It can be difficult to get all the information you need about possible university options when looking online. It can be really useful to attend a Higher Education Fair when deciding what your next step is. HE Fairs bring together representatives from as many universities as possible who are there to answer your questions in person and tell you what their university can offer you. Also, there are people to talk to about apprenticeships or college courses if university isn’t for you.
When I was in college, I had the opportunity to attend a HE Fair in Leeds. It was a large room which was packed full of stalls from institutions up and down the country. I spoke to a few universities who were very helpful and gave me a prospectus which had all the information I needed about their university and signed me up to receive more information through emails. Everyone I spoke to was easy to talk to and well informed, as well as being keen to hand out sweets or freebies (so many pens!!). Because my experience was so good, I have decided to share with you my tips and tricks to help get the most out of a Higher Education Fair.
Prepare questions.
If you already have an idea of where you want to continue your education and what you want to do, you can prepare specific questions for those people. It can be useful to do a little research before going to these events so you can ask specific questions, however it’s not essential.
Take a friend.
It can be a bit nerve wracking to chat to a stranger at a stall so take a friend or family member with you to provide some moral support. I went with my college class so we were able to go around in little groups and talk to people. If your college or sixth form doesn’t already provide a trip like this maybe suggest it to a teacher. Not everyone is able to travel to events like these so it would be beneficial for all your classmates.
Grab a prospectus.
If there is no one available to talk to at the stall, grab a prospectus. This is a booklet that has all the information about that university and the courses they offer. These are good to read once you are home and can properly digest all the information. Top Tip: Take a bag with you so you can carry anything you’re given; some places will give you a free bag as you enter but it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Talk to everyone.
Even if you are almost certain which path you want to take, it is important to keep an open mind and talk to a range of people who provide different things. Sometimes a path you may not have considered yet could be the perfect next step in your education.
Find out what you need to achieve to reach the next step.
The people at the stalls will be able to give you a rough idea of what grades you need to achieve in order to move onto the next step. This is essential in helping you stay motivated! By finding out what I needed to get in order to get onto the course I wanted, I was able to ask my teachers exactly what I needed to do to achieve those grades.
When I was deciding what I wanted to do next after college, I found this really helpful. It gave me the opportunity to speak to everyone in one place. These exhibitions are held all across the country and are free to go to, you can find which are closest to you through UCAS and UK University Search.
I hope this was helpful to you all!
