How I got the most out of Griffith Open Day

What is an Open Day? Stay tuned to find out how to plan and execute your Open Day at Griffith University with a few tips and tricks.

Griffith Open Day runs annually and this year it’s on Sunday 11 August across three of Griffith’s campuses: Gold Coast, Nathan and South Bank. 

The day allows students, families and friends to experience what it’s like to be at university, with organised workshops, seminars, fun activities and prizes to be won.  

It’s also an opportunity to ask those questions that have been on your mind. What I thought was awesome when I attended Open Day was that the lecturers and staff from most degrees and courses are also in attendance.  

It might sound daunting, because you’re so used to your high school teachers. Now it’s like you are starting all over again and you don’t know where to begin. If you’re feeling lost already, you’re not alone – just remember there are over 10,000 students in the same boat with the same nerves.  

Hopefully by the end of this post, you’ll feel more confident planning and then smashing out this big day. Read on for my top five tips to get the most out of Open Day.

#1 Plan 

The secret to success is planning. This is the biggest lesson here and I promise you’ll get better at this when you embark on your university studies.  

First thing you should plan ahead will be transport. Think about how you will get to the campus: car, walk, bus, tram, train, taxi, Uber? Since the campuses are within walking distance of public transport, you’ll probably find this the cheapest and fastest way to get to the campus (if you drive, it might take some time to find a park).  

Secondly, think about what interests you and what you would like more information about. If you haven’t figured out what you want to do next year yet, befriend Google, ask around and most of all, think about what you enjoy doing and what sparks interest for you. It is a great idea to at least have an idea BEFORE you arrive on the day, it is going to make your day a lot easier. 

Bring some pre-planned questions to ask on the day. At university, my teachers always tell us “there’s no such thing as a silly question”. This will officially start on Open Day. The lecturers will encourage you to ask questions, so to make a good first impression, I suggest preparing some well thought out questions.

#2 Ask questions on the day 

You guessed it! ASK, ASK and ASK. If you don’t know where to go, just ask us. There will be so many people dressed in red Griffith shirts on the day and they are there to help you.  

People wearing the red Griffith shirts could be academic staff or lecturers, they’re usually standing in front of a stand that they’re actively involved in. Other red shirts could be students or administrative staff.  

I challenge you to ask a staff or student any question. You can ask a teacher something like “how many students will be in my class or lab?” Or you could ask a student, “how’s the degree so far and any tips or recommendations between now and starting uni?”

#3 Get involved as much as you can 

There will be plenty of events on the day. In my opinion, the best one to be a part of is the tour of the facilities relevant to your degree. Since I am a dentistry student, I still remember going inside the dental clinic and dental simulation lab. That was a really cool tour because I knew I would be able to experience those things next year when I got in.  

There are many prizes up for grabs as well: free pens, notepads, highlighters and other cool prizes to be won. There is also no shame in getting seconds.

#4 Say hi to everyone 

Saying hi and starting conversation with other students will actually help with the nerves on the day. You might end up making friends who will be sitting next to you this time next year.

#5 Have fun

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself if you feel like you haven’t gotten heaps by the end of the day. Or if you feel like you were bombarded with all this information and don’t know where to start. Take a step back and reflect on Open Day another time. Sometimes just being at Open Day is enough. 

Download

• My Translink app (public transport app)
• Griffith app (you can access Griffith Campus app on your device)

Things to bring on the day

• Pen
• Notebook/notepad
• Phone charger/powerbank
• Water bottle (free water refill station everywhere on campus)
• Positive attitude and a smile on your face

I hope you’ve found this post helpful! Looking forward to seeing you all on Open Day. 

Steven Wey