21 Dec 2016

Choosing a university for your degree is nearly as stressful as the HSC. It’s one of those “big decisions that determines your life” kind of deals. You can do all the online research and talk to as many friends and family as you like, but when it comes to picking the uni that’s right for you, nothing beats checking out the real deal.

The best for me was open days. They’re one of the few chances you have to get a feel for each campus, check out the facilities, gather all the information that you need about your uni course and learn all its nuances. Each university has a unique atmosphere and personality about it. It’s like that little black dress – although you might think you love it, you’ll never really know until you try it on.

Universities make open days worth your while too. Whether it’s free food, performances, interactive activities or market stalls, most go all-out to sway your decision. That’s why you’ve got to go a bit deeper than the free sausage sizzle – you’ve got to attend the course lectures and info sessions too, as this is where you get to see the university’s true colours.

This became apparent to me after I had narrowed the decision down to two reputable universities for my business degree.

As I arrived at the first university open day, the buzz was incredible – there was music playing, people everywhere and plenty of food stalls filling the campus grounds with heavenly smells. I took a brochure and quickly realised how big the campus actually was and how lost I was going to get. Sure enough, after 20 minutes of walking in circles and asking student volunteers for help, I finally found the building I was meant to be in for the marketing talk.

The theatre was enormous and must have held over 1000 students. I sat up the back (as you do) and watched as the theatre filled up with more and more people. It was then I realised … I would never be more than just a number here. I wouldn’t only get lost on campus, I’d get lost in my very own classes. The feeling just wasn’t right, so I packed up my bag and left for open day #2.

On my way to the second open day, I started to question the whole university thing. If every university was a place where you were just one of many, would I just be ‘going it alone’ my entire uni experience? But from the moment I walked through the University of Notre Dame’s courtyard I knew it was going to be the place for me. Not only was the campus architecturally stunning, the people were extremely welcoming, the lecture rooms were small and intimate, and I could easily navigate myself around the campus. I was even able to chat to numerous lecturers, including the Dean of Business – not just student volunteers. I got the sense that they actually cared for me. They understood my confusion and helped me try to work out what was best for me … I was going to be more than a number here.

The open day made it so much easier to visualise myself studying at Notre Dame. It gave me the sense of excitement about going to university I had been looking for. And that’s really what made my decision – I felt at ease, I felt confident, I felt I belonged. I felt at home.

So I guess my advice is, don’t try and fit yourself into a university based purely on your research or what other people say. Go along to open days and choose the uni that best suits your needs and makes you feel at home. Nothing will help you make a decision better than your intuition.