This is it. You’ve created a shortlist of universities, attended a few open days and gotten the chance to explore each campus.
Open days are an amazing opportunity to get a feel for what each uni is really like, ask important questions and find out what it’s really like to be an undergraduate student. But after you’re done attending open days, what are you supposed to do next?
Here at Stirling, we understand it can feel a bit daunting trying to work out what you’ve got to do to kickstart your university experience. That’s why we’ve created this quick guide.
Read on to learn about the steps you should take after attending a university open day to decide where you see yourself studying – and how to begin your application to secure your place at that institution.
1. Go through your open day notes
After attending an open day, the first step you should take is to sift through the notes you took during your visit on campus.
Review any prospectuses, handouts, and digital materials you collected. Reflect on the courses that genuinely sparked your interest – as well as the academics, support staff, and student ambassadors who left a big impression on you.
If you need a hand getting started, try organizing your notes (or thoughts) into categories. For example, split everything between essential uni aspects like course details, campus life, accommodation, university sport, student support services.
This ‘divide and conquer’ method can really help you organise your thoughts to make sense of what you experienced at open day.
After you’ve assessed your notes for each uni open day you attended, it’s worth making a simple pros and cons list to determine which universities really stand out from the crowd.
2. Get in touch with any extra questions
After taking some time to collect your thoughts, you might realise that you’ve got a few lingering questions after attending open day.
For example, maybe you missed an accommodation tour on the day and still want to see what’s available – or you couldn’t ask staff members an important question about scholarships and funding.
Don’t sit on those questions. Get in touch! University staff will be happy to take on any extra questions you might have and get back to you with all the information you’re looking for.
For example, let’s say you’ve attended an open day at the University of Stirling and want to learn more before applying. There are loads of ways you can contact our team. You can:
Please reach out with anything and everything that’s on your mind.
It’s our job (and the job of any other universities you’re considering) to answer your questions, and we’ll do everything we can to make sure you’re able to make an informed decision about which university or course is right for you!
3. Compare all the courses you’re considering
Uni isn’t all about books and studying, but let’s face it: the degree you’re selecting is going to play a huge role in your choice of university. So, it’s crucial to sit down and whittle down your list of potential courses after open day.
Look back at your open day notes (which are now organised and structured, right?) to recall the course or subject presentations you attended. Consider your interests, strengths, and long-term career goals. The courses that align with these factors should be at the top of your list.
Again, a pros and cons list is going to be your best friend here.
It’s also worth getting back on each university’s website to look at each course page again. Check out the modules for each course, any placements or student testimonials.
Sometimes seeing current students talk about their course experiences can tell you right away whether the same degree will work for you.
Want to check out what current Stirling students think about their courses? We’ve got an entire YouTube playlist devoted to undergraduate student stories.
4. Prepare Your UCAS Application
Once you’ve got a clear idea of your dream course and the universities you want to apply for, it’s time to prep your UCAS application.
The UCAS application process can seem a bit intimidating at first, but don’t stress! It’s fast and straightforward. But to help you get started, it often helps to break down the application process into manageable steps:
- Understand the requirements: Familiarize yourself with the specific entry requirements for your chosen course. This includes academic qualifications, personal statements, and references.
- Create your personal statement: Your personal statement is your chance to shine. Reflect on why you’re interested in the course, what skills you bring and how the uni you’re applying to fits into your academic journey. Whatever you do, just be yourself. Authenticity is always the way forward.
- Get your references: References are an essential part of your UCAS application. Choose people who know you well and can speak to your abilities and character. You might want to give them some info about your chosen course and personal achievements to help them write a strong reference.
- Make sure you hit the deadline: Planning ahead is essential. To maximise your chances of securing your first choice of uni, you need to make sure you submit your application by the UCAS deadline. If you’re applying to go to uni in September 2025, the deadline for equal consideration is 29 January 2025 at 6pm GMT.
If you submit your application after this deadline, it’ll probably still be considered – but the applications that came in on time will get priority over yours. That’s why it’s important to get your application done and submit it early.
Afterwards, you can kick back and relax. That’s the hard bit done! But if you’ve got any questions about the application process or what to do after you apply to uni, check out the University of Stirling website.
We’ve got loads of resources designed to support you.
Ready to learn more?
Attending open days can be incredibly exciting – and the best part is that open day is just the beginning of your student adventure. There’s so much waiting for you at uni, and we’ll do everything we can to support you along the way.
If you can’t make it to one of Stirling’s upcoming Open Days, take a look at our range of additional visiting opportunities. And if you’ve attended an open day and are keen to learn more or get some help, please get in touch!
We’re always happy to help, and we can’t wait to hear from you.