Not sure whether to take friends and family, or go it alone? Time to weigh up the pros and cons of taking others to Open Day
Friends and family are your go-to support people for your whole uni journey. That means having them tag along for Open Day can be super helpful. That said, there are times when it can be better to go it alone. These lists are designed to help you decide!
Bring others
TL; DR: Having others along for support can be helpful. You won’t be the only one, lots of people take friends and family along for the day. Everyone is welcome!
- Emotional support: If you’re a little nervous, having emotional support buddies can make all the difference.
- Comfort and understanding: Definitely bring anyone who will make you feel more comfortable on the day, whether it’s friends, family, carers or interpreters.
- Different perspectives: Bringing others can encourage you to ask questions and provide different views.
- Find your way: Having extra people can help you navigate a large and unfamiliar university campus.
- Study buddies: Taking a friend who’s looking at similar courses is perfect – they might be a potential study buddy for your uni years.
- Lasting benefits: You can talk to your support people about uni and course comparisons, long after Open Day.
Go it alone
TL; DR: If people are going to be overwhelming, embarrassing or a distraction, go alone. You’ll meet plenty of helpful people at Open Day.
- Build confidence: Going to Open Day alone can help you build the confidence you’ll need to eventually navigate uni all by yourself.
- Meet new people: You’ll be encouraged to chat to people you might not otherwise meet if you’re travelling with others.
- Make up your own mind: If there are people with strong opinions that may overwhelm your own, it can be better to head in by yourself.
- Avoid embarrassment: If you think someone might be embarrassing, definitely leave them at home!
- No distractions: Don’t bring someone who is just there to socialise and distract you, this is precious time to help you make decisions. Also, bringing too many people can be hard to manage.
- Your time, your priorities: If you’re taking a friend who’s also looking at unis, make sure they’re interested in similar courses. You don’t want to spend too much time focusing on their priorities rather than your own. Or, simply make a plan to catch up for lunch and compare notes.
Whether you’re alone or with others, the good news is that Open Day is a wonderful time to explore your university options. Either way, there will be lots to see and do, and amazing people to meet and talk to!
