What's the best soc to join during freshers week??

gjryan

Was just wondering which society has the best nights out throughout the year and is actually worth joinnig!

baby and crumble

how long is piece of string?

The big societies have big nights out that in my opinion are full of stupid people being made stupider by drink.

The small societies can be very cliquey.

But if you don't like the activity they do then it doesn't matter because you won't like the people in the society anyway. Join a society for what they do rather than what other people tell you is the 'best' one.

theowen

I'm joining the ones which are having free drinks so...

Comedy one seems good. They have someone pretty famous on the Tuesday and free wine on Thurs.

funky foot

The smaller societies are a bit cliquey but its much easier to make friends at them than the bigs ones like the phil and hist. Well thats my experience at least.

Last year I joined food and drink, comedy soc, eng soc and dumss (a management science society). Didn't have time to go to most of the events they all had organised so id just join one or two if i was you. Freshers tend to spend 40+ euro joining anything and everything. Went to a lot the dumss events. Made some friends there so it was grand. Best events of the year were their pub crawl and mystery trip to Brugge. They organised talks and stuff as well but i didn't go to much of them. The ones i did go to were pretty interesting though. I'll be joining it again this year and maybe the juggling society if i have time. That sounds like it could be a bit of craic

Scrappychimow

funky foot wrote: »

The smaller societies are a bit cliquey but its much easier to make friends at them than the bigs ones like the phil and hist. Well thats my experience at least.

Last year I joined food and drink, comedy soc, eng soc and dumss (a management science society). Didn't have time to go to most of the events they all had organised so id just join one or two if i was you. Freshers tend to spend 40+ euro joining anything and everything. Went to a lot the dumss events. Made some friends there so it was grand. Best events of the year were their pub crawl and mystery trip to Brugge. They organised talks and stuff as well but i didn't go to much of them. The ones i did go to were pretty interesting though. I'll be joining it again this year and maybe the juggling society if i have time. That sounds like it could be a bit of craic

Whats the food and drink one like?

Saviola

Yeah im planning on joining food and drink anyway, sounds like a good laugh.
No idea what else to join though??

Fo Real

In b4 Denerick with the "hack" rant

funky foot

Scrappychimow wrote: »

Whats the food and drink one like?

Never really got round to going to much of their events. Joined on freshers week based on the fact that i like food and i like drink but i wasnt that interested in their first few events so I ended up getting more involved with other societies. Would have felt a bit out of place showing up to events half way through the year.

Saviola wrote: »

Yeah im planning on joining food and drink anyway, sounds like a good laugh.
No idea what else to join though??

I'd reccomend dumss. Had such good events last year. They'll probably be holding their pub crawl at the start of the year. Not one to be missed. Can't wait for the college year to start back up again, the summer break is really beginning to drag at this stage.

Saviola

Well the pub crawl sounds great but what exactly is dumss?

oconnon9

1 word ... DUMSS

Epic last year..

zam

I can see it kinda awkward just turning up to a soc event alone. Is that a "done thing" in Freshers Week?

stesh

Wild CSC hack appeared!

Denerick

What's the best soc to join during freshers week??

None.

gjryan

thanks to evryone for the comments! looking forward to freshers week madness ....wud also like to know what exactly dumss is?? management science society is such a random society to join!!...think i'll steer clear of all the big ones until i get to know people!

Fo Real

There is always a huge queue for Muslim soc so make sure you get there early. Some students have been known to camp in front square overnight just to reserve a place. Free burqa for the first 50 members!

aas

zam wrote: »

I can see it kinda awkward just turning up to a soc event alone. Is that a "done thing" in Freshers Week?

You'll be fine, they're all extra-welcoming at the start of the year.

Scrappychimow

Fo Retard wrote: »

There is always a huge queue for Muslim soc so make sure you get there early. Some students have been known to camp in front square overnight just to reserve a place. Free burqa for the first 50 members!

Ha ha .

SA2191

Last year I found DU Comedy and DUMSS to offer the most value for money, DU Comedy because of the number of good comedians (Andrew Maxwell, Ardal O'Hanlon etc) they got in at really cheap prices and really often. DUMSS because they had the best events (international mystery tour), loads of free drink and food on nights out + good discounts with their card and their was an event pretty much every week. Food and Drink didn't make much of an impression, didn't feel I was getting as much value for my membership fee as other socs. BTW, don't pay more than €4 for societies, it won't be worth it!

Hope this helps!

gearoidof

DUMSS had 10% off in O'Donovan's aswell. That was worth the entry fee alone.

"Cliquey" is a bad term, I think. Clique implies they don't want to get to know new people, which isn't quite right, some socs try their hardest to be really welcoming to new people. I've found that it's possible to make friends in big societies and small societies, but you won't really make friends unless you're pretty active in the society, so in that regard, you're better off only trying to go to event by 1/2 socs.

But you can still join loads

Thirdfox

Hist usually has bogof at captain america's - handy deal if you want to have some "nice" fast food for cheap...

As ex-captain for table tennis - you should have a look at that if you're interested

theowen

Can't decide between Phil and Hist

Thirdfox

nothing stopping you from joining both - though I always went to the Hist's more...

blubloblu

They do have a classier booklet...

Janette1

blubloblu wrote: »

They do have a classier booklet...

Haha, I was thinking the EXACT same thing! Decided for me! :pac:

celestialteapot

SA2191 wrote: »

BTW, don't pay more than €4 for societies, it won't be worth it!

Apart from the hist/phil!Think these are 6 bob each but they cover you for the four years so theyre great value

Laserhead

I'd considering joining the hist just for the free breakfasts all next week.

zam

Phil/Hist is a tough one, I'm a debater... Think I'll join both, do both Maidens and see which is a better atmosphere

zam

Laserhead wrote: »

I'd considering joining the hist just for the free breakfasts all next week.

Was thinking the same with the whole Players pizza thing. :P

darragh16

The Fianna Fail one used to have a free whiskey night upon joining... don't think there'll be much of a queue for their one, if they even have one anymore

theowen

Oh I was under the mindset you could only join one. Thought they were rivals or some lark.

Also joining yoga or GAA and then paintball. Good mix:cool:

bythewoods

theowen wrote: »

Oh I was under the mindset you could only join one. Thought they were rivals or some lark.

Also joining yoga or GAA and then paintball. Good mix:cool:

Don't forget about Bio Soc!

SligoBrewer

darragh16 wrote: »

The Fianna Fail one used to have a free whiskey night upon joining... don't think there'll be much of a queue for their one, if they even have one anymore

It was changed to free Carlsberg according to my sources.

gearoidof

I think the most societies I've seen someone join is 30. And the Phil and the hist aren't 4 year memberships, and you can join both

zam

I heard something about 3 free drinks per society member. Boo!

theowen

bythewoods wrote: »

Don't forget about Bio Soc!

That's a given:cool: Oh ye, slightly off topic, does everyone go to the Med ball?

Tragedy

I think I'll be joining ogra fianna fail, I like a challenge.

bythewoods

theowen wrote: »

That's a given:cool: Oh ye, slightly off topic, does everyone go to the Med ball?

Pretty much, yes.

Fringe

I remember stumbling into the Fianna Fail room once when looking for a friend. There were crates of Dutch Gold and all kinds of spirits scattered on the table. If you're looking for alcohol, Fianna Fail definitely have loads.

PurpleFistMixer

Thirdfox wrote: »

nothing stopping you from joining both - though I always went to the Hist's more...

Or neither.

When I was going into first year I was told I should join one of the Phil or the Hist. I don't see why this is necessary... I didn't join either and haven't ever regretted it. The one time there was a Hist debate of interest to me, I went anyway and didn't get asked for a membership card. Just depends on what you're like, I guess, but don't assume you have to join one.

Sir Ophiuchus

Allow me to pitch for Gamers.

Always felt "different"? Geeky? Spent a lot of time playing Neverwinter Nights or Baldur's Gate? Spent ages critiquing the lack of skill inherent in most board games? You may be one of us.

Want to meet people who play *good* games? *Fun* games? Of course you do! So join the Gamers society! We have a Jenga set so big we can't actually use it for fear of GBH, a mini-convention on Tuesday with lots of silly games and cool things, and every board game ever printed.

theowen

Sir Ophiuchus wrote: »

Allow me to pitch for Gamers.

Always felt "different"? Geeky? Spent a lot of time playing Neverwinter Nights or Baldur's Gate? Spent ages critiquing the lack of skill inherent in most board games? You may be one of us.

Want to meet people who play *good* games? *Fun* games? Of course you do! So join the Gamers society! We have a Jenga set so big we can't actually use it for fear of GBH, a mini-convention on Tuesday with lots of silly games and cool things, and every board game ever printed.

You don't have PS3s/Xboxs no?

Tragedy

theowen wrote: »

You don't have PS3s/Xboxs no?

I hope not!

Lawliet

theowen wrote: »

You don't have PS3s/Xboxs no?

I had my hopes up there for a minute

theowen

Tragedy wrote: »

I hope not!

Clearly a woman:cool:

Sir Ophiuchus

If you want the more computer-y side of gaming, try DUCCS or Netsoc. Gamers are the old-school Dungeons-and-Dragons, boardgames, collectible-card-games, type.

AndrewJD

Sir Ophiuchus wrote: »

If you want the more computer-y side of gaming, try DUCCS or Netsoc. Gamers are the old-school Dungeons-and-Dragons, boardgames, collectible-card-games, type.

I'm not really into any of those things, but I'd like to give em all a try

Sir Ophiuchus

Then come by our stand during Fresher's Week, or our mini-convention in Regent House (go through Front Gate, head immediately right, past the lockers and up the stairs) Tuesday afternoon and evening.

AndrewJD

Do you know if they'll be at the Trinity Hall thing tomorrow?

Sir Ophiuchus

I don't, but I suspect not. Come by our stall and our convention!

andrew

gearoidof wrote: »

I think the most societies I've seen someone join is 30. And the Phil and the hist aren't 4 year memberships, and you can join both

Yes they are.

OP, there's no objective best society to join, it all depends on what you're into and the kind of person you are. Join several, try them out, and then pick one and become involved as possible; it's definitely worthwhile. I think that by not becoming involved in at least one society/extracurricular activity people miss out on what makes college a gazillion times better than school. It's the difference between college being fun and college being deadly.

That said, join the Phil. There'll be a stand at halls and in front square all week. Speed dating, candyfloss, pub crawl, comedy debate, breakfast, a poker tournament, a club night, a sex movie marathon(?), Binocular Soccer, and a beach party. It's good the rest of the year too. (btw, my recommendation couldn't be more biased).

tomissex

Pitching for Comedy Soc (thanks for the previous mentions folks!)

We've got loads of stuff going on during the week, free goodies (Haribo!!) and some great discounts on our membership cards.
On Monday we have our annual Rock, Paper, Scissors championship (the winner gets a ticket to all our events during the year) and Foil, Arms and Hog (an awesome sketch group). On Tuesday we've got €2 student comedy, on Wednesday Neil Delamere is performing (tickets are €8), on Thursday we're hosting the cheesiest night of Freshers' in The Pod (drinks promos and €4 tickets) and on Friday Hardy Bucks is coming in to do a show!
See you all next week! Look for the yellow