Posted: 01 December 2006
Student ambassadors tell all about life at UCD
UCD has introduced a new programme which encourages potential students to meet with current students to learn more about life at UCD. With this new student ambassador programme, thirty current students are on hand to meet with potential students both on and off campus. The ambassadors are highly-active students (academically and socially) and they are passionate, enthusiastic and spirited about sharing their experiences with potential students.
Alan Ralph (right), one of the new UCD student ambassadors, tells transition year students from St Colmcille's Community School, Knocklyon, about the student services available at UCD
“As a student ambassador, I am available to meet with potential students to share my experiences with them. To answer any questions they have about UCD and what it’s like to study here” says Alan Ralph, one of the new student ambassadors currently studying second year Business and Legal Studies. “We encourage students to be as interactive as possible and to ask questions.” Before coming to UCD, Alan played rugby and football for his secondary school in county Clare, and represented his county in underage football.
As representatives for student life at UCD, the student ambassadors will meet with potential students both on and off campus (at schools around the country). They will act as tour guides for potential students visiting the campus. And during campus tours, they will answer any questions that potential students might have about life at UCD, academic or otherwise - and because the ambassadors are speaking from direct personal experience, it would be difficult to find a better person to ask.
“Before you come to UCD, you have plenty of questions to ask. There are so many new things to consider. Maybe you’re even moving away from home for the first time,” explains Laurence Banville, a UCD student ambassador originally from Wexford. “It’s excellent that students considering coming to UCD can now ask some of the UCD students themselves about what life is like here. It means they can get a true feel for the university and its courses.” While at secondary school in Ramsgrange CS, Wexford, Laurence was presented with three awards for excellence.
Away from the UCD campus, the student ambassadors plan to visit secondary schools across the country to inform and inspire potential students about particular degree programmes and student life at UCD. They will also be available for one-to-one sessions with potential students to answer more specific and detailed questions. The student ambassadors are contactable by e-mail which means that potential students can ask questions at any time, from anywhere, even from the comfort of their own home.
Karl Abbey (front and centre), UCD school liaison prepares transition year students from St Colmcille's Community School, Knocklyon, to divide into groups before they tour the UCD campus
There are many different types of student ambassador, at varying stages of study on different degree programmes. Some are first year students studying Arts or Commerce, while others are PhD students in science. Some are teenagers from the west of Ireland, while others are mature students from Dublin, with families, or international students in Ireland to study at university. There are mature student ambassadors for non-school leavers and mature students. Whatever the kind of potential student, there is a student ambassador to match, making their experience particularly relevant in each case.
“If you want to know about life at UCD you should ask someone who has their finger on the pulse, like the students themselves…Talking to current students is the best way for potential students to get answers to questions about workload, classes, and life as a student. We are helpful, honest and extremely happy to share our experiences with others,” concludes Gemma Reynolds, another of the student ambassadors. Before Gemma came to UCD she captained her local camogie team to victory in the Dublin championships. She is now in her second year studying Physiotherapy.
The new student ambassador programme is one of the many ways to find out about life at UCD. Potential students can visit the UCD website, read the UCD prospectus or even contact the admissions office at the university. But it would seem that one of the best ways for potential student to discover what life at UCD is really like is to speak to the students themselves; the student ambassadors. To contact the UCD student ambassadors email: ambassadors@ucd.ie