Switching Courses, adding TSM

bruff

Hi,

I'm attending Trinity as an international student studying History TR003.

I accepted the invitation last February, but am now slightly worried about the course I chose.

I'm very interested in studying English, and would ideally like to study both History and English. Obviously I should have applied for the TSM Course, but I didn't exactly understand the application and the rigidity of the Irish University System (compared to the lunacy of the American System).

I'm wondering how difficult it is to switch courses, or add English to my History course load?

I only have American exam results, so I'm not sure how those will match up with the Leaving Cert.

claire h

You can apply to switch courses to TSM History + English within the first week or possibly fortnight of the first term. The points required are a good bit higher, though - if you did IB you can figure out your points equivalent here using info on this page (http://www.tcd.ie/Admissions/undergraduate/requirements/matriculation/other/), otherwise it's at their discretion whether or not to let you into the course based on whatever results you have. Also it does depend on if a place is available or not, though it shouldn't be a huge problem - main issue is that history in TSM combinations is harder to get into, points-wise.

*Lollie*

What about switching withtin TSM? I got my second choice of english and french but I really wanted english and sociology and have the points for it. (damn random selection!) Is administration strict on the number of places?

Jonathan

*Lollie* wrote: »

What about switching withtin TSM? I got my second choice of english and french but I really wanted english and sociology and have the points for it. (damn random selection!) Is administration strict on the number of places?

You can change course within the first 3-4 weeks iirc.

lilmizzme

Careful though, if the course is full they wont let u change, and you'll have started the course, and if u drop out and apply again next year you'll have fees to pay!! it may be worth deferring it and re applying next year to try again for sociolgy and english...

I tried to move to Irish and History last year cus I had the points but course was full end of story!! It actually worked out cus I was offered my first choice from last year after re applying!

But if you do accept it, Ill see you in english!!

*Lollie*

lilmizzme wrote: »

Careful though, if the course is full they wont let u change, and you'll have started the course, and if u drop out and apply again next year you'll have fees to pay!! it may be worth deferring it and re applying next year to try again for sociolgy and english...

I tried to move to Irish and History last year cus I had the points but course was full end of story!! It actually worked out cus I was offered my first choice from last year after re applying!

But if you do accept it, Ill see you in english!!

Thanks for the advice! this is actually my second year applying for the course and I tried out NUIM last year so already have those nasty fees to think about. is there any ways I can register late and try to switch in the meantime because the last thing I want is to register, not get it and then have to pay double fees next year. Have talked to a few people in admissions but keep getting only vague answers

so confused!

lilmizzme

Its a risk you just have to take I reckon....like I stupidly registered for my course even though I knew I wasnt going to stick at it, purely to try and get my transfer. They are pretty strict with course places though, based on my experience dealing with it last year. SO even though I had "withdrawn" from college (they prefer to say withdrawn than drop out for some reason ) after about 6 weeks I still have nasty half fees to be paying! So limited social life for me for a while, cus ill be paying off loans!!

On the other hand, sociology might not be full when you get there, I was applying for history and even the tutor was like "not a chance in hell!"

Look on the bright side, at least you get to do english!

claire h

*Lollie*, if you've English & Sociology down as your first choice on the CAO you've a fair chance of getting it on the second round.

Fees - if you drop out before October 31st it doesn't count as a year, and before January 31st (I think) it's only half a year for the purposes of the free fees thing.

You can also apply for transfers later in the academic year (deadline at some point in January) and with TSM I think you can apply to switch after first year, since it's only one new subject you're taking up, but I don't know how successful that actually is in practice, just that you can technically do it.

College official info: http://www.tcd.ie/vp-cao/ao/vpaoproc.php