Offer-Holder Visit Days give you a real taste of university life. From mock lectures to meeting lecturers, here’s why attending helped me make my decision.
Before applying to university, I wasn’t sure what offer-holder days were. So, let me provide some clarity so you can avoid the confusion I experienced. They are like an open day but for people with an offer only; they include plenty of activities such as mock lectures and seminars and meeting the lecturers. I found offer-holder day to be the most useful part of my decision-making process. Hopefully I’ll provide some clarity on what the day is about and how it became my deciding factor for choosing my university.
The mock lecture started with a reading, which the lecturer briefly dissected and went on to hold more of an introduction to the course to familiarise people with the content. I think delving into a short analysis of a passage really gave me some insight into what English Literature would be like at university level. The lecturer’s passion and warm energy vibrated through the room, and with it, a vision of this becoming my everyday life. I think the way lecturers are so passionate about the subject during the mock lecture made me feel like my passion would grow and develop here.
After the introduction, we had a break which was a sort of meet and greet opportunity with the lecturers and the department. At first, I was a bit intimidated, but all the lecturers were so chatty and open that I felt more relaxed. There was a coffee, tea and cake table, so it was a nice break from the lecture to get the energy back up! I had a long talk with one of the lecturers which I really enjoyed where we discussed A-Levels, and he eased my concerns on some questions which I was too nervous to ask before. The one-on-one with the lecturers mixed with the lively atmosphere and discussion just really made me feel like I belonged, and I could imagine studying there. It’s often a bit difficult to be so passionate about something, to be ambitious and adventurous in trying to achieve your dreams, but there I was, meeting published authors and poets - people who have achieved what I’d been dreaming of since I was young. It made me feel like all that hard work and passion was worth it if I had the right place to channel it.
After the break, we were split into small groups (around 5-8) to mimic what a seminar would be like. We discussed the passage from the lecture and shared our ideas and different perspectives. I didn’t feel too nervous to speak up, but the seminar leaders were so nice that even if you feel a bit intimidated, they will give you the time to develop confidence and speak about your ideas. It was the final thing that made me sure of my decision to choose the University of Birmingham. I felt so welcomed and I loved the people in my seminar, they were so kind, and I ended up exchanging socials with some of them.
An Offer-holder visit day may look different depending on the course you applied for, but they’ll usually have a similar structure. Overall, they’re important because they give you a glimpse into what being part of the university is truly like. It was a good decision to visit campus for it in my opinion, because it solidified my choice when I was overwhelmed with decisions!
Hi! My name is Zoe, and I study English and Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham! When I graduate, I want to...
