Beyond the Facade: How to Plan Your University Open Day
You just decided on the subject of your admissions essay, and it had something to do with your American-ess. You realized that it was timely after you recalled your holiday in London two summers ago; your mother, a huge fan of "Notting Hill", thought that Notting Hill must be included in your itinerary during your first day in London. You were browsing at the books in a (small) bookstore, while your mother was looking for Hugh Grant (or his lookalike) when a (friendly) couple greeted you and chatted. And they were quite surprised that you were Americans. You wondered if Americans were perceived as clueless when you recounted the conversation to your (high school) buddy, whose parents came from Mexico. We were trapped as guest stars, he complained, minor characters locked into a story that doesn't quite know what to do with us. You were weighing his words if this could be included in your essay when you heard your brother (in his room). Another (Zoom) meeting with his buddies. It was that time of the year when they talked about the upcoming NBA season. And you don't have a clue on why they wanted L.A. Lakers to trade Marc Gasol to another (NBA) team. You wanted to ask your brother about university open day. Did the pandemic make it more challenging for the likes of you? Possibly.
The open day is a brilliant opportunity to find out if you like your preferred university. There's a chance to meet your potential professor(s), see the library that could become part of your weekly routine, and bars where you might max out your overdraft. However, universities on open days would remind you of photoshopped celebrities: prettier versions of reality where the ugly bits are hidden from view. The pandemic didn't change it. As a matter of fact, your task would be more challenging. Do you need eyeglasses (while looking closely at the computer screen)? No, not at all.
You had a chance to ask your brother, who distracted you with another episode from his visit to New York two winters ago; he met an international student, who claimed to see the Genie while viewing the panorama of New York City from the Empire State Building Observatory. (He wondered if the same student knew "Huckleberry Finn" by heart. You wondered if your brother hasn't outgrown Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.) You cut his story, as you reminded him that your application would be a matter of life and death. (And you weren't exaggerating.) Your brother recalled a senior he met when he checked out the dormitory that he wanted to stay, who warned him not to suggest a L. Ron Hubbard short story (for an assignment). From his description of "Borrowed Glory", your brother sounded like a great storyteller. You wanted to ask him about authorship if he thought about composing a short story and send it to "The New Yorker", but it could wait. Summer was about to come to an end, and you must plan your (university) open day. So you browsed the Internet for a couple of hours. And you hit on something.
5 Ways to Get a Feel for the "Real" University
Ask a student. You found out about your (preferred) university's plush-en-suite student room, but you doubt if a first-year student would stay there. If you want to know the more normal example of first-year accommodation, or how friendly are the other students (there), then check out the university on Facebook and Twitter. Don't be shy to message some students, as this would be one way to get a feel of it. The pandemic would be your cue to think of another strategy, as the open day is dome during the summer. And the atmosphere is different from autumn (or winter). You can schedule your visit. It might be better to set foot on a weekday. And then...
Find someone honest. It could be someone in the library, canteen, or faculty, whom you politely bombard questions. The last one might help you make a decision, as lectures must fit with your style of learning. Ask tutor about how teaching is done in small classes, who delivers them and how large the group would be. And what happens if you fail an examination (or miss the deadline of your assignment).
Check it out. Nosiness is a good thing, which your brother told you (after reading too many Agatha Christie novels). Take a look at the posters on the walls, as it should give your more insight into sports, clubs, and entertainment available than the prospectus that your tutor would give you. You can drop by the library, as you must know how many copies of important books are available. (But don't check how thickly the shelves are filled. Yet.) You are likely to find a student newspaper in the students' union or cafe, which would certainly tell about the latest on-campus gripes, from rubbish food to striking professors. Your snooping doesn't end there, as you must know what students are talking about (in social media). If it's another mask debate, then you must wait for another day or two. And then ask yourself.
What was the journey like? You would recall your high school, with up to 40,000 students. Your (preferred) university is slightly bigger than it. Are you comfortable with it? The answer wouldn't be good enough, as you must consider other things. Are you looking forward to parties? Is retail therapy your thing? Urban university or one in the back-of-beyond? You might not get an immediate response to your questions, if not unsatisfied (due to the uncertainty of the times), but it's fine. Take a walk, which you would do so every day. Soon. Last but not least,...
Ogle the careers service. Look at the number of graduates in work six months after completing their degree. Ask about advisers (and if they're helpful about all). And then take notice of the state of the office. If it looks a bit decrepit, then it should change your mind.
Why Wait?
The pandemic might prompt your parents to say otherwise, but going to the university is like stepping into the cosmos. It would be very different from your high school, but open day removes some of its mystique. You can't pass the chance to stake out the place.
