Returning after deferring for a year

moodswing

Hey,
Has anyone returned to Maynooth after deferring for a year? If so how did you find settling back in / coursework after a year out etc?

I deferred my second year last year and will be returning in Sept - I'm a mature student and just worried about trying to settle back again with a whole new gang of people who have already been with each other for a year!

Fbjm

Can't speak from personal experience, but a mate of mine took a year off after second year and returned this year to do his final year in arts. He knew loads of people from his area and from the various clubs he was in before he deferred, so he settled in grand with the same crowd he was with before his deferral.



Even if you know nobody and weren't in any clubs etc. before you deferred, people in NUIM are generally very nice and welcoming anyway. Join a club or something come September if you want to get to know more people.

Seren_

I deferred doing the final year of my degree (had to leave for medical reasons during my first time at it). It's weird at first getting back into the swing of college life after not doing if for so long, but after a week or two you will be fine. Make sure and keep in touch with your department too and let them know if you are finding it tough getting back into things - both of mine were so helpful last year It's also a good idea to keep on top of readings and assignments from the start.

With regards going into a totally new class, I found it grand tbh. Maybe it would be different if your class is small though (I did English and sociology, so both big classes). The best thing to do is just to get chatting to people in your lectures and tutorials really. And seeing as you're a mature student, you could head over to the mature students room in the SU and meet people there too. And clubs/socs too if you have the time.

moodswing

Thanks for the replies guys! I actually deferred last year to have a baby so wont have as much time for clubs / socs but will definitely head to the mature room and try to get to know some people there! I'm doing the single honours Anthropology so classes will be big enough and the anthro department are so nice and helpful it should be grand fingers crossed!

girlonfire

I'm going into 3rd year in Sept and also studying Anthro. I wouldn't worry about making new friends, etc. People are so friendly that it makes it easier. If you want a heads up re Anthro for this year, send me a pm and I'll do my best to help you out. I'm not majoring in Anthro but I've done a few modules, so may be of some benefit to you :-)

moodswing

girlonfire wrote: »

I'm going into 3rd year in Sept and also studying Anthro. I wouldn't worry about making new friends, etc. People are so friendly that it makes it easier. If you want a heads up re Anthro for this year, send me a pm and I'll do my best to help you out. I'm not majoring in Anthro but I've done a few modules, so may be of some benefit to you :-)

Thanks for this - must get out the old notes again and try to get some ideas going before Sept!

Madra Maith

I returned after deferring for 4 years into the 3rd year of Science degree. I found it difficult at first because everyone had their own little groups but I just forced myself to talk to people while waiting for the lecturer to arrive.

I found the mature students to be the most friendly and helpful.

moodswing

Madra Maith wrote: »

I returned after deferring for 4 years into the 3rd year of Science degree. I found it difficult at first because everyone had their own little groups but I just forced myself to talk to people while waiting for the lecturer to arrive.

I found the mature students to be the most friendly and helpful.

Thanks everyone's replies are making me feel a lot better about going back - hoping things like tutorials will make it easier to get chatting to people again

Charlene_92

Hi there.
I am in the same boat. I defered at the start of my second year last October as I didn't like Media but after a year out, I knew I wanted to go back and do something in Maynooth so I choose to stick on with English (which I love) and sociology (which is ok). I'm trying to sort out accomodation off campus and that in itself is scary! I'm really hoping to make new friends as basically all the friends I had made along the way previously are off to do their year abroad or have already left so I'm basically alone. But hopefully with the aid of tutorials and clubs I should survive, or at least I hope I will. It's daunting but at the end of the day, even people who have been in college for 2 or 3 years may not have tons of friends or a specific group they stick to. I found that classes like English etc where there are hundreds of students, there was more single people attending than those coming in with groups. I actually found it quite difficult to meet the same people each day due to the big numbers of people. Fingers crossed we will be ok though! And best of luck to you with returning

Ms. Koi

Charlene_92 wrote: »

Hi there.
I am in the same boat. I defered at the start of my second year last October as I didn't like Media but after a year out, I knew I wanted to go back and do something in Maynooth so I choose to stick on with English (which I love) and sociology (which is ok). I'm trying to sort out accomodation off campus and that in itself is scary! I'm really hoping to make new friends as basically all the friends I had made along the way previously are off to do their year abroad or have already left so I'm basically alone. But hopefully with the aid of tutorials and clubs I should survive, or at least I hope I will. It's daunting but at the end of the day, even people who have been in college for 2 or 3 years may not have tons of friends or a specific group they stick to. I found that classes like English etc where there are hundreds of students, there was more single people attending than those coming in with groups. I actually found it quite difficult to meet the same people each day due to the big numbers of people. Fingers crossed we will be ok though! And best of luck to you with returning

First, well done on coming back! Join a club or society too, as well as talking to random people in lectures! It's a brilliant way to meet people who have similar interests to you! I'm sure you will be fine!

Charlene_92

kellief wrote: »

First, well done on coming back! Join a club or society too, as well as talking to random people in lectures! It's a brilliant way to meet people who have similar interests to you! I'm sure you will be fine!

Thank you very much! I'm sure I will be fine, I find people in Maynooth to generally be quite friendly and welcoming. You know yourself though, everything seems daunting when you're not been used to it for a while.

Ms. Koi

Charlene_92 wrote: »

Thank you very much! I'm sure I will be fine, I find people in Maynooth to generally be quite friendly and welcoming. You know yourself though, everything seems daunting when you're not been used to it for a while.

You will be fine! No problem to ya!