Making the most of open days
OPEN days are important in the academic life cycle. They give a university the chance to show off its campus, facilities and courses. More importantly, it allows a prospective student to make an informed decision about the university at which she will study.
Whichever course you choose, you will have to commit your time. You will typically spend between one and four years at university, and it could be a lot more depending on the course you choose and whether you go on to further your studies. Given that you will invest so much of your time at university, it is worth finding out as much as you can about the university at its open day.
Selecting a course is a financial investment; not only in terms of tuition, but also travel, accommodation and subsistence. There is a significant cost of not earning a salary for the time you are studying, as well as missing out on increments and bonuses. When you do start work, you may receive a lower salary than those who started work three years ago, although there are studies that show that graduates tend to earn more as a starting salary.
You also have three years to make up for, in career terms. With a bachelor’s degree, you would hope to start higher up the ladder, but that may not always be the case. There is another factor that you should consider when choosing your course; you should ask what else the university offers, above and beyond the modules that make up the course.
For example, what soft skills will you learn? Will you be given the opportunity to develop your presentation, writing and debating skills, which are so important these days? Will the university prepare you to enter the workplace? Does it offer internship opportunities? Will it help you prepare your résumé and for job interviews?
At the University of Nottingham Malaysia, soft skills are an integral part of any degree we offer. Soft skills run through many of the modules that you will study at Nottingham instead of being taught in self-contained modules, which may mean that those skills do not become part of your everyday study.
We also offer something called the Nottingham Advantage Award (NAA). These are optional courses that add value to your degree studies. Completion of the NAA is recognised during our graduation ceremony.
NAA includes modules such as Present to Represent and Optimising your LinkedIn Profile for Job Search Success. NAA gives you something to add to your résumé, which we hope will differentiate you from the crowd when looking for a job or applying for further study.
Studying at Nottingham will also provide opportunities to participate in corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Some of these opportunities will come via the NAA, but students are encouraged to develop their own CSR activity or work with our staff to help those who need it most. In addition to providing much-needed help, we believe that it helps develop more rounded individuals who benefit society, above and beyond just having an academic degree.
In deciding to go to university, you are deciding that the return on investment on that venture will be worth it as your career progresses. Open days are important for both the university and potential student, and you should make sure that you come armed with the right questions.
University of Nottingham Malaysia’s Open Day is this Saturday. We hope to be able to welcome you and answer your questions.
In deciding to go to university, you are deciding that the return on investment on that venture will be worth it as your career progresses.