How critical are University Open days?

[TisGlorious]

I understand they are a opportunity to find out more about a proposed course, it's structure, content etc
An opportunity to get a feel for the University and its surroundings.

What I'd like to know is does it form part of the admissions process? Are only limited numbers of candidates able to visit?
Why do people have to book? (Apart from wanting to know numbers) If you don't book can you still attend? Does not attending look bad for your application?

There is a section my daughter just filled in where she put things like Headstart and Taster days so wonder if that's what's being referred to ?

And in answer to the OP I think open days are pretty important. To see the different accommodation (some is lovely, some rivals a prison cell) and to understand the differences between the courses. Also to see the Uni and where you will potentially be working for the next several years. I personally could move into Bristol's library and never leave

To my mind, it's comparable to buying your first home.
Yes, you can read the Estate agent's blurb, you can ask for opinions of people who live near by, you can do a virtual tour on-line, but, I'd never buy a house without going to visit it and looking round. It's not necessarily clinically logical, but, if you are going to spend the next 3(+?) years of your life somewhere, then I think it has to "feel" right.

I've got 1 dc just finishing this year and 1 just starting this year, so have done the rounds twice so far, and it was fascinating to see how differently they responded to the places they visited. Obviously, they'd used the internet and prospectus, and sites such as push.co.uk and student reviews etc to narrow down where they wanted to look, but there is no substitute for going yourself to an open day, in choosing where you are going to live and study for the next few years of your life.
Don't forget, many others from the same 6th form, or from other friendship groups will be visiting the same open days - you can offer lifts to friends if you are driving, or your dc can get a lift of other friends if you aren't able - it all helps with the costs.

Oh, could be mums - I remember my dd putting a course down. But surely if you put an open day on there you'd just be laughed at!

I think it has to "feel" right.

Yup, I agree with you two there. Being able to imagine yourself there is a big thing.

Dd1 was all about the ambience, lol. Dd2 was more concerned with the details of the course, narrowed it down to 2, and picked the city she liked best.