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What we’re talking about:

TAFE and University Open Days are one of the best ways to really understand what your tertiary experience will be like…but they can also be a waste of time if you don’t have a plan for the day. Listen up for 5 of my best tips for getting the most out of your next Open Day.

2:05 - Register for your Open Day

Before you go to the Open Day, make sure you go to the TAFE or University website and register so that you get all the information about what’s going to happen on the day, and also you’ll be added to their mailing list so you’ll find out about any other opportunities that are coming up to find out more about their courses.

3:43 - Do some research before you go

Even though you will get lots of pamphlets on the day with heaps of course information, if you do some research before you go, you can have your questions ready so that you can come away from the Open Day with the extra information you need to make an informed decision.

5:48 - Plan your day

Now you have all this information, you can plan your day so that you use your time efficiently. If you know what time the sessions you’re interested in are running you can be there at the right time (especially if there are 2 Open Days for different institutions that you want to go to on the same day). You can also write down questions so you’re ready to ask them at the right the time instead of trying to think of them on the spot.

7:30 - Soak up the atmosphere

If you end up choosing to go to this TAFE or uni, you’ll be spending a lot of time there, so you want to make sure it’s a place where you feel comfortable and inspired to learn (or at least somewhere you want to turn up each day!) Open Days are a great opportunity to get a sense of what the TAFE or university is in general, and you can also find out what they offer outside of academic study that could interest you.

9:29 - You are in the driver’s seat

If you’re feeling anxious about going to the Open Day and asking questions, remember that they’re holding the Open Day to sell the experience to you and convince you to choose THEM. The people there want to speak to you and answer your questions. Forget about ATARs and everything that’s happening at school and use this opportunity to get excited about your future.

Links mentioned:

Discuss the podcast and get free career counselling advice here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vcecourseandcareerchat

My website: https://www.roadmapeducation.com

Grab your free Open Day planning tool: https://www.roadmapeducation.com/open-days