First of all, classes were well-taught and professors were accommodating and accessible. My favorite class was the independent research module. With the mentorship of Professor Michael Gilchrist, I analyzed rugby head impacts using finite element analysis. The project was a perfect combination of my interests in engineering, medicine, and sports, and I will be continuing this research for my senior thesis with Professor Gilchrist as my advisor.
Though I was worried about going to a school where I didn’t know anyone, everybody was super welcoming and friendly. I mainly met people through the wide array of societies UCD has to offer. I ended up joining the Newman society, mountaineering society, food society, lacrosse team, and volleyball team (all of which, I highly recommend!). Through society events, I made friends for a lifetime, learned about Irish culture, explored Dublin and Ireland, and had tons of fun!
At UCD, I experienced a new culture, new people, and new academic interests. These experiences ‘broadened my horizons’, cliché as it may be. The friends and memories I made and the knowledge I gained are irreplaceable. My time at UCD has exceeded my expectations, and though it’s only been a couple months since I left, I already look forward to going back.
Response from University College Dublin
Thank you for your review. In response to your 3D printers comment, there is a full-service, commercial-level 3D printing hub, U3D, housed in the School of Civil Engineering at Newstead which is a 5 minute walk from Architecture.
UCD offers scan to print services, 3D printing classes, and all major 3D printing technologies including metal printing. However, the architecture students don't tend to use 3D printing in the architecture programme because it is very cumbersome. There are 3 CNC machines in the building laboratory onsite, a large workshop space which serves various functions for the architecture programme and is well staffed. All new students receive a personal induction to the Building Lab for health and safety reasons and to raise awareness of the facilities and equipment that is available for them to use. We appreciate students' feedback so that we can work on improving our facilities and support so UCD Global will be happy to share these comments with faculty in architecture to improve the studio setting for both domestic and international students in the future.