February 4, 2014

Rain doesn’t dampen Discovery Days enthusiasm

Despite the onset of rain, more than 5,400 students from 134 high schools are flocking to the University of Wollongong this week (3-7 February) for the annual Discovery Days -- the University's largest undergraduate recruitment event.

Organisers said the overall program has been unaffected including the lunchtime period with DJs playing in the UniBar to entertain the students.

The aim of Discovery Days is to provide an opportunity for Year 12 students to experience, first-hand, what university life is like for a day. Each student is afforded a personalised timetable to meet his or her needs..

The day gives them an insight into student life including services and facilities on campus, subject selection as well as the experience of attending classes in their areas of interest.

Program co-ordinator Chiara Rigoni said it was important to give students a day to "try before they buy".

"University is a high involvement decision, you don't make it lightly," she said.

This year, the University has students from high schools in the Illawarra, Southern Sydney, South Western Sydney, South Coast, Goulburn, Southern Highlands, ACT and many regional schools from as far as Victoria over the five-day period.

All UOW faculties and units have been heavily involved in the planning of presentations for this event.

Over the week, students register at the University Hall and then disperse across the campus in various lecture theatres and seminar rooms.

Students attending day one of Discovery Days told UOW media it had been especially helpful being able to talk to current UOW students.

Upon arriving, the high school students attend a compulsory session in which a current UOW student talks about university life. The rest of the day consists of four 45-minute sessions about different degrees and aspects of university life.

To view the full gallery of Discovery Days events, visit Facebook.com/uowfuture