Open House: A Beginner's Guide

If you are starting to think about post-secondary schooling, attending college open houses or preview events is one of the first steps to take. It’s a perfect opportunity to visit colleges or universities and see what they’re really all about and students say it's often the deciding factor in what they study and where they go to college.

Learn about available programs

Do you know what type of program or career you are looking for? Are you looking for a full-time or part-time program? Would you like to learn in person or online? Is this your first time looking at post-secondary? Or are you returning to school? Each of these questions can help you narrow down what and where you want to study. If you are not sure how to answer these questions, that’s okay! You can also start with a tool like Fanshawe Pathfinder that will match your interests and strengths with possible careers.

College open houses are a great opportunity for you to explore your options. Many events happen in the fall and spring; research the schools you are interested in, plan your visits and map out how to make the most of available opportunities. 

Explore learning and student environments

It's hard to check out classrooms and lab spaces while they are in use for classes, but at Open House, everything is open. You can explore every lab and classroom and interact with faculty and students who can tell you all about the equipment and the training that they complete in that space. This level of access allows you to picture what your learning experience could look like.

You can also explore student spaces on campus. Where will you spend time with classmates? Is there a space where you can work out between classes? Where will you eat between classes or after an important exam? Are there quiet places to study or convenient places to charge your devices? Imagine what a day on campus will look like for you as a student.

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Discover student supports

We all need a little help sometimes, so it’s important to find out what student services are available to you. Explore what learning supports are offered during Open House. What about your personal health and wellness; how will they be supported? When it is time to look for a job, will someone be there to help make sure you’re putting your best foot forward? What is important to you as a student, and how will your college or university support you?

Keep these things in mind as you plan your Open House visit to Fanshawe and we hope we will see you at one of our locations on March 29, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.