Planning on applying to university, but can't visit university campuses? You might think that will make imagining university life difficult, but it doesn't have to.
In this blog post, we’ve put together some suggestions on how to choose a university when you can't visit in person. From navigating virtual Open Days to tips on how to critically think about which institution is the best fit for you, read on to find out more about researching universities virtually.
Contents:
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Attend virtual Open Days and Offer Holder Days
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Explore YouTube accounts
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Seek out student-generated content
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Take organised notes to paint as vivid a picture as possible
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Research the local area
1. Attend virtual Open Days and Offer Holder Days
When you can't make it to campus in person, a virtual event is a great way to get a feel for how a university operates and help you choose which uni to go to.
This may seem like an obvious one, but virtual Open Days are often overlooked or seen as interchangeable from just looking through a university’s website. However, this is not the case. In fact, virtual Open Days take months of planning and are designed to give you an in-depth and as real an experience as possible.
Virtual Open Days include video introductions to subjects from academic staff. videos and virtual tours of the city and campus, the opportunity to chat online with current students and academic staff, and the chance to speak to staff from student services such as accommodation and finance.
If you’re currently an offer holder, why not attend a virtual Offer Holder Day? Many of our schools and subjects are running these events to give you a deeper insight into your chosen course.
2. Explore YouTube accounts
During a traditional Open Day, outside of the events and talks you’re likely to attend, you also get the opportunity to walk through campus, explore the library, the Students' Union and more.
However, picturing yourself in these places gets a little tricky when you’re on an Open Day on your sofa!
YouTube videos are a great way to decide if you can really see yourself studying and thriving at a university.
Browse footage of the university itself and surrounding areas. Even if a video or clip isn’t specifically about the course or field you want to study, the content, footage and people involved are a telling insight into the look and feel of a university.
3. Seek out student-generated content
Who better to tell you how great a university is than existing students? Many university blogs include student-generated content where existing students and alumni describe their experiences at their chosen university. For example, our Student Stories blogs are packed with student diaries and top tips for prospective Newcastle University students.
What’s more, platforms such as Unibuddy give you the chance to speak directly with existing students about your chosen area of study; perfect if you're still wondering what uni course is right for you!
Plus, there's always plenty of current student-generated content to be found on social media, especially in story takeovers and campus pictures on Instagram.
4. Take organised notes to paint as vivid a picture as possible
If you’re exclusively researching universities virtually, it’s easy to get confused, particularly if you’re researching quite a few. We recommend actively taking notes as you do your research, and keeping your notes as organised as possible.
However, don’t just write down what you thought about the course and lectures, instead add buzzwords for how each online experience made you feel. Did the lecturers on the virtual Open Day seem welcoming and approachable? Did the exterior of the university in a YouTube video make you feel inspired and excited? Or, perhaps chatting to the existing students on Unibuddy made you feel reassured and comfortable?
Attaching emotions to your online research is a great way to bridge the gap between virtual and reality, equipping you with a mix of facts and feelings so you know how to choose a university that's right for you.
5. Research the local area
One component you may miss when you don’t attend a physical Open Day is getting a feel of the surrounding area. When you visit an Open Day, you may walk from the train station to campus or pop into a nearby restaurant for lunch. Though it may not seem it, every part of your day factors into the decision-making process.
At Newcastle University, we include city tours on our virtual Open Days because we understand how important it is to feel safe and 'at home' during your studies. So, look out for those if you’re keen to get an insight into life up North!
