Giving it a whirl: Dancing with the DU Dance Society at Intervarsities

By Michaela Vitagliano

 

One of the best ways to both integrate and make friends at Trinity is through societies. At the beginning of the year, Front Square was teeming with colourful stands, goodie bags, and joyous voices as each society tried to reel in a dazed looking student. Naturally I joined way more than I should have; emptying out my change purse in a flat twenty minutes.  Each society handed me a card, all with different student discounts ranging from burritos at student prices to free entries at clubs.

BITESIZE TOP 10 COURSES: ENGINEERING

Roisin is one of our US students who is in her 2^nd year in Trinity.  Here she lets us know about her experience of studying Engineering at Trinity, one of our Top 10 Courses. 

Your name: Roisin Donnelly

Your year of study: Second Year

Your programme of study / course: Engineering 

What made you decide to study your course at Trinity?

There are three reasons why Trinity was the obvious choice for me. Firstly, the prestige that the name “Trinity” carries is enough to impress future employers or doctorate admissions officers everywhere.  Secondly, Trinity offers a world-class education, which is immediately geared toward your major, from day one. Say goodbye to those pesky gen-ed courses that are mandatory in most U.S. schools. Lastly, attending Trinity meant that the opportunity to explore Europe was at my fingertips.

What, if anything, was the most challenging thing about moving to Ireland to study?

The hardest thing about moving to Ireland was saying goodbye to my hometown friends.

How did you overcome the challenge?

It helped a lot to think that it was time to for us to part ways anyway. Even if I stayed in the States for college, it was unlikely I was going to see my friends every day as we would all be going to separate schools regardless. Staying in touch is fairly easy though with social media and Skype.

What aspect / module of your course have you enjoyed studying the most so far and why?

So far, I have enjoyed Professional engineering module from term one the most.  The main goal of the class was to design some sort of product for Ireland 2075. It was fun to choose a prospective flaw with a county of Ireland (2075), and attempt to engineer a solution.

If you had one piece of advice to any other students about to start your course in Trinity what would it be?

Don’t be afraid to join lots of clubs and societies, and speak up in class. The earlier on you get involved, the easier it will be to make friends. Also I highly recommend doing the Smart-Start program, as getting to know people of similar backgrounds is extremely nice.

What is your favourite thing about Dublin?

There’s always something to do in Dublin. The city manages to be both quaint and vivacious all at once. It’s easy enough to find your way around but every day you’ll find yourself discovering a new hidden gem, whether it’s a free gallery you were unaware of, a quiet coffee house, or a venue with lovely live music all the time.

What three words would you use to describe Trinity to someone who’s never been here?

Enchanting, Respectable, Sophisticated.

If you would like to get to know Trinity College, consider coming along to one of our upcoming US events in New York, Philadelphia and Washington D.C.

BITESIZE TOP 10 COURSES: LAW

Sinéad is one of our US students who is in her first year in Trinity.  Here she lets us know about her experience of studying Law at Trinity, one of our Top 10 Courses. 

Your name: Sinéad Flynn

Where you’re from in the US: Chicago, IL

Your year of study:  First year

Your programme of study / course: Law

What made you decide to study your course at Trinity?

I had always known I wanted to become a Lawyer. I was excited to discover that Trinity, like the rest of European countries, offers a Law degree at the Undergraduate Level. This was enticing to me as I have the opportunity to commence by Law studies right away, as opposed to a Bachelor’s degree in the US, and then a three year JD programme. I am able to engage in my ideal course in my first year of college. Further, there are a few options to explore after the completion of the degree. One can pursue work in the US, by taking the Bar in certain states, or pursue a career in Ireland. Of course with an Undergraduate degree in Law, one can explore other options that may not fit into the traditional lawyer role, such as journalism, politics, and many other types of jobs. This is a great course for someone who wants to start studying Law immediately, rather than waiting to pursue it after a Bachelor’s Degree.

 

BITESIZE TOP 10 COURSES: PSYCHOLOGY

Audrey is one of our international students who is in her fourth year in Trinity.  Here she lets us know about her experience of studying Psychology at Trinity, one of our Top 10 Courses. 

Your name:  Audrey Chew

Your year of study: 4^th Year (Senior Sophister)

Your programme of study / course:  Two-subject Moderatorship (TSM) Psychology and Sociology

 What made you decide to study your course at Trinity?

When I had my first tour around Trinity during the Open Day, I knew that this would be a university I would be proud to call my own. Trinity has a prestigious international reputation and the campus is absolutely gorgeous. Most importantly, its Two Subject Moderatorship (TSM) programme allowed for me to combine two of my desired Arts and Humanities subjects into a degree which most other universities did not offer. As a Psychology student, it was compulsory for me to participate in 20 hours’ worth of other people’s research in the university, which allowed me to discover and understand the different possible routes of Psychology. Also, I love the central location of the university as everything is just a short walk away – great brunch locations, cafés, restaurants, cinemas and more. Lastly, I knew that I was able to continue all my hobbies and discover new ones with the vast variety of clubs and societies in the university.

Photo: Trinity College Singer’s Concert in Christchurch Cathedral

BITESIZE TOP 10 COURSES: BUSINESS, ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL STUDIES (BESS)

Grace is one of our US students who is in her fourth year in Trinity.  Here she lets us know about her experience of studying BESS at Trinity, one of our Top 10 Courses. 

Your name: Grace Tierney

Where you’re from in the US: Annapolis, Maryland – a small coastal town about an hour from Washington, DC.

Your year of study: Final year (4^th year)

Your programme of study / course:
Business, Economics, and Social Studies (BESS) – getting a dual honors degree in Political Science and Sociology. 

What made you decide to study your course at Trinity?

I liked that BESS allowed the opportunity to choose from different degree options rather than choosing a course that bound your degree from day one.

What, if anything, was the most challenging thing about moving to Ireland to study?

The most challenging thing about moving to Ireland for me, as crazy as it sounds, was that I didn’t anticipate it being challenging at all. Going in to my first year at Trinity, not expecting to miss home or experience any culture shock at all (naïve, I know) meant that when those things happened, they really threw me for a loop. Luckily, the Trinity community really helped me find my footing and my friends were there when I needed them. 

How did you overcome the challenge?

As silly as it sounds – I overcame this challenge by letting time run its course. Homesickness and culture shock are things that get better with time and patience. Committing to doing everything I could to make sure that I was building a life in Dublin and making the most of my time at Trinity, through making great friends, exploring Ireland, focusing on academics, and getting involved in societies really helped me feel at home and helped make the transition easier.

What aspect / module of your course have you enjoyed studying the most so far and why?

I’ve really enjoyed getting a more global perspective in my subjects – especially politics. If I had gone to university in America it most likely would’ve been a school in Washington DC and while I love DC, I know that I am getting a more worldly perspective studying politics outside of the “American bubble.”