[Maldesu]

$7000 is just for tuition and fees. Their total estimate for going to Chapel Hill for an instate resident is $20,660. Big difference, and before you say, that it is only a state and they can live near by, North Carolina is nearly twice the size of Ireland, so there are plenty of students who would have to pay that.
All that stuff they don't pay for probably comes for the millions it gets donated to it in land/cash/etc.

Enjoy it while you can cos the RDS is pretty miserable right now.

[Offside]

Originally Posted by Maldesu

$7000 is just for tuition and fees. Their total estimate for going to Chapel Hill for an instate resident is $20,660. Big difference, and before you say, that it is only a state and they can live near by, North Carolina is nearly twice the size of Ireland, so there are plenty of students who would have to pay that.
All that stuff they don't pay for probably comes for the millions it gets donated to it in land/cash/etc.

Enjoy it while you can cos the RDS is pretty miserable right now.

Yeah I get that, I was just speaking on a tuition/fees basis as it was direct money into the universities pocket, the others are incidentals based on living fees, some of their estimates are crazy as well -I've probably spent $100 on books, not the grand that they say, I could have spent a grand but made smart use of the library

The culture over here as well is very different, even if you grow up in Chapel Hill, you're out of the house when college starts, it's pretty taboo to live at home. You're right on the donations and I didn't think of it, obviously UCD gets a few but there are huge donations being made by alumni to this university and you can see this just by looking at the names of most of the buildings around and that helps out the university out greatly.

I'm enjoying my last week here in the sunny weather at the moment, dreading a return to a dreary Dublin summer, but I've had an incredibly good run out here - best year of my life, and at the end of the day, none of it would have been possible without UCD. To the OP, bringing this somewhat back on topic, make sure you look into an exchange, you won't regret it and it's one of the best opportunities UCD can offer you.

[HavingCrack]

Originally Posted by Offside

The culture over here as well is very different, even if you grow up in Chapel Hill, you're out of the house when college starts, it's pretty taboo to live at home.

People who think like that are partially the reasons Americans get into so much college debt in the States. I know plenty of Americans who lived at home while attending community college before transferring to a state school university for the final two years which was within commuting distance and these are the one's with the lowest amounts of debt.

If you're living off your parents money away from home you're haven't really moved out at all. If your parents are happy for you to stay home and commute moving out is a massive waste of money considering the cost of university in America.

[HavingCrack]

Originally Posted by Offside

Over the summer I did some business with UCD sports and I was informed that to make payment to them for our sales I would have to do it by a cheque made out to the Sports Centre as from a bank transfer it would go into the ONE UCD main account and there would be no paper trail that earmarked that money as payment to them. I was astounded by this (that being said, it's so astounding he may have been telling me a few tales).

He's talking bollocks. I've worked in UCD admin part time alongside my studies for the last few semesters and he's just talking pure ****e. No idea why he's doing so though.

[Offside]

Originally Posted by HavingCrack

People who think like that are partially the reasons Americans get into so much college debt in the States. I know plenty of Americans who lived at home while attending community college before transferring to a state school university for the final two years which was within commuting distance and these are the one's with the lowest amounts of debt.

If you're living off your parents money away from home you're haven't really moved out at all. If your parents are happy for you to stay home and commute moving out is a massive waste of money considering the cost of university in America.

Yeah I should have added that it's a requirement to live on campus for your first year - no matter where you live. You're free to live wherever after that but most won't go back - most of my friends have jobs to pay their rent, their parents or loans help them with tuition but I don't know many people who are getting a free ride off their parents.

Also thanks for clearing that up about UCD sport, I'll have some words when I'm back in town!

[Blut2]

I've known plenty of Americans studying abroad here over the past few years and without exception they've all been horrified at the availability and quality of services in UCD. 5 years ago when fees were minimal it was possible to just shrug your shoulders and say "well eh, at least its free" in response. The continual upward trend in registration fees is bringing UCD closer and closer in terms of tuition fees to in-state state school tuition in the U.S. though.

These rising fees combined with the cost-cutting measures introduced across Belfield in the last few years do not lead to flattering comparisons to most comparable international institutions.

[onlylola]

Guys, this isn't a thread about how UCD compares (or doesn't) to American Universities.... Stick to the original question? What's UCD like to study in? Is it difficult to make friends, etc. etc.

[beardedmaster]

I love the place!
It's fantastically easy to make friends, and the people in general are a great bunch.
The lecturers, in general, are also very good! Of course there's a few duds, but sure what harm!

[Siuin]

I think UCD is a brilliant university, and I say that as someone who has changed courses in order to study here and have seen what it's like elsewhere. My professors are by and large fantastic and really interested in what they teach, which really comes across in how they engage with the subjects. I genuinely enjoy my course (Engish and history) and find the topics very interesting.

And the fact that I'm saying this during exam time... well, I think it says something

Btw-- while everyone's entitled to their opinion and to speak negatively about UCD, I do think some individuals should be a whole lot more grateful for the fact that they have even made it to third level education at all and have the lifestyles that they do... just saying.

[onlylola]

Siuin I think UCD is a brilliant university, and I say that as someone who has changed courses in order to study here and have seen what it's like elsewhere. My professors are by and large fantastic and really interested in what they teach, which really comes across in how they engage with the subjects. I genuinely enjoy my course (Engish and history) and find the topics very interesting.

And the fact that I'm saying this during exam time... well, I think it says something

Btw-- while everyone's entitled to their opinion and to speak negatively about UCD, I do think some individuals should be a whole lot more grateful for the fact that they have even made it to third level education at all and have the lifestyles that they do... just saying

Siuin Heyy... thanks for that reply! What's English like at UCD? I'm thinking of putting it down as I highly doubt I'll get the points for TCD (it doesn't bother me too much though, I preferred UCD on the open day in November)

What type of stuff are you studying? Are the lecturers good? Do you have small tutorials as well as lectures? Any info on the course would be really appreciated!

[onlylola]

Oh and Beardedmaster... Are you doing arts? Or what are you studying? I'm just curious as I know Arts is probably the largest faculty at the university and the sheer size of it is quite daunting!

[Pedant]

Originally Posted by RoundBox11

5 cent per page isnt asking much considering the printing shop is in debt

I wonder why that is ... hmm ... UCDSU overspending and wasting the Union fee contribution on frivolous crap such as the UCD Ball and nights out.

Originally Posted by RoundBox11

The new gym and pool are free to all current UCD students.

The gym and pool doesn't exist yet. The last gym (Crunch Fitness) wasn't free, so why is this one going to be - where did UCD get all this money all of a sudden?

[errlloyd]

Originally Posted by Pedant

The gym and pool doesn't exist yet. The last gym (Crunch Fitness) wasn't free, so why is this one going to be - where did UCD get all this money all of a sudden?

Because you paid a 250e student centre levy for the last 6000 years. Future students will probably have a mandatory levy which covers the gym, just like Trinity do, but in effect it's a ****ing awesome building and worth it every day of the week.

If you've a problem that you didn't get your money worth from the SU opt out, you have a constitutional right to, and if you write a letter to Pat De Brun he'll sort it out. You'll get your 20 euro back, but historically the SU have done a huge amount for UCD. Read bygone belfield, its a blog that details the history of the college. Simple things like having a bus shelter at the 39a stop, having the trap for the years we did, having the bar, having the SU centre, having printing and copying facilities, having access to free contraception, having discounted medical care with free access to counselling, having someone trying their ****ing best to stand up for your rights to education, or privacy if you live on res. All these things the SU gives you.

And if you have a problem that for one day a year the college gets to host a massive festival that is the ****ing envy of the 5 universities in Ireland that don't get one you need to take a step back and ask yourself if you know the meaning of fun? The UCD ball as a spectacle is absolutely incredible, its only a couple of years old and its faced challenges past and future, but SU officers have worked tirelessly to get over those. I know if I was an NUIG student and a UCD student told me that for one day a year their whole college shuts down, a stage rolls out, everyone has a few drinks enjoys the weather (good or bad) and listens to bands that may not be filling stadiums, but are getting radio and club time, I'd be jealous.

20 euro a year man, you'd swear membership was costing you a grand.

[Siuin]

Originally Posted by onlylola

Siuin Heyy... thanks for that reply! What's English like at UCD? I'm thinking of putting it down as I highly doubt I'll get the points for TCD (it doesn't bother me too much though, I preferred UCD on the open day in November)

What type of stuff are you studying? Are the lecturers good? Do you have small tutorials as well as lectures? Any info on the course would be really appreciated!

English in UCD is really great- the material they choose is very interesting and even for less thrilling aspects of English such as Medieval literature, they really do try their best to make it appealing to the students. I would highly recommend it. Definitely put English down on your CAO and don't leave choosing subjects until you get there. It's a very popular course and my cousin waited until she'd enrolled only to find that there were no spaces left.

The spectrum of what we study is really broad. In first year you basically get a taste of poetry, prose and plays from every era and of many styles. The results of this year don't count towards you final degree. Then in second year you can choose from your favourite areas. For example, I really enjoyed writing about American plays and novels in first year, so I took modern American literature in second year. Basically, you tailor the course to suit your own interests.

There's also a really great feature of arts in UCD which allows you to do one module outside of your course each semester. I got a chance to learn Arabic and Russian through this, and it was really nice to have a break from the usual material I'd be studying and try out something different. You can choose anything- creative writing, philosophy, history, Irish folklore, a whole bunch of languages- the list is endless!

Our lecturers are fantastic- quite a few are very witty which makes everything so much more enjoyable, and they're very approachable if you have a problem or just want to chat about an aspect of the course.

Yes, we have small tutorials (about 15 people max in each of mine) and they're *extremely* important to attend. Not just because 10% of your overall grade is often for attendance, but it's basically where everything from the lectures is broken down and discussed in depth.

[brownlad]

we are unreal.