Making the Most Of

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Making the Most Of Open Days Interviews
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• Open Days

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• University Open Days
• Make sure that the University offers your chosen
  subject before you go!
• Find out about each institution look at
• - Prospectus
• Website
• Try to visit each institution on your list to
  see it for yourself
• University Open Days
• Subject Open Days
• Individual Visits

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• What should you look for on the day?
• Accommodation
• Learning Resources
• Location of University
• Social Life
• Student Support
• Transport

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• Accommodation
• Is University Accommodation guaranteed for first
  years?
• Is it self-catering or catered? What facilities
  are on-site?
• How much does it cost? What does the rent
  include?
• - Remember that you will have to buy food,
• - You may need to buy electricity, water, gas,
  telephone...
• Is it easy to find private accommodation?
• Go on a tour of the accommodation if you
• can

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• Learning Resources
• These are very important as you will need them
  for research and further reading.
• How good are the libraries? When are they open?
• How many open-access computers are there?
• Is free internet access provided?
• What are the facilities like in your School/
  Department?
• If you can, go on a tour of the facilities on the
  day

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• Location
• How far is the University from home?
• Is the university 'campus-based?'
• (all confined in one area or spread over a
  town/city)
• Look at the buildings where lectures will be.
• Are they near to each other? What are they like?
• Look at the town/city the University is in.
  What are the shops/bars like?
• Do you like the area?
• What is the cost of living?

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• Social Life
• What clubs/societies are there?
• STUDENT UNIONS operate bars, clubs, shops and
  societies
• Find out what is available and where it is based
  - is it
• in the town/city?
• within halls of residence?
• or on the main campus?
• Does the university have sports facilities, and
  can you see them?
• Ask a current student what they think about the
  University
• Remember - you will be there for at least 3
  years!

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• Student Support
• What support does the University offer?
• Academic
• - Personal tutor in the School/Department
• Non-Academic
• - health welfare
• - counselling
• - finance
• disability
• careers advice
• Is there anyone at the open day from these
• services to talk to?

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• Transport
• How far is it from the halls of residence to the
  main campus?
• Will students need a car?
• Is there student parking?
• What public transport is there?
• How much does it cost?
• Does the University have any transport?

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• Top Tips
• Look at the website before going to an Open Day
• Is there an itinerary of talks/tours available
  to download?
• Do they offer accommodation to stay in
  overnight?
• Can you pre-register for an information
  mail-out?
• Make a plan of what you want to see on the day
• Make a list of any questions that you may want
  answers to
• Go with a friend or relative for a second
  opinion
• Remember - you are there to check the University
  out and see if it is the place for you

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• Interviews

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Interviews

• You should think of an interview as an
  Opportunity
• To find out more about the Course/University
• To sell yourself to the admissions tutor
• Remember an interview is a two-way thing
• The University is assessing you
• But you should also be assessing the university

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Courses that require an interview

• Vocational Courses
• - Social Work, Initial Teacher Training,
  Community Youth Work Studies
• Early Childhood Studies
• Art Design Courses
• Performing Arts Dance / Drama / Music
• Mature Students from non-traditional backgrounds

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• Selection Procedures
• Interviews at the university follow a number of
  different formats
• Formal individual interview
• Small Group interview
• Informal chat
• Group discussion
• Written exercise

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Social Work Interview

• The interview is currently in 3 parts
• A group discussion about a set case
• A small piece of written work about the case and
  the discussion
• An individual interview

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Primary Education

• Interviews take place in small groups
• 20 minute written task on an aspect of Primary
  teaching
• 15 minute Maths task
• Tutors are looking for evidence of
• work with young people
• academic ability
• communication skills
• knowledge of recent developments in schools

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• Interview Preparation
• You should do some basic preparation to make sure
  they know about the Course / University
• Prospectuses
• Specific Course leaflets / brochures
• Website www.sunderland.ac.uk
• Open Days
• Individual tours
• Make sure that you have read through your UCAS
  Form

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• What are Admissions Tutors looking for?
• Evidence of academic motivation
• Relevant professional / voluntary experience
• Enthusiasm, Motivation, Energy
• Self-Confidence
• Reasons for choosing that particular course
• Somebody who can articulate their ideas
• Evidence that you have the ability to think
  things through not just recite facts

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• Advice from Admissions Tutors
• Give examples to back up what you say!
• Show some knowledge / understanding of the
  subject area even if its a subject youve never
  done before!
• Think about grammar and appropriateness of
  language when you speak
• Practise being interviewed and rehearse any
  presentations you are asked to make
• In a group interview be confident not dominant

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• Sunderland University Open Days 2008
• Wednesday 25th June 9am 3pm
• Wednesday 20th August 9am 6pm
• Wednesday 8th October 12pm 6pm
• Check out our website
• www.sunderland.ac.uk
• Individual Visits
• See the Facilities
• Mini tour of the city
• Meet a lecturer/current student

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Open Days Interviews

• Do you have any questions?