freshers week-what to expect?

fatal

We have all heard stories of how freshers pockets are "physically emptied" etc. by the various societies that try to get new members .

So,in this thread im asking,what can I expect when I get into the UCD gates tomorrow?what societies MUST I join?What societies give new members the best stuff when they pay their subscriptions?O and feel free to share any stories about stuff that went on during past freshers weeks

Red Alert

Don't bother with the C&E.

delta_bravo

do normal lectures run through freshers week? i have very little time off between classes so i doubt i can grab too many freebies:D also, apart from the tent, what else is going on?

Chakar

Well the societies that you must join are Lawsoc and L&H as they do highly entertaining debates throughout the year.They also have events throughout the year too.

You should join one or two of the party societies but the best one is B&L honestly last year with Paddy Rath as Auditor was by far the best year for B&L.

If you know what political party you support then it might be no harm to join them.They're great crack, not all boring and that.

Btw stay far away from the C&E last year they did NOTHING.They failed to have membership cards last year.

You should also join a sports club, its good for the ol' heart and social life is pretty good.I'm in Softball and its good.

And yes lectures run during freshers week delta bravo.And Freshers Festival by UCDEnts is on this week or the next.Gonna be massive

irlrobins

Join all the socs and clubs you want. Next year you'll realise you never went to any events held by most of them and you will only join 1 or 2 socs this time round.

Don't believe the hype of bigger is better. If you're not into debates than L&H is useless for you. If you're not in Commerce C&E is the same.

Having said that, sometimes it's worth joining to get the freebies. Even if you never bother going to a single event.

Chakar

The membership fees are set at 2 euro and you'll get free packs from societies that are worth more.

Stepherunie

I'd go with joining the biggies for the free stuff - the soc for your course as a good way to get to know others in the course from other years always handy for getting tips on courses and old notes etc.

Then I'd go with join some random other soc for the craic, not for the free stuff but more as a soc you reckon you might give a go and have a laugh at, I did it and tbh best decision ever - may have been browbeaten into joining at the time but haven't ever regretted my decision.

Join sports if you into it and want to keep it up in college.

ozt9vdujny3srf

I would highly recommend joining one of the sports clubs. I know from personal experience that the Canoe Club and the Kite Club are excellent teaching clubs with great social events.

It all really depends one what you like though, if its nights out in clubs in a siciety tat is really too big to make friends in properly (not a problem if you have enough friends on campus already) join one of the biggies). If not I'd say join a sports club - you'll get far far more out of them in the long run.

gubbie

Up the Canoe Club-Low but do-able. Best club/society I joined last year and were the source of my best weekend in Dublin. I'd definately advise joining a club. You're bound to find something you're interested in and because they meet more reguraly (about 3 times a week) you're more likely to make friends out of it. Also I think societies can be very clicky. Definately join your course one because everyone else will too

dajaffa

If you've any interest in music/current affairs/ sports or the Arts join Belfield Fm. It's free and it's the best thing I joined last year. It's a great way to meet people and it's pretty cool to be like: "yeah I'm on the radio..."

For most societies you get your bag of free stuff and a load of texts during the year, not a lot else tbh. Def join whatever society is kinda linked to your course (ie BnL, Ag Soc or whatever). (Note: don't join medsoc unless you're actually doing medicine). Oh if you're in physio there's a physio soc you can join, but it's not in the freshers tent. Only physios can join + it'll be done later.

If you reckon you'll be heading to see any comedians as the year goes on comedysoc is good as last year you get €2 off tickets so it's a pretty good €2 to join them.

Oh all the sports clubs will be in one of the sports halls (sports expo). Usuall €10 or so to join a club. This year there's a dodgeball club! (Remember the 5 Ds; dodge, duck, dip, dive and... dodge)

Seifer

Please be marginally more subtle about pimping :P

Funky

I believe the Iron Stomach contest is on wednesday this week, always a good laugh to have a few cans and watch.

Stabshauptmann

What you should join depends on your personality, interests and free time.

C&E is the most active society in UCD. Its the biggest and for a very good reason. They give a lot of stuff for your €2.
L&H debates are great fun, but you dont actually need to be a member to get into them.
DutchSoc give away free beer. They cant give it away in the tent but the freshers reception is on thursday. Guess what will happen there
The political party of your choosing, only if you are a very political person. These societies are very small and full of very opinionated people. I joined 3 political parties in 1st year for the goodies.

dajaffa

Kaptain Redeye wrote:

C&E is the most active society in UCD. Its the biggest and for a very good reason. They give a lot of stuff for your €2.

No, no and well maybe (can't remember tbh). CnE was pretty inactive imo, and virtually all their events are the same year in year out. Party Soc wise BnL is the best by a mile. CnE isn't the biggest either, that was Lawsoc last year + the year before that it was LnH. CnE used to be the biggest, but numbers have dwindled as the society's performance has. In fairness if you do commerce it might be worth joining, but I def wont be joining.

Though it was rubbish last year, Qsoc should actually be quite good this year. They were derecognised cause they didn't do much last year, but are a society again on the condition that nobody from last years committee be on the committee this year. I know some of people running it at the mo + I reckon it'll be a good year for it, should beat the pants off CnE (like that hard... )

breadmonkey

Don't join Poker Soc, they are a bunch of gougers.

Syth

Join a small society!

They have a more specialised focus and you're much more likely to actual meet people, since there wouldn't be 300 people at the event. Most small societies are run by 5 to 10 interested dedicated people. They're can be a lot more approachable, since there wouldn't be 400 people at the events.

So if there's something interesting and you see a stall in the freshers tent that looks like it's being manned by 1 or 2 very tired looking people, come up and join them.

rainbow kirby

*subtle Gamesoc and TKD pimp*

DirkVoodoo

I would definitely be a fan of "if the stuff they give out is worth more than 2 euro, i shud join". At any rate, you can go to some of the nites out, the card may give you discounts to certain clubs (the engsoc card saved me a few pennies).

Also, definitely join a sporting soc, ive heard the ultimate frisbie is a bit of craic. And playing rugby is a bit of a laff, especially for the 3rds.

jimi_t

You *can* join them all after freshers week, can't you?
(It's raining outside...)

arbeitsscheuer

Syth wrote:

Join a small society!

They have a more specialised focus and you're much more likely to actual meet people, since there wouldn't be 300 people at the event. Most small societies are run by 5 to 10 interested dedicated people. They're can be a lot more approachable, since there wouldn't be 400 people at the events.

So if there's something interesting and you see a stall in the freshers tent that looks like it's being manned by 1 or 2 very tired looking people, come up and join them.

Seconded.

Smaller societies are, in my experience anyway, less intimidating and just more fun. Since their membership is smaller, they're more likely to value the 'few' who actually do join them and therefore you won't just be one of the many faces in the crowd at society functions.

That's my take on it anyway. Feel free to differ.

fish-head

Warning: Silly bints will try to lure you in with promises of cheap entry to clubs.

Go to the Jazzsoc thing, you get to make your own membership card!

Brods

Do you need your student card to join the societies? i've lost mine already

panda100

Brods wrote:

Do you need your student card to join the societies? i've lost mine already

Some of them are a bit anal about it but the majority will be fine.Just make make sure you have your student number with ya

Brods

and what if one never had a student card...

seraphimvc

juz got my free class now....def not goin 2 the tent on myown cos' my fren got class....
so far hows the thing going?:D

p/s:i wonder there will be different socs on everyday?or they r just the same everyday in tis week?:rolleyes:

Syth

seraphimvc wrote:

p/s:i wonder there will be different socs on everyday?or they r just the same everyday in tis week?:rolleyes:

Same societies every day. Granted societies might feck off mid way through friday. But they all are there every day.

You can sometimes join a society after freshers week. It can depend on the society. E.g. some societies don't let you join just before the AGM. This is to stop them being taken over.

Stabshauptmann

Dutch Soc will probably not be in the tent thursday or friday, wednesday is looking dodge - wont be a full day. Sure we were only there 11-4 today. Got nearly 300 members tho :P

Serenity

Was only in for a few classes today and didn't have much time to visit the tent. And speaking of, it's in the Student Centre car park right? 'Cause I definitely want to go over tomorrow, and knowing where it is would help.

valor

Yes thats where it is

beanyb

Smaller societies are definitely the way to go. Getting involved in World Aid was one of the best things I've ever done. I've made some really great friends from it. They appreciate their members - we got 100 today and we were so proud! If you have any interest in getting involved in anything I'd definitely recommend it!

However I am also a believer in joining some societies for the free stuff!

Scraggs

beanyb wrote:

Smaller societies are definitely the way to go. Getting involved in World Aid was one of the best things I've ever done. I've made some really great friends from it. They appreciate their members - we got 100 today and we were so proud! If you have any interest in getting involved in anything I'd definitely recommend it!

However I am also a believer in joining some societies for the free stuff!

I was 98;)

Freshers week line up looks good especially Republic of Loose and something else that I've forgotten but was very excited about at the time...

beanyb

And we only actually made it to 100 because 2 committee members that hadnt joined were forced to so we could make it to an even 100. I was the girl that gave you your card and all the crap we give out by the way. My anonymity and stalkerness is fading....

OT: Karaoke in the student bar on thursday could be dangerous....

Blush_01

Smaller societies are great for getting to know people. And don't feel like you have to join everything. Likewise, don't look down on smaller societies because their volume of "free stuff" isn't as impressive as the larger societies. And please, don't nick the "free stuff" of the smaller societies. Most of them have put a bit of effort into getting/making them and are trying to make things as good for their members as they can.

I've been on committee of the same society for the past three years, this is my fourth. We always welcome new members, regardless of the time of year. But there could be problems if people start to join just before the AGM to vote their friends in, so keep that in mind. Besides, the sooner you join, the sooner you get the members benefits. Usually, you have to be a member to go on trips etc. with the society, and they're the best bonding times - that's when you really get to know people!

ferdi

its the same ****e every year for freshers week, someone needs to kick things up a notch with some serious practical jokes, fresher hazing and toga parties!

Chakar

ferdi wrote:

its the same ****e every year for freshers week, someone needs to kick things up a notch with some serious practical jokes, fresher hazing and toga parties!

You obviously didn't see Zak Powers the hypotist yesterday.It was amazing.A guy even thought he was having a baby.Kept telling Zak to get away from him and the baby.

Riamfada

i brought a firstie around the tent and after 5 minutes and an awkward "what will we do now" i just said, yeah ...eh no.

fatal

beanyb wrote:

Smaller societies are definitely the way to go. Getting involved in World Aid was one of the best things I've ever done. I've made some really great friends from it. They appreciate their members - we got 100 today and we were so proud! If you have any interest in getting involved in anything I'd definitely recommend it!

However I am also a believer in joining some societies for the free stuff!

I was number 54..........................I think that ive lost the yellow card that was issued.O and by the way,the fairtrade tea was so good;)