Calling all first years

investment

For all the first years out there. How have you enjoyed your first year of college? Has it met your expectations?, what has been you worst experience and what has been your best?

Marvinthefish

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=71124695&postcount=10621

Fo Real

Are you going to make this same thread every weekend when you're feeling depressed?

TrollHammaren

Ah, how bright-eyed I was in first year. I revelled in every second I spent in Trinity.

Now I'm in my final year, and every second I spend in the arse block I'm thinking, "Jesus, this place is full of wánkers".

Groinshot

TrollHammaren wrote: »

Ah, how bright-eyed I was in first year. I revelled in every second I spent in Trinity.

Now I'm in my final year, and every second I spend in the arse block I'm thinking, "Jesus, this place is full of wánkers".

Ah, how bright-eyed I was in first year. I revelled in every second I spent in Trinity.

Now I'm in my SECOND year, and every second I spend in the arse block I'm thinking, "Jesus, this place is full of wánkers"

investment

I just want some information on the college life in TCD

TrollHammaren

investment wrote: »

I just want some information on the college life in TCD

Don't get me wrong, college life is great in TCD, and I made some great friends. I joined the Judo club in first year and I didn't know anyone, but there I met some amazing friends and an amazing girlfriend. In one of my TSM courses, I get on with everyone, but made some particularly good friends who would get my kidney if they needed it! My other TSM course; well, my accent was a bit too working-class and my clothes a bit too penneys-label to fit in

naasface

investment wrote: »

For all the first years out there. How have you enjoyed your first year of college? Has it met your expectations?, what has been you worst experience and what has been your best?

Well here is my opinion.

Didn't enjoy it at all. I've had to lower my expectations.
The worst experience has been incompetent/unhelpful tutors, each module using a different system for notes- Moodle, textbook online resources, web ct, getfolders,emailing notes directly etc. (I found it complicated and time consuming, wish they all used the same system). Not much support for students, student counselling has massive waiting lists. Tutors, in my experience give you the info (that you've already looked up online) but no guidance.

Trinity lives off it's reputation, don't get me wrong its not all unfounded but it's quite behind the times when it comes to technology, admin can also be quite a trek.

I don't think there's much craic in Trinity either. Most of the Dublin students I met weren't too bothered about making friends because they were still in the same city and didn't need to. The rest commute home after college and the people from the country either live in Halls (biggest clique going) also I didn't meet many in the Arts Block, seems like the Science-y subjects are more popular for country folk. (Should note here I'm not from Dublin either so this is not an insult). I signed up for many societies about 10% contact you. Others it seems like once they get the sign up fee they disappear completely :rolleyes:


Best experience probably the course content, and most of the lecturers are knowledgeable and inspiring.
The campus is beautiful and the location is, obviously second to none. So if you can put up with all of the above for four years to get a degree from Trinity College on your CV fair play.

TrollHammaren

Jesus, man, sounds like you did TSM as well! If you don't mind me asking, what did you study/are you studying? I've had some of the same issues, but not to the same extent.

naasface wrote: »

Well here is my opinion.

Didn't enjoy it at all. I've had to lower my expectations.
The worst experience has been incompetent/unhelpful tutors, each module using a different system for notes- Moodle, textbook online resources, web ct, getfolders,emailing notes directly etc. (I found it complicated and time consuming, wish they all used the same system). Not much support for students, student counselling has massive waiting lists. Tutors, in my experience give you the info (that you've already looked up online) but no guidance.

I found my tutors very helpful in psychology, but I did have a bit of an issue with the inconsistency in technology; luckily enough, I think most courses are switching over to Blackboard WebCT.

I can't speak for the Student Counselling Service but it's possible to contact the Student 2 Student Peer Support Network. They're not trained counselllors, and I found them a massive waste of time (I volunteered for them the first year they were operating), but some people seem to find them useful.

naasface wrote: »

I don't think there's much craic in Trinity either. Most of the Dublin students I met weren't too bothered about making friends because they were still in the same city and didn't need to. The rest commute home after college and the people from the country either live in Halls (biggest clique going) also I didn't meet many in the Arts Block, seems like the Science-y subjects are more popular for country folk. (Should note here I'm not from Dublin either so this is not an insult). I signed up for many societies about 10% contact you. Others it seems like once they get the sign up fee they disappear completely :rolleyes:

I think that's just top universities in general, full of cliques. Same with some societies, but ask around and you'll find a good one. I'm on the Judo committee, and we do our utmost to involve new members, and organise nights out as oten as we can. Some societies are just bound to attract díckheads by their nature, e.g. LawSoc, DUBES, Boating.

naasface wrote: »

Best experience probably the course content, and most of the lecturers are knowledgeable and inspiring.
The campus is beautiful and the location is, obviously second to none. So if you can put up with all of the above for four years to get a degree from Trinity College on your CV fair play.

I would tend to agree, but you can make the most of it by joining a good society that isn't full of tossers. The course you're doing really helps, too. I made lots of good friends from all over the place in Psychology, but the people in Sociology used to look at me as if I had told them I'd starred in a scat movie with their mothers.

investment

TrollHammaren wrote: »

Jesus, man, sounds like you did TSM as well! If you don't mind me asking, what did you study/are you studying? I've had some of the same issues, but not to the same extent.



I found my tutors very helpful in psychology, but I did have a bit of an issue with the inconsistency in technology; luckily enough, I think most courses are switching over to Blackboard WebCT.

I can't speak for the Student Counselling Service but it's possible to contact the Student 2 Student Peer Support Network. They're not trained counselllors, and I found them a massive waste of time (I volunteered for them the first year they were operating), but some people seem to find them useful.




I think that's just top universities in general, full of cliques. Same with some societies, but ask around and you'll find a good one. I'm on the Judo committee, and we do our utmost to involve new members, and organise nights out as oten as we can. Some societies are just bound to attract díckheads by their nature, e.g. LawSoc, DUBES, Boating.




I would tend to agree, but you can make the most of it by joining a good society that isn't full of tossers. The course you're doing really helps, too. I made lots of good friends from all over the place in Psychology, but the people in Sociology used to look at me as if I had told them I'd starred in a scat movie with their mothers.

You seem be getting a hard time in college, where are you from and what do you look like?

Those two answer are very good, Did you live in halls?

TrollHammaren

investment wrote: »

You seem be getting a hard time in college, where are you from and what do you look like?

Those two answer are very good, Did you live in halls?

"What do you look like?" is a weird question

I don't think I'm having a hard time in college at all- Trinity is great if you don't let the tossers bother you.

I'm from West Dublin (the rough part ), and I look like a normal guy with a beard. Although, I suppose I look a bit different to most arse-block students in Trinity given that I wear combats rather than skinny jeans, and normal hoodies rather than Abercrombie & Fitch and other stupid fúcking brands.

I never lived in Halls but I've been there a few times. It's a bit too party-central for me, as I was the oldest 18-year-old alive in first year!

Doug Cartel

TrollHammaren wrote: »

my accent was a bit too working-class and my clothes a bit too penneys-label to fit in

Could be worse - you could be a culchie.

TrollHammaren

Doug Cartel wrote: »

Could be worse - you could be a culchie.

I was really hoping you wouldn't see that post, Doug :pac:

Besides, you were up at the "other". In the arse block, anything beyond Kilmainham is a culchie

Doug Cartel

Meh. I might be from the god forsaken, windswept Western edge of civilisation, but I have the awesomest jeans in all of D2 and no-one can take that from me.

red herring

Trinity is great, the campus itself is beautiful and theres lots of nice people if you look in the right places.
I'm in halls and personally can't wait to leave the place! It's great at the start but my room overlooks a noisy courtyard so it's hard to study at the moment. Also I live with two horrible bi***es which makes life hard sometimes
Theres so many clubs and societies to join, you really need to put yourself out there, it sounds like a lame thing to say but in college you really ''do get back what you put in''.

Academically I have only my friends experiences in other colleges to compare it to, seeing as I've never attended another college. But from what I hear many of our tsm lectures are smaller than the huge arts halls of, say, UCD. I love both my tsm subjects and yes it can be a bit daunting and anonymous at first, but like I said put yourself out there, actually go to your tutorials, and get to know the people and tutors in them.

At the start of this year I was so upset because two of my housemates in halls decided to be horrible, but it made me get out there and try new sports and societies to meet people. Now I have a crazy busy college life, and those same housemates just eat pizza, watch tv (and other random people out our window?!) all the time. Its a pity because Trinity really has so much to offer, there's rowing, debating, the college papers, and every society and sport imaginable!
So I'd recommend Trinity, it's a really great place to be, once you find your feet. I had a great first year but I know many who find it tough or daunting. Now that the weather's getting better there's more people relaxing at the pav and on the cricket pitches, the atmosphere is nice.

Come to Trinity! just think twice about who you live with if you choose halls!

Orlagh123

Would ye recommend halls for first years? Hopefully, I'll be in first year in September, and I'd been planning on applying for halls so I'd get to know other first years!
I'll be a slightly older first year (21) because I changed course, so I'm wondering would that have any bearing do ye think?!

Tragedy

If you can afford it, stay in halls.

investment

Orlagh123 wrote: »

Would ye recommend halls for first years? Hopefully, I'll be in first year in September, and I'd been planning on applying for halls so I'd get to know other first years!
I'll be a slightly older first year (21) because I changed course, so I'm wondering would that have any bearing do ye think?!

Do second year students stay in halls ??, what is the buzz like in halls?
where are the halls??

TrollHammaren

investment wrote: »

Do second year students stay in halls ??, what is the buzz like in halls?
where are the halls??

The only way you can really get second year in Halls is by doing a lot of work for some of the college societies and reapplying. I only know of one guy who got it a second year.

The Halls are in Rathmines.

The buzz, I'm sure is deadly, if you're into loud student getting drunk.

ohthebaby

TrollHammaren wrote: »

The only way you can really get second year in Halls is by doing a lot of work for some of the college societies and reapplying. I only know of one guy who got it a second year.

The Halls are in Rathmines.

The buzz, I'm sure is deadly, if you're into loud student getting drunk.

I have absolutely nothing to do with societies and I got it for a second year.

Second year out here is grand. I do however find it kind of weird this year. There's a different feel around the place. I miss everybody and the vibes from last year but I suppose that's to be expected.

languagenerd

I'm gonna say that I think it's actually harder to meet new people and make new friends if you're from Dublin... The people who moved into Halls moved in before lectures started so they all knew each other and sat together in that first week. I didn't know a single person when I started (last year, I'm in 2nd year atm) and it seemed that most people had found groups already. And all the people who'd left home for the first time had more in common with each other.

Also, I was 17 for Freshers (and knew no-one anyway) so I probably didn't get the most out of that . That said, some of the people who go to the most events and have the most friends are from Dublin, so I guess it just depends on your willingness to talk to be people!

This year has been way better for getting to know my classmates. I dunno if it's the fact that most people have moved out of Halls or whether I'm just being more social this year!

Doug Cartel

languagenerd wrote: »

I'm gonna say that I think it's actually harder to meet new people and make new friends if you're from Dublin...

Seeing as how this thread is probably going to seen by all sorts of impressionable young go-getters that may be considering TCD in their CAO forms, I should make it clear that the culchie thing was purely me taking the piss out of TrollHammeren, who I know in real life.

Inkblot

In a sense I am a first year Trinity student as well, although being International, I spent already 10 semesters at another university abroad. But getting to know everything again probably counts as a first year as well.

I am an Arts Student, studying languages and I can say that I enjoy it very much. Through the societies I met a lot of new and friendly people and after half a year it is safe to say that I was able to build myself a life here.

Being new in a foreign environment is probably always hard, but it was so much more easier to find friends in university than it was at school. And even being in a foreign country didn't bother me much. I think that Trinity did a lot to integrate the First Year Students.

In addition I like the courses I'm taking.

languagenerd

Doug Cartel wrote: »

Seeing as how this thread is probably going to seen by all sorts of impressionable young go-getters that may be considering TCD in their CAO forms, I should make it clear that the culchie thing was purely me taking the piss out of TrollHammeren, who I know in real life.

I think it's fairly obvious you were taking the piss, don't worry :P

I still think the people who move from the country have it easier social-wise though!

Doug Cartel

languagenerd wrote: »

I still think the people who move from the country have it easier social-wise though!

Yeah, it's been a long time since I was a first year, and I did my undergrad in Cork, not TCD, but I think that non-locals get a more auto-pilot kind of experience. You're thrown in with a bunch of people you don't know, and there's usually stuff to do, so off you go and do it. Conversely though I think it can be a bit harder to get away from the cheesy student night kind of stuff and get involved in more interesting things that might be going on in town.

investment

now ye're talking

keep it going, there is some really good stuff going around here

languagenerd

investment wrote: »

now ye're talking

keep it going, there is some really good stuff going around here

^^
How to kill a thread in ten seconds.

andrew

If a society doesn't contact you, make sure to look out for posters and check the CSC website. After all, societies are run by students. If you see a shitfaced guy/girl lying in a pool of their own blood piss and vomit on a night out and are amazed that that person even has the competency to breath, sober or otherwise, remember; that person could very well be responsible for a society's mailing list, so don't worry if you don't get a mail.

investment

andrew wrote: »

If a society doesn't contact you, make sure to look out for posters and check the CSC website. After all, societies are run by students. If you see a shitfaced guy/girl lying in a pool of their own blood piss and vomit on a night out and are amazed that that person even has the competency to breath, sober or otherwise, remember; that person could very well be responsible for a society's mailing list, so don't worry if you don't get a mail.

Private joke guys;)

andrew

wat

TrollHammaren

I reckon if your society is making no effort to contact its members you've joined the wrong society. This is how cliques evolve into super-cliques with hundreds of arms, laser vision, and a bionic arse.

But yeah, cliques. Bástards, so they are.

Tragedy

Or else they've been handed a mailing list that seems to be missing half the people that should be on it.

gearoidof

or it's impossible to read the person's handwriting...

Pet

If the societies could manage to understand the concept of the BCC function, especially in the first few emails after Fresher's week, it would be really nice.

I don't like playing the grumpy old man (wait a minute, what the fúck am I saying? I live for that shít), but, like, make friends with BCC, dudes.

TrollHammaren

All these issues are very easily dealt with: have the committee member working the stand to write the emails addresses themselves.

I understand that things can go wrong but I do believe some societies just aren't arsed. I had a bad experience with the climbing club clompletely blanking me when I showed up one day, even though I was a member. Same thing happened to my girlfriend. It's a different committee nowadays, so I'm sure they're much nicer now.

parmaviolet

Love my course, hate trinity with an all consuming passion.

andrew

parmaviolet wrote: »

Love my course, hate trinity with an all consuming passion.

Ooh, do tell

investment

andrew wrote: »

Ooh, do tell

I second that

parmaviolet

andrew wrote: »

Ooh, do tell

haha, apologies for making it sound more interesting than it is
Basically I seem to have reached the "looking around the arts block and thinking everyone is an utter tit" stage earlier than usual. So I'm in the awkward position of loving my classes but feeling like I really don't belong here. Not sure if I can make it 4 years like this tbh

andrew

parmaviolet wrote: »

haha, apologies for making it sound more interesting than it is
Basically I seem to have reached the "looking around the arts block and thinking everyone is an utter tit" stage earlier than usual. So I'm in the awkward position of loving my classes but feeling like I really don't belong here. Not sure if I can make it 4 years like this tbh

Ah, shit one. To give a cliched bit of advice, join a society. They're class.

TrollHammaren

parmaviolet wrote: »

haha, apologies for making it sound more interesting than it is
Basically I seem to have reached the "looking around the arts block and thinking everyone is an utter tit" stage earlier than usual. So I'm in the awkward position of loving my classes but feeling like I really don't belong here. Not sure if I can make it 4 years like this tbh

It's definitely worth sticking it out. I started feeling like that when I went to my first Sociology classes and found that I hated my classmates. The Arse Block may be full of prats, but look elsewhere for somewhere to fit in. There's a society for everyone.

parmaviolet

Thanks guys Think a society might be the way to go then!

gearoidof

or a sports club!

TrollHammaren

gearoidof wrote: »

or a sports club!

Okay, you twisted my arm:

Join Judo! You can start from complete beginner, having never participated in a sport before. http://www.judo.tcdlife.ie/




You can make that 9, gearoidof

Doug Cartel

TrollHammaren wrote: »

Okay, you twisted my arm:

Join Judo! You can start from complete beginner, having never participated in a sport before. http://www.judo.tcdlife.ie/




You can make that 9, gearoidof

Spamming, ban plz thx bi.

In the interest of fairness, you should consider joining one of the clubs that aren't as good as judo.

gearoidof

I was plugging the ultimate frisbee club actually. I hadn't even thought of you, trollhammaren. Though it does look like I set you up there!

I suppose this puts me on 3, anyway...

Blerdiii

parmaviolet wrote: »

Love my course, hate trinity with an all consuming passion.

haha opposite hate my course (no other option really though) and love the college , once the tit brigade have been excluded.