Today all the Fourth Years boarded two buses to Dublin City University! Firstly we all gathered in the Halla Nua, to take a roll call and to decide what talks we would go to, at the University open day. The room was buzzing with enthusiasm and excitement! We were each given a map of the University and a timetable of the talks on during the DCU Open Day. Immediately people discussed which talks they would go to. I decided to go to a Business Studies talk with Carla and then a talk on International Relations with Emma and Dillon.
The bus journey took about 40 minutes, during most of the ride I was talking with my friends about possible future careers. The journey went very fast, and before I knew it we were driving into the DCU campus. I had been to the campus before twice: once I went to the Helix with my family to go to the ‘Voice of Ireland’, and another time to do a test to enter the CTYI programme (Centre for Talented Youth, Ireland). However I had only seen a tiny part of the university, and was curious to discover the rest of the university!
The Helix!
I stepped out the bus, and took a moment to take in my surroundings and appreciate that I had the chance to visit the university open day with my school. I ambled slowly, looking around with interest as I walked through the campus, to the main building (also the Science and Engineering faculty). Here we received free stationery and magazines from DCU here. Then Carla and I looked around for the Business school on the map, and were very glad to see that it was near by and easy enough to find! Five minutes before the Business Studies talk would start, we arrived outside the designated room and waited for the talk to commence. However we soon discovered that the talk was full and had already started, ahead of schedule! We enquired if there might be a small space available for us, but unfortunately this was a particularly popular talk and it could take in no more people. A girl came up to ask us if we were alright, as we must of looked a bit lost. She told us that she is a student at DCU and is currently taking the Business studies course. So, she offered to give us an insight on what the Business Studies course is like and what it consists of. Hearing it from a student was very helpful!
I then had planned to go to the International Relations talk, and I was determined to get a place this time! So I quickly power-walked to the faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. As I entered the building I turned bends and went up and down stairs until I had no idea where I was, also it didn’t help that I have no sense of direction! Eventually I found a Student Advice centre and they helped me find the room. I just got one of the last places in the room, and was impatient to listen to the talk! The university course the speakers were talking about was very interesting! I sat there for the full hour, absorbing all the information. The course seems to cover many fascinating topics, and provides the opportunity for a dozen students to study abroad for a year. I will definitely consider this course as an option for the future!
With only 20 minutes to spare, I went to the cafeteria with my friends and got some starbucks to keep me warm! As I walked back to the bus, I seemed to know my way round a lot better than when we arrived 2 hours earlier. We left DCU around 12.30pm and headed back to school.
With only 20 minutes to spare, I went to the cafeteria with my friends and got some starbucks to keep me warm! As I walked back to the bus, I seemed to know my way round a lot better than when we arrived 2 hours earlier. We left DCU around 12.30pm and headed back to school.
It was very enjoyable, and I felt quite independent as we could decide which talks to go to, and also eat wherever we wanted to! I really benefitted from our visit to DCU, and will keep it in mind as an option for the future!