Why Should I Go To UCD?

Freebee09

Trying to decide whether to go for psychology in UCD or Trinity...... convince me

Fad

I suppose a potential good thing is the UCD's psych degree is 3 years long rather than 4.

muboop1

meh, why should we convince you???

Go contact both colleges and ask them their classes and what they focus on, contact lecturers etc...

Then think what future career you would like, and ask which college do they have graduates in this area..

Then maybe come to UCD some day and talk to a few students in that class, or ask lecturers to put you in contact with someone to give their views on it.

Now bugger off and do your own ground work :pac:

Freebee09

haha helpful
but ive done most of that stuff and come to the conclusion that both colleges are equally worthy in terms of careers and all that...

what i really want to know is what the student life is like? I want to have fun in college...;)

logic123

lol i can safely say if you want fun go to UCD lots of drunk and parties there

muboop1

Freebee09 wrote: »

haha helpful
but ive done most of that stuff and come to the conclusion that both colleges are equally worthy in terms of careers and all that...

what i really want to know is what the student life is like? I want to have fun in college...;)

Well done on actually doing that... thats more then most people do!

Psychology is arts as far as i know...
You going for pure Psychology or the Arts route?(major difference)

UCD caters for all people!
If you want to party and go out every night it is very do-able..

Personally i feel that having a campus makes it a more social able college and easier to make friends...

In Trinity people will go wander town, show eat out etc during breaks
UCD they have to hang round UCD between classes forcing interaction tbh!

Both have many societies...

Honestly, in both you will find people like minded who you will get on with.

I'm trying to be as neutral as possible in this!

I went to UCD because i thought the atmosphere was better and more fun.
The work gets done but alot of fun along the way to!

chave

muboop1 wrote: »

Well done on actually doing that... thats more then most people do!

Psychology is arts as far as i know...
You going for pure Psychology or the Arts route?(major difference)

UCD caters for all people!
If you want to party and go out every night it is very do-able..

Personally i feel that having a campus makes it a more social able college and easier to make friends...

In Trinity people will go wander town, show eat out etc during breaks
UCD they have to hang round UCD between classes forcing interaction tbh!

Both have many societies...

Honestly, in both you will find people like minded who you will get on with.

I'm trying to be as neutral as possible in this!

I went to UCD because i thought the atmosphere was better and more fun.
The work gets done but alot of fun along the way to!

having done a degree in TCD and am now in my final year of another degree
in UCD. I can definitely say that TCD is far far better in terms of a nice place to be. Teaching is really good in both places but UCD campus is awful. TCD is far more pleasant , being in town is better too. Library is phenomenal . Go to TCD i cant stress this enough!!!!

AlanSparrowhawk

I did my undergrad in TCD (not in psychology) and doing a PostGrad in UCD now. I've only been in UCD a couple of weeks.

I think they're a lot of subtle non-academic differences between both institutions. I'd be weary of taking other peoples advice on this topic too (including mine). My experiences of both college could be completely unique and irrelevant to you.

As previous posters have mentioned, one of TCD's key strengths is that it is located slap bang in the middle of Dublin City so you never completely tied to campus for anything (shopping, drinking, clubbing, eating). The trade off is you can't park in TCD. You also get a lot of randomers walking around campus and a lot of students do head out the gate between lectures while UCD ppl are confined to campus during most of the day.

errlloyd

UCD is really great, bud I'd be lying if I didn't say Trinity was first on my CAO.

What are your specific fields of interest, we might be able to help you more there. (For example I believe UCD's debating teams are of a higher caliber)

muboop1

chave wrote: »

having done a degree in TCD and am now in my final year of another degree
in UCD. I can definitely say that TCD is far far better in terms of a nice place to be. Teaching is really good in both places but UCD campus is awful. TCD is far more pleasant , being in town is better too. Library is phenomenal . Go to TCD i cant stress this enough!!!!

I will give your opinion fair due because you have experienced both places, but i totally disagree with you in so many ways!

UCD campus is awesome!
On a nice day nothing beats lying on the grass playing football or frisbee or whatever... or relaxing by the lake...

Its aesthetically a very nice place,

Trinity on the other hand it big beautiful architecture buildings but as a campus its seriously lacking.

UCD is its own place/entire community.
Everything you need from UCD is there and easily accessible and only students there. Always find someone you know and make mates etc easily i find.

Trinity relies on town imo.
This detach's from it as a community i feel. The grub on "campus" is ok, but not much variety without leaving campus, and so many people do.
Sports facilities aren't all up to scratch(few exceptions rowing for example)
It just doesn't seem so much a big friendly community that i think UCD is but more just a place you go to study...

Do you think your opinion could be biased due to being a mature student in UCD? I can see how a mature student would look at it differently!

ya-ba-da-ba-doo

UCD is deadly! Im doing science. My room-mate is doing psychology and loves it already! Ive been at ucd for nearly a month and only been to town twice! Everything you need is in ucd! I dont care where you go though!

Tea-a-Maria

logic123 wrote: »

lol i can safely say if you want fun go to UCD lots of drunk and parties there

You can't safely say anything if you've only been in a college 2 weeks!

I've been in UCD for 2 years now and I love the place.But,as it's been pointed out in this thread,every person has a different experience.I'd strongly recommend going to the open day for each uni and suss it out for yourself.That's what I did and UCD won hands down for me.The atmosphere of the place was so relaxed and welcoming,it really appealed to me.:)

El Siglo

logic123 wrote: »

lol i can safely say if you want fun go to UCD lots of drunk and parties there

Troll, GTFO this thread.

I did my three years in UCD and now I'm going to TCD, if I had to choose again it would probably be UCD anyway. Why, because it's three years and that is long enough I can tell ya! Both places have their respective charms, both are the same in socialising terms (i.e. both places have as much drinking etc...). I think that four years of arts is way too long in spite of what you might think, three was long enough for me. Flip a coin on it, it's the best way to make a decision, leave it up to chance, it could be the best chance you'd have taken in your life! God I wish I was a fresher again!:pac:

33% God

Currently doing psychology (2nd year) in UCD and I was in your position after my leaving cert. I had the option of either University but in the end I chose UCD for a number of reasons. One of the major ones is that the degree is a year shorter, that's a huge advantage in psychology as your career path is going to be very long as it is, no sense in adding an extra year. All undergraduate degrees are seen as equal by Post graduate entry boards once they are accredited by the PSI. What will make the difference is how well you did in your degree and, even more importantly, what experience you have. In my opinion you're far better off spending that extra year getting work experience than you are spending it doing an extra year.
As for the campus, while UCD might be a concrete jungle (although to be honest it's not as bad as people say, some areas are nice) it does have the advantage of having an actual self contained campus, which gives a really cool atmosphere, particularly if you're living on campus or near enough to it.

Bear in mind that you can't get into psychology in UCD through arts, you have to take the denominated route.
Both Universities are great though.

chave

muboop1 wrote: »

I will give your opinion fair due because you have experienced both places, but i totally disagree with you in so many ways!

UCD campus is awesome!
On a nice day nothing beats lying on the grass playing football or frisbee or whatever... or relaxing by the lake...

Its aesthetically a very nice place,

Trinity on the other hand it big beautiful architecture buildings but as a campus its seriously lacking.

UCD is its own place/entire community.
Everything you need from UCD is there and easily accessible and only students there. Always find someone you know and make mates etc easily i find.

Trinity relies on town imo.
This detach's from it as a community i feel. The grub on "campus" is ok, but not much variety without leaving campus, and so many people do.
Sports facilities aren't all up to scratch(few exceptions rowing for example)
It just doesn't seem so much a big friendly community that i think UCD is but more just a place you go to study...

Do you think your opinion could be biased due to being a mature student in UCD? I can see how a mature student would look at it differently!

In fairness i dont rate anything in your post for the fact that you havent experienced both places. Im 24 btw so still do all the drinking and stuff.
now with that out of the way. TCD has more selection in terms of on campus eateries. 911,the arts cafe and that other kip are dreadful. brand new gym there puts crunch to shame, obviously its constrained by space in terms of pitches. but the soccer pitch there is probably the best piece of grass ive ever seen. its a really close knit community there the pav drinking on the grass there with probably 1000+ people on a nice day is quality. the SU bar in UCD is a total kip where nobody in their right mind would want to spend more than 10 mins there.

Anyone who has been to both for a reasonable amount of time i dont imagine would disagree with me. but who knows.

Do your degree at Trinity itll be the best decision of your life.

Freebee09

thanks for all the help guys
I've actually completely changed my mind about courses since and im now considering english... facing the ucd v's trinity dilemma again

El Siglo

Freebee09 wrote: »

thanks for all the help guys
I've actually completely changed my mind about courses since and im now considering english... facing the ucd v's trinity dilemma again

It's not just A and B, there's always a C...;) Apply for UCC and feck the other places!

errlloyd

Yeah UCC is pretty good.

For English I'm completely unable to say really. But my guess is Trinity is more respected...

MrKingsley

On open days colleges will tell you what you want to hear, from my own experience anyway.

Regarding ucd or trinity I would saw get on the first dart to Trinity to save yourself years of administrative uncertainty and being set high standards that the college doesnt seem to bother meeting. Personal experience also

Raphael

MrKingsley wrote: »

On open days colleges will tell you what you want to hear, from my own experience anyway.

A man dies, goes up to the pearly gates and meets St Peter. Now, Peter tells him he;s a borderline case, so he's been told to show him heaven and hell, and let him pick. Now, the guy is thinking it's a no-brainer, but Peter tells he has to take a look at both. So, since htey're right outside, he shows him heaven first, and it's the usual - angels, clouds, harps, all that jazz. Nice and peaceful, but the guy can;t help thinking it;s a bit bland.

So off they go down to heaven, and this is much more impressive - good food, parties, free rock concerts, celebrities wandering around, cinemas showing all the best movies that never got made, that kind of thing. And the guys looking at all this, wide eyed and shocked, because it looks way better than upstairs.

So, they're back at the Pearly gates, and Peter asks the guy what his decision is. And he goes for hell, no second thoughts. Peter sighs, and pulls a lever, floors drops out from the guy and down he goes, the usual. And he lands in hell, and it's nothing like it was before - it's all devils, pitchforks, fire, brimstone and torment. So he grabs the first demon he see's and asks him what happened, where's all the food, the parties, the fun. And the demon says to him:

"Oh, that was just the Open Day."




Moral of the story kids: An open day isn't trying to show you what a place is like, it;s trying to make you go there.

errlloyd

Raphael wrote: »

A man dies, goes up to the pearly gates and meets St Peter. Now, Peter tells him he;s a borderline case, so he's been told to show him heaven and hell, and let him pick. Now, the guy is thinking it's a no-brainer, but Peter tells he has to take a look at both. So, since htey're right outside, he shows him heaven first, and it's the usual - angels, clouds, harps, all that jazz. Nice and peaceful, but the guy can;t help thinking it;s a bit bland.

So off they go down to heaven, and this is much more impressive - good food, parties, free rock concerts, celebrities wandering around, cinemas showing all the best movies that never got made, that kind of thing. And the guys looking at all this, wide eyed and shocked, because it looks way better than upstairs.

So, they're back at the Pearly gates, and Peter asks the guy what his decision is. And he goes for hell, no second thoughts. Peter sighs, and pulls a lever, floors drops out from the guy and down he goes, the usual. And he lands in hell, and it's nothing like it was before - it's all devils, pitchforks, fire, brimstone and torment. So he grabs the first demon he see's and asks him what happened, where's all the food, the parties, the fun. And the demon says to him:

"Oh, that was just the Open Day."




Moral of the story kids: An open day isn't trying to show you what a place is like, it;s trying to make you go there.

I've heard the same jokes, but it was about George Bush going to St Peter, and seeing all the democrats in heaven and thinking it was nice, then going down to hell, it was amazing, republicans everywhere.

When he goes down its ****, arid wasteland. He asks the Devil what happened. Devil says,

"Yesterday we were campaigning, today you voted for us"

El Siglo

errlloyd wrote: »

I've heard the same jokes, but it was about George Bush going to St Peter, and seeing all the democrats in heaven and thinking it was nice, then going down to hell, it was amazing, republicans everywhere.

When he goes down its ****, arid wasteland. He asks the Devil what happened. Devil says,

"Yesterday we were campaigning, today you voted for us"

Yeh, I heard that as well about 6 years ago.

errlloyd

Ah yes, it was in this jokebook

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/184454091X/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link

irish-anabel

I'm kind of like freebee in this decision too! Except that I know I'll be puttin down Trinners as 1st choice (no offence) but am debating whether to put UCD at all. I'm worried about all the stuff I hear about how lonely UCD is in your first year and although I'm a social person, I'll probably be in Dublin pretty much on my own. Is this true or all scaremongering? What do 1st years think, is it lonely and hard to fit in and make friends because it's so massive?

JBUCD

irish-anabel wrote: »

I'm kind of like freebee in this decision too! Except that I know I'll be puttin down Trinners as 1st choice (no offence) but am debating whether to put UCD at all. I'm worried about all the stuff I hear about how lonely UCD is in your first year and although I'm a social person, I'll probably be in Dublin pretty much on my own. Is this true or all scaremongering? What do 1st years think, is it lonely and hard to fit in and make friends because it's so massive?

Maybe for like the first week. Also because its a new place. Like any school you go to. You should have no problems making friends and meeting people.

Riamfada

UCD is not a lonely place, its just full of lonely people. Id seriously look at the departments of the subject you wish to study and their track record and research projects rather than the which college has less lonely people. Depends on wether you want education or free education.

RandomName2

Trinity Vs UCD?

It's a debate that is sort of impossible to solve.

It is unfortunate to see how large a hang-up so many in UCD have about Trinity. Surely if you are good enough you can just march to your own beat and not define yourself entirely through opposition to your perceived better?

What I would say though, is that UCD is more flexible and Trinity more solid. And I mean this on every single level.

Buildings: UCD can expand and grow. Trinity has great old architecture but little maneuverability.

Transport: UCD has greater capacity for cars and living on campus. Trinity has city-centre transport.

Social life: UCD has more options. Trinity has more stability and easier connections.

Education: UCD is open ended, flexible and diverse. Trinity has good reputation and solid experience.

UCD is what you make of it - but it isn't necessarily easy. It is huge. It has tons of people. It has hundreds of courses. I will never have time to totally explore the campus! (Tunnels, that hidden ag-sci area, the library basement and film studies building are still on my sightseeing list).

But can anything really match the pick n' mix UCD Arts? High quality courses from Maths to Philosophy. Rigorous, and yet diverse. And don't forget Horizons.

Or you can do a solid, middle of the road 4 year course in Trinity. If you know exactly what you want to do, and it is based in the arts, that might be a safer option. UCD isn't a safe option - and hopefully it wont ever be.

TirNaNog.

RandomName2 wrote: »

Trinity Vs UCD?

It's a debate that is sort of impossible to solve.

It is unfortunate to see how large a hang-up so many in UCD have about Trinity. Surely if you are good enough you can just march to your own beat and not define yourself entirely through opposition to your perceived better?

What I would say though, is that UCD is more flexible and Trinity more solid. And I mean this on every single level.

Buildings: UCD can expand and grow. Trinity has great old architecture but little maneuverability.

Transport: UCD has greater capacity for cars and living on campus. Trinity has city-centre transport.

Social life: UCD has more options. Trinity has more stability and easier connections.

Education: UCD is open ended, flexible and diverse. Trinity has good reputation and solid experience.

UCD is what you make of it - but it isn't necessarily easy. It is huge. It has tons of people. It has hundreds of courses. I will never have time to totally explore the campus! (Tunnels, that hidden ag-sci area, the library basement and film studies building are still on my sightseeing list).

But can anything really match the pick n' mix UCD Arts? High quality courses from Maths to Philosophy. Rigorous, and yet diverse. And don't forget Horizons.

Or you can do a solid, middle of the road 4 year course in Trinity. If you know exactly what you want to do, and it is based in the arts, that might be a safer option. UCD isn't a safe option - and hopefully it wont ever be.

So trinity is only a safer option if its based in arts? What about science in trinity?

RandomName2

TirNaNog. wrote: »

So trinity is only a safer option if its based in arts? What about science in trinity?

I'd sort of say the same thing applies. In UCD you can go omnibus, or single, drop out early (non-hons), or advance and specialise; and such options aren't really available in Trinity. I do know that UCD is investing a lot of money in increasing its science sector. In fact, I would *guess* that UCD has an edge over Trinity in relation to science expertise (but the reverse might be true about arts...).

33% God

RandomName2 wrote: »

Trinity Vs UCD?

It's a debate that is sort of impossible to solve.

It is unfortunate to see how large a hang-up so many in UCD have about Trinity. Surely if you are good enough you can just march to your own beat and not define yourself entirely through opposition to your perceived better?

I don't think it's really a hangup or anything of that sort. I mean if you come to the UCD forum, populated by UCD students, they're obviously going to favour UCD over Trinity and have their reasons for that (because those are the reasons that they're in UCD rather than Trinity).

errlloyd

I'm a first year student. I had absolutely zero trouble with friends. Yeah I came from Dublin but nearly all my old friends went to trinity. I got into Lawsoc and I got mates in the course.

What really makes you bond is class trips. Many of the arts classes don't organise trips and this makes it harder for them to bond. Thats where the problem arises.

Collisionman

irish-anabel wrote: »

I'm kind of like freebee in this decision too! Except that I know I'll be puttin down Trinners as 1st choice (no offence) but am debating whether to put UCD at all. I'm worried about all the stuff I hear about how lonely UCD is in your first year and although I'm a social person, I'll probably be in Dublin pretty much on my own. Is this true or all scaremongering? What do 1st years think, is it lonely and hard to fit in and make friends because it's so massive?

I'm half way through my first semester and this is so true. First year is kinda lonely and like you I'm not a social person but I don't know if that is the same in TCD, DCU or where ever or is it just UCD. It's very true that a big universiy like UCD can be intimidating when it comes to making friends. All the people I'm friends with are switched around in different modules, etc., and it's basically awkward when trying to meet up with people sometimes. Plus, I live in Swords in the Northside and it's kinda hard (harder than school anyways) to arange a night out because most of my friends are scattered all around Dublin, mostly on the Southside plus the travelling to and from town is a bitch at night. Also none of my school friends went to UCD (most to DCU actually and now there calling me a D4 snob). No nightlink goes next to near where I live, except the mainstreet in Swords, and taxis from town to where I live ... eh ... let's just say it's the recession. I'm really jealous of the UCD residence, they must have a hell of a social life.

Michaelrsh

RandomName2 wrote: »

Trinity Vs UCD?

It's a debate that is sort of impossible to solve.

It is unfortunate to see how large a hang-up so many in UCD have about Trinity. Surely if you are good enough you can just march to your own beat and not define yourself entirely through opposition to your perceived better?

What I would say though, is that UCD is more flexible and Trinity more solid. And I mean this on every single level.

Buildings: UCD can expand and grow. Trinity has great old architecture but little maneuverability.

Transport: UCD has greater capacity for cars and living on campus. Trinity has city-centre transport.

Social life: UCD has more options. Trinity has more stability and easier connections.

Education: UCD is open ended, flexible and diverse. Trinity has good reputation and solid experience.

UCD is what you make of it - but it isn't necessarily easy. It is huge. It has tons of people. It has hundreds of courses. I will never have time to totally explore the campus! (Tunnels, that hidden ag-sci area, the library basement and film studies building are still on my sightseeing list).

But can anything really match the pick n' mix UCD Arts? High quality courses from Maths to Philosophy. Rigorous, and yet diverse. And don't forget Horizons.

Or you can do a solid, middle of the road 4 year course in Trinity. If you know exactly what you want to do, and it is based in the arts, that might be a safer option. UCD isn't a safe option - and hopefully it wont ever be.

You haven't lived until you see the Photo-soc's room that is actually in the Gents tolits on the first floor of the Physics building.

insert-gear

Arts is very awkward to make friends in any sort of stable nature, as someone else said, changing modules, massive lecture halls etc etc.

I went to DCU and hated it. No atmosphere in the place, and their way of doing things was just damn awkward.

Doing Commerce in UCD now and its great, socialising isnt an issue because we're broken into batches of around 50 and you get very close with your batch, and people in other batches too.

UCD is good because of horizons. (Basically you can pick another subject from any other school of study every semester. I've done things like classical studies and social policy)

I would look at how youre getting to college for one. You actually dont think about how important it is, but when youre going from being forced into school for 9 o clock to a flexible timetable that youre in control of... if youre going to college miles away, it definitely affects your decision to get out of bed for that 9 o clock lecture.

Friend of mine was doing psychology in Trinity and couldn't speak highly enough of it. But he was a bit of a Trinners till I die kinda guy.

English wise, I would think that Trinity is more respected, and that UCD is ahead in Science. UCD really promotes itself in terms of scientific research. Its all over their homepage

jamser89

1st year psychology is just arts. depends whether youd like to study 2 other arts subjects aswell. If not then head TCD although you'll have do 4 years and with postgraduate study required in nearly all areas of Psych, UCD's 3 year BA might be the better place!:)

Larianne

Better library in UCD than TCD.

In UCD libraries -

You can take out books for longer.

You can use self check-out machines.

The opening hours are longer.

The library is open both Saturday AND Sunday for reasonable hours.

The library has extended opening hours near to exams.

The library has plenty of group study rooms.

Toilets on every floor.

and.... UCD library has librocop... so there's less talking, less eating, less general play acting going on.

You may think it's silly but believe me when you have exams coming up and want to study in peace or take out a book with little hassle or cramm for the last few hours on a Sunday, all this stuff above becomes very important.

Also, the librarians in UCD seemed to me, from my own experience a nicer bunch. I said "have a nice Christmas" to a librarian in TCD yesterday and she nearly choked on the chocolate she was chewing. And no, she didn't say it back to me. B!tch.


Edit: Just to add - I got offered a place in both TCD and UCD last year (mature student place). The main reason I picked TCD was it is easier for me to get to as I'm from the north side of the city and also for socials. The second reason was the course I am doing has a smaller number in TCD then UCD which I thought would be better. And the third reason, any time I contacted the school, they NEVER replied to me, not ONCE! Except when they offered me a place on the course. SO I think you need to weigh up all your options. At the end of the day, it's how hard you work for your degree that matters.

finnharps09

TCD all the way!

Conor108

finnharps09 wrote: »

TCD all the way!

Dam good arguement! Bravo sir!

Riamfada

Conor108 wrote: »

Dam good arguement! Bravo sir!

I guess it shows that its not just UCD thats full of tossers

Grass / Greener ect

Michaelrsh

finnharps09 wrote: »

TCD all the way!

You are trespassing. Get back to the TCD forum.

Freakin4Leavin

Agh my head is spinning from all these conflicting opinions I'm in 6th year and since I live near UCD have always presumed I would go there.
Now though, a bit late in the day I'm sure, I thought hmmmm maybe Trinity... and now I'm so confused as to which college UCD/Trinity you have noooo idea!!
Also I'm constantly hearing different opinions about the campus/ how important the "reputation" of Trinity is compared to UCD/ concrete jungle/ historical... etc etc!
So yeah ah stress its so difficult to decide and sift through the bragging/slagging that exists between the colleges!!
Also I've never been very affected by the "historical" nature of TCD's buildings so thats not much an influential factor.

muboop1

Should prob start your own thread...
But what is your chosen discipline? maybe go for the one which has a higher recognized degree? (not that its actually a higher valued degree, but the colleges do have different reputations in various faculty's. ie, arts in UCD has a bad one, whilst the trinity equivalent in general is better. But smurfit in UCD is usually considered better then the Trinity equivalent)

Freakin4Leavin

I'm thinking of doing Science: I heard UCD has better science facilities but then the whole "reputation" of Trinity etc! Plus since I would have a bit of spare time with Science it's trying to decide which is better just for the general student atmosphere:
One camp says ucd is a concrete jungle and its hard to meet people ... then the other says trinity its in town so everyone leaves inbetween lectures and that makes it harder to meet people so i dunno they're both right in a way both have advantages and disadvantages!