My Open Day Experience
Maisy Saxon
Music BMus(Hons)
Hi, my name is Maisy, and I am a final-year Music student at the University of Huddersfield. In this blog, I’ll be talking about my experience of the University's Open Day and how it helped me make my decision.
Being in my third year and coming to the end of my undergraduate journey, I'm reflecting a lot on my time here.
I think of all the friends I’ve made, the knowledge I have gained, the relationships I've formed and all these amazing memories I’ll cherish for life.
All this because I chose Huddersfield. But what made me choose here? To answer that, we must go to the Open Day I went to in 2021.
Pre-Open Day research
Before going to the Open Day, I already had a good impression of the University from information I had read online.
I was impressed to find that it was ranked highly for its music performance BMus course against universities across the globe. This is something the University still holds, currently being ranked number 20.
Furthermore, a high employment rate for postgraduates gave me hope for my future career. I had also read about the support services for those who are neurodivergent and for those struggling with mental health issues; two things that impact me and that I knew I would need assistance with during my educational journey.
With some base knowledge acquired and a positive perception of the University, the next step was to go to one of its Open Days.
When you first go onto campus, you are struck by the architecture and its mix of modern and old buildings.
I took a tour of the music building and the staff were incredibly helpful and amiable, showing us around all the facilities from the practice rooms to the recording studios.
All the spaces and equipment available were impressive. The number of practice rooms was incredible, with a piano in many of them. The classrooms varied from small rooms allowing intimate lessons, to grand lecture halls suited for large group teaching.
The recording studios and tech rooms are kept up-to-date with the newest software and technology.
Exploring the campus, it was lovely to see how it also incorporates nature into its design, with the canal running through it and trees. It's truly beautiful.
Wellbeing and support
When applying to university, I was worried about how my dyslexia and mental health issues would affect my studies. However, after the Open Day I had no worries.
The Disability Services team reassured me of the backing I could get to help with my studies. To name a few, this includes: extra time in exams, longer time for extensions, a tour of the library and induction on how to find and take out books, examples of technology and programs that may help assignments.
When speaking to the Wellbeing Team, they too were extremely helpful and helped my mind at ease. With counselling every other week and 24-hour online service where you can speak to someone during a mental health crisis at any time, it was clear that the University cares about its students' wellbeing.
After the Open Day, my mind was set on coming to Huddersfield. With amazing teaching facilities and a clear indication that the University does care about its students it was the clear choice for me. My parents were also happy with what they saw, which delighted me.
The Open Day changed my life because it steered me into choosing this university, and that changed my life for good.
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