University Open days

Two outstanding open days for two outstanding universities.

Birmingham and Liverpool have put the best to shame, providing experiences
students of ------- are not soon to forget. With a vast range of activities, lectures and
tours, each pupil gained more than any number of prospectuses or any amount of
internet research could provide.
The first open day attended on the --- of June was to Birmingham University. Arriving
by ---, we were greeted by some remarkable architecture and very helpful staff. After
a short walk into the main grounds and a quick registration we were let to freely tour
all department buildings the university had to offer, letting us come to grips with its
scale and letting us see the university through our own eyes instead of the eyes of a
guide.
Inside the Great Hall, each faculty had set up stalls manned by students and teachers
alike, all willing to give a basic rundown of what their department does, what they
have to offer and why they are the best, all the while prompting us to visit their
relevant faculty building for more detailed information, and so they could show us
some of their expensive technology. In each of these faculty buildings lectures were
held by professors detailing course requirements, specifics, applications of their field
of study and even short histories of how their subjects came to be and how they
benefit us today. At the end of each lecture, tours were made available, allowing
potential students a closer look at what they might be doing during their tenure at
Birmingham University.
Students could also if they desired ask for a tour of the Universitys student
accommodation. With a short 10 minute walk from the main grounds this was
possible.
All in all there was not a dull moment at Birmingham University, no second of the
day was spent standing idly and every ---- student from ---- left feeling that
Birmingham University has set a high standard.
Liverpool Universitys open day on the ---- was an altogether different experience.
Rather than following the standard open day formula, twelve different practical
activities were on offer, each of which was 100 minutes in length. These activities
were designed to stretch the abilities of students, having them think outside the box.
Students were to pick any two of these activities.
Some of these activities included:
How to ----- Groups of two measured the count rate of a radioactive source when
placed behind varying materials of varying thicknesses. Using these values for
individual materials, a log graph was plotted and from this a value
------ A group discussion on the application of mathematics in the real world.
----- Students used techniques and skills developed from AS level chemistry, to
produce small samples of local anaesthetic (procaine). Ethanol and sulphuric acid
were mixed and heated for 30 minutes before being reacted with sodium carbonate.
The product was then vacuum filtered, leaving the solid mass of procaine behind.
Students were also to identify an unknown compound by use of chromatography and
ultraviolet light.

However, all of these activities were trumped by the undisputed highlight of the day,
The ----- Quiz. ----- student ---- described it as awe-inspiring and life changing. Six
teams of four students each, pitted against each other in the ultimate trial of
mathematical prowess, the team to answer the greatest number of questions correctly
and in doing so accumulate the greatest number of points across two rounds was to be
crowned victorious. The first of these questions in round 1 proved to be little more
challenging than ----- grade maths, though this was only to lull you into a false sense
of security. Soon enough questions began evolving from simple single lined structures
to the incorporation of ---- and ----- in essay style questions requiring careful and
detailed analysis before even considering answering the question. As you would try
and fail, the Dragon Masters supervising made no attempt to hide their pleasure
knowing you could not proceed further, knowing you would be forced to concede to
them and beg for the next question. This was only the first round of the event. The
second, the practical round, was an altogether different beast. Starting with a simple
enough task, an A3 sized grid, a pattern etched onto its surface and a bag full of
irregular shapes. The pattern was to be filled with each and every single shape
provided. This task took most groups less than 2-3 minutes to complete, once more
giving many the hope they might emerge victorious. However, it was the next
question that decided the victors of the dragon quiz. Three shapes, each of a
seemingly random shape and size were to be arranged into an equilateral triangle.
Time and time again, the shapes were arranged, rotated, inverted, all the while the
timer ticked, the pressure mounting as seconds and minutes seemed to vanish. One
team took a full 25 minutes to complete this task. Others didnt quite make it.
Ending the day at Liverpool University, a short and to the point talk on UCAS was
given, before finally sending us on our way.