Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
How the Leeds Beckett Open Day shaped my future
Hi, my name is Kate, and I am currently a second-year student completing my Sport and Exercise Science degree. In this blog, I'll be taking you back to a pivotal moment: attending my Open Day at Leeds Beckett University.
Where did I start?
Before my Open Day I was nervous. I didn’t like thinking too much about the future, all I knew is that I wanted to go to university and had a rough idea of what I was interested in.
So, me and my mum headed to the Headingley campus. I was intrigued by sports, exercise, and learning all about the human body, but I had no clue what courses were available, what the entry requirements were, or what any of them involved. We decided to head straight over to the Carnegie School of Sport building. Immediately I had visions of future me walking up to this cool building to study and enjoy university life, which was reinforced by the vibrant and positive energy we were welcomed with when stepping inside.
The first person I had the chance to speak with was the Head of Sport and Exercise Science, although this is where my interests primarily were I wasn't ready to shut the door on other possibilities. As I shared my interests and my passion for A-level P.E., he began outlining the core modules of the Sport Science program, each one sparking a deeper curiosity.
He suggested attending a subject talk for further information. With my options still open and a keen interest in Nutrition and Psychology, I took his advice. Attending that talk turned out to be one of the best things I did - it not only confirmed that the course covered both Nutrition and Psychology but also highlighted the flexibility it offered. Not having a clear career path post-university, this flexibility really appealed to me. It was perfect as it meant keeping my options open and the ability to specialise later on, once I had a clearer direction. I left that lecture theatre feeling so inspired and excited for my future.
Carnagie School of Sport, Headingley Campus
Clearly, it was meant to be because, here I am, two years later, absolutely loving the course!
A game changing campus tour
By this point, I had a pretty clear idea of which course I wanted to pursue. However, what truly sealed the deal for me and ultimately made me choose Leeds Beckett was the campus tour! I felt like the journey of choosing the right university was an exciting yet overwhelming task; I had been uncertain about which university to choose because earlier visits to other campuses hadn't quite ignited that spark of interest everyone talks about. Little did I know that the spark I was looking for was waiting for me at Leeds Beckett during the tour of Headingley campus. It was an experience that opened my eyes to opportunities awaiting me and it motivated me to pursue and exceed here at Leeds Beckett in my degree.
We started off walking round the general grounds of the campus, the Acre – a beautiful acre of greenery on campus, really wowed me. I could envision myself walking through Beckett Park on a sunny morning to my lectures and sitting out on the Acre studying with my yet to be made friends.
The real highlight came when we revisited what would soon become my favourite building—the Carnegie School of Sport. Walking into the building for a second time, I saw it in a whole new light - I was in awe by its modern design and the vibrant atmosphere. I got showed all the state-of-the-art labs and an array of amazing facilities including an impressive 100m running track on the rooftop! The thought of having access to such incredible facilities really filled me with excitement I wanted to start right then & there!
I really saw my future self here. As they elaborated on the exciting practical work in Biomechanics and Physiology labs, and highlighted the diverse range of clubs and societies, I was reassured that Leeds Beckett was the place to be.
How the Open Day inspired me after the event
As the days passed after the Open Day, I was so excited about the prospect of attending Leeds Beckett it resulted in my brain being flooded with more questions that I wish that I had asked while I was there. Luckily, I was able to get some direct contact details for the Head of Sport & Exercise Science so I could ask my new questions easily - they were really informative and I felt genuinely looked after even though I wasn't a student yet.
As a last confirmation that Leeds Beckett was the place for me. I contacted a current student via the Leeds Beckett website to get their perspective on their experience. We chatted at length about the course, societies and general life in Leeds. This reassured me that I was making the right decision, she was very friendly and answered all my questions in helpful detail.
I turned to my mum and said 'this is the one'.
My experience at the Leeds Beckett Open Day was so transformative and motivating. A warm welcome, talking to lecturers and current students all grew my inspiration to study what I love. As I left campus that day, I felt not only excited for my future but a newfound aspiration to take every opportunity and go in with open eyes. I hope that you get out of it the same thing too & I wish you all the luck with choosing your future university.
