Trinity Hall Personal Statement/Essay

eputsca

I'm looking for information about the personal statement that we have to write on applications for Trinity Halls accommodation. The CAO offers come out Monday and I'm pretty sure I got my course. I'd really like to be prepared for this in advance, so that I can just apply for a room and then forget about all this stressful college stuff for a few days :eek:

So how long does the statement have to be? And is it still split into separate sections, ie hobbies and interests, reasons you want to stay there, etc.?

I know there are already quite a few threads about the Trinity Halls accommodation, but most of them are pretty old at this point and I'd really like a more up-to date answer Thanks.

Maybe_Memories

Last year I got in with the whole "hobbies, why you want to stay there" route.
This year I got in with "I was a recluse last year and want another chance to meet people."

A sentence on why you want to stay, and list a few hobbies or whatever and I'd say you'd be grand..

Now I can't say for certain, but I'm 99% certain Halls is done on a first come first served basis...

A Neurotic

The personal statement isn't used to decide who gets a place, but rather who lives with whom. They try to put people with similar interests or people doing similar courses together. Just a quick note on your hobbies and interests should be fine

Darkglasses

No need for much concentration or worry on that, anything simple/obvious will do. If you're smart enough to get Trinity points, then any simple rubbish to fill in the box will do.

eputsca

Okay thanks! I guess I'm just stressing out because my friend knew a perfectly nice girl from Northern Ireland (about the same distance away from Dublin as I am, and I know they take that into account) who didn't get a room in Halls. This just feels like the last hurdle before I can actually start looking forward to college

ED E

OT but do they put that ridculous looking bunting up every year?

LifesaverNiall

how much is it? im only a bus away but maybe maybe next year i might try for accomodation?

Jehuty42

LifesaverNiall wrote: »

how much is it? im only a bus away but maybe maybe next year i might try for accomodation?

You'd be paying more than what you are now for worse, shared accommodation with restricted internet and freedom. You'd be mad to take accommodation.

Groinshot

Jehuty42 wrote: »

You'd be paying more than what you are now for worse, shared accommodation with restricted internet and freedom. You'd be mad to take accommodation.

Restricted 100Mb internet, that you can't do illegal things on.. And all those restrictions, like not being a total dick to your housemates or not being allowed drink outside.
You also have the plus sides of-**** fast internet that you can do *almost* anything on, you're surrounded by like minded people, with similar interests to you that are your own age (as opposed to me right now. I currently live with my landlord on a street full of 90-something year olds. Get me back to student accommodation NOW!) and also, if something goes wrong, it's not that big a deal. The rooms are industrial, as you would expect, but not uncomfortable. Kitchen facilities are fine, there's a launderette in halls...
It has everything you need.

Sure, it's expensive, but not that much more expensive. Get me an apartment in dublin city centre for cheaper than halls including 100Mb internet, central heating, electric shower, and with on-site security, and I'll humour your arguements then.

TL;DR
Halls is great for first year, you'd be******* nuts not to go there.

ED E

The link to halls though isnt so reliable or so I have been told. The only real restrictions are the ports the proxy will allow, so you cant game, and some streaming clients wont work etc.

But yeah, halls is a little expensive, but you wont have any hassle and you'll be with all TCD peers, if I didnt live in Dublin I would make every effort to stay there.

Groinshot

Lethal_Bullet wrote: »

The link to halls though isnt so reliable or so I have been told. The only real restrictions are the ports the proxy will allow, so you cant game, and some streaming clients wont work etc.

But yeah, halls is a little expensive, but you wont have any hassle and you'll be with all TCD peers, if I didnt live in Dublin I would make every effort to stay there.

128 runs every ten mintues, It's now a 140, so new timetable.
Luas is less than 10 mins away, and it's a 15 minute cycle from town!

ED E

Groinshot wrote: »

128 runs every ten mintues, It's now a 140, so new timetable.
Luas is less than 10 mins away, and it's a 15 minute cycle from town!

You misunderstand, I mean the fibre link for the internet. The connection is run through the campus.


15 mins, little slow there, its 13 from mine and I'm churchtown(far side of halls).

Groinshot

Lethal_Bullet wrote: »

You misunderstand, I mean the fibre link for the internet. The connection is run through the campus.


15 mins, little slow there, its 13 from mine and I'm churchtown(far side of halls).

Ah, sorry. I know a fair bit about that network :P
It is a tad unreliable, but not so much that it's worrying. I don't think it went down for more than 4 or 5 hours at all last year.
15 minutes is generous, for someone who doesn't cycle. I did it in just under 7 minutes one day...

eVeNtInE

This post has been deleted.

Groinshot

Should be once you get an offer, but more than likely at some stage this afternoon. The rooms aren't on a first come first serve basis anyway.

eputsca

eVeNtInE wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I'm waiting too, got my course this morning. It says there's a delay of a few hours so maybe just check back at lunchtime. Best of luck!

UrbanSea

Groinshot wrote: »

Should be once you get an offer, but more than likely at some stage this afternoon. The rooms aren't on a first come first serve basis anyway.

What basis is it?


Still waiting to apply too.

Groinshot

UrbanSea wrote: »

What basis is it?


Still waiting to apply too.

God knows. Official line is those personal statements, so I would say it is them. Myself and two friends applied within 10 minutes of each other, I was last to apply. Two of us got it, one didn't.

UrbanSea

How strange.

UrbanSea

How strange.

YodaBoy

Ok so I want to pen a draft before the site starts running. What type of length are we talking about?? 100 words? Just hobbies on it???

UrbanSea

Just applied there.

AnneElizabeth

UrbanSea wrote: »

Just applied there.

Still says User not recognised for me!

eputsca

1800 characters? Looks like I'll be cutting down just a little bit...

UrbanSea

AnneElizabeth wrote: »

Still says User not recognised for me!

Hmm maybe it takes a while after you accept,what time did you accept? I was about 6 am.


I only did about 700 characters.

eputsca

Oh, and for those of you doing a draft- that's 1800 characters including spaces. Because, y'know, Trinity is just old-fashioned like that >_>

Snow joke

eputsca wrote: »

I'm looking for information about the personal statement that we have to write on applications for Trinity Halls accommodation. The CAO offers come out Monday and I'm pretty sure I got my course. I'd really like to be prepared for this in advance, so that I can just apply for a room and then forget about all this stressful college stuff for a few days :eek:

So how long does the statement have to be? And is it still split into separate sections, ie hobbies and interests, reasons you want to stay there, etc.?

I know there are already quite a few threads about the Trinity Halls accommodation, but most of them are pretty old at this point and I'd really like a more up-to date answer Thanks.

Applying to Trinity Hall is NOT first come first serve by any means, nor is it based on points. Write your about me statement describing yourself, your interests and hobbies. You would be more likely to get accommodation if you choose to share a room and incoming first years will be able to create their account within 48 hours of getting their offer. So don't worry if you can't create an account right away.

irishgirl10

Is it first come, first served?

Snow joke

irishgirl10 wrote: »

Is it first come, first served?

http://www.google.ie/imgres?q=not+sure+if+trolling+or+just+very+stupid&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbm=isch&tbnid=0A0CGRzFQrSNZM:&imgrefurl=http://ipv6.forum.lowyat.net/topic/1979873/%252B20&docid=24Dcdi7PYkZKfM&w=552&h=414&ei=o1lSTo2HJsa0hAfSveXaBg&zoom=1&iact=rc&page=1&tbnh=177&tbnw=237&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0&tx=89&ty=43&biw=1280&bih=850

UrbanSea

Damn,now I hope I get in. I went for a single.

Snow joke

UrbanSea wrote: »

Damn,now I hope I get in. I went for a single.

Relax. If you dont succeed at first, call trinity halls and ask to change your application from a single to a share. There really is no deadline for applying.

Muggwoffin

AnneElizabeth wrote: »

Still says User not recognised for me!

I had this problem, but I was putting my email address in the username area. It should be your CAO number in that box. Hope this helps

irishgirl10

Snow joke wrote: »

http://www.google.ie/imgres?q=not+sure+if+trolling+or+just+very+stupid&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbm=isch&tbnid=0A0CGRzFQrSNZM:&imgrefurl=http://ipv6.forum.lowyat.net/topic/1979873/%252B20&docid=24Dcdi7PYkZKfM&w=552&h=414&ei=o1lSTo2HJsa0hAfSveXaBg&zoom=1&iact=rc&page=1&tbnh=177&tbnw=237&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0&tx=89&ty=43&biw=1280&bih=850

Just read the post above me now. My bad!

Snow joke

irishgirl10 wrote: »

Just read the post above me now. My bad!

S'ok. This is a public forum so I was expecting a Flaming for helping haha

Muggwoffin

Anybody have any idea when we should expect confirmation?

AnneElizabeth

Muggwoffin wrote: »

I had this problem, but I was putting my email address in the username area. It should be your CAO number in that box. Hope this helps

Realised I was trying to log in before I created the account. Sorted now. Is anyone else's personal statement a lot less than 1800 characters? I only have like half that, didn't want to annoy them by making it too long.

Snow joke

@ Mog. 26th is the first round offers.

@ Anne. Nah, as long as you have the basics about yourself as well as a reason for wanting halls then you shouldnt have a problem

eVeNtInE

This post has been deleted.

Muggwoffin

eVeNtInE wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I'm fairly sure a single en-suite is just what it says, whereas a single flat is an apartment where you get you're own single room but share a bathroom with others

AnneElizabeth

eVeNtInE wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Single ensuites and Twin rooms are in the Modern Apartments. The other singles are in the Cunningham building.

yutta

Basically, write about all your volunteering work, how you want to participate fully in College life, and how seriously you take your studies - aiming for schols, etc. Also, mention those disabilities that you have (it's not hard to find out how to fail a dyslexia test). Whatever you do, do not come across as your typical South Dublin, middle class male with an interest in rugger, girls and drinking.

Maybe_Memories

Lethal_Bullet wrote: »

The link to halls though isnt so reliable or so I have been told. The only real restrictions are the ports the proxy will allow, so you cant game, and some streaming clients wont work etc.

But yeah, halls is a little expensive, but you wont have any hassle and you'll be with all TCD peers, if I didnt live in Dublin I would make every effort to stay there.

Didn't stop me playing Halo on xbox Live for most of the year :P

OrlaB12693

balls.... my personal statement was i'd say at most 150 words is that bad?... what sorta stuff did yous put in?.. mine was just like 5 sentances and then listed a few hobbies??... fml

Maybe_Memories

OrlaB12693 wrote: »

balls.... my personal statement was i'd say at most 150 words is that bad?... what sorta stuff did yous put in?.. mine was just like 5 sentances and then listed a few hobbies??... fml

You'll be grand. Mine last year was "I'm from the country and no one in Dublin. I like maths, and I like playing sports. I absolutely love music and will play with anyone at any opportunity." or something like that and I got in.

Groinshot

OrlaB12693 wrote: »

balls.... my personal statement was i'd say at most 150 words is that bad?... what sorta stuff did yous put in?.. mine was just like 5 sentances and then listed a few hobbies??... fml

150 words is still about 800 characters. I know if I had to read through 1500 of these (or howevermany) I know I'd be glad to see that some are nice and concise

OrlaB12693

oh how embarrassing! i thought it said 'max 1800 words' not 'max 1800 characters' i think i might be covered now!... Thanks for the insight guys.... If the trinity people ever find out they might not be so keen to have me!

IfUSeekAmy

wrote this, maybe a bit overboard:

thoughts?

"My name is X. On Wednesday I scored Xpoints in my Leaving Certificate exams & today I accepted my first choice offer of 'X' in Trinity College Dublin. I come from the outskirts of a very small village in rural County X. Moving from here in the coming weeks will be my first time living away from home, away from all my friends and family, for an extended period of time. Having done a lot of research in the past few days & weeks I strongly feel that taking up residence in Trinity Hall would be the best option in making the move which I'm about to make. As it happens, I am currently 17 and will turn 18 in 2012, resultingly, having to obtain private accommodation would be quite difficult. From the point of view of signing leases and so on. Living in Trinity Hall would be the perfect way to overcome this. However despite my youth, I've always been very mature and would now most definitely call myself a responsible young adult. I feel that I would really enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to live in Trinity Hall, I would love to be a part of the community there and use it as a platform to make many new, hopefully lifelong friends. I feel that I could really contribute, through my open, friendly and caring personality to the homely and welcoming atmosphere that is fostered in Trinity Hall. My hobbies include reading and swimming, I'm also a keen tennis player and have recently begun to play a little bit of golf. Elsewhere, my interests include socialising with friends and following political and current affairs. I also play the guitar. I'm really looking forward to starting my journey in Trinity this September, I'd really appreciate the opportunity to begin it in Trinity Hall. Thanking you, and looking forward to hearing from you soon."

***

I'm desperately worried. Any timeframe on when we should expect notice of some sort?

Maybe_Memories

A bit much maybe... but you'll be grand!

alxsoky

Haha, I babbled a lot about how Trinity would be perfect for my stay as well.

What happens during the Christmas season if we decide to stay in Dublin? I know that we might have to pay for extensions but do we get to keep our room or will we be moved around? Also is there some sort of storage place for if I decide to go traveling?

How much is transportation to TCD on a monthly basis? So. bloody. excited.

Groinshot

alxsoky wrote: »

So all in all, Trinity Halls is a good place for an international kid like myself?

How much is transportation to TCD on a monthly basis? So. bloody. excited.

80 quid a month on the bus. similar on the luas.
Buy a bike for 200 euro, and keep a weeks bus pass on you in case it's pissing rain!

alxsoky

It certainly does live up to being one of the more expensive cities to live in.

Is cycling around common there?

Thank You!