Mature Students - What do you think of NUIM?

Azures

Is NUIM a great place to be a mature (undergrad) student? How easy is it to make friends with other mature - ish students? Where do mature students tend to live? Are the clubs and societies 'Mature' friendly? What is the Arts degree experience for matures? ... and all other mature opinions that will help me decide which offer to take up are welcome! Thanks!

Jayjay80

very friendly, low key, approachable lecturers, good supports, new library being built, new canteen, lots of mature students

Thx1182

I found NUIM to be a great place for mature students did my undergrad and am doing my postgrad here as a relatively mature student Very open and friendly campus i always find it welcoming.

mickstupp

Howdy Azures!
I love Maynooth. Been here four years now. One more will be the end of my MA. It has its ups and downs like everywhere. People are great, for the most part. I never felt out of place except once in a tutorial full of teenagers. That was weird. But mostly you can't turn a corner without seeing mature students somewhere. People are generally friendly if you ask a question, no matter what age they are. The lecturers are very often sound if you go and talk to them, show an interest. Making friends is about as easy as opening your mouth and saying hello. But if, like me, you find even that to be quite difficult, it's still easy enough to make friends just being in the same class as people for a year.

I don't know anything about the clubs and societies, never had time. The ones I would've been interested in either always clashed with my classes or took place after the last bus home. I commute quite a distance, I don't know a huge amount that live on campus, but it doesn't seem to be difficult to find a place to stay.

The Arts degree experience... not sure I understand that. I suppose it's whatever you make of it? You get out what you put in. Depends on what you're looking for. Although I would say that even though I went to all my classes and studied my face off, being a thorough nerd, I still had an utterly brilliant time. Best few years of my life so far, in fact. Some friends I've only made in the last few months, some I've been eating food with and drinking coffee with since the entrance exam.

Big thing I noticed, even after a single year, was that your brain really changes in some weird ways. I stopped being satisfied with certain things. Like before coming to college I was perfectly fine reading the Star, or if I was really bored, a broadsheet, or some bad novels. A few weeks after the end of first year I realised I was getting an itch to read something heavy, something academic. It's far worse now. For relaxation I find myself turning to some bonkers medieval philosophy or something about Babylonian myth or something written in ancient Greek. Strange what counts as entertainment in my world these days.

(Also, you may not be getting many replies due to everyone preparing/doing exams right now)

Jayjay80

agree...quick answer during exam prep. I am going back for the MA even though ive been offered trinity and ucd, i think that ive established a good relationship with my dept and they have supported me through some ups and downs. Wherever you go, make sure you go to your lecturers office hours sometimes and talk with them. Be interested. Be proactive and learn about all the facilities available to you. If you show no interest it will be a very boring and uneventful time no matter where you are. good luck! I highly recommend further study

Azures

Thanks for all your replies, really helpful!