Making the Most of University Open Days: Questions to Ask About Your Major

You arrive on campus with a glossy brochure in hand and the vague sense that you should be asking something more incisive than “Is the cafeteria good?” University open days, for all their free tote bags and guided tours, often leave prospective students with a polished surface impression and very little about the substance of their chosen major. The data suggests this is a critical gap. According to the OECD’s 2023 Education at a Glance report, 31% of tertiary students across member countries do not complete their first degree within the expected duration, and a significant proportion of those cite dissatisfaction with their field of study as a primary factor. Meanwhile, a 2024 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that only 57% of graduates felt their major had adequately prepared them for their first job. These numbers point to a simple truth: the decision about your major is too important to leave to the aesthetics of a campus quad. This article is a field guide for the open day—a set of specific, high-leverage questions designed to cut through the marketing and reveal what your academic department actually values, how it teaches, and where it can take you. The goal is not to find the perfect university, but to gather the comparative data you need to make a decision you won’t second-guess in your sophomore year.

The Department’s Hidden Curriculum: What They Actually Teach

The official course catalog is a work of fiction. It lists every possible elective, every promising seminar, and every ambitious learning outcome. What you need to uncover on an open day is the hidden curriculum—the actual sequence of courses that the average student in your major will take, the textbooks they will use, and the pedagogical philosophy that shapes their assignments. Ask the faculty member or current student: “What is the single most challenging required course in the first two years, and why?” This question reveals the department’s academic bottleneck. If the answer is a statistics class for a psychology major, you know the program values quantitative rigor. If it is a creative writing workshop for an English major, you know the department prioritizes craft over literary theory. The response tells you more about the program’s real identity than any mission statement.

The Syllabus as a Window

Ask to see a syllabus from a required core course. Most departments have sample syllabi available or can show one on a laptop. Look for the grading breakdown. A syllabus where 70% of the grade comes from a single final exam signals a program that emphasizes high-stakes, summative assessment. A syllabus with multiple low-stakes assignments, peer reviews, and iterative drafts signals a program that values process and feedback. Neither is inherently better, but the mismatch between your learning style and the department’s assessment philosophy is a common source of student frustration. The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) consistently finds that students who report higher levels of “academic challenge” that aligns with their own expectations have higher retention rates. The syllabus is the most honest document the department will produce.

The Faculty’s Research vs. Teaching Balance

When you meet a professor, ask: “How many undergraduate students have you mentored on a research project in the last two years?” This is a far more revealing question than “Do you have research opportunities?” The first question forces a concrete number. A professor who can name three or four students has a genuine pipeline for undergraduate involvement. A professor who gives a vague answer about “the department’s programs” likely has little direct engagement with undergrads. According to the 2022 Faculty Survey of Student Engagement (FSSE), only 23% of faculty at four-year institutions report regularly involving undergraduates in their research. If a department can point to a higher figure, it is a meaningful differentiator.

The Alumni Trajectory: Where Do Graduates Actually Land?

University marketing materials are full of success stories—the entrepreneur who sold a startup, the journalist who won a Pulitzer, the scientist who published in Nature. These are outliers. You need the median trajectory: what does the typical graduate from this major do in the first three to five years after graduation? This is not a question the admissions office will answer easily, but the career services office or the department’s alumni coordinator can. Ask: “Could you share the most recent graduate outcomes survey for this major, broken down by industry and starting salary range?” If the department cannot produce this data, that is itself a data point.

The Salary and Employment Reality

The U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard provides median earnings for specific majors at specific institutions, but open days are your chance to get the granular detail. For example, a computer science major at a liberal arts college might have a median starting salary of $75,000, but if the placement is concentrated in local startups rather than FAANG companies, the long-term earnings trajectory may differ. Ask about the percentage of graduates who secure jobs in their field within six months of graduation. A number below 60% for a professional major (like engineering or nursing) is a red flag. For humanities majors, the key metric is not salary but satisfaction and graduate school placement rates. The 2023 Humanities Indicators report from the American Academy of Arts & Sciences found that 72% of humanities graduates report being satisfied with their career path, but the open day is where you can ask: “What percentage of your graduates go directly to a top-50 graduate program in their field?”

The Internship Pipeline

A program’s real-world relevance is often measured by its internship infrastructure. Ask: “Is there a required internship, and if so, what are the most common placement sites?” A required, credit-bearing internship is a strong signal that the department values experiential learning. A program that merely “encourages” internships is leaving the burden of finding one entirely on you. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 2024 Internship & Co-op Survey reported that 60% of paid interns receive a job offer from their internship employer, compared to only 37% of unpaid interns. If the department can name specific companies or labs that regularly take their students as interns, you have a concrete pathway to employment.

The Department’s Culture: Competition or Collaboration?

The vibe of a department is difficult to quantify but critical to your daily experience. On an open day, you can observe the social architecture of the major. Are the students in the common room working together on problems or staring silently at their laptops? Do the faculty members seem to know students by name? Ask a current student: “What is the typical study group culture in this major?” In highly competitive fields like pre-med or finance, a cutthroat culture can be motivating for some and toxic for others. In collaborative fields like education or social work, a supportive environment is often essential. The 2021 Chronicle of Higher Education report on student well-being found that a sense of belonging was the single strongest predictor of retention for first-generation college students.

The Advising Ratio and Quality

Ask: “How many majors does each faculty advisor typically have?” The national average for academic advising is around 300 students per full-time advisor at large public universities, according to the 2023 NACADA survey. If a department claims a ratio lower than 50:1, it is worth verifying. Also ask: “Are advisors faculty members or professional advisors?” Faculty advisors can offer deep insight into the discipline but may be less knowledgeable about university-wide requirements. Professional advisors are often better at navigating bureaucracy. The best departments have a hybrid model. You want to know which one you will get.

The Physical Space: A Clue to Investment

Take a close look at the department’s facilities. Are the labs equipped with modern equipment, or do they look like they were last updated in the 1990s? Is there a dedicated student lounge, or do majors congregate in a hallway? The physical space is a direct reflection of the university’s investment in the program. For a STEM major, a lab with equipment that is less than five years old is a positive sign. For an arts major, studio space and exhibition areas matter. For a business major, access to a trading room or a dedicated collaboration space can be a differentiator. The condition of the building is not superficial—it is a tangible measure of institutional priority.

The Flexibility Factor: Can You Change Your Mind?

The most honest question you can ask at an open day is about the exit ramp. “How difficult is it to transfer into or out of this major?” The answer reveals the department’s selectivity, its capacity constraints, and its willingness to accommodate student exploration. At some universities, majors like computer science or nursing have capped enrollment, meaning you must apply and compete for a spot after your first year. If you are unsure about your major, a department with open enrollment is a safer bet. The 2022 Education Data Initiative found that approximately 30% of undergraduate students change their major at least once. A department that punishes that exploration with delayed graduation is not student-centered.

The Double Major and Minor Landscape

Ask: “What are the most common double majors or minors that students in this program pursue?” This question reveals the natural intellectual intersections of the department. If you are interested in political science, and the most common double major is economics, that tells you the department values quantitative political science. If it is history, the department leans toward comparative or theoretical work. Also ask about the administrative ease of declaring a double major. Some departments require a separate application, while others have a simple form. The friction matters.

The Transfer Credit Policy

If you are considering a semester abroad or a summer program at another institution, ask: “How many credits from outside this university can count toward the major?” Some departments are restrictive, allowing only 6-9 credits of transfer work. Others are more generous, especially if the program is part of a consortium. This is particularly important for international students or those considering a gap year. The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) 2023 report found that 47% of transfer students lose credits when switching institutions. While you are not transferring yet, the policy reveals how the department values external learning.

The Post-Graduate Support Network

A university’s relationship with you does not end at graduation. Ask: “What is the alumni network like for this specific major?” A strong alumni network can open doors for internships, mentorship, and job referrals. Look for evidence of active engagement: an annual alumni mixer, a LinkedIn group with regular posts, or a newsletter that features alumni career updates. The 2024 Gallup Alumni Survey found that graduates who felt their university helped them build a professional network were 2.5 times more likely to be thriving in their careers. The open day is your chance to see if that network is real or just a line in the brochure.

The Career Services Integration

Ask: “Is there a career services counselor specifically assigned to this department?” A dedicated counselor who understands the industry landscape for your major is far more valuable than a generalist who covers the entire university. For example, a journalism major benefits from a counselor who knows media companies and can review clips, not just resumes. The best departments embed career services into the curriculum, offering mock interviews, portfolio reviews, and industry panels as part of the academic experience. If the answer is “You can visit the central career center,” you are on your own.

The Industry Advisory Board

For professional and applied majors, ask: “Does the department have an industry advisory board, and who serves on it?” This board, composed of alumni and industry leaders, shapes the curriculum to ensure it remains relevant. A board with representatives from top companies in the field is a strong signal that the program is connected to the job market. If the department cannot name any board members, the curriculum may be out of touch with current industry needs.

The Financial Reality: Cost vs. Value of Your Major

Open days are often silent on the financial calculus of your major choice. You must break that silence. Ask: “What is the average time to graduation for this major?” If the average is longer than four years, you are looking at additional tuition and living costs. For STEM majors, a fifth year is common due to course sequencing, but you need to know. The 2023 Complete College America report found that only 41% of students at public four-year institutions graduate within four years. For specific majors, the number can be much lower. Ask for the department’s own four-year graduation rate.

The Hidden Costs of Your Major

Some majors have significant hidden costs: expensive lab fees, required software licenses, field trips, or equipment purchases. Ask: “Beyond tuition, what are the typical annual costs for a student in this major?” An architecture major might need a high-end laptop and printing supplies that cost $2,000 per year. A music major might need instrument maintenance and private lesson fees. A nursing major might need uniform, background checks, and certification exam fees. Knowing these costs upfront prevents a financial shock in your sophomore year. For cross-border tuition payments, some international families use channels like Airwallex student account to settle fees and manage living expenses without the high conversion rates of traditional banks.

The Return on Investment by Major

Finally, ask: “What is the median starting salary for graduates of this major from this university, and how does it compare to the national median for the same major?” The College Scorecard provides national data, but the department may have its own internal survey. A program that consistently produces graduates earning above the national median for that field is adding value. A program that produces graduates earning below the median may have a curriculum or reputation problem. The key is to compare apples to apples: a philosophy major from a top liberal arts college may have a higher median salary than one from a regional public university, but the cost of attendance also differs. The open day is your chance to get the local data that the national databases cannot provide.

FAQ

Q1: How can I tell if a university’s open day is just a marketing event or actually useful for academic decision-making?

The best signal is the ratio of faculty and current students to admissions staff. A useful open day will have at least 40% of the presenters in the major-specific sessions be faculty or current students, not admissions officers. You can also check the schedule in advance: if the department session is a 20-minute PowerPoint followed by a rapid Q&A, it is marketing. If it includes a lab tour, a sample lecture, or a breakout session with current students, it is substantive. Arrive with a printed list of 5-7 specific questions about the curriculum, faculty mentorship, and graduate outcomes. If you cannot get clear answers to at least three of them, consider the open day a low-value signal.

Q2: What is the single most important question to ask a current student about their major?

Ask: “If you could change one thing about this major, what would it be?” This question invites an honest, critical response that the student would not volunteer in a scripted testimonial. Common answers include: the lack of practical skills training, the difficulty of getting into required courses, the disorganization of the department, or the isolation of the cohort. A student who hesitates and then gives a minor critique (like “I wish the library had more copies of the textbook”) is likely satisfied. A student who immediately lists a structural problem (like “The capstone project is a waste of time”) is giving you a genuine warning. Listen for the specific nouns: “advising,” “internships,” “course availability,” “faculty accessibility.” These are the real pain points.

Q3: How do I compare two universities’ open days for the same major when I cannot attend both in person?

Request a virtual open day or a recorded department information session from the university you cannot visit. Then, create a scoring rubric with five categories: curriculum structure (required courses vs. electives), faculty accessibility (office hours, research mentorship), internship pipeline (required vs. optional, placement rates), alumni outcomes (median salary, graduate school placement), and department culture (collaborative vs. competitive). Assign a score of 1-5 for each category based on the information you gather. The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) benchmarks can help you contextualize the responses. If one university scores significantly higher in three or more categories, it is likely the better fit, even if the campus itself is less visually appealing.

References

• OECD. 2023. Education at a Glance 2023: OECD Indicators. Table B3.1: Tertiary graduation and entry rates.
• National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). 2024. Student Outcomes Survey: First-Destination Data and Major Preparation.
• National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). 2022. Engagement Indicators: Academic Challenge and Student-Faculty Interaction.
• U.S. Department of Education. 2023. College Scorecard: Median Earnings by Major and Institution.
• American Academy of Arts & Sciences. 2023. Humanities Indicators: Career Outcomes and Satisfaction for Humanities Graduates.