As you embark on your tertiary education journey, it’s quite normal to feel a fusion of anticipation, hope, and a dash of nerves. It’s human to ask questions like, “How will I adapt? Am I financially prepared? What about the shift in teaching and learning methods?” Quite reassuringly, these anxieties are universal amongst freshers, and you’re not alone.
Every year, countless students transition from secondary to tertiary education, and in response to this, Irish higher education institutions have developed comprehensive orientation programmes dedicated to easing this shift. They offer support in various aspects such as orientation, budget planning, adjusting to academic rigours, socialisation, and forming new acquaintances. There is a plethora of advice and assistance readily available to you.
Let’s quickly go over a compact guide to help you acclimatise to this new phase.
Orientation and Settling in:
– Tertiary institutions offer more than a single day or week for orientation. Nowadays, student support services regularly host activities and frequently touch base with students throughout the initial semester. Be sure to grab every chance you get, be it a library tour or a seminar about academic aids.
– On the academic front, a significant shift students face is coping with the new manner of teaching and teaching. Unlike the Leaving Cert exams which mainly focus on memory and somewhat on critical thinking, higher education demands a broader scope of reading, analysis of varied theories and ideas, and formulating your individual viewpoint. Although this may require some adjustment, there are facilities such as academic writing centres and maths support centres at your disposal.
– Lastly, get in touch with the university careers services during your first year itself. They can guide you in building your job skills, connect you with potential job opportunities, and aid in navigating the right career path for you. Embrace this assistance with open arms.
The abundance of over 100 student clubs and societies provide the opportunity to partake in extracurricular activities, meeting folks who share similar passions and interests. Participating in Freshers’ Week enables one to explore various interests – including the unexpected ones – despite the initial trepidation of being the newcomer. In fact, such clubs and societies heavily rely on new recruits to remain functional and thriving. They generally provide an accepting and friendly environment, contrary to common perceptions.
Additionally, clubs and societies can serve as platforms to explore potential career paths and skills without dedicating oneself to a specific academic field. For example, numerous barristers emerged from university debating societies, despite not studying law at undergraduate level. Similarly, actor Chris O’Dowd established his skills in a student drama society. Many of such individuals eventually decide to pursue postgraduate studies in their chosen fields of interest.
Universities also foster inclusivity and provide support for LGBTQI+ students who may or may not be out publicly., ensuring their comfort and acceptance on campus.
Living expenses for students vary based on whether they live at home or rent accommodations closer to the university. Those residing at home should account for expenses such as commuting, course materials, registration fees, electronic devices and leisure activities.
Meanwhile, students opting for rented accommodations closer to campus should prepare for additional costs such as rent, utility bills and groceries. Students often resort to strategies like part-time employment, student grants or parental financial assistance, particularly those originating from well-off families, in order to manage these expenses.
Managing your finances effectively calls for adjustments, especially for students who are prone to spending their cash immediately upon receiving it. It’s crucial to tabulate your monthly income and anticipated expenditure as soon as possible. It might be a bit challenging initially for students as foreseeing the cost of socialising isn’t an easy task. However, once your funding – from whichever source – comes through, it’s advisable first, to settle your rent, then your bills (including a student travel card), and lastly set aside money for your meals and basic necessities. Any remaining money after catering these indispensable expenses is for your use. As your budget progresses, routinely monitoring your expenditure and making necessary adjustments is advised.
If you’re under 19, you don’t need to procure a student travel card; a Child Leap Card suffices till your 19th birthday. For affordable groceries, Aldi, Lidl and Dealz are good options. Lidl excels in baguettes and bakeries, Aldi’s best offerings include cheese, meat and sugary delights, while Dealz has a good range of washing detergents, condiments and other non-perishable items. However, if these supermarkets are too far and you have to rely on Dunnes, Tesco or SuperValu, it’s beneficial to figure out the time when they lower the prices of food items. Items are usually discounted when they approach their ‘best before’ date, which is a guide rather than a firm rule. Thus, familiarize yourself with recognising spoiled food either by its smell or presence of mould. Consumption of food past its use-by date is strongly discouraged due to health risks.
In recent times, the price of foodstuffs has surged, however, some tertiary institutions have made efforts to subsidise their canteens. However, nothing beats the budget-friendliness of home cooking. If you’re cohabiting with other scholars, compile a shopping list of essential pantry items like dried spices and herbs, oils, vinegar varieties (e.g balsamic and cider), legumes and lentils, soy sauce, bouillon cubes, sesame oil, and a plentiful supply of tinned tomatoes. Acquire them for your shared kitchen, distribute them among yourselves, and you can enhance any homemade meal you prepare, be it a basic stir-fry or a hearty meat, potato, and vegetables meal.
Invest in ice-cube trays and use them to store common leftovers like hummus, pesto, sour cream, and coconut milk. They keep well in the freezer for up to a month thus reducing waste.
For your academic resources, consider buying second-hand books or borrowing through a loan scheme. Only purchase the books you absolutely need; hopefully, the library should provide for the rest.
Daily takeaway coffees can put a significant dent in your budget if finances are constrained. Instead, prepare your tea or coffee at home and carry it to school in a flask.
Most tertiary institutions offer free GP and counselling services, though waiting lists may exist.
Consider the possibility of a scholarship. Useful information on this can be found at CareersPortal.ie/scholarships.
Should you encounter financial difficulties, assistance is available. Your student advisers and the student union can either directly assist you or guide you towards the relevant help.
In case you take on a part-time job while in school, it is crucial to be aware of your worker rights. Union of Students in Ireland provides a resourceful guide (you can find it by googling “USI student worker rights”).