Madi Baldwin, BSc (Hons) Construction Project Management student, explores the reasons as to why you should attend an open day.
Whether you have your heart set on a particular university or you are still deciding which university is right for you, attending Open Days is something I would recommend to anybody. I attended an Open Day when I was exploring my university options and one of the most important things for me as a disabled student was access, as well as the support offered. I found the whole experience invaluable, as I was able to meet my now course leader, learn about the industry experience of many of my lecturers and chat to a member of staff from the Inclusive Support team. I knew after my Open Day that UCLan was the best place for me academically and because of the level of support offered to students. As well as this, it was so good to see the buildings I’d be studying in and visit the labs, as this was something that really interested me as I wanted to do a practical based degree.
Bring your parents/carers/partner with you
As someone who wasn’t very confident before coming to university, I benefitted so much from having in the input of both of my parents on my Open Day. Having your parents / carers / partner there with you is another set of ears and trust me, you’ll be glad to have them there, as you will get so much information on the day.
Be sure to take a Campus Tour
If there’s one thing I wholeheartedly recommend doing on your Open Day, it’s to go on a Campus Tour. The Campus Tours show you the entire campus, as well as all the key buildings for your course. These tours are led by student ambassadors and it gives you time to speak to them, which is great if you want to get a student’s view on things!
Explore Preston
If you’re unfamiliar with Preston, an Open Day is a great opportunity to really explore the city. UCLan’s campus is close by to the city centre (5-10-minute walk), so it’s convenient and a great chance to see what Preston has to offer and to picture yourself living here. The one piece of advice that I really want you to take away from this blog is that the Open Days are there for YOU! Make it your day and do the things you know you’ll benefit from. Allow yourself to get a feel for the university and the course you are interested in. Have fun and enjoy yourself, this is going to be the beginning of a very exciting chapter of your life.
