Official TCD web site
A Brief History
TCD was founded in 1592. The city centre campus occupies 47 acres. Overall, Trinity has 1,723 staff members. In total there were 14,849 registered students in 2000/2001. Of the 14,750 students registered in 1999/2000:
- 88% were Irish
- 7% were European
- 3% were North American
- 2% were from other parts of the world
- The student population was 40% male and 60% female
- Every year 200-300 students leave College to study abroad
First of all, relax. Class selection process is totally flexible and completely confusing. It is the furthest thing from DART you could ever imagine. Each department is different regarding how you have to get into classes, but everything is eventually sorted out in a satisfactory manner. Here are a few key steps/points to keep in mind to get you through the process:
- Begin by going to your assigned departments and checking out the timetable located on the department bulletin boards. This contains valuable information about what classes are available and at what times. It is important to have your pen and paper, ready to take notes, when looking over these timetables. These are posted on the Friday of Fresher's Week.
- Choose which courses you are interested in pursuing, plus a few other possibilities, and attend the classes for the first week or two of term to find out which ones are best suited to your needs.
- Decide on your final list of courses and obtain department signatures as needed. Information is available from each department about who signs your forms.
- When you have finished your registration sheet, turn in the form to the International Student Affairs Office, located near the Nassau Street entrance to the College. The information from the form will then be registered on the Trinity system and will be used in generating your 'transcript' at the end of the year. So, MAKE SURE IT IS ACCURATE! If you do decide to switch classes during the term, please inform the International Student Office (and Katie Keogh at keogh.2@nd.edu) of any changes, otherwise you will end up with an inaccurate transcript at the end of the year.
- Finally, e-mail your advisors at Notre Dame once you have arranged a tentative schedule to ensure you will get proper credit, and copy these emails to Katie Keogh so that they are on file for future reference.
- If you are taking classes that meet for one term, you probably won't have a schedule for their meeting times. Just fill out what you would ideally like to take, and then make changes with the form in the international student's office as you need to. Also make sure that before the beginning of each new term you check the department's posted class schedule (either the location or time of yearlong classes may change from term to term and the lecturer might not warn you).
- If you want to take classes outside the departments to which you have been accepted, it is possible. You will need to contact the department you are interested in and find out if you can gain access to their courses. Enjoy the freedom in class selection - try out lots of different classes the first week. More than likely the first time you try to get into one of these classes, they will say, "Oh, it simply can not be done" - this is a favorite initial Irish expression which buys time - do not let it fool you. They love to say something is impossible, while they are going to let you do it. It normally is just a matter of being nice and persistent to get what you want.
- Make sure you meet with your assigned tutor during Fresher's Week. Your tutor will help guide you through this confusing process, and help you with any problems you might have during the academic year. Use this valuable resource as often as necessary. If your tutor tells you something that you do not think sounds right, do not hesitate to talk with someone else.
- Talk carefully to each department to make sure you have everything that you need - some departments produce absolutely invaluable handbooks at the start of the year. Keep in mind that the department secretaries usually know everything there is to know about the department, so if your tutor cannot answer your question, go to the secretary. Always be polite and understated - it is more effective than forceful or worried.
- You will most likely register in third-year courses at Trinity College. Fourth year courses at Trinity can be much more challenging than 400-level courses at Notre Dame. Many times they are frequently equivalent to a graduate-level course in the States. You will find out in the first week of term which classes are best suited to your needs.
- Most of your work at Trinity College will consist of essay-writing and exams. Your entire grade for a course may be based on your final exam. Do not procrastinate on your work just because you have nothing due until the very end of the term! Professors will expect more independent research than they do at Notre Dame. Do not expect books to be in the library by the end of term. Get your work started and completed early and you will have a very successful year.
- You are expected to study on your own initiative much more than at Notre Dame. You have to be a self-starter. Use the library. Keep up with the reading even if there are no set assignments. Do not let everything pile up in the last few weeks - it can be too stressful.