Tips about the campus you wish you knew as a fresher

VincentLeB

Hey guys,

Only just finding my way around and stuff. Do any non-freshers have any tips about things that would have made your life so much easier had you known?

For instance, where's the best place to go with a laptop with time between lectures, etc.?

Any other on campus things, like best benches, places for downtime, etc.?

Amirani

VincentLeB wrote: »

Hey guys,

Only just finding my way around and stuff. Do any non-freshers have any tips about things that would have made your life so much easier had you known?

For instance, where's the best place to go with a laptop with time between lectures, etc.?

Any other on campus things, like best benches, places for downtime, etc.?

Hard to think of off-hand but I'll give it a shot...

Best place to go with a laptop: GMB and Hamilton Common Room are personal favourites in this regard.

Places For Downtime: Secluded spot upstairs in the Arts Block, Garden beside the Museum Building.

Others: There's a swipe access gate on Pearse Street between the Sports Centre entrance and the vehicle entrance that not many people know about.

You can bring your own food to the GMB.

lfqnic

Don't think that a university catering for 13 or 15000 people can handle your small but urgent print job: it can't, go to Reids. (This service HAS improved but I've been hurt too many times to ever love again.)

Don't think everyone else knows where they are going, what the hell the Rubrics are etc.

Don't believe the hype; the coffee in Arts is just brown water from the pipes.

Avoid communal areas at 50 past the hour as much as possible - worth getting in five minutes early to pee and loiter in peace.

You can use the lifts in the library (I used to think the 'reserved for those in need' business applied there too).

You can only get out LENS.

The spacious desks in the library with lights above them and little drawers next to them aren't for you (not inc. the Berkeley).

There are two water fountains on every floor of the arts block, and one in the basement. Some have cooler water and a proper loopy water dispenser rather than weak little jet. Minor but lifesaving if you're back-to-back.

There is a flight of stairs at the far end of the ground floor of the arts, by the computers, that is much quieter.

Good idea OP

andrew

There's a big computer room on the very top floor of the GMB, and it's usually empty.

The Ussher is the best library; there are plugs, lights, and the desks are at just the right height for sleeping.

Toward the end of the year, during AGM season, there's a lot of free drink to be had; just turn up at AGMs. Many take place in the Atrium.

The arts block Mac computer room is just to the left of the PC computer room, and is usually emptier too.

The best benches are in the Rose garden.

languagenerd

lfqnic wrote: »

There are two water fountains on every floor of the arts block, and one in the basement. Some have cooler water and a proper loopy water dispenser rather than weak little jet. Minor but lifesaving if you're back-to-back.

-The "proper loopy water dispensers" (i.e. a bottle filler) are on the 1st, 3rd and 5th floor of the Arts Block... there's only one on each floor, so check both staircases.

-There's a second set of toilets on the bottom floor of the Arts Block near the Burke Theatre. Most people don't seem to realise they're there, so try them when the queues for the main ones are back to the stairs.

-There's a prefab full of computers just off the rugby pitch.

-The back stairs that lfqnic mentioned are near all the language departments. Always empty (so easier to run up/down if you're in a hurry) but always freezing. Good spot if you need to make a phone call.

-The signs telling you not to eat on any of the upper floors of the Arts Block are completely ignored by everyone. There's also a garden on the fifth floor opposite the Spanish and Russian depts (I never went in there, but I think anyone can).

-The Lecky is the last library to fill up (around exam time, the Ussher is packed), but it's also the noisiest and has least plugs. Top floor of the Berkeley rarely fills either, but it's freezing and feels like 1960.

-The Buttery, the Dining Hall and the Hamilton restaurants generally do the exact same food, so don't waste time walking from one to the other if you don't like the daily selection.

stealinhorses

The Lloyd had toilets on both sides of the building, I just found that out after being in college for 2 years...

shopgirl195

College administration is very slow! For instance exam timetables can take forever to come out so expect that!

Scortho

Pints of Franciscan well brews are 3.80 in the gingerman....infinitely tastier and better than paying 2 quid for bav in the pav.

For those afraid to venture outside the world of mainstream beer, find out what the pav have on special offer that day, head to the offy and buy that drink.
Its fairly obvious that you didnt buy the cans of devils bit in the Pav when they have none in stock, but if they have it in stock (especially if its on offer) its a lot harder for them to prove that you didnt buy it there.

You can get into the pharmacy labs via the hidden door in ltee1.

Ravelleman

Scortho wrote: »

Pints of Franciscan well brews are 3.80 in the gingerman....infinitely tastier and better than paying 2 quid for bav in the pav.

The Pav doesn't even seem that cheap anymore. A single tin of Shpit is about €3 these days. Also, the Gingerman now has Purgatory on draught, as well as the other three.

Scortho wrote: »

For those afraid to venture outside the world of mainstream beer, find out what the pav have on special offer that day, head to the offy and buy that drink.
Its fairly obvious that you didnt buy the cans of devils bit in the Pav when they have none in stock, but if they have it in stock (especially if its on offer) its a lot harder for them to prove that you didnt buy it there.

Occasionally the cans they sell in the Pav have a coloured ring-pull or some other feature that can distinguish them from offie-bought cans.

VincentLeB

Cool guys, I've made use of a pile of these tips already. The rose garden is lovely!

argan

I'm a third year and 90% of this info is new and fabulous to me! GMB computer room? Cray...

Scortho

Ravelleman wrote: »

The Pav doesn't even seem that cheap anymore. A single tin of Shpit is about €3 these days. Also, the Gingerman now has Purgatory on draught, as well as the other three.



Occasionally the cans they sell in the Pav have a coloured ring-pull or some other feature that can distinguish them from offie-bought cans.

You've been frequenting the pav a lot more than I have! Must be some difference compared to pliny!:p

I haven't been in there in a while (each time I go to go in its packed!:(
Now if they can get there Shandon stout in it'll be brilliant!:D

BrianHenryIE

stealinhorses wrote: »

The Lloyd had toilets on both sides of the building, I just found that out after being in college for 2 years...

And a shower, at least on the Pearse Street side.

Grimebox

brian.henry wrote: »

And a shower, at least on the Pearse Street side.

Where are the showers in the Lloyd?

BrianHenryIE

Down the stairs to the right, through the doors on the landing, right, past the toilets, door on your right.