Do you want to become a Matie?
Then use the US Open Day to the full!
Many Grade 11 and 12 learners attend the Open Day at the University of Stellenbosch every year. But such a visit can be successful only if learners and parents make use of the occasion to obtain as much information as possible. This article is specifically aimed at giving prospective students and their parent hints on how to make the most of the Open Day.
Choosing a career is a process. The choice of a career is the result of a process that one has to go through. During this process learners should obtain information about especially the following:
| Themselves: |
It is necessary for learners to understand themselves and know who they are by considering aspects such as their interests, personality, values and abilities before they can decide on a career for themselves. |
| Careers: |
A career is sometimes not everything that a learner believes it is . Having interviews with people in different careers can give learners a more realistic idea of what these careers entail. Work shadow programmes and reading books on the various careers can also help in this process. |
| Institutions: |
Learners need to find out about the programmes that different institutions offer. They should then obtain the necessary calendars or prospectuses of these institutions so that they can read about the various subjects and the contents of specific programmes. A visit to the Open Day provides an opportunity to obtain valuable information on the University of Stellenbosch. |
Follow these hints to benefit fully from the Open Day:
Learners should attempt to delimit their fields of interest in advance.
This can be done by attempting to establish in what kind of environment they would like to work. The following fields can be considered:
- Physical Science and Technological fields
- Biological and Medical fields
- Business and Accounting fields
- Humanitarian fields
- Creative fields
In order to avoid wandering around aimlessly, learners are advised to go with specific questions to the identified stalls. Compile a list of questions in advance so that you may go home with specific answers. Examples of such questions are:
- What are the entrance requirements for the programme concerned?
- What interests should I have in order to enjoy this programme?
- What skills will I learn in the programme?
- What employment opportunities are there for someone with this qualification?
- Learners could form groups with fellow learners who are also interested in the same faculties and they could obtain important information by listening to the questions of others.
- Learners should have discussions with, and direct questions to, the faculty members at the stalls and not simply collect booklets and pamphlets.
- Learners could also get important contact numbers from the faculty members in case they wish to make follow-up appointments to obtain additional information.
- Learners could ask the Guidance teacher or perhaps another teachers at the school to arrange a session after the Open Day in which other matters could be clarified for the whole group. .
- Learners could also consider going for a career assessment consultation if they are still uncertain about the choice of a possible career. This could help to make learners aware of programmes that are not as well known rather than focusing only on the options that they have heard about.
If you are interested in a group assessment, you are welcome to contact the Centre for Prospective Students at 021 8084709 for an appointment.
