2016
is almost at a close, and as the New Year draws near, ‘deadline’ is the
buzzword du jour for students all over. Test registration deadline, academic references
deadline, personal statement deadline, attesteddocuments submission deadline –
if you’re looking to head to university, it’s likely that deadlines are all
you’re currently thinking about. Before you dive into the deadline pool,
however, there is one decisionthat precedes all the fever: figuring out which
universities to apply to in the first place.
While knowing your major subject or a
specific field of study can help a lot when deciding where to apply, the
university experience (especially at the undergraduate level) is about far more
than merely academics. Campus life, the facilities on offer, extra-curricular
activities, and the demographic of your fellow students all play a crucial role
in determining which universities catch your eye, and what institution holds
the coveted place of ‘dream school’ in your mind.
Talking to alumni, university brochures,and websites
are all great ways to gather information about your prospective university;
however, Open Days offer students the best insights by covering all aspects of
life. It is only by visiting a campus in person and actually experiencing on
ground the actual life of a particular university that one can really know what
it’s like to be a student there. Moreover, Open Days allow students to meet the
admissions personnel who will be assessing their applications, giving you a
chance to pick up valuable tips about what they’re looking for in successful
candidates– whether undergraduate or post-graduate.
While prevalent in most countries abroad, the
majority of universities in Pakistan do not organise regular Open Days. The
Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), the country’s most pre-eminent
higher education institution, is an exception to this rule. This year, LUMS is
holding 3 separateOpen Days in Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad. And if you’re
looking to join the august crowd of notable LUMS alumni, these five tips will
give you great insights on what to look out for and what questions to ask, so
you can make the most of the short time slot available.
1.
Research:Before you head to LUMS for their Open Day,
do some quick research. The University website is a great source of hardcoreofficial
information, but if you really want to get a feel for what LUMS students think
and feel, make sure you check out their official social media pageson Facebook,Twitter,LinkedIn. Be sure to look at the comments under
specific posts, and to look at what content has been re-posted, re-Tweeted etc.
2.
Campus Life:Coming to an Open Day is the best way to
assess the chemistry between you and the university. Each of us has a set of
priorities and expectations from our academic institutions;so visit the campus
in real life and see if it checks all the boxes you’re looking for.Check out
the library, labs, classrooms, cafeterias, sports centre, and grounds. See the
campus in real-time.
3. Chat with existing students:And while roaming around the campus, take a
moment to catch up with existing students and let them tell you about their
experiences so far. If cornering an unsuspecting student doesn’t appeal to you,
ask your student tour guide if they are part of any societies, where they go
out in the evening, and how they knew that this university was the right choice
for them.
4.
Know the curriculum and faculty: Be sure you know what subjects are being
offered – and if you really want to make an impression, research the professors
who will be teaching the subjects you are most interested in. The Open Day is
your chance to interact with your potential future teachers and offers a unique
opportunity for you to impress them with your knowledge of their academic work.
5.
Queries and Fee structure: This is also the best time to meet financial
advisors, who can answer all your potential queries.
One-on-one conversations are possibly the best way to get information about financial support such as scholarships,
flexi-payments of tuition fee, support for disability, and student loans.
More than anything else, the LUMS Open Day
gives you a chance to put yourself in the shoes of a real Luminite. By the end
of the day, you should be in a much better position to assess whether or not LUMS
is the right fit for you and you for it. It’s also important to remember that
Open Days – especially those held by LUMS – are not exclusive to those looking
to dip their toes into Higher Education. From post-graduate applicants to
management executives looking to hone their professional skills, Open Days are
a font of knowledge and experience. It may be worthwhile dropping by even if you
are only toying with the idea of returning to academia.You never know,you might
end up surprising yourself by enrolling in an after-work post-gradclass or
short course which could end up playing an integral role in your career.
