Worried about college

**Timbuk2**

I have a few questions!

What should you bring to a lecture? I'm guessing either a pen and paper, or a laptop/netbook.

Are there many books in college to carry, or is it mainly notes? I will probably be bringing a schoolbag of some sort, but I'm hoping it won't be piled full of books (I had enough of that in secondary school).

I'm guessing a folder (possibly 5 subject divider?) and a USB key are essential items?

Also, generally in digs, do you have to be back by a certain time? I don't mean every night, but maybe going out with friends one night of the week? Similarly, do you have to be in the house at a certain time for dinner?

Pygmalion

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

I have a few questions!

What should you bring to a lecture? I'm guessing either a pen and paper, or a laptop/netbook.

Are there many books in college to carry, or is it mainly notes? I will probably be bringing a schoolbag of some sort, but I'm hoping it won't be piled full of books (I had enough of that in secondary school).

I'm guessing a folder (possibly 5 subject divider?) and a USB key are essential items?

Generally an A4 notebook and pens for each subject was fine (although I never really used either, even on the rare occasions when I did show up >.>) :P, the notes were usually put online, and the lectures were pretty much just based around them with some more explanation.
It might just be worth printing out the notes in advance and scribbling some stuff in the margins rather than even having a notebook.

Everyone had laptops as well but was usually just online and not taking notes, some lectures told you to put them away.

If you're going to be doing mathsy subjects (I assumed you will) expect some more writing for taking down examples though (Our maths lecturer gave us notes and left blank spaces for the examples she'd do in class).

highlydebased

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Also, generally in digs, do you have to be back by a certain time? I don't mean every night, but maybe going out with friends one night of the week? Similarly, do you have to be in the house at a certain time for dinner?

I remember my grannie ran digs in her house a few years ago and had 4 guys, she never placed any restriction on when they could go out or come home, but she said "If they come in legless they're going back out legless!". Dinner was ready for whatever time daily and if they didnt want it, fine.

Obviously varies between families, best ask...

Digs might em....limit your opportunies for bringing wimminz home, if you wanted to do that...

Aoibheann

EuropeanSon wrote: »

Thanks again for all the information! The cryptology module sounds like something I might go for too

As to which course my instinct says to go for, based purely on the courses themselves, leaving aside personal and social issues, I'd definitely go for St. Andrews. It allows for a wide variety of opportunities in other, non maths subjects in first year that I'd also like to avail of, and the choices in Trinity's TSM seemed very limited. Plus the quicker route to a postgrad is important to me, as I'd like to go beyond Masters level eventually.

Besides that, stats does seem to sound more in line with what I think I'd enjoy. If the two universities were the same in terms of distance from home and social matters, I've no doubt I'd go for St. Andrews. It's just such a big step...

That's understandable - being honest, Trinity's TSM is a bit ****e. :pac: I've no interest in taking it myself, but there's so many maths modules I want to take that there's no way I could take it anyway! I already plan on attending far more than just my own lectures this year, to help me decide whether I should stick with TP or go into pure maths!

I fully intend upon going beyond Masters level myself, but I don't think an extra year at Masters level would kill me. That said, I may attempt to go straight into PhD.. Honestly, it's so hard to know where you're going to end up with Maths.. I don't know what I want to do yet, but there's so many opportunities out there for a Maths grad, so that doesn't matter. And that goes for either college, they're definitely both well-respected and recognised colleges, so there's no difference there.

I'll put it like this: for me, when I was deciding which college to go for to study medicine, it really didn't matter. Funnily enough, RCSI would have given me more letters after my name than a Cambridge degree! :P For the most part, once you're in a semi-decent college, you'll study the exact same stuff for medicine, there just might be a different way of teaching. Maths is different.. There's so, so many things you can study that where you go does at least determine a little bit what you'll cover. So if St. Andrews has modules which are of more interest to you - go for it!

It really sounds like St. Andrews has the right course for you. Think about this - if you took the course in Trinity, would you seriously regret turning down St. Andrews? If the answer is yes, go to Scotland. You don't want to regret passing up on an opportunity like that if it's what you want to do and where you want to be.

As for your friends and your girlfriend? They'll still be here on visits home. Your friends will stick with you if they're really your friends, just make sure you do keep up the effort to stay in contact. You can have a long distance relationship with your girlfriend too, they've been known to work. Sure I live 3-4.5 hours(if not longer, depending on buses!) away from my boyfriend, but it works.

I know it's scary, but if it's really what you want to do I think you should go for it. You'll most likely have the time of your life and you'll wonder why you were ever nervous!

Again, feel free to PM me and stuff, and hopefully I can help you!

Pigwidgeon

I didn't have an a4 pad for about 3 months of first year. That said, I usually took notes on my laptop (I have trouble reading my writing at the best of times) or just downloaded them.

You don't always need to get the books, there's usually some in the library you can get, but exam/deadline time it can be tricky to get a copy. It's up to you what you want to do. Even if you get books, you wouldn't need them for lectures (in my experience anyway) it'd be more for doing assignments/studying/reading etc.

A USB key is a definite. Last year in UCD if you did a like 15 minute IT course thing, you got a free USB key, which did me grand for first year anyway.

Aoibheann

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

I have a few questions!

What should you bring to a lecture? I'm guessing either a pen and paper, or a laptop/netbook.

Pen and plenty of paper! I'd strongly advise against bringing a laptop, as you'll end up dossing on the internet and not paying attention - a HUGE no-no for any course, especially a maths-based course. If you miss an important basic concept, you could be screwed for a huge chunk of a module!

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Are there many books in college to carry, or is it mainly notes? I will probably be bringing a schoolbag of some sort, but I'm hoping it won't be piled full of books (I had enough of that in secondary school).

You shouldn't have *too* many books. I didn't really use books at all, except for the Mechanics one that I bought. Any decent college library will have the books you need anyway, so you can get away with not dragging them around all the time!

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

I'm guessing a folder (possibly 5 subject divider?) and a USB key are essential items?

Yes, they both come in rather useful! Lots of refill pads, spare pens and pencils too!

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Also, generally in digs, do you have to be back by a certain time? I don't mean every night, but maybe going out with friends one night of the week? Similarly, do you have to be in the house at a certain time for dinner?

I don't know an awful lot about digs, but it really depends on where you end up. Some people would be strict on time, whereas you could end up with someone lenient who doesn't care when you come home. It's worth checking out if you're asking around. They're important questions to ask!

Pygmalion

Pygmalion wrote: »

Generally an A4 notebook and pens for each subject was fine (although I never really used either, even on the rare occasions when I did show up >.>) :P, the notes were usually put online, and the lectures were pretty much just based around them with some more explanation.
It might just be worth printing out the notes in advance and scribbling some stuff in the margins rather than even having a notebook.

Everyone had laptops as well but was usually just online and not taking notes, some lectures told you to put them away.

If you're going to be doing mathsy subjects (I assumed you will) expect some more writing for taking down examples though (Our maths lecturer gave us notes and left blank spaces for the examples she'd do in class).

Yeah, pretty much this. For Numbers and Functions, you'll be taking notes exclusively from the board and he won't put them online so you may want a hardback for that, or a section in your folder or something.

For a lot of the other subjects (no idea about economics or accounting), the lecturers will put notes up online. Some will leave gaps in the notes so that you print notes out before and fill in the blanks or bits they forgot to put in during lectures. They do it to try to make you come to lectures, but it's just awkward when you legitimately miss a lecture.

Mainly you'll need a refill pad and some pens or a pencil.

Outside of lectures, you'll want a folder or two, some polythene pockets and maybe a stapler (For handing in assignments).

Oh, and the Stats lecturers hate people on their laptops. :P
In orientation week, they give you a free USB key so if you don't have one, don't bother getting one yet.

None of the maths, stats or computer subjects require a book. Handy, huh?

lou91

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055671541&highlight=nervous+starting+college

Give that a read if you haven't already, it's basically more people from here wondering the same thing last year.
Everyone goes through that stage, seriously, you'll be grand in a couple of weeks.

whadabouchasir

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Also, generally in digs, do you have to be back by a certain time? I don't mean every night, but maybe going out with friends one night of the week? Similarly, do you have to be in the house at a certain time for dinner?

It depends on the digs one of my friends had to be in by 10:30 every night when she was in digs another lad could come back whenever he wanted.I'd say student or campus accomadation would be a better bet.That way you'll get to know a good few more 1st years and you can have house parties!You will have to cook for yourself but you're going to have to do tht eventually,so you might as well learn now!

fonpokno

Don't get hung up on living in digs too much, don't be afraid to just look up shared accommodation on daft.ie etc. All of my friends from my first first year lived in shared accommodation around the place and this year (final year) they're all living together.

College is such a great adventure, I'm sorry that I'm missing out on the opportunity to live away from home and look after myself for once. The whole concept is terrifying I know but it's so worth it!

Ruski

Don't worry about not having your friends there. Actually, I have a few friends going to UCD and I'm gonna avoid them like the plague. I'm gonna meet new people, rather than sticking to old friends and forming a tight group, which I hate doing. Honestly, don't worry about friends. You'll have no problem meeting new ones.

**Timbuk2**

Thanks for all the answers, I seriously appreciate them!

Now one of my biggest worries is still accomodation. I still don't think I'm getting UCD accomodation (on-campus) and I won't know for definite until 31st of August at 4pm (they make offers on the 25, 26, 27, 30 and 31st August at 4 p.m.) - which is a bit too late to wait for as it will be hard to find suitable off-campus accomodation.

Even now some of the off-campus accomodation is being taken by 2nd/3rd/4th year students who know they have a place this September. I am searching for accomodation but I won't know until Monday 23rd if I'll even get my first choice. If I get my second choice, Actuary in DCU I'll still be delighted, but I don't want to put any deposits on anything until I know I'm going to UCD - and it could be gone if I wait!

Also, there are 100s of accomodations but many of them are quite far away. I would love somewhere that I could walk, but still have the option of a bus if it's raining.

It would be a lot easier if I knew somebody that was going to UCD, only a few of my friends are going, and none of them think they will get the points for their courses so I'm not sure it's worth my while getting accomodation to share if they might not get in!

I have a twin brother hoping to do primary teaching, and his first three choices are St. Pats, Marino and Froebel respectively - it would be convenient if I got UCD and he got Froebel, we could share a flat/apartment!

Extrasupervery

N'aaaawwwwh

Try ringing the campus accomm people (or get mommy to) and plead your case. It's worth a try!

MavisDavis

**Timbuk2**: Incoming first year, UCD, Dundalk - bffs?:D

:P

QueenOfLeon

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Thanks for all the answers, I seriously appreciate them!

Now one of my biggest worries is still accomodation. I still don't think I'm getting UCD accomodation (on-campus) and I won't know for definite until 31st of August at 4pm (they make offers on the 25, 26, 27, 30 and 31st August at 4 p.m.) - which is a bit too late to wait for as it will be hard to find suitable off-campus accomodation.

Even now some of the off-campus accomodation is being taken by 2nd/3rd/4th year students who know they have a place this September. I am searching for accomodation but I won't know until Monday 23rd if I'll even get my first choice. If I get my second choice, Actuary in DCU I'll still be delighted, but I don't want to put any deposits on anything until I know I'm going to UCD - and it could be gone if I wait!

Can you put your name down for other student accomodations apart from the on campus one? If you're so far down the list, well then chances are theres other 1st years in the same boat that will have to go off campus?

**Timbuk2**

QueenOfLeon wrote: »

Can you put your name down for other student accomodations apart from the on campus one? If you're so far down the list, well then chances are theres other 1st years in the same boat that will have to go off campus?

I'm not sure. I contacted UCD Residences and they said to look at www.daft.ie and www.findahome.ie for digs/residences, but most of those require deposits, which I don't really want to give until I know that I have my place in UCD, and I won't know until the morning of August 23rd, which gives me about 2 weeks to sort out accomodation.

QueenOfLeon

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

I'm not sure. I contacted UCD Residences and they said to look at www.daft.ie and www.findahome.ie for digs/residences, but most of those require deposits, which I don't really want to give until I know that I have my place in UCD, and I won't know until the morning of August 23rd, which gives me about 2 weeks to sort out accomodation.

Are there any other student villages/accomodations apart from the actual on campus ones though? :eek: I know nothing about UCD :P but going by Galway, theres the main 1st year one and then theres about 4 other accomodations for 1st/2nd/3rd years...

QueenOfLeon

What about this?

Or this thread in the UCD forum

**Timbuk2**

QueenOfLeon wrote: »

Are there any other student villages/accomodations apart from the actual on campus ones though? :eek: I know nothing about UCD :P but going by Galway, theres the main 1st year one and then theres about 4 other accomodations for 1st/2nd/3rd years...

Not that I am aware of - they have off-campus accomodation called Muckross Park, which is run by UCD, but you still apply for that in the usual way as if it was on-campus.

The annoying thing is this 'priority list' that they have is only new this year. I was at the UCD Open day this year and talking to a girl at the accomodation stand, she said you apply for accomodation after the offers from CAO were made. The list opened on June 16th and I didn't find out about it until the start of July, when someone posted about it on the LC forum of boards!