How to Make the Most of a Virtual Open Day

Open days are a great way to gather information about universities, tour campuses and accommodation, and meet current students and staff. Virtual open weeks aim to offer all of that, and can help even more. Attending an open day gives you more information at hand and helps you ask more specific questions.

Through the internet, you can access university open days from anywhere in the world. You can also attend as many open day events as you like, which will give you a broader understanding of your university options. This is especially useful if you want to study abroad, because you can gather university information through open days without having to travel long distances.

What Can You Get from a Virtual Open Week?

As an alternative to on-campus open days, virtual open weeks provide students with information about university life over the course of a week, including campus tours, subject talks, and subject information sessions. There may be open days for different departments, where you can get subject-specific information, but that depends on the university.

Although you may not be able to experience the university and campus in person, a virtual open day or open week is a great opportunity to gather information about the university.

You can expect:

• Campus and city tours: Take a virtual tour of the university and its surroundings, including the inside of buildings and accommodation.
• Student support sessions: Use live chat tools to speak one-on-one with current students about their courses and life at the university.
• Subject-specific talks and webinars: Academics will talk about your subject, course content, and assessment methods in live webinars, and give you the chance to ask your own questions.
• Answers to your personal questions: Ask about finances, work experience opportunities, and career development.
• Shared resources: Some universities will share downloadable resources that you can keep. Students can read through these later.

Here are 7 tips for making the most of a virtual open day:

1. Make a list of the virtual open days you want to attend

Make a list of the university open days you are interested in attending. Online open weeks give you the chance to explore as many universities as possible, all from the comfort of your sofa.

Without travel restrictions, you may want to look at universities you had not previously considered, such as overseas universities.

UCAS has a list of UK universities offering virtual open days.

2. Register in advance

Most events require you to register in advance so the university knows how many people to expect. If you do not register, they will not be able to send you any preparatory emails, including links and information about the open day.

3. Know which departments you want to visit

Make sure you have looked at the courses at each university and reviewed the course specifications and module content. It is wise to do this, as it helps you ask the right questions and understand the course you have chosen.

The university open day agenda will let you know whether your college or department has a dedicated open day. Be sure to note which day you need to attend.

4. Prepare a few questions to ask

During a virtual open day, you will be able to talk to current students and lecturers. Take advantage of this and do your research beforehand.

Come up with a few questions that you cannot find answered on the website. If you ask something that is already answered on the university website, do not worry - university admissions staff will point you in the right direction so you can find the relevant information.

If you are unsure what kinds of questions to ask, here are a few examples.

About university life:

• What part-time job opportunities are available at the university?
• What clubs and societies does the university have, and which are the most popular?
• Is accommodation guaranteed?
• Can you drive to campus?
• Do most students stay on campus at weekends?

About the course:

• How many students are on the course?
• Are there opportunities for internships? If so, will the university help arrange them?
• What does the course cover?
• What assessment methods are used?
• Many universities offer this subject, so why should I choose their course over another university's?
• What academic support is available?

5. Find out how to access the virtual open day materials

If you have registered in advance, the university will usually email you before the open day to let you know which online platforms they will use and how you can access them.

Some universities may hold open days on platforms you have not used before, so read any materials the university sends you in advance. For example, Cornell University created a virtual resource fair where students can visit virtual booths and speak to real admissions representatives.

6. Take a virtual campus tour

A virtual campus tour is a 3D tour of a university that allows students to explore the campus or city from home. Virtual campus tours can sometimes show spaces that are not available during an in-person visit. They are also usually available all day, which means you are not limited to a specific time.

While it cannot fully compare to an in-person visit, a virtual tour can still give you a strong impression of what the university looks like. Make sure you check which buildings are relevant to your course.

7. Do not get too caught up in how COVID may affect your studies

Although COVID-19 may affect the first few months of your degree, remember that your course will last at least three years. For most of that time, you will be studying in person at university.

Take the time to look closely at the university and its surroundings in virtual form, even if you may be studying online into 2021. The coronavirus pandemic will not last forever, and you will not want to end up at a university you do not particularly like because you did not take the time to look properly.