So you have researched your favourite universities and you are booked on to their Open Days – but what should you be asking on the day? As a current student and subject rep at King’s College London I’ve worked many Open Day events in my time– and here are a few of the most common questions I get asked!
1. How do I choose the right course for me?
This is very individual, but first and foremost I recommend coming and talking to current students (like me!) at open days. There’s no better source of information for whether you’ll like a course than someone studying it. Further than this, you should look up the modules for your course online because this will be the actual subject of your study.
If you can’t come to an open day, universities often have other opportunities for you to visit. Here at King’s we have daily campus tours you can book on to or you can attend taster events too.
2. University seems like a big jump from A-Levels or IB, can I handle it?
There are many ways you can prepare to start at university. The shock of studying at university isn’t that you’re expected to academically improve with time, that is expected. The real difference is how independently you will work in comparison to school or college. My advice would be to prepare yourself for a situation where you do more work outside of a classroom/lecture theatre than inside one. Doing some preliminary readings on something you’re interested in over summer gets you in the right frame of mind.
3. How can I afford to live in London?
Of course, this question is specific to London universities – but it is a hugely common one. The best way to think about this question is that everyone you see around university, all the students you see, each one of them is affording to live in London. Living in London is something actually made easier by being a student, not only do you have a student loan to possibly contribute to your rent, but you also have support networks for housing and the option of being in halls in your first year so you can find your feet. After 1st year, many move to other areas of London in shared accommodation. Other than living, things aren’t much more expensive….. Travel is very reasonable (students get a nice 30% off travel), and you’ll find that a surprising amount of places are in walking distance. Add to this all your usual student discounts via your NUS card and others and it might not be as tricky as you think its going to be!
4. Will I make friends in my halls?
Of course! You will find people you like – after all, you’re being put into a building with hundreds of other students. Also, nearly everyone is in the same boat in terms of wanting to make friends in halls, and if everyone is making that effort it’s almost hard not to make friends! Have you read our blog Dear 18 year old me? Check it out for an insight into what we wish we had known when we were in your shoes!
5. What about in my lectures/seminars? Will I make friends there?
Your course-mates are a group of people that have similar interests to you, who you interact with already, plus (again) everyone wants to make friends. Make sure you make the most of your seminars too -if you are confident in the work you are doing, you might find it easier to relax and open up to other people. Seeing people outside of lectures is often simply a case of asking – most people will be very keen!
6. I’m worried my halls/student house is too far away from university?
In all honesty, in the case of London, with the tube links in this city you’re never actually that far away from anything. And if you are further away, there’s a good chance that things are cheaper because of it! There is a lot of exciting stuff going on in zone 2!
7. Is King’s College London good enough?
The simple answer is yes, people (and employers) respond to the name King’s College London with a raised eyebrow and a high level of respect. It is a prestigious university, with a long history and a good place in the ranking tables. More importantly, King’s has a positive ethos and environment for students to find themselves, without feeling too pressured to conform.
So there you have it! This is just a brief run down of some of the concerns people come to open days with, and my attempt to settle those unnecessary concerns before they eat you up too much. The main thing I experience at open days isn’t concern, it’s excitement. Join the excitement, find a course at King’s!
See you at the next open day!
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