Newbie Questions

peanuthead

Hey

I'm heading to Maynooth in september, I'm a mature student (yeah yeah, I know, boo...mature fu**ing mature student )

I have a few questions about NUIM, hope you guys can help me out:

(1) Are there lockers available for rent? How much are they? Big? Small?
(2) There's a running track, right? How long is it? Can I just head out to it at 8am or so, before I start lectures? Are there showers available, are they close?
(3) Whats parking like? A nightmare or ok?
(4) Whats food like? Cheap?
(5) Are the computers on campus available or is it like the lottery getting one? I'm wondering if i'd be better off investing in a laptop as I hate waiting and I remember doing ALOT of this in my UCD days

Any other advice??? I know, I'm a geek!

Rozabeez

The lockers are reasonably sized, I think they're 10 euro for a year. I'll be investing this year myself.

No idea about the running track. Parking can indeed be a bitch or so I've heard, I'm a bus/train person.

Food is an issue at the moment, I'm sure you're aware of our lack of canteen so the cheapest food on campus is gone. There are however, plenty of places in the town, a Dunnes, a Tesco and several pubs...as well as the on campus cafe, the bar, pugin hall and o'briens.

I've never really had any issues with pcs, the Rye Hall PACR is probably your safest bet, but closes at 5 now instead of 10 because of cutbacks. Arts block room is jammers during the day.

Anything else you'd like to know? And welcome to Maynooth

cython

No running track, I'm afraid. You'll have the choices of either:

• Treadmills in the gym
• Running on/around the pitches
• Finding your own route to run around the campus

There are showers in the changing rooms in the Sports Centre on the North Campus.

Síle28

What? no canteen? should have found that out before I accepted my place

Beau

Síle28 wrote: »

What? no canteen? should have found that out before I accepted my place

I presume you didn't come down on the open day then it went on fire that day.

Don't worry there's a temporary canteen type place in the process of being built (its been thrown up fairly fast so it should be ready in time) while the old one is being rebuilt.

Wendero

Hi

Do you have to see your apartment before paying the deposit? I need to know this, because in that case I'm going to have to book tickets to Ireland quite soon:( I did see an apartment during the campus tour however, but I guess that wouldn't count. I'm an EU student.

/John

mickstupp

Síle28 wrote: »

What? no canteen? should have found that out before I accepted my place

There's another on the south campus.
In the long run though, it's best bringing your own food.

Síle28

What! no way, such drama, fire on open day jeje. No I wasn't there, haven't actually been to the uni at all so will be a nice surprise for me when I arrive to register on Sept 4th jeje

Rozabeez

TBH even when there was a canteen it was a bit nicer to bring your own food, the only issue is not having a place to sit if you do so. Cheaper AND you know whats going into it!

Harpie

Beau wrote: »

I presume you didn't come down on the open day then it went on fire that day.

Don't worry there's a temporary canteen type place in the process of being built (its been thrown up fairly fast so it should be ready in time) while the old one is being rebuilt.

Really?? whereabouts? Pugin= expensiveness!

Harpie

Wendero wrote: »

Hi

Do you have to see your apartment before paying the deposit? I need to know this, because in that case I'm going to have to book tickets to Ireland quite soon:( I did see an apartment during the campus tour however, but I guess that wouldn't count. I'm an EU student.

No you don't view the apartment before you move in. You just get your key from the office when everything is sorted and head over then. At least that's what I did!

mp3guy

It's being thrown up inbetween the Arts Block/EEng Building/Callan, that small stretch of grass that used to be a walk way.

Rozabeez

Also, if you don't know many people going to Maynooth, just join societies on fairs day/club and socs day as it's now called, and talk to people from your class. It's a very friendly place.

peanuthead

Ive heard its great and I'm really looking forward to it!! Going 3 days a week - doing the postgrad diploma in Ed!

No running track!! nooo!!!! I thought maynooth was well known for its sports??!! Maybe I'm mixing up colleges here!!

Didn't know that about the canteen - holy crap!! There are no seats around to eat your lunch?? Nooo!!! I'm actually kind of glad about the lack of a canteen, cause I can't afford it anyway!!

Harpie

mp3guy wrote: »

It's being thrown up inbetween the Arts Block/EEng Building/Callan, that small stretch of grass that used to be a walk way.

That'll hardly be big enough to cater for the masses will it? Better than nothing though!

Nationalist

peanuthead wrote: »

I'm heading to Maynooth in september, I'm a mature student (yeah yeah, I know, boo...mature fu**ing mature student )!

How about a snack?

BuroniKiisu

Rozabeez wrote: »

Also, if you don't know many people going to Maynooth, just join societies on fairs day/club and socs day as it's now called, and talk to people from your class. It's a very friendly place.

+1.

I basically knew nobody when I first showed up in Maynooth, but thanks too throwing myself into the many societies on camus as well as getting heavily invovled in the Students' Union, I've made countless new close friends. As Rozabeez said, it's a very VERY friendly place; talk to EVERYONE during Orientation week and the weeks that follow!

Miss Lockhart

Rozabeez wrote: »

TBH even when there was a canteen it was a bit nicer to bring your own food, the only issue is not having a place to sit if you do so. Cheaper AND you know whats going into it!

So where do people actually go to sit and eat their lunch then?

Harpie wrote: »

Really?? whereabouts? Pugin= expensiveness!

What is Pugin??

mp3guy

I usually buy lunch in Dunnes and walk up the road eating it, or sometimes get a sandwich in Aldi then just eat it in the Callan building.

Pugin Hall is down in South Campus http://www.nuim.ie/location/maps/south.shtml

meganj

There's also a couple of chairs and tables in John Hume, near the o'briens where you can sit, or the uncomfy blue chairs in the arts block that make your arse fall asleep! n the sunny days (what few maynooth gets) it's nice to sit outside!

Eeek I'm getting excited about heading back with all these newbie questions!!!!

Rozabeez

Well you'll be able to eat in the temporary canteen, I've a tendency to sit in an empty lecture hall if there's no-one in there before my class and have a coffee/read, but you really do have to make sure not to make a mess and to clean up after yourself.

K4t

Síle28 wrote: »

when I arrive to register on Sept 4th jeje

I didn't even know about this. Do we have to go up to the college or can it be done online do you know?

Is use of the gym free? It says it is on the website but that sounds too good to be true??!

Miss Lockhart

Thanks for all the answers!

So what exactly is available in Pugin Hall? Is it a restaurant/cafe? Is it just a seating area?

Thanks again..

Holsten

Parking is an total nightmare.

After 10am it's pretty much impossible to get a space.

mp3guy

Pugin is a canteen and a seating place.

Ostrom

Miss Lockhart wrote: »

Thanks for all the answers!

So what exactly is available in Pugin Hall? Is it a restaurant/cafe? Is it just a seating area?

Thanks again..

And ye can all get out when the canteen opens up again

Michellenman

K4t wrote: »

I didn't even know about this. Do we have to go up to the college or can it be done online do you know?

Is use of the gym free? It says it is on the website but that sounds too good to be true??!

Yup free it is. It's alright, nothing amazing. Got the usual: treadmills, eliptical crosstrainers, rowing machines, bike machines, weights etc. There are showers too just down the hall. There's free use of the swimming pool too although the gym and swimming pool are about as far away from each that you can get while staying on campus's.

Jimmy Iovine

K4t wrote: »

I didn't even know about this. Do we have to go up to the college or can it be done online do you know?

Is use of the gym free? It says it is on the website but that sounds too good to be true??!

I presume you're a first year so yea ya have to go up and register. Get over there early though otherwise you could be there for a couple of hours.

The gym is free alright. Go early in the morning or late at night to avoid the rush at around 4 or 5

Harpie

efla wrote: »

And ye can all get out when the canteen opens up again

No chance :P

Just wondering though, before the fire I didn't even know Pugin existed- who exactly was 'allowed' eat in there (Apart from seminarians) before the general population took over?

Michellenman

Post grads and lecturers afaik

Miss Lockhart

mp3guy wrote: »

Pugin is a canteen and a seating place.

efla wrote: »

And ye can all get out when the canteen opens up again

Michellenman wrote: »

Post grads and lecturers afaik

I'm a post grad so I think I'll check it out, thanks.

This is a great thread for all those little questions!

I have to say I think NUIM's website is seriously lacking for general info or else it just has a terrible layout as I can't find anything.

For example, they seem to have info on restaurants/cafes around the town but no info on restaurants/cafes/shops on campus?!

Michellenman

Miss Lockhart wrote: »

I'm a post grad so I think I'll check it out, thanks.!

Well at the moment everyone can eat there because the Canteen is gone.

Harpie

Michellenman wrote: »

Post grads and lecturers afaik

Postgrad this year, w00t! Now I can actually sit in there without feeling like I should leave

ha-ya-said-what

Lol thank ye all lol I had forgotten about the fire down in the canteen ha I remember hearing all the sirens from the house, one of the students came home & told me what happened priceless open day & all!

With regards to parking this is a trick one lad learned he either parked at the GAA or Aldi depending on what part of campus he was going to, if he couldn't get parking or couldn't be bothered driving around & it only meant a couple mins walk for him

Michellenman

I drove most days of second semester and I never once had a problem finding parking!

Harpie

ha-ya-said-what wrote: »

Lol thank ye all lol I had forgotten about the fire down in the canteen ha I remember hearing all the sirens from the house, one of the students came home & told me what happened priceless open day & all!

With regards to parking this is a trick one lad learned he either parked at the GAA or Aldi depending on what part of campus he was going to, if he couldn't get parking or couldn't be bothered driving around & it only meant a couple mins walk for him

Only thing I would say about this is that it can pose security risk, have heard of cars being broken into in the Aldi car park. At least on Campus there is something of a security presence, especially during the dark evenings.

ha-ya-said-what

Harpie wrote: »

Only thing I would say about this is that it can pose security risk, have heard of cars being broken into in the Aldi car park. At least on Campus there is something of a security presence, especially during the dark evenings.

Getting broke into would be the least of my worries in the winter cos on the frosty nights the campus & Aldi car parks get used for car skating!!! The GAA is grand to park never hear of anything getting damaged there.

crammer123

Miss Lockhart wrote: »

I'm a post grad so I think I'll check it out, thanks.

This is a great thread for all those little questions!

I have to say I think NUIM's website is seriously lacking for general info or else it just has a terrible layout as I can't find anything.

For example, they seem to have info on restaurants/cafes around the town but no info on restaurants/cafes/shops on campus?!

yea your right it is hard to find info on the website...maybe this might help:rolleyes:.
http://studentservices.nuim.ie/

Miss Lockhart

crammer123 wrote: »

yea your right it is hard to find info on the website...maybe this might help:rolleyes:.
http://studentservices.nuim.ie/

I'm not sure if those roll-eyes are sarcastically implying it actually is easy to find info, or not.... but I genuinely could not find that info - I tried searching for "food", "facilities", "shops" etc but didn't see what I needed.

Thanks for the link though - that is exactly what I need - very helpful.

Ostrom

Miss Lockhart wrote: »

I'm a post grad so I think I'll check it out, thanks.

This is a great thread for all those little questions!

I have to say I think NUIM's website is seriously lacking for general info or else it just has a terrible layout as I can't find anything.

For example, they seem to have info on restaurants/cafes around the town but no info on restaurants/cafes/shops on campus?!

Canteen was better imo. More selection and loads of little things like muffins and...all that stuff that used to be in the fridge. Pugin is nice for quiet time.

You're limited on campus, and more so in town now that the rye is gone. Sad day

Holsten

Any car parked in Aldi for any amount of time will get clamped.

Seen loads of people get done.

peanuthead

Whats this about registration on 4th??? I never heard anything of this??


I'm a postgrad so Im assuming this registration isn't applicable to me - I 'registered' through PAC in april, for the postgrad diploma in ed??!!

Miss Lockhart

I'm doing the PGDE too. We have to reg on the 4th too - it was listed on that "Important Dates" sheet we got with the Teaching Practice forms and all that.

peanuthead

Miss Lockhart wrote: »

I'm doing the PGDE too. We have to reg on the 4th too - it was listed on that "Important Dates" sheet we got with the Teaching Practice forms and all that.

This is me alright, organised down to the last detail ... except the most important ones!! :pac:

crammer123

Miss Lockhart wrote: »

I'm not sure if those roll-eyes are sarcastically implying it actually is easy to find info, or not.... but I genuinely could not find that info - I tried searching for "food", "facilities", "shops" etc but didn't see what I needed.

Thanks for the link though - that is exactly what I need - very helpful.

no they were helpful eyes! sorry if you thought i was being sarcastic... i agree that it is totally hard to find anything on the website.. its not layed out very well at all

kaiser soza

First year registration takes place from 14th - 18th of September, here is a link for the important dates.

http://registrar.nuim.ie/ImportantDates.shtml

Wendero

Okay, I have a newbie question: How do you know where your apartment is located? Like, on what floor? I received an email, but I don't think it said anything about that, at least not directly (there were something like "room info" but I don't understand what it means).

/John

Beau

Wendero wrote: »

Okay, I have a newbie question

Well thats a surprise...

To answer your 173rd question, most apartments have 3 floors (some have four). In the village apartments there are 4 apartments on each floor, so if you are in 1,2,3 or 4 you are on the first floor and so on. In the River Apartments there are two apartments per floor, I think you might be able to work that one out yourself.

It'll be interesting to see if you will offer any value to this forum when you get here.

Harpie

Beau wrote: »

Well thats a surprise...

To answer your 173rd question, most apartments have 3 floors (some have four). In the village apartments there are 4 apartments on each floor, so if you are in 1,2,3 or 4 you are on the first floor and so on. In the River Apartments there are two apartments per floor, I think you might be able to work that one out yourself.

It'll be interesting to see if you will offer any value to this forum when you get here.

This looks a bit harsh...until you look at our inquisitive friend's post history- Jesus H. Christ!

Wendero

I'm sorry that I'm asking so much. And if you by "offer any value" mean "answer any questions", then yes, I will.

Thanks anyway.

/John

Michellenman

Ah c'mon lads. Let's be nice. He has questions he needs answers to. He's asked politely and it's not like he's asking ridiculous questions either. Give him a break!

Eta: All of us have been in the same situation where we've been starting somewhere new with no idea what to expect, it's nervewracking for anyone and he's just trying to prepare himself the best he can before he gets there, which is the smart thing to do. He (from what I've read) is coming to NUIM from abroad so that makes it all the more hard for him. Let's take it easy on him