If you’re looking to study an accounting course in the new year, you’ll want to start attending open days ASAP (if you haven’t already). For courses that begin in January/February 2018, colleges and universities will already be hosting open days between now and Christmas. Today, we’re going to run through why you should attend and how you can get the most from open days.
Are Open Days Worth the Effort?
Categorically, yes. Open days are one of the best ways to find out whether a course and/or institution are suited to you. True, online reviews and prospectuses are useful, but they are unlikely to deliver the volume and quality of information an open day provides. By visiting the institution in person, you’ll also get a real feel for what it’s like to study there – a feeling you won’t get from pictures or reviews.
In addition to exploring the campus/es, open days will give you the opportunity to speak with course lecturers and advisors. You can ask about the course itself, the college or university, fees and funding, the application process, employment opportunities… basically, if you have any concerns or queries, you can ask until your heart’s content on an open day!
Get in touch with Aspiring Accountants today to find out your nearest accounting open day and how to book your place.
Capitalising on Open Days
You’ve registered for an AAT open day or two; now you need to know how to make the most of them. Fear not – we have the answers.
Open days can be intimidating for some. It can be easy to get lost, forget the questions you want to ask, and end up being overwhelmed by the quantity of information you’re given. It’s just as easy to take a backseat and float through the event without actually gaging whether you want to study there or not. That’s why we’ve come up with a number of ways you can make the occasion a productive one:
- Make a shortlist: If you’re interested in a number of institutions, make sure you visit each one. Once you’ve been to their open day, review what you saw and learnt. Ranking each by number can also be helpful.
- Pre-event planning: Find out as much as you can about the institution before your visit. When making travel arrangements, ensure you arrive punctually. At the same time, you’ll also be able to establish how far the campus is from home – this swings some students’ decisions. If the institution emails you a schedule for the day, plan accordingly; if you’re looking at several qualifications in one place, make sure you allocate enough time to look into each one.
- Write down any questions: just make sure you actually ask them! Your questions don’t just have to be about the course (although most important) or campus, you can ask about accommodation or student finance, for example. If there are current students present, why not ask them about the local nightlife or for tips on how to get a place at that college/uni.
- Bring your parents or friends: Some individuals find it beneficial to have a second pair of eyes on the day. If you’re spending the day there, why not have a look at what the surroundings have to offer together?
- Take advantage: If there are tours organised, go on one – after all, you’ll want to find out where you’ll be spending much of your foreseeable future (also, bring comfortable shoes). If you have the option to sit in on a taster lesson, do just that. If you want to ask a lecturer or course advisor a question and they’re busy, don’t give up, grab them when they’re next free.
- Take the initiative: If you aren’t available on any of the open day dates, get in touch with the institution, they may allow you to visit on another occasion – you’ll never know until you ask.
Contact Aspiring Accountants for more information on accounting open days in your area. We’ll be happy to answer any queries you may have.
