Going to an Open Day? Here’s Your Uni Open Day Survival Guide

Nail your Open Day experience with our survival guide 😎

This article is presented in partnership with University of Technology Sydney.

Yes, we’re sure you’ve heard it all before. Open Days are to explore campus, learn about your potential uni, meet the staff and students and of course get free stuff.

But if you’re attending an open day soon, do you know how to really plan your day so you get the most out of it?

Enter: your Open Day Survival Guide. Here’s how you can make the most of your day so you can pick the best uni for you.

Plus, if you're thinking about attending the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), aka Times Higher Education number one Young University 2022, you might want to check out their upcoming Open Day, Saturday 31 August. 

We spoke to current UTS students Natasha, Lucas and Julia about what to expect from Open Day. 

Ask course-specific questions.

When it comes to finding out about your future uni course, you don’t just want to ask about info you can find out in the course handbook.

Spend your open day asking about the nitty gritty you won’t find anywhere else. Try asking course-specific questions to current students and lecturers. Ask about things like core subjects and electives, how the course is structured and what kind of assignments or exams you can expect.

Natasha, Lucas and Julia said one thing they found really useful at UTS’s Open Day is learning more about hands-on experience.

“[Ask] questions about lab work, fieldwork or practical projects,” they said.

“Find out if there are opportunities for work placements or real-world projects as part of the course.”

Speak to current students.

What better way is there to find out what studying at a uni is really like than to speak to the current students?

If you’re heading to UTS’s Open Day, students will be stationed at different points all across their city campus.

Apart from finding out about different course details, when you speak to current students you can gain insight about some of the student clubs, societies, extracurricular activities and student life.

Speaking to them will also be a great way to find out what the campus vibe is like. That way you’ll know firsthand if this is the uni for you!

Check out the campus facilities.

If you’re going to spend three or more years on campus, you’ll defs want to check out everything the uni campus has to offer.

Spend your open day checking out the facilities like their library, study spaces, labs and more.

Natasha, Lucas and Julia told Student Edge, you might even want to look into support services.

“[Look into] the direction of academic support you might need on campus…like academic support, counselling and career services,” they said.

Another UTS student told us it’s important to look beyond your campus too.

“Check out the surrounding area and amenities,” they said.

“It’s good to know what’s available nearby, like cafes, shops and entertainment options.”

Ask about successful graduates.

You might be just starting your uni journey but for some, they’ve finished student life and have entered the ‘real world’.

If you want to find out more about what a graduate from your chosen course is doing, asking around at open day is the way to go.

If you’re heading to UTS’s Open Day, you could not only ask about their successful graduates but also find out what are some different career options these past students have taken.

This will help you find out what some of your own potential outcomes after graduation could look like.

Discover how our survival guide can make a difference. Try it out at UTS's upcoming Open Day!

Head to their Sydney city campus on the 31 August from 9am to 3pm. Register for the free event here.