for DD to know what to shortlist after she had done the travel there herself on public transport for the open day. If she found it a slog then then she knew if she needed to get home for any reason it might be just a bit too far.

She went to one Uni over four hours away on the train, leaving home at 6am and getting back at midnight, it was strangely comforting to know she had planned, booked and did all the travel herself and more than ready for life at University. I went to one open day and one offer day with DD but apart from those she went on her own or with friends from school. We didn’t drive once.

I did two open day weekends with one daughter.

The hardest work was Oxford, Cambridge and Durham on three consecutive days. We drove to Oxford on the first day, spent the night with a family member who lives nearby, then drove to Cambridge and after a full day there drove to York and spent the night in a hotel before driving to Durham in the morning. We had intended to have a trip to the campus at York while we were in the area, but we were both so tired that we couldn't face it!

We also visited Manchester and Bristol on consecutive days, staying overnight with a family member in Gloucestershire in between.

The other daughter just wanted to visit Birmingham and Exeter, and fortunately the open days were not on consecutive days so we just did them as day trips.

I'm worried that very tired teen will be miserable and not take much in

It’s this comment that has raised a few eyebrows. The visits are for the teenager’s benefit. If they aren’t willing to put some effort into working through some tiredness for the sake of their future, I’m not sure I’d be putting myself out overmuch.

I do think uni visits are important but I don’t think the talks are particularly. A charismatic speaker can have undue sway, as can a lacklustre speaker. These will not be representative of the academic experience. One fact-based talk may be useful but I think the real value is in seeing the city, educational facilities and accommodation with your own eyes.

We adopted a similar approach to @PettsWoodParadise with one accompanied Open Day in the autumn of Y12 and then the remainder done solo by DC (including a couple of very long day trips). This definitely ensured they 'locked on' to the whole process and, though in the unaccompanied minority, they said staff and student helpers tended to make a specific effort to engage with them. They felt they got a lot out of the Open Days this way.

Yes, parental financial input is a factor but accommodation cost info etc is available on uni websites and discussions at home can cover off that aspect. Many DC like to be accompanied but I think it is important not to assume that and consider unaccompanied visits as an option for some Open Days. With a couple of uni locations, I did visit with DC but after their solo Open Days and DC showing me around and very much in the driving seat. I think this approach was another useful building block in the transition to independence.