As COVID-19 changes the way we work or play, it’s time to accept that virtual open houses are here to stay. Here are five tips from us on how to make the most out of your online excursion.
1) Strategize and prioritise
It’s going to be an event-filled day packed with virtual tours, talks, live consultations, and more. Which talk is a must-attend, and which courses do you want clarifications about? Write all your questions and goals down, and have them with you throughout the open house event.
Don’t be shy if you have things to clarify, as the exact purpose of an open house is for interested students to get to know the educational institution. No question is a stupid question and the faculty, students, and alumni will be more than happy to assist you in any way they can.
Slot in time for lunch and mental breaks to absorb everything you’ve heard. A clearer mind helps you make better decisions and see if there’s any more information you’d like to have before finalising your course choice(s).
Don’t forget to make sure that you have a strong internet connection.
2) Peruse everything
It’s always a good idea to keep yourself updated by following the educational institution’s official social media accounts, and checking the open house’s webpage from time to time before the actual event. Many universities or private institutions hold special activities such as lucky draws, contests and exclusive webinars, with some even offering special rebates on course fees on the day(s) itself.
Make sure that you’re clear about the terms and conditions you’ll need to fulfil to score those rebates or prizes, if there’re any. You wouldn’t want to miss out on attractive giveaway prizes because you submitted more entries than allowed, for instance.
3) Replicate what you’ll do during physical open houses
Do what you’d do if you could head down to the school/institute in person! After taking virtual campus tours, why not ‘visit’ the surrounding areas via Google Street View? It’s a small way of replicating the physical open house experience, and you’ll get to scout the vicinity for things to do and places to eat for when there are face-to-face classes.
Stay as engaged and participate as actively as you can, too: try keeping your video on when listening to a talk, for example, if it helps you stay focused and less tempted to let your mind wander.
If you know any friends who are interested in the same virtual open houses, you can make plans to attend them together in the same way you would a physical open house. You’ll be able to discuss and share insights with them throughout the day—and get some much-needed social interaction at the same time.
You could invite your parents to attend the virtual open house(s) with you if they can make time for it, too!
4) Keep an open mind
You will have ideas of how your tertiary education experience should be, and that’s great! Don’t dismiss a school or course immediately because of this, however: we uncover new interests all the time and the most important thing is to find an institution that’s a good fit. List down your must-haves and good-to-haves, as well as your no-need-to-haves, and be prepared to ask about the various aspects of campus life.
As you’re attending a virtual open house, it’ll be easier for you to pop into talks or course sharing sessions from the comfort of your home. Why not swing by a talk for postgraduate candidates to discover the differences between an MBA or MSC qualification, or listen to alumni share their experiences? Knowledge is power and this information could help you better visualise your career or education trajectory.
5) Last but not least, have fun!
While virtual open houses cannot fully replicate the atmosphere and experience of a physical open house, they still offer you a great glimpse into what a tertiary education institution has to offer. Get excited: this could be your future school! Explore the entire campus and pop into the different faculty classrooms to see your future schoolmates will study, at your own pace, and maybe even dress smartly to get into the mood! University life is once-in-a-lifetime for most of us, after all, so why not make the most of it?
Ready to attend an online open house? Here’s one to start!
We’re happy to share that MDIS has a virtual open day around the corner for you to put these tips into practice! It’s happening on 30th October, and exciting highlights include a 360-degree virtual campus tour, live sharing sessions, e-consultations, as well as a Spin and Win Lucky Draw* with vouchers and a pair of Apple Airpods Pro up for grabs.
You can register for the event here to stay updated, and speak to an MDIS representative in advance about the partner universities that you’re keen on. This will give you more time to research, and squeeze in a few final questions during the event day itself.
It’ll be a fun day in, and we hope our tips will help you have a fruitful virtual open house experience!
*Terms and Conditions apply