Contact Learning with Distinction

Enter your details and we'll be in touch to discuss your child's needs

Location
PO Box 328
Avondale Heights, VIC 3034

Email
enquiries@learningwithdistinction.com.au

Community

facebook.com/learningwithdistinction

@LWDistinction

linkedin.com/company/learning-with-distinction


Avondale Heights, VIC

03 90288788

Committed to lifelong learning

AdobeStock_68598722-[Converted].png

Blog

Study tips and education news

Filtering by Tag: open days

Making the most out of Open Days

Chris Ebbs

This week we’re focusing on Open Days. Today our Education Support Officer, Chris, will give us some insights into her own Open Day experiences just a few years ago.


I attended Open Days in both year 11 and 12. I would definitely recommend spreading out the Open Day madness across two, or even three, years. August of year 12 is a busy time, and you probably don’t want to spend every weekend travelling to a different Open Day.

If your parents will be driving you to Open Days, you might want to ease the strain on them by carpooling with your friends. I attended a couple of Open Days with a friend who was interested in studying a similar course. We attended information sessions together and asked questions of the same faculty members. Taking a friend is a great way to hear a question you might not have thought of or see a part of campus you might not have visited. It also meant that our parents only had to drive us every second weekend!

If you think you’ll be living at home or in a similar area while you attend uni, it’s a great idea to take the public transport or bike route you would take. (You could also drive, depending on whether you think you’ll be driving to uni and whether there is adequate and affordable parking on campus.) This will help familiarise you with the route and remove one small piece of stress from your first week of class.

I lived in a residential college for my first couple of years of uni. This meant that on Open Day, I had to tour all the colleges as well as the university campus. This will take a lot longer than you expect, so narrow it down to your top choices and just visit those ones. If you won’t be able to live at home and don’t know about the housing options for the particular uni, there will be people at Open Day who can help. They will tell you about university accommodation or provide advice and contacts if you’re going to be renting privately.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. University is unfamiliar, and there will definitely be some things you don’t expect or understand. The people helping on Open Day are there to assist and will definitely be friendly. They’ve also heard it all before, so don’t be embarrassed to ask something that feels silly or trivial, whether it’s “How many people do I have to share a room with?” (Zero) or “Can I take maths in my Arts degree?” (Yes, but I didn’t end up doing it).

Go into Open Day with an open mind. This is something I wish I’d done. I went to Open Days even though I felt like I’d already decided where I wanted to go. This meant I didn’t keep an open mind at some of the other universities, which I know would have been equally as good in different ways. Attend every Open Day like it’s the uni you will be attending.

Take notes at the end of the day. I also wish I’d done this, as once I’d visited a number of universities, all I could remember was some vague impressions rather than solid facts. Write down what you liked, what you didn’t like, what your housing and transport situation would be, and which courses you’re most interested in.

You don’t need to take every piece of paper you’re offered. I finished year 12 with about three trees worth of Open Day brochures. Most of this information is online anyway, so only take the brochures for the things you’re really interested in or things that you can’t find online.

It’s also a good idea to listen to what your parents thought. If you attend an Open Day with them, ask their opinion and really listen. They were at all the same events and casual chats as you, but they might have come out of it with different impressions. They know you really well, so they might have some good advice. But remember that in the end, it is your decision.

Stay hydrated and well-fed. You’ll collapse if you try to walk around all day without sustenance in a new environment where you’re constantly meeting new people and having to concentrate on a huge amount of information. There will most likely be free or cheap food on campus, or you could take a break and find a café nearby. My mum and I almost couldn’t keep going by the end of one Open Day – but it was lucky we did, because the last place we dragged ourselves to ended up being the residential college I stayed at for two years! You never know what you’ll miss out on if you let yourself get tired too early in the day.

Don’t be afraid to follow up if you missed something on Open Day. If you forgot to ask a burning question or have had a sudden change of mind about courses, there will always be someone you can email or call to find out what you need to know. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, as it’s important to make a well-informed choice about your future university!

Open Days - An insight into your future

Elio Damato

Author: LWD Team.

As you progress through the senior years of study you will often be asked questions like, “What will you do when you finish school?” “What career would you like to pursue?” “Is there a particular university you would like to attend?” 

However, let’s face it, our responses are usually based on not much more than what subjects we like at school or what our parents, older siblings or friends may recommend we do. Well as you make your way through the academic year you have to start really thinking about your future. What degree are you going to apply for? Which university are you going to attend? What are your career options?

Well this time of year provides a great opportunity to get an insight into your future as universities open their doors to visitors to give prospective students and their parents an insight into what university life is like and what options are available to you.

‘Open Days’ are run on weekends starting in late July through to early September and most major universities hold their Open Days on alternative weekends. You can obtain a full list of upcoming Open Days by visiting the VTAC website.

The benefits of attending a number of different Open Days are numerous. Firstly, they provide invaluable insights on one of life's most important decisions. You can get a sense of the vibe and atmosphere of a university by having a casual chat to the lecturers and to students from different faculties (subject areas) and walking around the campus to get a sense of the facilities.  

It also helps if you do a bit research before you go. This will allow you to focus on areas of interest and help you use your time efficiently. Make a day of it because the time will fly as you engross yourself in what your future life is going to look like. And don’t worry, if you feel a little nervous about attending on your own then you are welcome to bring your parents, siblings and/or friends to the day in order to share your experiences with them.
 
You will walk away from the Open Day with a good gut-feel as to whether you wish to pursue studies in a particular subject area and whether it is the right institute for you.

Finally, Open Days are not just for those in Year 12. In fact, it is a very good idea for year 11 and 10 students to attend as well. It helps students to understand what subjects they should pursue in VCE and what academic achievement is required in order to obtain a position at the university of your dreams.