Hi, I’m Dan and I work in the Digital Communications Team.

Now that we know each other better I thought I’d give you ten (well, 12, actually) top tips to help you make the most out of the Open Days that we’re holding tomorrow and Saturday.

1. Think about all the questions you have about coming to university and make sure you ask us – if you want more information about the course, our accommodation, the applications process, or anything else about coming to uni, we’ve got people here who can help.
2. Plan your day – if you’ve registered for our Open Day we would have sent you an email to confirm your place. The email includes a link to a programme of events; make sure you print it out and plan your day to attend all the talks you want to.
3. Take a campus tour – we have a team of BU students in pink T-shirts who are waiting to show you around our campuses. The tour will not only give you a great feel for our University, but also give you the opportunity to talk to someone who was in your position not so long ago and who can tell you what it’s like to be a BU student.
4. Follow the feet! You’ll find different-coloured foot-shaped stickers on the ground that will take you to the lecture theatres, main exhibition stands, and other important places on campus. Please see the programme for more details – if you haven’t received yours yet please call our AskBU enquiry service on 01202 961916.
5. Stay for the weekend – you don’t have to go home straight after the event. Bournemouth and the surrounding area is among the most beautiful and enjoyable places in the UK, offering the best beach in England, a fantastic night life and a wide variety of cafes and restaurants. Make sure you stick around and get a feel for the place that could be your home for the next four years.
6. Take a bus tour – Hop on one of our buses and we’ll take you to see some of our modern student accommodation buildings in the Lansdowne area. After this we’ll whisk you off for a short tour of Bournemouth Town Centre – we’ll show you the golden beaches, the vibrant gardens, and the wide array of shops.
7. Talk to students – nobody knows what it’s like to be a BU student better than a BU student! You’ll have several opportunities to talk to these guys throughout the day (they’ll be wearing pink t-shirts and dotted around campus) so really make the most of it. Also consider attending our Student Life Talk – hosted by a member of our Students’ Union – to really find out about the exciting things you can get involved in whilst at BU.
8. Get some UCAS advice – Don’t be afraid to talk to academics – they’re really nice and they’re happy to help. Find an academic from your course and ask what they’re looking for in an applicant, and possibly even get some good tips for writing personal statements.
9. Get to grips with finance – Go to one of our finance talks to understand more about the current fee systems and work out exactly what you’re entitled to. You’ll also be able to find out about our impressive Bursaries and Scholarships.
10. Make sure you come to the right place! We’ve got two campuses at BU – Talbot Campus, which hosts most of our courses, and Lansdowne Campus, which is home to our Health and Social Care Degrees, so make sure you go to the campus that is right for your subject area. If you’re unsure about this, just check the programme or give us a bell on 08456 501 501 (or + 44 (0)1202 961916 if you’re elsewhere in the EU.)
11. Make friends with us – Alright, I know I said “Ten Top Tips” but it has a much better ring to it than “Twelve Top Tips,” don’t you think! Make sure you follow us on Twitter and keep your eye on the #buopen hashtag for the latest Open Day updates and handy tips before, during and after the event. Also, if you haven’t already, take a look at our brand new Bournemouth Uni Undergrads 2013 Facebook page which we’ve set up to support anyone thinking about starting uni in 2013.
12. Enjoy it! OK, last one; enjoy it, ask lots of questions and have fun!  🙂