First Arts 2012-3

literatefarmer

Just wondering if anyone else has decided on doing this? I think I'll be doing History, German, Irish and French. I'd love to hear from anyone thinking of doing something similar

ThatGuy93

I'm hoping to do irish, economics and politics & international relations. I'm a bit worried about irish as my grammar is pretty weak, do they cover the grammar from scratch?

paddykell

Hey everyone,

I've applied for Arts in UCD too. I'm really excited and hope I get offered it. I'm hoping to do English, History, Philosophy and Art History in first year. Is anyone else nervous? I'm assuming I'm not the only one who'll have to move out of my home and away to the land of Dublin!

literatefarmer

Ultra nervous, but luckily a few friends are going up as well! Moving to Dublin is going to be some dose, I'm from the border country between Tipperary and Waterford and let's just say it isn't that densely populated!

SureYWouldntYa

Maths economics and psychology in first year, and just psychology after :P

paddykell

Arts sounds like a fantastic course I think, but the main thing I'm worried about is that it'll be hard to make friends on it. That's what most people say about it anyway - that there are so many people in the lecture halls. Does anyone else have any particular anxieties about it?

literatefarmer

well my History teacher said that when she was there getting into lectures in first year was absolutely chaotic and that people were sitting on the stairs and everything! that was just for History though, she said there were less in Irish

Maldesu

Lectures like English, History and Geography are held in the largest Theatre with a capacity for 500 people. I've never seen it full but you still have a large amount of students in the place.
Most of the 1st year subjects will have small groups or seminars associated with them so you'll have plenty of chances to meet other students. English modules have them weekly, Geography have them every second week, History almost every week.

teenagedream

Guys stop worrying it'll be fine.

Yes Arts can be very hard to get to know people. At the start of the year you will be put into groups and have a peer mentor. I'm not going to lie. I never talked to those people outside the three meetings we had. If you live on campus make best friends with your neighbours its them you're going to when you run out of milk!

Societies and clubs are a really good way to meet people just don't be afraid to go it alone!
In English a core part of our course was group work and that group became some of my best friends.

Some of the lectures can be daunting, English had 500 people in the lectures. But the tutorials had a lot less and its then when you get to see who you might have something in common with. Whereas my Italian classes had 20 people in them for the entire year!

If anyone has any questions don't be afraid to ask!

paddykell

Really interesting stuff actually! I feel more at ease after that last post. I suppose at the end of the day, Arts, like any course, is what you make it.

literatefarmer

Does anyone have any idea about textbooks for next year? I'd like to do a bit of shopping around now if it were possible to avoid scrums in Hodges Figgis in September.

OneOfThem Stumbled

literatefarmer wrote: »

Does anyone have any idea about textbooks for next year? I'd like to do a bit of shopping around now if it were possible to avoid scrums in Hodges Figgis in September.

If I can be arsed I might start one of those: Advice for peeps going into 1st year, or revive one of the old threads.

Anyways, one thing that I'll say is don't worry about the reading lists.

You can read ahead, fine, but there aren't really set texts like in secondary school. I remember I was avidly anticipating a reading list in 1st year and I couldn't for the life of me work work why the lecturer hesitated in recommending texts... It was to prevent us from going out and buying the one that she mentioned, and then referring to it constantly like it was gospel (which is exactly what I did!)

In reality what people get wrong is that they get stressed out about the work early on, then realise that nobody really gives a damn whether or not they do work, and then let assignments and study slide.

Just relax and get to know people over the first couple of weeks - and moreover get a handle on your timetable. Stress about assignments in early-mid October; rent out huge amounts out of the library (ideally early), read online, buy a book or two only if you are going to get constant use out of it or if it's so new that the library doesn't have it.

literatefarmer

thanks for that!!! Know absolutely nobody doing arts in UCD so I was going to have to find out off of someone!

Sierra Oscar

literatefarmer wrote: »

Does anyone have any idea about textbooks for next year? I'd like to do a bit of shopping around now if it were possible to avoid scrums in Hodges Figgis in September.

I would hold off for now - you may not be required to actually buy a number of books, rather you will only need to read a few chapters.

Your lecturer will tell you if you need to buy a book, and if so then they will be well stopped on the campus bookshop. Even if you have to order a book it will only take just under a week.

Pride Fighter

OneOfThem Stumbled wrote: »

If I can be arsed I might start one of those: Advice for peeps going into 1st year, or revive one of the old threads.

Anyways, one thing that I'll say is don't worry about the reading lists.

You can read ahead, fine, but there aren't really set texts like in secondary school. I remember I was avidly anticipating a reading list in 1st year and I couldn't for the life of me work work why the lecturer hesitated in recommending texts... It was to prevent us from going out and buying the one that she mentioned, and then referring to it constantly like it was gospel (which is exactly what I did!)

In reality what people get wrong is that they get stressed out about the work early on, then realise that nobody really gives a damn whether or not they do work, and then let assignments and study slide.

Just relax and get to know people over the first couple of weeks - and moreover get a handle on your timetable. Stress about assignments in early-mid October; rent out huge amounts out of the library (ideally early), read online, buy a book or two only if you are going to get constant use out of it or if it's so new that the library doesn't have it.

Good advice there. I'd add to the OP that you should think for yourself, independent thought will separate you from the crowd. In first year you can take it a bit easy, but I'd try and get into good habits. Do a small portion of work every day and dont let stuff build up. You dont want to fall into the all nighter crowd like I did, I have no idea how I did 3 essays in 12 hours. But I was shattered after it, and would not want anyone to feel that level of tiredness.

For the social side, get involved in societies, I find the smaller ones better for making friends, not that you wont make friends in the big ones. I just felt that cause I was meeting so many in the big ones, they were more acquaintances.

Good luck and enjoy it anyway, I'm sure you'll be fine

Sam the Sham

OneOfThem Stumbled wrote: »

If I can be arsed I might start one of those: Advice for peeps going into 1st year, or revive one of the old threads.

Anyways, one thing that I'll say is don't worry about the reading lists.

You can read ahead, fine, but there aren't really set texts like in secondary school. I remember I was avidly anticipating a reading list in 1st year and I couldn't for the life of me work work why the lecturer hesitated in recommending texts... It was to prevent us from going out and buying the one that she mentioned, and then referring to it constantly like it was gospel (which is exactly what I did!)

In reality what people get wrong is that they get stressed out about the work early on, then realise that nobody really gives a damn whether or not they do work, and then let assignments and study slide.

Just relax and get to know people over the first couple of weeks - and moreover get a handle on your timetable. Stress about assignments in early-mid October; rent out huge amounts out of the library (ideally early), read online, buy a book or two only if you are going to get constant use out of it or if it's so new that the library doesn't have it.

That's some of the worst advice I've ever heard.

Look: courses are designed with the assumption that you will be keeping up with the reading. You will not do well in any well-conceived course if you don't do any work (or don't turn up) until late in the semester. You need to be reading in order to participate in tutorials. If you haven't done the reading, you have nothing to contribute and tutorials become pointless.

But that's where the learning goes on. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

OneOfThem Stumbled

Sam the Sham wrote: »

That's some of the worst advice I've ever heard.

Look: courses are designed with the assumption that you will be keeping up with the reading. You will not do well in any well-conceived course if you don't do any work (or don't turn up) until late in the semester. You need to be reading in order to participate in tutorials. If you haven't done the reading, you have nothing to contribute and tutorials become pointless.

But that's where the learning goes on. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Hey, I'm just being realistic.

I'm not saying "don't turn up to tutorials". Kindof the opposite in fact.

Too many people get a golden week for the second week of term - realise that nobody cares if they do the reading or turn up, then start not turning up, and end up in a bit of a mess when coming up to assignment deadlines and exams.

Take it the opposite way around. Start slow, start easy. Who cares if you miss a lecture or tutorial here or there? Particular in a course such as Arts that attempts to foster lateral thinking, you have to bear in mind that you will have to provide your own motivation and focus, even eventually providing your own essay questions in later years.

Some more tech based subjects (like Computer Science) people are told explicitly DO X, Y, Z : you will be graded on X, Y, Z, etc. FFS they take attendance in Comp Sci lectures and you will be given an 'encouragement email' if you miss too many!. :eek: Arts ain't like that! :P

Sam the Sham

'Spose it all depends whether you want to actually learn something or are just content to be a credentialed ignoramus.

literatefarmer

well based on how much money college is going to set me back I'm fairly determined to learn something!!!!

Whatsernamex33

Hoping to study English and History, undecided after that... ;P

AlmightyDublin

Depending on the points I get, hopefully I'll be going to UCD in Sept, possibly doing Politics & International Relations & History, Irish

AR12

I did English, Sociology and Psychology in first year Arts. After a few good weeks of attending lectures and tutorials I slipped and barely went to any, but it never mattered to me. You can do really well without attending ALL of your lecs and tutorials I never got lower than a C in my core options English and Sociology and remember all you have to do is pass first year in Arts it doesn't even count towards your GPA. I know everyone is different but I went to even less of my classes in second year and got even better grades. You just have to do the work yourself, nobody's going to tell you to do it only you can. Its not like school where if you fail a subject your teacher will be concerned, nobody cares in College if you fail. And don't be worrying about buying books in first year, waste of time. You can easily find stuff online or the library, especially the library if you get in early enough. You'll be used to the College life after a week or two.

Siuin

My advice for anyone starting arts-- when those around you are doing sweet nothing, you keep on working and don't use their efforts (or the lack of them) as your point of reference. Arts can attract a lot of idiots who are only in college to get pissed every night of the week and sponge off their parents, but there are also a number who are going above and beyond what is being asked of them (and no, they're not only mature students). There are rewards for excelling in your course- monetary as well as academic. It's a short few years, really, and I myself can hardly believe that I'm already nearing the end of it. Put in the work from the start, don't get sh!tfaced and skip tutorials OR lectures, don't listen to those around you who are saying how little they've done (the smart ones keep quiet) and don't leave assignments til last minute. It is possible to both enjoy your time in college and come out with a first class honours.

FYI for those telling you 'first year doesn't matter' -- because of my grades in first year I got a substantial sum of money towards my studies in second year which helped enormously so don't listen to that BS. Also, you should never aim to barely scrape by.

AR12

You may get money for getting straight A's or whatever in first year but academically the year simply requires you pass it. Like I said all people are different some will love their subjects and will want to attend every lecture and tutorial others will find they don't need to attend all to do just as well. I have plenty of friends who are on GPA's of 3.7 and above that barely attend their lecturers. I found my English lectures in both first and second year practically useless to me. But anyway everyone sees it differently and you find a way that suits you and stick with it.

Sam the Sham

AR12 wrote: »

I did English, Sociology and Psychology in first year Arts. After a few good weeks of attending lectures and tutorials I slipped and barely went to any, but it never mattered to me. You can do really well without attending ALL of your lecs and tutorials I never got lower than a C in my core options English and Sociology and remember all you have to do is pass first year in Arts it doesn't even count towards your GPA.

In short: the goal is to get the highest GPA that can be achieved by learning absolutely nothing. The winner is the most credentialed moron.

AR12

Actually the English lecturers are **** in my opinion in UCD, and the opinion of my friends doing English. There are maybe one or two that are half decent. I didn't want to just scrape by, I wanted to do well and I did but not by going to lecturers and tutorial, by doing my own work and research. Anyway each student to their own, whatever works for them.

Siuin

AR12 wrote: »

Actually the English lecturers are **** in my opinion in UCD, and the opinion of my friends doing English. There are maybe one or two that are half decent. I didn't want to just scrape by, I wanted to do well and I did but not by going to lecturers and tutorial, by doing my own work and research. Anyway each student to their own, whatever works for them.

I'm doing English too, and I have absolutely no problems with our lecturers. It's true that we do need to engage in self-directed learning (it's university- there's nobody there to hold our hand) but I know for a fact that I wouldn't be doing anywhere near as well if I hadn't been consistently attending all my tutorials and seminars- if anything, the opinions voiced in class are really good material for later essays.

This method of not attending lectures and tutorials may be working for you (depends what you actually want to achieve from college) but it's not what I -or pretty much every single academic from UCD- would advocate.

Sam the Sham

AR12 wrote: »

Actually the English lecturers are **** in my opinion in UCD, and the opinion of my friends doing English.

And you arrived at this global judgment after a couple of weeks of sitting in classes? And your credentials for making this judgment are what exactly?

There are maybe one or two that are half decent.

But you didn't bother going to their courses either...

I didn't want to just scrape by, I wanted to do well and I did but not by going to lecturers and tutorial, by doing my own work and research.

You're kidding yourself. If you didn't go to lectures and tutorials, it's a virtual certainty that you learned nothing. Indeed, you don't have to be taking up a university place to do "your own work and research." You can do that on your own time and on your own dime.

Anyway each student to their own, whatever works for them.

The point is that what you're doing is only "working" if the goal is to get a little gold star (or, in the case of your C average, a little brown star) on your forehead. Never mind what's actually in the forehead...

OneOfThem Stumbled

Personally I think it's nigh impossible to do well if you never go to lectures or tutorials; for a number of reasons. Self motivation and autonomous learning is vital in any college course, but there are limits. :pac:

And personally I'd say that the English lecturing quality is pretty good. There is a tiny bit of silly social studies crap that creeps in at the edges (anybody who has had a lecture which had an undue emphasis on let's-say "female representation" or "queer-theory" or "otherness" will know what I'm talking about.. ugh) but it's on the whole both pretty strong and diverse in nature.

When I was previously mentioning how people in first year shouldn't get too stressed out about academia, I was also thinking about the fact that a lot of people go through college without really getting involved in clubs/socs and the like. Whilst I think that people at all levels of study, backgrounds and ages should take advantage of the facilities, clubs and social aspects available in the college, it's easiest from a work point of view for first years to do so, as it is universally the case that their grades will not have a direct bearing on the type of degree they are rewarded (although they do have to pass).. unless we are talking about first year masters' students of course

AR12

Okay chill people. I'm just saying thats what works for me in College. And yea I said I got nothing lower than a C in my core subjects, in first year. Second year I got B+ to B- in my English subjects apart from one, Critical Theory which has a 50% failure rate, I got a C. And all this by doing going to some lectures and basically all my own work. I know there are people that go to all their lectures, they want to, and that's grand. I'm just saying everyone is different in College and its not a crime to miss lectures and tutorials. As for my opinions on the lecturer's thats just mine. I don't find them particularly good but then again everyone will see tings differently. I find my Sociology lecturer's really good. I guess I'm just one of the "bold" students that don't go to lectures. I also suffer from a learning difficulty and believe me sitting in a lecture hall with 400 or 500 students trying to take notes when I can't spell a thing or decipher my own writing sort of turns me off the whole thing. But College is a different experience for everyone you'll find once you get into it what works for you, you have to enjoy yourself too.

wemsie

Two days guys :eek:
I've been stressing all day so decided to move to the UCD forums instead of LC and turn my stress into excitement!
I'm hoping to do English with Drama. Arts (English and Irish Folklore pre-selected) is my 2nd. Failing that I'll be doing Arts or Theatre Studies in NUIG. Failing that I'll be back in 6th year again
I have yet to encounter anybody going for English with Drama, which I suppose is a good thing in terms of supply and demand but still alarms me a bit. I've heard a good few going for Arts though, and both course overlap a lot
I didn't apply to student accommodation but my sister lives on the Quays so I'll commute from her place for the first while and see how it goes. A few friends are hoping to go to UCD too but they're all Science kids.. So I'm a little worried about making friends.
Anyway, that's my sob story, how're the rest of ye fixed?

kiwimad

English, History and probably Maths I'm kind of excited but REALLY nervous too! None of my friends are going to UCD at all! Is there anyone else in the same boat or will I be alone? Is joining the L and H or the History society a good way of meeting people in First Arts or will I just be out of my depth? Also, what are the class sizes like in First year Maths?

Canteloupey

There are loads of people who go to UCD and no one from their school went there. Only two other people from my school went to UCD and I barely knew them... and never see them (though I did know loads of people going to UCD from outside of school). Loads of people from country areas don't have many people from their old school in UCD, it's mainly people from around UCD who seem to have to gone to school with everyone! It's better when there's no one from your school.

...

No one in UCD knows my school nickname... Thank god! :P

Yeah, join L and H, though be prepared to get involved in any old society. I joined GameSoc while waiting for a LawSoc event! I think societies are the best way to meet people from everywhere, and because History is a massive course, they'll probably be History people your choice anyway.

I kinda felt a bit out of place in L and H cos I'd never formally debated before and everyone else had, though maybe that was the group I ended up in. Just visit all the tents in Freshers' Week, and take as much food as you can until they make you pay the 2 euro.

I dunno much about Maths, I think those in Science Maths course and actuarial science and would be in your lectures with the Arts Maths but I have no idea how many maths students there are, sorry!

I hope have a great time in UCD!

kiwimad

Yeah, it's really only hitting me now that I'm heading off to college in two weeks knowing practically no-one! Though as you said, maybe it's a good thing that no-one will know certain things about me

Free food? Freshers week sounds good already!

I've heard stories of 400 or 500 people in first year History and English lectures, so I was hoping Maths might be a bit smaller, but I suppose if we're in with other courses too that wouldn't really happen Thanks anyway!

Maldesu

You will have about 4-500 in English and History but they usually drop off after a few weeks. Very popular choice. Calculus 1 was on before my English lecture and there was usually a fairly small group of students even though it was held in the largest theatre. Course, this might have been because it was on at 9 in the morning.

moo2011

Music, French and sociology , possibly english for a bit of scope after college. can you drop a module during 1st year if you dont like it?
super nervous

Maldesu

You have a few weeks if you don't like a module. Think its the 21st but you'd have to check.

Melzers

I'm definitely doing english and history.. I hope to be doing art history and not sure what else :P I hope it'll go well!!

paddykell

Hey everyone, does anyone know what we need to get before we start? As in stationary, books, etc?

Also, is anyone else going to this orientation afternoon in UCD tomorrow for Arts students? We are, after all, strongly urged to attend! :P

AlmightyDublin

paddykell wrote: »

Hey everyone, does anyone know what we need to get before we start? As in stationary, books, etc?

Also, is anyone else going to this orientation afternoon in UCD tomorrow for Arts students? We are, after all, strongly urged to attend! :P

I'd say they'll tell us what to get during orientation week :P and yeah haha the effort of getting to UCD tomorrow! :P

Maldesu

paddykell wrote: »

Hey everyone, does anyone know what we need to get before we start? As in stationary, books, etc?

Also, is anyone else going to this orientation afternoon in UCD tomorrow for Arts students? We are, after all, strongly urged to attend! :P

Have at least a refill pad and a pen. You'll get told most of your books in lectures or tutorials. Also, when you log into UCD Connect you will see on the top right of the screen called 'Blackboard'. This is were lecture notes will appear, assignments, where electronic copies are submitted, MCQ's etc. It is also where booklists may appear and changes to the course.

fkt

paddykell wrote: »

Also, is anyone else going to this orientation afternoon in UCD tomorrow for Arts students? We are, after all, strongly urged to attend! :P

Not me!

moo2011

i cant make the talk today! let us know if theres anything important