On open day, sometimes the most important thing you discover is something you weren′t looking for at all. Meet 3 people whose lives were changed by a uni open day.
Open days are more than a chance to tour lecture theatres and collect course guides. They′re an opportunity to explore new possibilities, meet current students and get a feel for what life at university is really like. And occasionally, a single conversation or unexpected session can completely change the direction of your future.
A chance decision
Before attending a Deakin University open day, Kira Hughes thought she knew where her interests lay. She was ready for a life of zoology, ecology and maybe veterinary science, and was there to soak up more info about courses in those fields. Then a split-second decision changed everything.
Kira and her mum were about to race off to the other side of campus, when they noticed a biomedical science presentation about to begin. ″I′d never heard of biomed before,″ Kira says.
″I just decided that sounds interesting. We′ll just stay here and listen to the lecture. What′s the worst that could happen?″
The lecture introduced her to an entirely different side of science.
″I realised, my god, this sounds way more interesting. Wow, this is so cool that scientists actually do this kind of work in a lab.″
By the time she was submitting university preferences in Year 12, biomedical science degrees had risen to the top of her list.
Today, Kira has a PhD and is working in biomedicine as a hay fever and thunderstorm asthma expert.
The repeat visitor
For science communicator Lee Constable, open day helped demystify university life. And one visit wasn′t enough as a teen growing up in regional Australia. She was compelled to attend Canberra′s multi-university open day three times across years 11, 12 and her gap year.
Lee′s parents took her along. ″Being the first in family to go to uni meant none of us really knew what to expect about any aspect of uni study or life,″ she says.
The first visit helped Lee understand degree options and entry requirements. The second allowed her to explore specific courses.
And, on the third trip, Lee had already received an offer to study at the Australian National University. This open day was a chance to explore accommodation options.
″Moving on campus seemed like it would be a good way to meet people,″ she says.
Find opportunities you′ve never heard of
For Queensland University of Technology (QUT) student Dishi Agarwal, open day revealed opportunities she didn′t even know existed.
″When I attended QUT open day in Year 12, I found out about the Early Offer Scheme,″ she says. If you′re eligible for the scheme, you get your uni offer on the day you complete Year 12! It′s a ticket to peace of mind for many students.
And it wasn′t the only program Dishi found out about that day. ″It was amazing to hear first-hand about QUT’s focus on the real-world impact of programming, and opportunities, including the semester exchange program.″
Today, Dishi is studying a double degree in Business and Information Technology at QUT, preparing for a semester exchange at the University of Toronto and competing in major business case competitions.
Dishi has even come full circle, sharing open day with future potential students. ″Now, I get the amazing opportunity to work at open day as a Student Ambassador,″ she says.
Top tips
While it′s important to decide what you′d like to study, there′s plenty more to check out on open day. For example, Kira recommends asking what the food options and parking are like.
″That′s something you don′t usually think about,″ she says. ″The actual practical stuff. What′s the best place to hang out? You′re gonna be spending years at the campus.″
Ready for a life-changing experience? Check out this list of every university open day happening in 2026.
