UCD is too big and I’ll never make friends

“UCD is too big and I’ll never make friends”

“All my friends said not to go to UCD because its massive”

“Do you not just like, get lost all the time in UCD”

One common trend that has stood out from my time working at UCD Open Days, careers fairs, school presentations etc is the perception that you shouldn’t go to UCD because its really big. So big in fact, that to go there would immediately result in your perpetual state of lost or you’d never make any friends (heck would you even be able to find any people the campus is in fact that big) and yes, I exaggerate but each and every person says these things with such level of doom that I couldn’t help but try to clear things up a little.

Firstly I want to point out that the college you want to go to is completely YOUR decision – we will all find that “it” college for us, one where we feel like we could fit in there (going to see different campuses is a great way to suss this out, in fact I highly recommend visiting as many as you can). Some people may in fact find that a smaller campus is more suited to them than a larger one or visa versa. But anyone who has ever said to me that UCD is too big has always started the conversation with “I really want to go to UCD but…” and I’m here to try and quell your fears – because you shouldn’t let the size of UCD put you off if in fact you want to go here/like a particular course with all your heart.

So lets talk some facts for a moment: UCD’s main Belfield campus is on 133ha (thats about 320acres FYI) with approx 27’000 students (calculated from 33’460 as total number of students minus 5591 students who are in overseas exchanges) so yes we are a big campus. But more importantly – will you find your way around and make friends: in short, yes you will.

Everyone is terrified (and excited) coming to college for the first time, that person sitting next to you who looks totally chill and relaxed is more than likely terrified but just has a good resting calm face. Step one is to introduce yourself to people, literally. Just try saying hello and asking them what they are studying, or if you are all sat in a intro lecture to your course together, maybe go with something like asking them where they are from. Maybe you won’t even like the first few people you talk to, but then you’ll soon find someone who will probably become your lifelong best friend. BUT just in case you still don’t want to talk to anyone, UCD has some tricks up their sleeve to force you to settle in.

1. Peer Mentors: a peer mentor is someone who is studying the same course as you but they are in a higher year. They have volunteered themselves to come into UCD a week before term starts just to help you. Each peer mentor usually gets a small group of first year students from the same class (usually 5-10) and you’ll meet your peer mentor before classes even start (more on this in a moment). The job the peer mentor has is to try to get force you to talk to a small group of your classmates so that you’ll have some familiar faces for the first day. They will also give you a campus tour (so you know where your going for your first day – PAY ATTENTION) and you’ll get shown how to use the library as well . You’ll have the contact information for your own peer mentor and so you can contact them if you have any questions/are lost/are generally confused about how to do something on campus/need advice etc and usually all the peer mentors for the class will organise get togethers as well so you’ll get to be forced to mingle with people outside your group as well. After that fun filled day spent with your peer mentor and mentee group you’ll then have about 3-4 catch up meetings with them throughout the year just to make sure everyone is ok/has any questions etc.
2. Orientation Week: this week is held a week BEFORE the college term starts. You’ll get information sent to you about what day(s) you have to come in and where you have to go (usually to your building where you’ll find a couple of tables labelled with your course and then you’ll sign in with your peer mentor). The aim of coming out for the day is to get to know the campus/find out where your going/meet some other first years/theres also a BBQ. Usually its your peer mentor who takes you around to your different intro talks/events etc so you just have to follow them.
3. Student Advisors: each faculty in UCD has a dedicated student advisor. We even have extra ones for international and mature students. They are there to help you with any problems you might have throughout your entire time in UCD, not just first year although you’ll probably see them the most then. They are all extremely nice and all you have to do is call in to their office or drop them an email/phone call.
4. Clubs & Societies: usually Freshers Week when you can join all of the clubs is on during the second week of term (just follow the sound of the music on campus to the freshers tent). If you want to accelerate the speed at which you make friends in any campus join a society or club! You’ll get to meet like minded people and probably make some BFF’s. If you miss an opportunity to join something then don’t hesitate to get in touch with the club/show up to a training session/follow your friend to an event and join them then.
5. The Students Union: the students union is also there to help you not just in first year but throughout your time in UCD. We have dedicated welfare and education officers who are there to call into/email/phone about issues or questions you might have. They will also be involved in organising a number of events throughout the year for students so you’ll have even more opportunities to make friends.

So will you get lost in UCD? Probably, yes. We all do at least once or twice! But pay attention on your campus tour, try to follow along with your class for the first week to the different classrooms if your afraid of getting lost or just ask someone! Us non first year students remember what it was like, we’re here to help so just ask us (preferably ask someone who looks like they know where they are going). And finally will you make friends? YES. Talk to your new classmates, engage with your peer mentor group, join some clubs and just give it a week or two!