How To Make The Most Out Of A University Open Day
Open Day – illustration by Nicole Clowes
By Nicole Clowes, illustrator and animation student at QCA
Open Day is a day of discovery and possibility. It helps prospective university students become familiar with courses, campuses and overall student life.
However, for some uni students-to-be, it can also be a daunting time when you are faced with those all-important decisions for the future. That’s ominous because there are so many questions and it can be tough knowing which way to go.
Nervous?!
Never fear, because I’m here to provide invaluable insight into Open Day at Griffith University and hopefully inspire you to attend.
Griffith University is holding it’s Open Day on Sunday 24 July, August 9, at the Gold Coast, Nathan and South Bank campuses.
As a Griffith student for the past four years and currently studying my Honours in animation, I’m more than familiar with the Griffith uni student way of life.
Even so, I can still vividly remember being that high school kid preparing for my first Open Day and sifting through uni brochures in search of the right degree for me.
I’ve always been a creative person so I was drawn to anything that ticked that box. Nothing resonated as much as animation at Griffith.
It was a combo of my two strongest passions – art and film – although I will never forget the look on my school career counsellor’s face when I told her animation was what I wanted. I don’t think she even knew what it was.
If you are considering animation come to Open Day at South Bank campus on Sunday 24 July and you can catch an information session, studio tours and demonstrations in the Webb Centre (S02) all day. The program is available online here – Open Day Planner
“Open Day was so good, I went twice”
Back then only a few universities offered animation as a course, but I set my heart on this career and, despite still being in Year 10, attended my first Griffith Open Day.
My hope was that it would give me a clearer view of my options when my time came to begin university. And it definitely did.
Griffith’s South Bank campus houses the Queensland College of Art (QCA) and the Griffith Film School (GFS). It’s smaller than the University’s other campuses and is home to a number of Griffith’s creative degrees, animation included.
The huge signs and red tents out on the grassy area on Open Day directed me to my destination and I was greeted by a host of friendly faces. The vibe was amazing.
I chatted with lecturers and tutors and asked a thousand questions. What kind of work does this degree involve? Was the work collaborative or more individual? Will I be disadvantaged without any prior knowledge of some of the software? I learned a lot about the course and became more convinced this was the degree for me.
One of the tutors offered me a tour of the animation floor and this was by far the best part of my Open Day. The hallways were filled with incredible concept art created by students and it was a great way to see some of the work I could be doing during my degree. The tutor even took me into one of the animation computer labs and demonstrated some of the software and drawing tablets.
Yes, you read that correctly. I went to Griffith’s Open Day twice. After attending a few other uni Open Days and the Brisbane Tertiary Expo, Griffith shone by comparison. I knew it was where I was meant to be. I was so keen to enrol I even went to a second Open Day when I was in Year 12.
Take it from me, whether or not you have decided on your degree, attending Open Day is so important. You can ask tailored questions and receive in-depth answers, beyond the brochures.
Also, being part of the university environment gives you great insight into the campus life and layout. Meanwhile, chatting to tutors, lecturers and ambassadors provides guidance and builds confidence for your degree choices.
Here’s a list of 8 things you definitely should do at your Griffith Open Day:
- ask any and every question
- try to gain a sense of the work involved
- ask for a tour
- check out the campus library
- think about travel (is it easy to get to?)
- ask about prerequisites
- keep an open mind
- enjoy yourself!
Hope to see you there!
Nicole