School pupils come to check out the atmosphere: ‘I completely skipped over the non-technical studies’

Stroopwafels (syrup filled waffles) drenched in chocolate, experimenting with VR glasses and the Dokter Bibber game with the TU Delft logo. Walking around the Aula on these two days anyone would think that studying only means having fun and enjoying tasty snacks. Elisa (16) and her mother are in the foyer walking through the inspiration market (with drones, spinning bikes and more) on their way to a design session and then a tour around campus.

Elisa has just about made up her mind. “I’m going for industrial design engineering. I just have to think about where.”  She says that the degree programme combines her creative and her technological sides well. Wietske (17) too is interested in industrial design engineering, she says in the hall of the relevant faculty. “But Architecture sounds good as well, so it’s going to be hard to choose.”

Sifting through

Jochem (16) is ‘not really sure’. But having said that, many options have already fallen by the wayside. “I’m not looking at social studies or the humanities at all, they’re not for me.” It seems like most of the visitors have already put some studies aside. Marijn (18) from Groningen ‘will probably do a technical study. And then you really have to look at TU Delft, even if it is far from home.’

For Quint (16) from Utrecht, it will most likely be a technical study as he says that they ‘make me happy’. He thinks that industrial design engineering may be for him, although he is also interested in the recently renamed earth, climate and technology studies (still called applied earth sciences this academic year). Quint, like many of the visitors, has brought his father. While his father has just joined an online meeting (“he has to work today”), Quint is happy that he has his father with him. “You then have someone to discuss everything with.”

Footsteps

Filip (17) knows for certain that it ‘will be something technical’. He had already looked at physics at the University of Leiden, but found it too theoretical. His shortlist contains civil engineering, maritime engineering and mechanical engineering. His father, an enthusiastic TU Delft mechanical engineering alumnus, stands next to him. Does Dad secretly hope that his son will follow in his footsteps? “He doesn’t have to, but I do think that he would enjoy it.”

What do the pupils at the Open Campus Days know about the current events at TU Delft and in higher education? None of the pupils that Delta spoke to referred to the lack of social safety that is currently the hot topic at TU Delft. And the Cabinet’s plans, which include the long-term study penalty, has little effect on them either. Quint (16) says: “I do see what is happening. I think it will all work out in the end.” Only Marijn (18) says very clearly that he thinks that the penalty is a bad idea, although it will not stop him from studying. “Not everyone learns just as easily. Some may also have problems at home. You should not penalise them for that.”

Shortage of rooms

The prospective students are concerned about the shortage of rooms. This was a consideration for Marijn from Groningen in choosing a course. “If I study anywhere outside Groningen, I will have to rent a room. Delft is about three hours away by train. You can’t go back and forth in one day.” It could be a reason that he may opt for Groningen. “I have a network there and can always fall back on my parents. It is easier.” Wietske from Langweer in the northern Netherlands, is even basing her decision for either higher professional education or university on the distance from home. The Universities of Applied Sciences in Zwolle and Leeuwarden are within commuting distance from her parents’ home.

For Sterre (17), who is debating between biomedical sciences (in Leiden) and life science & technology (in Leiden and Delft), the shortage of rooms is ‘something to think about’. “I live in Apeldoorn. To Delft, just going from station to station takes two hours. Leiden is a little closer.” Filip (17) comes from Voorburg and definitely wants to live at home. He is therefore only looking at Leiden, Delft and Rotterdam, ‘otherwise you have to travel a lot’. His father, the TU Delft alumnus – without any bias at all – knows another reason. “It’s the best university, isn’t it?” he says laughing.