Help! Drop out dilemma

Jonny Arson

Hi everyone. I am in my first year out in UCD and I have found it difficult to settle into the whole university way of life during my first semester. I am currently having thoughts about dropping out because of this but I am in a dilemma because I am generally quite happy with my course (1st Arts) and I have a good idea as to what I want to get out of this course in terms of career so thus I am completely 50/50 on this matter.

I have found the large-scale size of the college to be quite unsettling and with over 1,000 people doing my course I begun to feel lost. I have come out here already knowing other people in their 1st year and they are all having a good university experience. I know other people in smaller colleges and they are having a good experience aswell. I do realise I would be better suited to a smaller college rather than UCD. However I would be quite nervous about dropping out because if I did go on to do another course and I hated it, I would be screwed but on the other hand if I stay and I still feel unsettled I may lose interest in my studies.

Basically I am asking you guys for advice because maybe some of you have been in a similar situation or are maybe feeling the same way as me. What advice could you give me so I can have a clearer picture as to what to do? I need to make my decision before February so I would have to pay half-fees rather than the full for the next course I may do but please remember I am happy with my course and I am totally 50/50 on this matter.

Any advice would be whole heartedly appreciated.

Sangre

Ok, Im currently in 2nd year, not in Arts. However I know quite a few people who dropped out of Arts last year competely unrelated to course content, basically they were just wandering from class to class, never knowing anyone in the mass of people. Even if you went to the effort of introducing yourself to people odds were you'd never see them again. This feeling of isolation was highlighted by the fact people you knew form school in smaller courses did have friends and were always around the same group of people. My advice is, take the veteran Art stuends advice, join as many sports/clubs as you can, you'll meet new people and maybe they'll even be in your classes. Also try and stick around with the people you meet in tutorials.
1 in 3 people who do Arts don't get a degree from it.

Evilution

Zane from MTV2 wrote:

...because I am generally quite happy with my course (1st Arts) and I have a good idea as to what I want to get out of this course in terms of career so thus I am completely 50/50 on this matter...

Thats your decision there, friend. If you like the course, then stay. If you didn't like the course, I would have advised you to leave. Arts is a very broad course and I'm sure everyone finds something they like in it. And don't worry, next year the numbers will be whittled down and you won't feel quite so lost.
Only other advice I can give you is join some clubs and societies. Most of the friends I have in college aren't actually in my class - they're members of the clubs and socs I'm in.
Also, if you drop out, you'll probably have to pay your fee's the next time you apply to college and they ain't cheap.
So my advice, stay.

eth0_

Why don't you finish out the year and see how you feel then? You could always finish your degree part time or through the Open University.

smiaras

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Gurgle

smiaras wrote:

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...because lots of people drop out?

Seraphina

im pretty much the same, im enjoying my course but even in second year im still feeling very lost. the work can be frustrating when you have no one to discuss it with, but i stuck at it, and i'm really trying hard to get through it. my advice, finish the year at least and see how you feel. you may encounter the same problems in another college, i wouldn't risk leaving the course you like right now, so many people never find something they enjoy.

smiaras

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blondie83

smiaras wrote:

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Thats the best advice you could probably get. You'll get to know people a lot better next year in your course. I remember in 1st year I had loads of people in my lectures, and I found it really hard to get to know them. Then in 2nd year the numbers went down to about 50, and I started to get to know my class pretty well. I also took up one of the martial arts in 2nd year, and never looked back! A lot of clubs will be looking for beginners again after Christmas, so its a good time to start if you want to try something new. :cool:

Invader Zim

Hi Evilution,

I'm in first Arts with yourself.

However, I've done the drop out AND the smaller college thing before.

Personally speaking, yes, smaller colleges are closer, more personal units (or rather smaller classes are, eg, DIT has small classes while still being the biggest college in the country).
I knew EVERYBODY in my old course, 70ish people with somewhere between 2! and 30 people per class.
You can still be isolated though. If your not able to make the effort to talk to your class mates, for whatever reason, then you still won't integrate.

Larger colleges (like UCD) are more impersonal.
I head in to psycology in theatre L and there are 400 other people around me.
It's hardly worth the effort to talk the the person next to you when you may never sit beside them again.
But (and it's a biggie) bigger colleges have better and more clubs and soc's.
Couple that with better facilities and you have an environment conducive to meeting people, just not in class, at least not 1st Arts.

I think it depends on you personally.
I much prefer UCD even though somedays I speak to nobody all day.
I prefer the regimented efficiency with which the place runs, not the ad hoc mismash of some other institutions.

Whatever you end up doing, JOIN SOME CLUBS AND SOC'S that contain the kind of people you want to meet.

Invader


/PS - you don't happen to be a really hot chick, do you?

smiaras

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Invader Zim

smiaras wrote:

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Cool

I needed that

Evilution

Invader Zim wrote:

Hi Evilution,

I'm in first Arts with yourself.

/PS - you don't happen to be a really hot chick, do you?

I think you have the wrong person. You should be addressing Zane I think.
A really hot chick? No, but I ended up in the sack with one on new years eve if thats any good to you??

panda100

Definatly don't drop out.You prob dont realise it but 90%of people in ucd feel the exact same as you and this is fact as i did a survey round ucd last year.Most people do feel lonely in ucd.When i was in 1st year up until xmas i was convinced i was gonna change course because i hated feeling left out from everyone.I went up to ucd knowing no one and was quite shy so i felt really down when i used to see everyone laughing and joking and me always on the outside.Then after xmas i just thought how many people in the world would die to go to a big college like ucd to meet people from all different backrounds and cultures while getting a degree in a course you really like at the same time.So i really put myself out there and even though it was embarassing i made a real effort to make friends.If i saw another person by themselves id just go up and just ask them something to break the ice-you'll find that most people will be only dying to talk back and make new friends.But there will also be people who will look at you as if you were a freak for just coming up chatting to a stranger but these peolpe arent worth getting to know anyway.I also joined loads of societys and met loads of people through them-get involved with a nice friendly society like the world aid soc not the c+e or b+l.Now im in third year and have lots of really good friends in ucd.It takes a lot of effort but itl be worth it in the end cos in such a bigplace like belfield your bound to meet someone on the same wavelengh as you.

Invader Zim

Evilution wrote:

I think you have the wrong person. You should be addressing Zane I think.
A really hot chick? No, but I ended up in the sack with one on new years eve if thats any good to you??

Yes, was aimed at Zane.

Cheers.

IZ

Jonny Arson

I am generally a person who takes a while to settle into new things so I think that could be my problem more than anything. University life is completely different compared to secondary school. With up to 500 people in one of my lectures, I do find things like that scary. Since I have come from a secondary school that I enjoyed so much in my last year I was always worried that I would it difficult to settle.

On the social side of things I have joined a couple of clubs and one in particular has been great craic but still alot of really cool people who I came across in those early weeks have disappeared or I rarely bump into them. I do wish things could be better on the social side aswell because most of the people who I talk with out in UCD, I have already known from before I came out here but at the end of the day its the whole university way of life that I find unsettling. However I do plan to make more of an effort with regards to clubs/socs in the second semester.

smiaras wrote:

This post has been deleted.

I'm studying Sociology, Geography and Information Studies. I will be dropping Information Studies if I do stay here next year.


Oh and to whoever was asking about my gender or someone elses gender, I am (drumroll please) .................. male.

Alana

I'm currently in first year now, and i now how scary it can be. I was in first arts last year and i dropped out, all confused and lost, and not really knowing what i wanted to do, or where I wanted to go to college, whethr i wantd to stay in ucd or take up my art college offer, or work, etc. Plus the whole being in a humungus lecture theatr with a zillion other ppl and not knowing who the hell anyone was, was quite a daunting thing, scary and got me a bit down. So i can kinda undrstand where ur coming from.... however its the same for a hell of a lot of ppl.

Why did i come back you ask, well i couldnt think of anything else that i wanted to do... :rolleyes: and its as gud a place as any, and if i went to tcd it'd take me 4 more yrs as opposed to 3, and dit doesn't really have the range of subjects that'd suit me, and art college is a whole other kettl of fish... plus the fact that I did make a few good friends in my brief time there, that and the fact that working sucks ass....those things and the pub.... I think your best bet is to stick out the year and get into second yr and see what its like, i know that from most of my friends that its a good deal better and less scarier as ppl drop classes they become a whole lot smaller. eg history last yr I remembr being in a Th L and it being full, i went into one of my friends lects before the end of term and it was sooooo empty.

However in saying that do what you think is best.

I remember when I dropped out, I was so unhappy and everyone was convincing me to stay, but i knew that if I had of stayed I would only have gotten more unhappy...english speak me good:) I think taking the year off probly helped me a great deal, i grew up, worked in a decent job (no more slave laour woo), bit more responsibilty, learned to fend for myself, saw things differently, and could just relax after all the non stop-ness of the year before what with leaving cert, portfolio, work, & uni madness.

I'm much happier than I was before, I still have big feck off lects with zillions of ppl, but i just try my hardest to make friends, and realise that most ppl are in the same boat. Try getting involvd with some of the soc's thats how i made a good few frineds.

Evilution

Well Zane, have you decided yet? Easy time at college or the heart-rending prospect of having to look for work?

rainbow kirby

It could be worse. I've spent most of 2nd and 3rd year in a 'What's the feckin' point?' stage...

arbeitsscheuer

Seraphina wrote:

im pretty much the same, im enjoying my course but even in second year im still feeling very lost. the work can be frustrating when you have no one to discuss it with, but i stuck at it, and i'm really trying hard to get through it. QUOTE]

Pretty much how I felt here until late last semester, but anyways...
Now my new yrs resolution reads:
"F*ck everyone else in this college - I'm here for myself and I'll be damned if I'm gonna throw away my future just cos ppl here don't wanna talk to me."

Invader Zim

Zane from MTV2 wrote:

Oh and to whoever was asking about my gender or someone elses gender, I am (drumroll please) .................. male.

Curses :mad:

Jonny Arson

Invader Zim wrote:

Curses :mad:

Sorry to disappoint you.

RedRules5

I studied in TCD and had the same problem in first year. Unfortunately I stuck it out for years 2 and 3 and was miserable as f**k. Class sizes were as big in year 2 as year 1 and by the time they reduced in year 3 I was totally out of the loop and could not mix with anyone. So I took a year off and returned to finish fourth year for no other reason than not knowing what else to do at the time. The final year was a significant improvement because of the new classmates, as I had no history with them it was like starting over but with a much smaller group.
On reflection although I regret not having left in first year and gone to a regional college I accept that I most probably would have had a similar problem because of my nature and that my isolation had nothing to do with TCD.
I reckon if you can take the advice to find friends through the clubs and socs then you should be ok, this and your enjoyment of the course will carry you through. On the other hand if this is going to be a problem as it was for me, 1 club for 2 meetings in four years, then maybe getting out of UCD may be a wise decision.

rainbow kirby

At the moment I'm really hating my course. And I'm in 3rd year, it's not even like I'm at a stage (1st year) where it's easy to start again with something new. The thing is, I actually like UCD and the people, and especially TKD, it's just that I hate my course. It's just so tempting to quit...

Mr.Nice Guy

I am in 1st Arts myself and I can really relate to what you're saying,Zane.
I'm the only guy from my old school in UCD and during the first semester I could have great conversations with people one day but trying to see them the next day in the lecture hall was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Most of the people I met in tutorials were nice but were nothing more than acquaintances.
However try and make the effort to talk to as many people as possible and look for people in the lecture halls that are sitting by themselves.
That's how I became friends with a girl last semester.I asked her about something on the course which led to a conversation and she was someone who sat in the same area every day which made it easy to build a friendship.
She's the only friend I've made but having someone to share the experience of UCD with is far easier than wandering around on your own.I know that from experience.
I agree with the people who said you should join clubs and societies and I also think you should try to talk to everybody as you might not see them the next day but you could see them the next week.

Since it's clear that many of us feel isolated in the cold,sterile place that is UCD why don't we actually do this UCD Boards Beer meet-up?
Some of us could find friendship and let's face it when alcohol's involved everyone's your friend.

Jonny Arson

Mr.Nice Guy wrote:

I am in 1st Arts myself and I can really relate to what you're saying,Zane.
I'm the only guy from my old school in UCD and during the first semester I could have great conversations with people one day but trying to see them the next day in the lecture hall was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Most of the people I met in tutorials were nice but were nothing more than acquaintances.
However try and make the effort to talk to as many people as possible and look for people in the lecture halls that are sitting by themselves.
That's how I became friends with a girl last semester.I asked her about something on the course which led to a conversation and she was someone who sat in the same area every day which made it easy to build a friendship.
She's the only friend I've made but having someone to share the experience of UCD with is far easier than wandering around on your own.I know that from experience.
I agree with the people who said you should join clubs and societies and I also think you should try to talk to everybody as you might not see them the next day but you could see them the next week.

Since it's clear that many of us feel isolated in the cold,sterile place that is UCD why don't we actually do this UCD Boards Beer meet-up?
Some of us could find friendship and let's face it when alcohol's involved everyone's your friend.

Mmmmm alcohol

arbeitsscheuer

yeah, booze would help me get thru the day...

Wait a minute, it already does! (Hipflask)
mmmm...

Jonny Arson

Well thanks to everyone who got back to me on this.

I've decided that I am going to stick it out here. Pretty much everyone has encouraged me to stay and in my heart I do want to stay so this has brought me to my conclusion. Alot of people have said to me that things do get alot better in 2nd year so as the eternal optimist I am I hope things will get better. I still feel unsettled out here two weeks into the new semester. I don't think I will ever like the whole size of the college even if settle in more. The size of this place is very daunting for some people and you can so easily feel lost and isolated around this place. There is such a vast difference out here compared to the tight confinds of secondary school, with up to 500 in one of my lectures it is honestly very scary. One thing I do find so disapointing about this place is the people in general. In my course Arts particularly people aren't very open to others. Lots of people don't seem to have any interest in getting to know new people, there are people in three years time who will be still only hanging out with their secondary school friends. Hopefully everyone will open up more to others in semester 2 becuase sadly I've not come across even one new person who I would remotely call a friend, which is very disapointing because I have always got on well with people and I have efforts to get to know people but no one is giving anything in return. I probably will get more involved in the Students Union and maybe join a new society. Do societies take new people at this stage? Any recommendations to any societies that aren't driven by alcohol?

Well I know for a fact I'm not the only person who feels this way about UCD and so here's to semester 2!

arbeitsscheuer

I'll drink to that

Seriously though, nice one for deciding to stick it out. I was, and kinda still am, in the same boat with regards to my opinion of *most* of the ppl on campus (particularly, as u noted, in Arts)... But wit 2 or 3 good mates and a few acquaintences, it's a helluva lot easier. I still mostly hang out wit my secondary school friends and their friends, but a few college mates never go amiss...

Good luck mate.

P.S. If you want to get involved wit the SU, here's a thought. One of my best mates is running for SU President. He's a sound man, real enthusiastic and a heart of gold. Anyway, if ur interested in helpin wit the campaign, or even just wanna hang out, sent me a PM.

snickerpuss

Yeh im in first arts too and im not likin it so much, the course is okay i guess but i dont really know anybody. Its not like im really shy, i talk to lots of people but they all seem to already have their own groups of friends from school or whatnot. So i dunno, i agree that alot of people dont seem very open to talking or making friends.
I didnt think so many people would feel the same.

sapho

I'm in 1st arts too and I know how daunting it can be.
I was thinking about dropping out too for a really long while, i hated it. I was so busy with college work and society stuff that I had no real time to settle down and make friends. things have really gotten better since i've come back. I've stopped a lot of activities and kinda sat back and enjoyed myself. THings have just fallen into place better. are you a member of any societies? dramsoc is a really good one to get involved in for meeting new people!

Jonny Arson

Well I have to be bluntly honest I'm getting absolutely nowhere out here in UCD. I made a tough decision to stay and I kinda regret it and don't regret it. The college will never ever suit me in terms of its size, I really f**king hate the place. I also hate the f**king people out here (aimed mostly in particular at 1st year Arts students)

Yes I know that last sentence is worded very strongly but I'm just been honest. I have all but given up now of trying to get to know people out here. I've bended over backwards in attempts to make friends out here but sadly I've got f**k all back. Not my problem however, its people's loss if they don't want to bother with me. I've reached a conclusion that I'll be better of just not f**king bothering with anyone coz if I keep on trying with people and get rejected all the time it will just make me feel even worse than I am now.

There is a terrible athmosphere within first year Arts. People are generally fake, snobby and all cliquey and I just don't want to be like that. I'm genuine, real, gsoh and most importantly of all a decent nice guy but sadly it appears these character traits go against you out here. I don't have this kind of problem with people outside the confinds of Belfield so I know where the problem lies. I'm not saying all people in Arts are like that but sadly from the people I've encountered this generally appears to be the case.

I'm not going to bother with clubs/societies or anyone in general anymore. I'm just going to have to resign myself to been a so called 'outsider' for the remainder of the year if it has to be the case but what do the 2 years after that hold? I feel that I would be better of concentrating on my studies rather than my social life out here. I don't know but I'm not feeling positive. If people had a bit more soul to them maybe I could overcome my hatred of the size of the place but it sadly wont.

I know some of you reading this will think this is the most negative and arrogant post you've ever read but I'm just been honest and realistic with myself because if you've tried like me you can't be postitive.

So heres to the next two and a half years of outsiderdom if that is even a word!

orangerooster

Most of my friends are not in 1st arts like me. I get what you're saying about the cliques etc among us and it can be a bit suckey.Just get talking to people in you're tutorials more or maybe I just got lucky with the people in my groups I dunno. Surely though just giving up on everyone out here is a bad idea?

Sangre

Zane from MTV2 wrote:

I'm not going to bother with clubs/societies or anyone in general anymore. I'm just going to have to resign myself to been a so called 'outsider' for the remainder of the year if it has to be the case but what do the 2 years after that hold?

You have to be noticed to be an outsider.

Tobias Greeshman

Dont let the whole college/university experience get you down, go join a couple of clubs and societies and get to know a few people.

I remember after 2nd year of my course I wanted to drop out and work, then got talked into 3rd year which I sorta loved and hated and then in 4th year really f***ing hated the course and didn't see myself ending up in a job similar to the course, actually so did most of the class.

It would be foolish not to stick it out till the end of the year anyway. Just talk to a few people, you'll be fine!

Mr.Nice Guy

I can relate to what you're saying,Zane.I think you should use your feelings to your advantage.Right now you're p*ssed off with UCD so why not just go for broke and make a really big effort?
I've not enjoyed the social aspect of UCD myself.I've not made any real friends here,just acquaintances and I find alot of the UCD ladies quite intimidating but my philosophy right now is F*ck it.I'm going to talk to everyone tomorrow(especially the ladies ) and see what happens.
Today I hardly spoke to anybody and I'm getting pretty fed up with that.I've got nothing left to lose at this stage so I'm going to make a real effort tomorrow.I usually don't like those strangers who strike up conversations with you but tomorrow I'm going to be just like that.

Jonny Arson

I really do appreciate you guys advising me to push myself more and not to give up on my UCD experience but I've done everything I possibly can with people out here. It has got to the stage where I just can't be arsed with people out here anymore. You know I have made efforts to get talking to people but sadly everyone who I've encountered out here just aren't interested in building friendships. This is really effecting me as I'm constantly worrying ''is this all something to do with me?'', ''whats wrong with me?'' etc. My confidence in myself has taken the most almighty dip since I've started and if I keep on making efforts with the people and keep on getting f**k all back, I will completely crash and burn confidence wise. I honestly feel I'll get more out of keeping to myself as I wont be constantly worrying about others but if someone does make an effort towards me of course I'll be polite and friendly because thats me I dont have my head up my arse like so many others out here, but sadly its unlikely that will ever happen.

Mr.Nice Guy

Don't throw in the towel yet,man.Don't let a couple of arrogant self-absorbed people tarnish your view of everybody.After all if you have bad experiences with some women you can't just give up on women altogether.It's the same with making friends here.
I know alot of people here at UCD take arrogance to a whole new level(D4 types from my experience,not that I'm saying they're all like this)but you have to just stay true to yourself.
You're not the only one who finds this place frustrating,believe me.

Slash/ED

I'm finding the whole place frustrating myself but I'm not really letting it bother me too much, it's the fact I'm going to fail my exams in style that I'm worried about!

rainbow kirby

Just try and study. You're gonna be grand.
(kettle. pot. black)

tribulus

come over to the science building! seriously. by comparison to arts ther'es very few snobbs/a**holes/b1tches etc.

imo it's a lot more relaxed atmosphere and theres a lot more quiet nerdy types who would probably be glad to have someone start a conversation with them

uberwolf

tribulus wrote:

imo it's a lot more relaxed atmosphere and theres a lot more quiet nerdy types who would probably be glad to have someone start a conversation with them

an advertisement for science if I ever read one!!

Jonny Arson

Thats it F**K UCD F**K Arts people, I've had F**KING enough. Today I came in with my attitude that I will let people talk to me instead but nice guy me can't help but attempt to start conversations etc. and what do I get back f**k all yet again.

I had two tutorials today yet again in a last hope I say hello to people etc. and no one makes any effort to carry on a conversation.... its me doing all the f**king talking. I must have a sign over my head saying ''Do not reply to a word this w**ker says.'' F**k the people. If someone had given me a machine gun today I would have happily blown the f**king heads of all of those c*nts.

For god sake it was my f**king birthday today and I just found myself all on my own. There is something seriously weird with the people out here. The soundest people I know out here are the people who I went to school with so I obviously I was very lucky with regards to school I went to and I must be recieving all of this sh*t out here as a comupance. Before any of you try to think what I must be like, I'm not one of these geeky types. I always get on well with people, dress cool, loads of interests and I'm considered by the ladies as a good looking bloke. So whats my problem?

My birthday resolution is that I'm not making any communication with anyone out here anymore. No more effort thats it.

As Pete Doherty sings .... Fuu**ck foreeeeeverrrrr!

uberwolf

em, sorry to hear that. You don't want to end one of those strange desperate people.

For the best part, sports clubs are your best bet. Or write for one of the newspapers.

whatsgoin'on

There are a lot of sports clubs that don't really care if you're a beginner or its youre first time there and so a lot of people stop going after a few weeks. This is why a lot of sports clubs have low numbers.

From my experience and talking to others the best clubs for making new people feel welcome and involved is the softball and rifle clubs.
These clubs go so out of their way to keep new people that you can't help but feel good. The older members and the other new members get everyone involved in the organising of events, so youget to know people quickly.
In essence you meet good friends, who will enjoy your company.

To get involved with these clubs lookmat their websites.
www.eteamz.com/ucdsoftball
www.ucd.ie/rifle/


Also the softball club is having a fundraising event The Ultamite Icebreaker tonight in the forum bar at 8. Basically the club is hosting a speed dating night. Its being hosted by Fred Cooke and Siobhan Gildea. Siobhan only took up the sport in October. It shows how involved new members get.
Everyone is Invited

Mr.Nice Guy

Sorry to hear that Zane.As for me,I said I would make an effort with people today and I did.I struck up a conversation with one girl until her friends came and I had to move for them.Turns out they were D4 types so I didn't mind too much.
For my last lecture I struck up a convo with this nice reserved girl but I didn't feel she was my type and I am looking for some attractive girls to work my magic on.(girls to shoot me down,in other words!)V-Day's coming after all!

I don't give a sh*t if people act mean or ignorant towards me.I can't affect other people.As Anais Nin said,"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage" so I'm going to start conversations with everybody and if they don't like it,tough sh*t.

m1ke

So many people have the same experience of 1st arts, it's a shame and by no means a reflection on you or them - just a collection of different things that hinder proper socialization.

Your classes will get smaller in 2nd and 3rd year as you drop a subject and other people drop out and repeat (as much as 40% in some cases). Also the optional modules in 2nd and 3rd year tend to have smaller class sizes. If you really enjoy the course content[forget about job prospects] then it's probably worth staying as things will definitely get better. If you don't enjoy the course work then you should definitely think about other options before the Feb deadline.

Agent Smith

i'm a first year arts student in TCD. i'll be honest, 90% of my class are between 10-40 years older then me, after freshers week i serriously thought of dropping out.

what i did to meet people my own age?
i joined societys, now i know most people join loads on freshers week, and so did i.
the only person i went to school with and went to trinity, desided to defer for a year.

so one day, as i was buying a bus ticket in the su shop, i saw a poster for the sci-fi soc's genreal meeting. i took the plunge, and desided to go,

now i know loads of people.
i came from a very small school, i completely understand where your coming from, i was in the same boat, but since comitting myself to sci-fi, i've done things i never though of doing, met people who i never would have talked to, chatted up girls who i never would have had the confiendence to even talk to before.

why not host a ucd board beer's?

or better still, A dublin college Beers...

QualderWahl

Hi Zane,

I have been reading your drop-out dilemma post with some interest over the last few days. It might be worthwhile if I summarised my own UCD ARTS experience and let you make of it what you will.

Firstly, I am 28, an old guy :-). I started in UCD ARTS in 1994 and finally finished in 1998. Like you, before I went to UCD, I always considered myself to be a reasonably friendly, sociable individual and free of pretension. I come from a country background, therefore the "culture-shock" of Arts was magnified manifold in my case. In my first year, I made repeated efforts to get to know people in my lectures and tutorials, always attempting to strike up a conversation to determine if we had anything in common. Occasionally, I would click with someone (usually somebody else from outside Dublin) but unfortunately the huge scale of UCD meant that I rarely saw them subsequently and hence negated the possibility of forming any sort of friendship. I can honestly say that my first year 1994-1995 was the most miserable, lonely year of my life.

Second year did not herald any major improvement in my situation. However, I was studying German and the class size dropped to about 100 and I did manage to make some acquaintances in my tutorial groups with whom I occasionally went for lunch or the odd pint. I also joined one of the sports clubs and made further casual friendships through the various outings etc.. However, I should stress that none of these were life-long, deep friendships but were at least a slight improvement on first year. My third year was spent on an Erasmus year in University in Germany. It was here that I finally learned that there wasn't something wrong with me that inhibited me from making friends. In Germany, I met countless people of various nationalities and so many friends, many of whom I still visit seven years later. It really opened my eyes to the narrow-minded, arrogant "D4" culture that pervades in UCD ARTS. I returned for my fourth year and just decided to concentrate on my studies and get the hell out of UCD with a decent qualification. I ended up with a first class honours degree by using the feelings of isolation to my advantage.

Upon completion of my degree, I went to a Munster university to do a post-grad course and again the difference was immeasurable. I made seven or eight really good friends in just one year studying in this university and had the best craic of my life. We spent the entire year boozing, having fun and finally cramming for the exams :-). I am still in touch with all of these people. I have since been working for the last four years and am glad to report that work colleagues also make good friends with none of the attitude I encountered in ARTS.

I am really sad to hear that ARTS still has the dreadful atmosphere that was there in the mid-late '90s. I just thought I would tell you my story to let you know that you are certainly not alone and that things really will improve for you. Don't let the pretentious, D4 culture get you down. Trust me, I know precisely how difficult it can be to spend the entire day alone. My advice for what it is worth is the following:

(i) Stick with it until the end of first year and pass your exams. Re-evaluate if you think that things will improve substantially for you in second year. (They didn't in my case).

(ii) Alternatively, drop-out and re-commence a similar course in a smaller, more intimate college, possibly outside Dublin. I guarantee you will not come across the ARTS atmosphere anywhere else. To this day, I regret not dropping out after first year and changing to UL to study Business and German.

It really is up to you. You have my sympathies and I wish you well in whatever you decide. Sorry for the novel-like proportions of this post :-)

Cheers,

J.

Mr.Nice Guy

Hey QualderWahl,I know your post wasn't addressed to me but I found it very useful and encouraging.

Cheers.

QualderWahl

You're welcome Mr Nice Guy. I was pretty shocked to hear that ARTS hasn't changed over the course of the years. There are really nice people studying ARTS, the difficulty is finding them amongst the masses

Ironically, two of my colleagues in my current job also studied ARTS in UCD around the same time as myself and also had a similar experience to that described by Zane and yourself. I suppose you just have to keeping plugging away keep your eye on the bigger picture. (Failing that, at least you have plenty of nice D4 chicks to ogle every day )