ann m

For any parents that have visited university open house days with their offspring, how do you "judge" what might be a good program or course?

Now I work in a polytechnic, and our open houses go to town on all the gadgets, technologies and labs, and give students an opportunity to tour and try the hands-on side of things. The business degrees stand alone and impressive applied semesters and employment figures sell.

How do you narrow down the merits of an arts degree - English, psychology, criminology or performing arts (yes, it could be from a diverse selection in our home)?

A tour of the campus could try to sway me with aesthetics, lovely buildings, or impressive new lecture theatres. What did you ask about, dig the website further for, or generally try to pin down?

Did your graduating high schooler decide themselves? Have you just started uni yourself? What went well? What went wrong? What did you wish you had known before starting?

It's just such a lot of money!

Oink

It's as cheap as chips here. You try stumping up $50k tuition a year which is common at many top US institutions.

bats

Check out the bar and loos. If they are stinky and dilapidated don't chose that place.

Accommodation? Is that up to scratch?

Seriously apart from the academic side of content and results if it's a dump you don't want your kid there

JonboyE

I would find out how much of the teaching is done by faculty and how much is subcontracted out.

Oink

This is typically determined by the size of the institution. Large research universities often have graduate students teach 1st and 2nd year courses while smaller institutions have a better teacher to student ratio. TBH I'm not sure parents should be visiting places, because unless you're training for something specific, whole point of a NA undergraduate eduction, especially one in the social sciences or humanities is socialization/enculturation. They're going to be adult learners who really shouldn't have their mum and dad holding their hands.

HGerchikov

This.

scrubbedexpat091

Wouldn't it be best to let the student decide where they want to go and what they want to major in? After all it's their life and future.

Not sure I'd go for a generic degree though, better to get a education that involves a good marketable skill these days over just any old degree.

ann m

Well, that told me then.

I don't think I will be holding hands - but I will be prompting and suggesting from the sidelines. And paying at least half the costs. Which won't come easily. There are medical and mental health issues that need some supportive noises from the back seats.

She cannot fund a flight to other provinces for a weekend-looksee, so I might need to be convinced it is worth the visit. Hence asking what can you really judge by turning up for 3 hours on a Saturday afternoon. I'd wager bugger all.

She's really interested in Surrey in the UK - with associated international fees of 15,000GBP per year, plus accommodation and living costs. That is not in our budget, but then it's only a three year degree....

Did you all honestly let a 17 year old make all the decisions, without opening your mouth to offer an opinion? I don't believe you!

Oink

Of course you should discuss it, way up the options try and judge the ramifications of certain degree paths. I think you're right that you won't figure too much out in 3 hours but at least you can see if the dorms aren't rat infested dens or they at least clean the swimming pool occasionally.

Novocastrian

.

Shirtback

I tend to agree with most of the opinions posted here...

One thing surprised me & made me curious: do parents normally go to these sort of events? Back in the dark ages when I was uni-shopping they certainly didn't - anyone who turned up with a parent in tow would have been looked at askance, and in the worst case scenario, mocked.

When one of my lot briefly considered higher education, I certainly did a lot of Internet research, and discussed it with him when prompted, but it would never have occurred to me to accompany him to open days.

scrubbedexpat091

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicopter_parent

dbd33

Since I had no useful opinion on the course itself, I went along to see if the small town, Halifax, where the university was located was likely to drive the offspring in question off the deep end (I didn't go on to the campus but we did investigate a great number of squidly diddly bars). I liked the place and didn't think she'd be too bored. That was wholy wrong, it did drive her mad, she was too bored, she should have gone to McGill in the first place. So, based on one weekend years ago, I suggest that parents aren't of any help in making this choice. Accept that it's a crap shoot, the student might very well choose the wrong place and have to start again somewhere else.Smile and pay, it's just ballet or figure skating over again but with bigger numbers. Iapologiseforallthetextrunningtogether,Iexpectthes itehasbeenenhancedandIhavenot.

HGerchikov

My perception is that he absolutely made the decision, but as he is home for thanksgiving, I asked how he felt about it. He says that the decision was totally his, he says there was some discussion but he took the route he wanted. His Dad preferred a different University, my contribution was apparently 'do whatever you think is right for you'. He is a very mature, sensible, kid, who knows what he wants. If he had been different then maybe he would have needed more input. Everyone is different.

ann m

That's pretty much where I am at. I wasn't intending to walk beside her as she goes around (but thanks everyone for helping me see that I must be a helicopter parent), but if it's out of province, I will accompany and go and have a wander myself. If it's in this province, she's more than capable of checking out what she wants or likes.

I feel well and truly scolded now.