Waterford Institute of Technology will run a week of virtual open days to help prospective undergraduate students with their questions about going to college.
The WIT virtual open days will take place online between Monday and Friday of next week, with each afternoon given over to a different academic school.
There will be an additional morning event on Wednesday of next week for adult learners who have queries about attending college as mature students.
During each virtual open day, prospective students or parents of CAO applicants will have the chance to chat live with lecturers and support staff from that academic school.
They can also take an interactive tour of the WIT campus to get a flavour of what to expect.
"Each day," outreach officer John Power said, "lecturers and support staff from the academic school scheduled for that day will be online to answer questions which will help CAO applicants choose the college course that's right for them. What's really interesting is people can join the conversation online and see the questions other prospective students have."
Staff will be available from the college's admissions office, school liason, outreach, fees and grants, accommodation and student life, and learning departments.
The timing of the virtual open days is crucial for CAO applicants or anybody considering a full-time undergraduate course this year because at midday on Tuesday, 5 May, the CAO Online Change of Mind facility becomes available, allowing applicants to amend their choices for free.
Meanwhile, Friday, 1 May is the final application date for late applicants, including mature applicants to WIT, school-leavers who have been exploring other options, students on further educations courses, and those who have completed their Leaving Cert and are under 23 who are interested in a return to education.
"The interactive virtual campus tour gives students the option of touring the main Cork Road campus, where they can see what classrooms and lecture halls look like. They can also explore the facilities at the WIT Arena virtually," Mr Power added.
When it is safe to do so, WIT would also like to run free guided one-hour campus tours for potential students with WIT's graduate ambassadors.
Next Monday, from 2-4pm, the school of business will host its open day. Tuesday will be the turn of the school of engineering, Wednesday morning is for mature students and student supports, Wednesday afternoon is for the school of health sciences, Thursday afternoon has been allotted to the school of humanities, and Friday afternoon will be for the school of science and computing.
More details are available at www.wit.ie/virtualopenday.
