I think if possible, all prospective students should come to an open day. They give you an experience of what your life at university could potentially be like. You can check out the campus, meet staff and students and (most importantly) get a feel of the atmosphere at York. It is important that you experience the university while you have the chance. This means asking questions, chatting to people and visiting the accommodation. Without this, it can be difficult to know whether or not you would fit in or feel comfortable at university.
Accommodation
Coming on an open day allows you to see the campus in person. There are a range of places you will probably want to check out before deciding if York is for you. Most importantly: the campus accommodation. Even if you already know that you want to come to York, checking out the accommodation on an open day can help you decide which college you want to be in. And trust me, they’re all very different. Catered, self-catered, en-suite, shared bathroom, located on campus East or West…these are just the surface differences. Each college has a unique style and atmosphere. One of the most important and vital parts of university life is your flat and ‘home away from home’. The best way to make sure that you end up in a place suited for you is to explore your options.
Meeting students
Visiting the accommodation also gives you a chance to speak to the students who live there. This is another important thing you should try to do if you come on an open day. Yes, you can speak to the student ambassadors located around campus, but the best people to speak to are the students living there. In the process of viewing the flats you’ll likely encounter a student or two in the kitchen – talk to them! There’s no one better to hear a first-hand account from. You can also get a feel of the types of people you could potentially be living with if you pick York. Coming on an open day is the best way to get a feel of the accommodation and what it’s like to live there.
Asking questions
Another benefit of coming on an open day is the ability to ask questions about life at York. You should make the most of your visit and ask about the things you want to know. If you have any questions at all you should ask them – none are too weird or random! We’ve heard it all, questions ranging from room sizes to soundproof walls to dishwashers. And it’s probably a good idea to ask about the university in general.
Find an ambassador or student and ask them about which course they’re studying. If you get lucky, they could be studying the same course that you want to apply for and then they’ll tell you everything you need to know and more. This sort of information is the kind that you can only receive in person. This is what really makes coming to an open day worthwhile. And of course, you should definitely ask about York or go into the city itself. Try and get a feel of the city, make sure it has everything you want like shops, restaurants, clubs, parks. You won’t be isolated on the campus, the city itself plays a huge role in your life at York. You need to know if you like it before you make a decision.
Getting an idea of whether you’d fit in at York or feel comfortable on the campus can be really beneficial when deciding if you want to come here. It can tell you if you feel happy with the university atmosphere. If you’re not happy with the character of the campus then you basically know for sure that York isn’t for you and vice versa. So if you do come on an open day at York it’s really important to ask questions. Don’t leave with any unanswered ones, you need to find out as much as you can about life at York so you can make your decision.
Read more about open days.
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