When I got home after my Post Offer Visit Day, I firmed the University of York. I hadn’t seen the University before, and I fell in love with it as soon as I set foot there. Here’s my Post Offer Visit Day experience.
Getting there
I travelled to the University alone from London, after a concert at Wembley Arena. While it was a nerve-wracking experience, I’m incredibly glad that I went alone. It’s a scary thing to do, but it really forces you to talk to other people who are also visiting. It allows you to make up your own mind without others’ opinions clouding your judgement.
Arriving in York
When I arrived I knew immediately that York was a city that I would feel comfortable being a part of. Seeing the train station and the city walls drew my attention to how pretty York is. I really wish I could say that the aesthetic of the city and campus didn’t play a role in my decision, but I’d be lying. The city felt safe and I could see myself living here and enjoying it.
I got off of the bus (driven by a man wearing a stereotypical Yorkshire farmer’s cap) on Campus West. After a few lost minutes stumbled across to Spring Lane Building. It feels strange now to think of how foreign it felt to step off of that bus, now that it has become so familiar.
Activities
In Spring Lane Building, they had a welcoming committee waiting for us. I attended an accommodation talk, signed in and then headed to Biology.
With time to spare, I decided to view some of the accommodation (Vanbrugh and Alcuin). I met another prospective student here who I could walk around with. We got split up when we had to go to our respective departments though. We were given a free lunch (a buffet of sandwiches, pastries and cakes). If anything, it’s worth attending just for the free food! At the lunch I met another girl that I got on really well with, and who I still see around University now.
We had a welcome talk from the Biology staff and were then split into our individual courses (i.e. Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, etc.) and given course specific talks. After this we completed a practical, and after that we went on a tour of the Biology department.
The overarching impression I got was how friendly the staff seemed and how helpful and driven the student showing us around was. Any questions and doubts I had were answered and reassured. I felt comfortable (which for an anxious introvert was both surprising and great).
The train journey back was a long one, but one that I felt I could enjoy. Knowing that the travel to and from University wouldn’t be too stressful if I ever wanted to go home to visit really reassured me. I recommend you invest in a 16-25 railcard though, especially if the University is far from home. I got mine with my student bank account, and it has saved me a lot of money.
Conclusions
Of course I‘d done my previous research and knew that York had a good reputation for Biosciences, hence why I applied without looking around in the first place. Going on Post Offer Visit Days helped me decide which one I felt most enthusiastic about and would suit me best. I fell in love with the University of York, so I firmed it.
I don’t regret making the decision to firm York as hastily as I did after seeing it. When you know, you know. Yes it’s a long way from home and I miss all of the people that are there, but slowly I’m making new friends and this is becoming home. I love living here. If not for my Post Offer Visit Day experience, the distance may have swayed me into choosing somewhere else.
Read more Post Offer Visit Day experiences.
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