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What do you think college will be like?

  • 26-09-2006 3:27pm
    #1
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 16,720 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Question for anyone coming into Trinity - what do you think college will be like? Do you believe that it will be hard, easy, difficult, exciting etc?

    Since Freshers' Week starts next week, you'll be thrown into it from then on, but what do you expect from your time here? Might be interesting to look at your responses in a week or two!

    I personally came into college telling all my friends how I was going to 'take it down from the inside' :)


Comments

  • #2
    RagShagBill
    Closed Accounts Posts: 168 ✭✭RagShagBill


    I've got viciously high-expectations. Days of Intellectual inquiry matched only by nights of alcoholic inquiry, coupled at the same time with a brown blend corduroy and tweed. High-expectations, I say, which will no doubt result in terrific disappointment.

    Has anyone read Clive James' memoirs? Well, for those who have, I expect my time in Trinity to be something like James' in Cambridge.


  • #3
    Edwardius
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,234 ✭✭✭Edwardius


    You're gonna get bitter and angry.

    Edit: 666th post. Time to crack out the Iron Maiden...


  • #4
    RagShagBill
    Closed Accounts Posts: 168 ✭✭RagShagBill


    Importantly though, I will attain neither the degree of anger, nor bitterness, I would have attained had I found myself in any of this island's other universities. With the exception, perhaps, of DBS, which I hear is a veritable utopia for the tweeded drinker.


  • #5
    cianclarke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,389 ✭✭✭cianclarke


    I'm expecting a middlish difficulty level. In terms of expectations, pretty damn high. Unsure of what to think of my course, how well I'll take to it, the usual doubts. Worried about having probably forgotton everything short of basic addition and subtraction.


  • #6
    happydance
    Closed Accounts Posts: 103 ✭✭happydance


    Ive got the high expectations to, I'm one of those overly positive people! It's all going to be great, hey, after the leaving the only way to go is up right? Only thing I'm not looking forward to is the commute-I've never spent much time on the bus before, Can't wait for next week though-I just want to find out everything!


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  • #7
    Troglodyte
    Closed Accounts Posts: 230 ✭✭Troglodyte


    Well, all I can say is that college is exactly what you make of it. Not a very definate answer but its the best one that I can give.


  • #8
    Dave Larkin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 194 ✭✭Dave Larkin


    I don't expect the course to be easy. If it were easy, it would be no fun. I've been doing the preliminary Chemistry course for the past couple of days and I have to say that Science looks like a great subject. That said, I haven't even touched my favourite of the sciences, biology, yet. College isn't all about education, though.

    The only way to find out how it will be is to experience it for yourself and not to have any high or low expectations, in my opinion.


  • #9
    ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI
    Closed Accounts Posts: 760 ✭✭✭ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI


    Not a Fresher. But I had high expectations for college. They weren't met. Well...eh...enjoy having your hopes dashed.


  • #10
    Troglodyte
    Closed Accounts Posts: 230 ✭✭Troglodyte


    ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI wrote:
    Not a Fresher. But I had high expectations for college. They weren't met. Well...eh...enjoy having your hopes dashed.

    Meh, I kind of know what you mean. I half expected that college would be an endless cycle of socialising, mixing with fascinating people, pontificating on the great issues of the day while pensively stroking my chin berfore a rapturous audience, getting laid every other night, etc.


    I was probably hoping for a bit much there:D Still, I ended up having a pretty good time.


  • #11
    estilos
    Closed Accounts Posts: 33 ✭estilos


    The examiner asked me this in my irish oral, and I still don't know the answer.

    I hope my course won't be too easy, And I hope I don't insult, scare, or embarrass anyone in my class (and vice versa). After that, anything not unbearably boring would be great. :)


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  • #12
    Awayindahils
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,024 ✭✭✭Awayindahils


    estilos wrote:
    I hope my course won't be too easy, And I hope I don't insult, scare, or embarrass anyone in my class (and vice versa).

    A first, I've read in one of your posts that you've done a bit (as in quiet alot of programming for a first year) before, or what seems like a lot to me. Word of advice, to avoid the 2nd thing mentioned above, don't show off too much and when people find out that you know stuff be prepared to help those not finding it as 'easy'.


  • #13
    estilos
    Closed Accounts Posts: 33 ✭estilos


    Thank you (for advice). And apologies if I gave you reason to think I would show off. I'm not very good at working out what other people will think of what I say (hence the worry about adverse reactions). I like to help/be helped, though :)


  • #14
    irishguy00
    Closed Accounts Posts: 51 ✭✭irishguy00


    I don't have great expectations, you know, the usual wild sex parties every night, with my pick of exotic, yet unique, beautiful women.

    And if these terms aren;t met, then TCD can go to hell. Pffft, thats not even college then.


  • #15
    Papillon87
    Registered Users Posts: 442 ✭✭Papillon87


    Trying to go in with an open mind: a hard task. Worried I'll hate English as everyone I've mentioned it to has reacted the same way: *gasp*, pained expression and the words "Er, well, good luck". My singing teacher even felt the need to inform me that "I hated English at college, I failed it and dropped it". Worried about French as everyone on here is saying the Department is crap. Scared I'll make no friends because I am cripplingly shy, which a lot of people mistake for arrogance. Looks like I'm screwed really!


  • #16
    Edwardius
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,234 ✭✭✭Edwardius


    Jazus, relax. You'll be grand. If you start worrying like that you'll get the downward spiralling mental state and go postal. Do the usual smile and say hello bull****.


  • #17
    Attractive Nun
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,203 ✭✭✭Attractive Nun


    I have fairly high expectations for my course. I've heard history is good in Trinity and, while politics is apparently not so good, hopefully I've enough of an interest in the subject to keep me occupied for the duration. I therefore expect interesting lectures, tutorials and assignments, coupled with much free time. I am also fully prepared for the inevitability of a course full of liberal pinkos and/or disinterested BESS-heads (yay stereotypes) that will quickly come to hate me due to my righty politics and/or interest in politics.

    Socially, we all imagine a world of daily drinking and constant sex, but I think I am ready to be let down in this regard.


  • #18
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 16,720 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Attractive Nun wrote:
    I am also fully prepared for the inevitability of a course full of liberal pinkos and/or disinterested BESS-heads (yay stereotypes) that will quickly come to hate me due to my righty politics and/or interest in politics.

    Actually most BESS people I know are somewhat interested in Politics. Of course, some study it but that's beside the point!


  • #19
    Papillon87
    Registered Users Posts: 442 ✭✭Papillon87


    Dead Ed wrote:
    Jazus, relax. You'll be grand. If you start worrying like that you'll get the downward spiralling mental state and go postal. Do the usual smile and say hello bull****.

    I'll pop a few Prozac and hopefully be grand! Thanks


  • #20
    europerson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,909 ✭✭✭europerson


    Attractive Nun wrote:
    I am also fully prepared for the inevitability of a course full of liberal pinkos and/or disinterested BESS-heads (yay stereotypes) that will quickly come to hate me due to my righty politics and/or interest in politics.
    As Myth said, quite a few BESSheads are politically active. Right-wing politics are very popular among the BESS cohort. In fact, they're so popular that the Lefties of BESS become really extreme to make up fo the general air of Right-ness, I find.


  • #21
    Attractive Nun
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,203 ✭✭✭Attractive Nun


    europerson wrote:
    As Myth said, quite a few BESSheads are politically active. Right-wing politics are very popular among the BESS cohort. In fact, they're so popular that the Lefties of BESS become really extreme to make up fo the general air of Right-ness, I find.

    Damn, I was hoping I could be the token disliked George Bush fan. There goes my claim to fame. Suppose I'll just have to mimic the lefties and push myself further to the right. Doesn't everyone think Germany would be well served with just a teensy bit more of Poland within its borders?

    Good to hear that there's a good degree of political interest within BESS, I'll be spending a good proportion of my time with them. And, for the record, I will be approaching the BESS cohort with an open mind, and ignoring the stereotypes, at least initially. Although I must say that the freshers I know going into the course are far from politically-minded, except for one who strikes me as politically retarded.


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  • #22
    RagShagBill
    Closed Accounts Posts: 168 ✭✭RagShagBill


    Oh, I omitted my thoughts on future arguments within my respective subjects.

    I'm worried that I'll have to side with the airy-masses studying French, instead of the few hip Italian cats, in that heated and age-old debate concerning the merits of the Classist school versus those of the Transcendalist. Please tell me the Italians side with the latter, and the French the former. I couldn't bare to part from the Italians, thereby angering those nice folks who run Cafe di Napoli across the road.


  • #23
    RagShagBill
    Closed Accounts Posts: 168 ✭✭RagShagBill


    except for one who strikes me as politically retarded.

    Qui? CM? MC? RW? Quelqu'un d'autre?


  • #24
    Sangre
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,175 ✭✭✭✭Sangre


    Too busy to think about it. Can't even make it for my registration/inception thing :/


  • #25
    cianclarke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,389 ✭✭✭cianclarke


    What will college be like - well, I'm trying to do out a vague budget here, and college sounds hungry. Does TCD have a soup kitchen?
    Could anybody give me an indication of their monthly costs (excluding accomodation and utility bills), particularly their food budget? Ballpark figure...
    Thanks


  • #26
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 16,720 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    There was a tangent on one of the recent threads here, but I can't for the life of me remember where it was. ApeXaviour posted a good piece about how you can cut down the costs by bringing in a packed lunch each day.

    [edit] Found it... http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=52091632


  • #27
    Danger Bob
    Closed Accounts Posts: 112 ✭✭Danger Bob


    I have to say that I'm in a pretty odd position in that I've been spending the last few weeks telling people how great starting college is going to be, but it was only 2 years ago that that was me. I know it's part of my job to be fairly positive about student life and all that but professionalism aside, I have to say that Trinity has delivered a great deal of what I expected. I've made some great friends, had some great times and learned a lot about myself. I think that people who suggest that your hopes will instantly be dashed are being a little harsh. As was mentioned already, Trinity is what you make of it. If you give your course a decent go, you'll do alright but if you never attend a lecture, you probably won't make it to second year. If you have a go at getting involved in a club or society or even (shameless plug) become a Students' Union class rep, you'll get to know a lot of interesting people but if you sit on your ass and wait for the world to come to you, you'll be waiting a very long time. If you get drunk and end up swimming in the pond in Trinity Hall after dancing in the rain, you may get pneumonia, but it'll be worth it for the memory.

    Oh, and on the whole BESS-politics thing... A number of the students who are involved in the murky world of SU and society politics are BESS students. Myself and the SU president are 'BESS boys' and, just off the top of my head, I know that the heads of the Phil and the VDP (two biggest societies in college) are too. You'll also find a number of BESS students entagled in the tapestry of committees of other societies and clubs. Generally, from what I've found, if you add a few pints to the average BESS student, you can have a fairly interesting political discussion.

    But more importantly, whatever you think about college, don't let it restrict you. Be open to as many opportunites as you can take and hopefully you'll find that your time here will go pretty well.


  • #28
    Crash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,196 ✭✭✭✭Crash


    Troglodyte wrote:
    Meh, I kind of know what you mean. I half expected that college would be an endless cycle of socialising, mixing with fascinating people, pontificating on the great issues of the day while pensively stroking my chin berfore a rapturous audience, getting laid every other night, etc.


    hrmmm....some of those are very reminiscent of last year in college. If you add in more drinking, and subtract some of the sex.

    :P


  • #29
    Sangre
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,175 ✭✭✭✭Sangre


    some?


  • #30
    shay_562
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,764 ✭✭✭shay_562


    I wish I had a pirate donkey...

    Topic?
    As was mentioned already, Trinity is what you make of it. If you give your course a decent go, you'll do alright but if you never attend a lecture, you probably won't make it to second year. If you have a go at getting involved in a club or society or even (shameless plug) become a Students' Union class rep, you'll get to know a lot of interesting people but if you sit on your ass and wait for the world to come to you, you'll be waiting a very long time. If you get drunk and end up swimming in the pond in Trinity Hall after dancing in the rain, you may get pneumonia, but it'll be worth it for the memory.

    Everything Rob said and then some.


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  • #31
    Amia Aggressive Textbook
    Posts: 0 ✭ Amia Aggressive Textbook


    Does TCD have a soup kitchen?

    Try the Christian Union at lunchtime during Fresher's Week. You could nick some food for dinner as well. :D

    As for college, you get out what you put in, really. That old cliche. Although I didn't expect to have as much work, doing an Arts course. I imagined showing up to a few lectures and having hours of free time to go to the Pav and societies, but I'd loads of hours, and loads of work to do at home. So don't be thinking it's a doss.

    Budgets are different for everyone really, depends what your priorities are. You can spend next to nothing on food and eat cheap white bread with Tesco value cheese and ham every day which would obviously be cheap, but if you want to eat well, it will cost you. I was spending about 6 euro a day just on lunch in first year, just for a sandwich, drink and cake. I probably spent about 20 euro a week in the supermarket too. Sounds like loads but it didn't buy that much. Drinking is the real killer - a few drinks in the Pav come to 10-15 euro which is a good chunk of my weekly budget. If you're staying in halls and not planning to walk, you'll be spending 1.60 on the Luas or 1.30 (I think) on the bus at least twice a day....that adds up.

    I lived off 450 euro a month/112 euro a week, which I thought was OK for covering all the essentials, but I didn't have loads left over. Not really enough for going out on a regular basis, taxis and all that. But if you save in other areas it might be.


  • #32
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 16,720 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Amia Aggressive Textbook wrote:
    If you're staying in halls and not planning to walk, you'll be spending 1.60 on the Luas or 1.30 (I think) on the bus at least twice a day....that adds up.

    Cycling is cheap too, and often quicker than a bus if you're going in early!


  • #33
    Nietzschean
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,314 ✭✭✭Nietzschean


    fun too.


  • #34
    Amia Aggressive Textbook
    Posts: 0 ✭ Amia Aggressive Textbook


    Cycling is cheap too, and often quicker than a bus if you're going in early!

    ...........if you have a death wish! I know a few people who were knocked off their bikes in the morning traffic........ouch. But if you decide to cycle get a good lock - my friend's bike was nicked from college last year.


  • #35
    Nietzschean
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,314 ✭✭✭Nietzschean


    one of my m8's had 2 bikes nicked within a few months from college.

    .... But anyway i've been hit by some stuff, not hard yet mind, still it does wake you up in the morning!


  • #36
    The_Radiator
    Closed Accounts Posts: 62 ✭✭The_Radiator


    cycling is dangerous!


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  • #37
    Nietzschean
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,314 ✭✭✭Nietzschean


    ah only mildly so, if ye always take the safest option life would be boring...


  • #38
    The_Radiator
    Closed Accounts Posts: 62 ✭✭The_Radiator


    Safety first, safety first.

    I think 4th year is going to be majorly cool I hope I'm not wrong. It could be wack.


  • #39
    Danger Bob
    Closed Accounts Posts: 112 ✭✭Danger Bob


    Completely off topic: I love how donkey, pirate and pirate donkey are tags for this. What ever happened to cakeface?


  • #40
    cianclarke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,389 ✭✭✭cianclarke


    Amia Aggressive Textbook wrote:
    I lived off 450 euro a month/112 euro a week, which I thought was OK for covering all the essentials, but I didn't have loads left over. Not really enough for going out on a regular basis, taxis and all that. But if you save in other areas it might be.
    Thanks for the figures, definetly a help.


  • #41
    europerson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,909 ✭✭✭europerson


    Amia Aggressive Textbook wrote:
    If you're staying in halls and not planning to walk, you'll be spending 1.60 on the Luas or 1.30 (I think) on the bus at least twice a day....that adds up.
    The best thing to do is to buy a weekly LUAS ticket for €10.20. That way, you an go in and out between College and Halls as much as you like, rather than paying €1.70 single or €3.10 return each time. You will need the ridiculous invention that is the Student Travelcard, however.


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  • #42
    xebec
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,311 ✭✭✭xebec


    Or you could get a monthly student Luas ticket for €36, only problem is looking after it and as europerson said the need for a Student Travelcard


  • #43
    cianclarke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,389 ✭✭✭cianclarke


    €36, that's pretty cheap! BOI gave me the travel card.


  • #44
    xebec
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,311 ✭✭✭xebec


    cianclarke wrote:
    BOI gave me the travel card.

    Really? Did they print it off or was it their own version? CIE, Dublin Bus and Luas are very particular about the card so you'll have to make sure it's the correct one!

    If it is, might be worth opening a BOI account just to get it :) and then close account!


  • #45
    Awayindahils
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,024 ✭✭✭Awayindahils


    xebec wrote:
    Really? Did they print it off or was it their own version? CIE, Dublin Bus and Luas are very particular about the card so you'll have to make sure it's the correct one!

    If it is, might be worth opening a BOI account just to get it :) and then close account!


    BOI give first year students who open news accounts with them a voucher for a travel card to the value of 12euro. Techinically the card can then eb gotten for free, however to get a digital pohoto put on the card as opposed to using your own photos costs 3 euro.


  • #46
    happydance
    Closed Accounts Posts: 103 ✭✭happydance


    I have to get my thing stamped - I'm going to send it off and avoid the photo fee (I have spare ones from me passport so I may as well use them)


  • #47
    Barry Aldwell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,738 ✭✭✭Barry Aldwell


    Just get the digital picture taken, that way it's handed to you on the spot, rather than waiting weeks for it to come back. Extra fares in the time you spend waiting for it will probably be more than the 3 euros that it will cost.


  • #48
    Pet
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,579 ✭✭✭Pet


    You will need the ridiculous invention that is the Student Travelcard, however.
    You don't need a student travel card for the Luas! If, on the rare occasion that you get your ticket checked, the even rarer event of the inspector asking for student ID occurs (this is a horribly phrased sentence but whatever), just give them an indignant rant about how it hasn't arrived yet. But the student travelcard is great value if you ever happen to use Irish Rail (pack of ***** they are), so you should get it anyway.

    I'm not making much sense am I. Oh well. Too much drinking and eating and not enough sleep makes ronan something something.
    That said, I haven't even touched my favourite of the sciences, biology, yet.

    Oh, lol. Prepare to have your love of biology stamped into the ground like the wiggly parts of a masochist under the heel of a sadist escort. Or something. (again, drink, sleep, no sense make me today).

    The first term is CRAP. CRAPCRAPCRAP. I hated it, and I loved LC biology. But don't worry, it gets far more interesting in the second term. Just try and stick out the first, because the exam questions are easy and predictable. And don't let it make you jaded and disillusioned, like it did to me, two years in a row. (oh yes, I repeated first year, fun but expensive)

    All the fun, interesting, colourful shiny stuff comes in the second and third terms. Genetics, animal diversity, developmental biology (GO TO THESE LECTURES - paula murphy rox), ecology etc. They all make up for the ****ness that is molecular and cellular biology. (Sounds good doesn't it? IT'S NOT. THE LECTURES SUCK.)

    Um.

    I think I'll sleep now.


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