Haven’t signed up for a College Open House? Here’s what you’re missing Centennial College's Summer Open House Days are taking place July 23 to 29, from 12:30 – 4 P.M, across all campuses, and if you haven’t already registered, now’s the time. If you’re picking which college to go to, Open Houses are the best way to help you decide. Here are a few more words on why you should attend.
Get a better idea of what to expect
No matter how much research you’ve done on the colleges you’d like to attend, there's still that sense of the unknown. What's it really going to be like when you get there? What’s the atmosphere? What’s the program you’re interested in really like? Being there is the best way to get a sense of what your schooling will feel like. That being said, there are some more specific facts you can find out.
Figure out where everything is
Odds are you haven't set foot on campus before, or haven't really explored it. Open House is the perfect time to figure out where all your classes are, and how long it will take you to get to them. It’ll save you a lot of stress and running around on your first day. Speaking of running around, you’ll also learn about the facilities on campus, like the gym, where to eat, what the library offers, and other useful student resources.
Get to know your teachers
These people may be teaching you for years, so get to know them now. You’ll have the opportunity to introduce yourself at the unique event, “Applications and Appetizers with your Academic School” held during each of Centennial’s Open Houses (check the schedule for when it’s happening.) But there’s another important reason to meet them, and that’s to get a head start on networking. If you don't already know what that is, expect it to be a hot topic over the next few years. Essentially, it's all about meeting and becoming friendly with influential people in your industry, in the hopes that those connections lead to jobs and other career opportunities. In college, your instructors are usually industry professionals rather than simply professors, and getting to know them could result in acquiring a mentor, as well as a teacher.
…And your classmates
Open House also provides an exciting opportunity to get to know your potential classmates. After all, if you come here, you’ll be deep into the program with them for at least the next year, so it'll benefit you to get a handle on who you're going to be spending time with. And speaking of that networking mentioned earlier, your classmates are the next step, since post-graduation, they'll be getting into the same field as you. Even if you're meeting students who are not your classmates, socializing with as many people as possible will benefit you, particularly if you're on a smaller campus where you'll regularly see the same faces.
Connect with extracurriculars
You’re not going to be studying all the time. At Open House, Athletics will give a presentation about who they are, and what they offer, and the CCSAI (Centennial College Student Association Inc.) will be there,
to let you know what they do. This is the ideal time to discover clubs, organizations or activities you might wish to join, as they'll all be on display, with representatives on hand to answer any questions. Get a head start on your future at Centennial’s Summer Open House Days, July 23 – 29. Find out which campus has the program you’re interested in, sign up to attend on the day that campus is open, and get ready to discover your future at Centennial College.
By Anthony Geremia