Open Days

Try to visit a new place before you make a decision - if you stay in education after year 11, you'll probably need to attend an interview in any case.

Universities often don't interview applicants, however.

If you get a chance to meet students, these are the type of things you could ask...

• Number of lectures
• What happens in the first few weeks
• How many books you have to read
• Whether you get help finding work experience
• What the social life is like
• What student accommodation is like
• Whether the subject is similar to previous qualifications (such as GCSEs and A-levels)

Check whether or not you need to book/reserve a place - less likely for further education colleges, more likely for school sixth forms (year 12/13) and for some universities.

Schools and colleges

• Open days may take place in the early autumn term. Click here for details of School/College open days in Gloucestershire
• The format varies but could include: meeting tutors and current students, being shown around and having the opportunity to pick up prospectuses and course information
• If a place is extremely popular, you may need to apply before the open day

Universities and other higher education institutions

• For dates look at the university's website and the Open Days site - if held on a weekday, check with your school/college that it's ok to attend
• Some institutions hold a general open day but smaller events may take place instead, such as departmental open days or specific campus open days
• Some events are held quite early on so you may need to attend them before you've begun to to make a shortlist of possibilities

If you have additional needs....

Information on your additional needs should be passed on to the place you are visiting so that they can put any necessary support in place for you.

What next?

Make sure you look into:

• Academic factors - library/IT facilities, reputation, grade requirement
• Accommodation - availability, parking facilities, guaranteed?, value for money
• Social facilities/life - sporting, clubs/societies, near town/country
• Welfare and support - counselling, careers service
• Surroundings - transport links, safety, part time job opportunities