College wasn't like this in my day

investment

so what was college like for you men??

Ben D Bus

Beer and ridin' mostly

Can't possibly admit it was any other way.

Samich

Finishing my 3rd year of college and living at home.

No beer for me, no ridin' for me.

Plenty of hours in college, lots of assignments.

Basically can't wait to finish college really.

mawk

first time; it was a lot of work. and almost no riding

second time; it was a lot of work but with better grades and more riding/drinking

all in all, more educational than entertaining

Rich11

never went to college, sometimes i thinks i missed out:(

ah well:D

love student nights, all that cheap cheap drink woooo hoooooooo:rolleyes:,

ps: im only 22 before you guys all the im an aul fella perving over the young wans:pac:

entropi

More educational than going out on the piss and looking for women all the time, college is not what you think it will be (depends on the course though, as mine is very intensive). Heading to 3rd year now, shit just got real!

JimmyCrackCorn

I was a hippi through college. Only got sense after I left, how I got lucky in college was a mystery to me. How I finished was a mystery to me two.

If I could go back I'd kick my ass. Benefits of hindsight.

Princess Peach

I love college! I have loads of work to do, but I really love the craic aswell. Nights out and college events. Last semester I was out usually two nights a week, and always different stuff going on. It was so much fun. Managed to get all my study done and enjoy myself, pretty much all throughout college.

I am in my 5th year now, and not many phd opportunities in my field, and can't afford to do another masters, so probably going to have to enter the real world next year

karaokeman

Just finished first year now.

It was a great year, made lots of new friends but no ridin' as such, just a few girls came to me on nights out and stayed with me for it. No luck with taking anyone home, or any of that.

I'm arts so I mainly spend my time faffing around, standing outside the common room and walking to the town (I go to Maynooth). The workload is manageable, but I know that next year I will need to take it a bit more seriously.

seanmacc

Mine were exactly like "Saved by the Bell, the College Years"

DB21

I'm enjoying college so far. It's great academically and personally. I know it's cliché, but you really do discover yourself.

Pherekydes

Very hard work. Went out four times in four years, three of those after the academic year was over.

Newaglish

Pherekydes wrote: »

Very hard work. Went out four times in four years, three of those after the academic year was over.

What on earth were you studying?!

Fenian Army

Enjoying it, but I don't really like clubs so I don't get out that much

Pherekydes

Newaglish wrote: »

What on earth were you studying?!

Anthropology, Philosophy, Maths Studies, Statistics and (pure) Mathematics. I don't know what the subjects have to do with it, though. University is for education. What else are you there for?

Fenian Army

Pherekydes wrote: »

Anthropology, Philosophy, Maths Studies, Statistics and (pure) Mathematics. I don't know what the subjects have to do with it, though. University is for education. What else are you there for?

Its always good to enjoy the journey

Sugar Free

investment wrote: »

so what was college like for you men??

A means to an end in order to begin my career.

kangaroo

Pherekydes wrote: »

Very hard work. Went out four times in four years, three of those after the academic year was over.

That was a bit like my time there: but then I had an (undiagnosed) illness (M.E.).

Just curious whether you were a mature student and/or had a kid? I hear mature students, sometimes with kids, going (back) to college incl. studying very intensive courses like medicine - the thought makes me shudder: I wouldn't fancy it.

Shreddingblood

Just finished first year. Here's how I'd sum it up:

Getting fúcked up, getting fúcked and getting fúcked over.

cyrusdvirus

Vesty, i thought you were in dubai???

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=78949665&postcount=125

Pherekydes

kangaroo wrote: »

Just curious whether you were a mature student and/or had a kid?

Both.

ongarboy

I know there is a rose tinted glasses element but they do seem like the best years of my life. First time living away from home, sharing houses with and making loads of new friends, parties, the worst hangovers, loving the day the maintenance grant was lodged in the bank , struggling to pay the rent/utility bills but always enough money to go on impromptu all day booze sessions . Mine were the days before mobile phones, email, Bebo and Facebook.

Newaglish

Pherekydes wrote: »

Anthropology, Philosophy, Maths Studies, Statistics and (pure) Mathematics. I don't know what the subjects have to do with it, though. University is for education. What else are you there for?

Sorry, you made out that you had no time for nights out because of all the intense learning and studying you were doing. The subjects you studied aren't notably difficult (or easy). Is it more accurate to say that you didn't have time because you had kids and didn't want to because you were of a different age group? There isn't anything wrong with this but I think it's misleading advice to suggest to young people that they should only have 1 term-time night out over their four year degree.

I managed plenty of nights out at times that we weren't busy - the first week or two of the term, friday nights, before holiday periods, etc.

I didn't go out the week of or before exams, did plenty of study when needed and got an excellent grade. I also still had plenty of time to keep my fitness levels really high and work a part-time job.

Pherekydes

Newaglish wrote: »

Sorry, you made out that you had no time for nights out because of all the intense learning and studying you were doing.

No, I didn't. That's what you inferred.

The subjects you studied aren't notably difficult (or easy).

As I mentioned, what had the subjects got to do with it? Most subjects are as easy or as hard as each other.

Is it more accurate to say that you didn't have time because you had kids and didn't want to because you were of a different age group?

Probably. I'm not a frequent drinker or a party animal.

There isn't anything wrng with this but I think it's misleading advice to suggest to young people that they should only have 1 term-time night out over their four year degree.

I'm not suggesting people only have one night out per term. That's what worked for me, but young people need to get their priorities right.

I managed plenty of nights out at times that we weren't busy - the first week or two of the term, friday nights, before holiday periods, etc.

I didn't go out the week of or before exams, did plenty of study when needed and got an excellent grade. I also still had plenty of time to keep my fitness levels really high and work a part-time job.

You're a model student. Well done, you!

How many students drop out of college because they let the workload get on top of them?

Newaglish

I'm not going to get into a multi-quote tit-for-tat, it's not what the thread is about.

You're a model student. Well done, you!

Thank you.

Princess Peach

I think university is about way more than education! It's about gaining life experience through making friends, meeting different types of people, doing so many new things. For younger students its usually their first taste of independence and most people grow and become their own person.

When I was in my undergrad I went out a good bit and worked a job a lot. Still got top marks. Have to find a good balance.

In my masters now, I take every opportunity to socialise, I don't work too often, but as often as I can get work, but I do a lot of volunteer work at conferences and other opportunities, and I attend trade shows, I do a career workshop. Still trying to build myself as a person and give myself employable attributes aside from academics. Plus I'm getting top grades (gloat).

I guess its different for mature students who already have all this life experience, and live with a family. But the priority of students should really be to find a good balance in their life, not to focus on study.

ongarboy

I couldn't agree more. It is the one time as an adult that most are not shackled with mortgages, kids, long term partners or spouses or careers that take priority over everthing else. I acknowledge that it can be a different perspective for mature students however. While it is important to have your wits about you as regards studies, lecture attendance etc, if acedemics was all college was about, it would be a pretty miserable place to be. Even college presidents wouldn't encourage academic education to be your sole focus.

Often, young people would have associated with the same set of peers since they were small children and this is their first exposure to being young adults with new found independence, meeting people from different towns/counties/countries, having outlooks broadened, learning and experiencing different ways of thinking.

Samich

I have an hour commute each day, 9-6 most days. So I rarely go out. Suppose if I really wanted to go out I would. But not having a bed to sleep in and then not having a breakfast and not having a shower is crappy.

timewilltell

Just finished my 3rd and final year, and I'm devastated. Had the best 3 years of my life thus far. First year I lived on campus which was a big help as that's where I made friends. LAst 2 years we rented.

as Princess Peach said, college does help you find yourself. I became independent in both my actions and my opinions. I broadened my experiences by volunteering and exploring other activities.

The social side was also fantastic! I felt sorry for those in my year that had to commute, as I don't think it's a genuine college experience.

Partizan

First time I went to College (WIT 1995-98) I lived at home with my parents in Waterford City. First year i did not go out at all bit in my 2nd went out a few times with the lads, a bit of drinking but no riding.

Second time I went to College (UL 2001-05) as a Mature Student, I lived away from home for the first time in my life and I had a blast. Did the Co-op and Erasmus thing, studied, partied, drinking and plenty of riding. Best years of my life.

The Corinthian

For me it was one long party; la dolce vita.

I took the scenic route, largely because by the middle of the first year I would attend one in five lectures, at best. Of course, this was back in the day before continuous assessments and semesterisation so you could get away with it a lot more.

Instead, it was clubs and societies, pubs and receptions and parties. Running college events and peoples election campaigns. Wearing a tuxedo and speaking in front of a large crowd at the debating societies on a regular basis; at first because I cared about the motions being debated and later because of the never ending stream of groupies.

It was always being on the guest list for all the balls and clubs. And waking up next to one, or two, naked girls who'd I'd met the night before. And reading about myself in the student papers, or watching others read about me. Or articles that I wrote (not about me). And making a not inconsiderable amount of money in the process, by both fair and less fair means.

And then eventually, long after everyone else who had started college with me had graduated and moved on, I completely lost my taste for it, put my head down for a final year, graduated and got on with my life.

My postgrad was different. Went in. Attended lectures. Studied. Went home.

johnr1

IME, most people actually gain independence after they finish college and are forced to actually get a real job, where for the first year they are contributing very little and more a drain rather than an asset to their employer. This is a necessary part of their education, but those who work first for a while in their chosen field and then go back and get their qualifications make for better employees in the long term. They also learn the value of money they earned themselves younger, and mature a bit quicker in the real world where mummy and daddy don't subsidise their lifestyles.

Giselle

The Corinthian wrote: »

For me it was one long party; la dolce vita.

I took the scenic route, largely because by the middle of the first year I would attend one in five lectures, at best. Of course, this was back in the day before continuous assessments and semesterisation so you could get away with it a lot more.

Instead, it was clubs and societies, pubs and receptions and parties. Running college events and peoples election campaigns. Wearing a tuxedo and speaking in front of a large crowd at the debating societies on a regular basis; at first because I cared about the motions being debated and later because of the never ending stream of groupies.

It was always being on the guest list for all the balls and clubs. And waking up next to one, or two, naked girls who'd I'd met the night before. And reading about myself in the student papers, or watching others read about me. Or articles that I wrote (not about me). And making a not inconsiderable amount of money in the process, by both fair and less fair means.

And then eventually, long after everyone else who had started college with me had graduated and moved on, I completely lost my taste for it, put my head down for a final year, graduated and got on with my life.

My postgrad was different. Went in. Attended lectures. Studied. Went home.

Sapienza or L'Aquila?

The Corinthian

Giselle wrote: »

Sapienza or L'Aquila?

UCD actually. The debating reference should have given it away as it's an Anglophone tradition. Had I gone to la Sapienza, I'd probably still be there, TBH...

franksm

For me it was the University of Ulster at Jordanstown - too much boozin', not enough ridin', and too many trips in the back of an RUC landrover (nothing bad, just the usual student shenanigans !)

Giselle

The Corinthian wrote: »

UCD actually. The debating reference should have given it away as it's an Anglophone tradition. Had I gone to la Sapienza, I'd probably still be there, TBH...

An Italian mod, who refers to La Dolce Vita... not something I'd associate with UCD!

awec

This post has been deleted.

D'Agger

College for me was about growing up and maturing slightly - we've all done the bóllix, taken election signs and generally acted like nobody was in charge - because nobody was.

And then you realise that means you have to take care of yourself.

I used college to grow up after spending the middle years going out and enjoying myself which I don't regret for a second.

I've got a solid group of friends around me who I contact and try to visit as much as possible, and while I'm sure alot of people say this about college friends before parting - I don't ever see myself drifting from them.

Now that I'm out almost two years it's easy to look back and miss it - being able to have an hour or two off in the afternoon etc. or the decision to stay in bed and be lazy without fear of being fired etc. - I miss it desperately.

They were the best years of my life, I was young and fresh going in and I was ready for the working world coming out, from an academic and personal level anyway - fairly certain I had the full college experience and if I have kids later on down the line I'll burst my ass to make sure they can have the same experience.