Five ways to nail Open Day

University Open Day season is just around the corner and it’s time to take a few unis for a test drive. To help make sure you get the most out of your experience, we’ve put together a list of expert tips on how to nail Open Day. So make sure your potential future uni ticks all the must-haves below, and get excited!

1. Get your planning hat on

First, make a list of the kinds of courses that interest you and check out which unis offer those courses. Most university sites have a dedicated Open Day section with all the lectures, events, tours, activities and opportunities available on the day. This will help you put together a schedule around the courses you like, and prioritise the things that matter most to you.

2. What’s the campus like?

Studying at uni is about more than just attending lectures – much more. At Open Day, take the time to get a feel for the campus. Does it have the features you’ve dreamt about, like large green spaces to bask in the sunshine with your new friends, an array of dining options and sporting facilities so you can nurture both body and mind, or a business incubator that supports your entrepreneurial ideas?

3. Discover the uni’s strengths

As well as enjoying the fun atmosphere on Open Day, you’ll have the opportunity to deep dive into the different degrees on offer. Talk to students and academics about the courses and units that interest you and what makes them different from other unis. It could be something new like the ability to combine two degrees, or impressive like having the best academics in the field, or amazing facilities that help you learn. Remember that everyone is super friendly at Open Day – so take advantage and ask all the questions you can think of!

4. Shop for a job, not just a degree

You’ll have heard this before: to land the best jobs, nowadays it’s not enough to just have a degree at the end of your study. You need to have skills that employers are looking for once you graduate. So get a feel for how the course is set up, but make sure it offers options for practical skills development. Open Day tours will help you get to know the academic parts of a course, but don’t miss any one-on-one opportunities to ask students and academics how much of the learning happens beyond the lecture theatre.

For example, if you’re studying engineering, a wind tunnel or robotics lab might be really important; if you’re passionate about health sciences, then an on-site hospital and other on-campus health services will add depth to your learning. If you want to pursue your interest in finance, then a facility that lets you see the impact of financial decisions you make in real time will be a great asset. But if you want to learn on the job, internship and work placement opportunities should be a feature of the course.

5. Is your ATAR more like ATARRRGH?

Many universities recognise that students are more than just their ATAR and offer a range of entry options, pathway programs, adjustment factors and scholarships. This increases the opportunities available to you and creates an environment that sets you up for success. Take the time to find out what is available, just in case you don’t get the ATAR you were expecting.

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Finding the perfect uni that fits your culture and values takes a bit of time, but you’ll take your experiences with you over a lifetime. Want to see a University with it all?

Register for Macquarie University’s Open Day and see how you can multiply your potential with double degrees, alternative entry options, opportunities for practical skills learning, world-class academics and much more.

Macquarie Uni Open Day is on Saturday 17 August, from 10am to 3pm.