what to think about if you're in y13

Thought you were done with open days by this point? Think again.​

By now, you've probably heard from most – if not all – the unis you applied to. If not, don’t worry. They're supposed to let you know by 31 March, but if you just can’t wait until then, it won't hurt to give them a call.

Now, while we’re sure that you made an effort to see all 5 of your choices before applying, we also understand that sometimes life gets in the way and you might not have had time for them all (err... or any of them).

Oops.

Don’t worry, all is not lost, just make sure you get round to as many of them as possible before replying to your offers (deadline 4th May).​

Unis usually hold several official open days (or 'applicant days’) each year, but you don’t have to wait — most unis are happy for you to come any time. Some will ask that you let them know first and it's only polite.

Besides, they may be able to make sure you're getting the most out of your trip.

It's certainly important to let them know that you'll be coming if you plan on talking to any of your potential lecturers. Which is something we'd definitely advise — it’s a great way of finding out about the course.

Open days involve a bunch of talks and presentations by lecturers and other staff. And there are campus tours, usually by current students. It's good to get an overview, but it's also worth breaking away to have a bit of a nose around yourself.

Don't just think about what they're most proud to show you. What do you want? How does what's on offer here suit you? Has it got what it takes to become a place you'd call home?

You're going to be spending three or more years of your life in this place, and you're going to be paying quite a bit of money to do so. If you're not happy with it after an hour, imagine how you'll feel after a year.

You can use your visit to answer some the other questions about university life, some of which you’ll find in our Student section.

Even if you've already been to your top choices, you could do worse than go back for another look.

You get a different perspective on a return visit and it can help cement your choice, especially if you’re juggling offers and trying to decide.

Author

LUCY HARDING is the Editorial manager for Push. She is an English Literature grad and an MA Publishing student at UCL. She is passionate about international relations and cultural diversity, having worked closely with her university’s Erasmus society to support European students. She also spent a year abroad studying at California State University: Long Beach

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