Scholar Profiles
Darragh Tobin
2nd year student in Mechanical Engineering
Why pick Mechanical Engineering? I've wanted to be an engineer for years, since I first built a Lego piston. The broad range of subjects that we study in engineering and the ability to further broaden my area of study with the UCD Horizons program really appealed to me. I was surprised to learn how open a career in engineering remains even after specialization, for instance, a mechanical engineer is likely to work alongside chemical engineers at some stage in their career, and in the course of that work their career could change focus. I like knowing that I haven't completely cornered myself in to any particular field just yet.
A typical day: Most of my days kick off with a nine o'clock lecture. The engineering timetable is fairly hectic and it's not uncommon to be finished after six. I find that it pays off (in December and May) to spend a couple of hours in the library regularly, but it's also important to allot some time to unwind in the evening, be it chilling out with friends, going to a society event or just firing up the old Sega Saturn emulator!
Life in the Ad Astra Academy: There are a lot of opportunities to network and get to know equally ambitious students in other courses. The lunches and seminars are great fun, but then there's also more stress to perform in exams, although I find it really encourages me to push myself to work harder and keep focused. It's like a typical student life but you're given the extra push to achieve your full potential and excel in your particular field. Getting in to the programme is no mean feat, so I suggest that students really hit the books, but when choosing subjects make sure it's something you really enjoy, that makes studying it so much easier. Also, play to your strengths, figure out what you're good at early and stick to it.
Ciaran Boylan
2nd Year student in Psychology
The Ad Astra experience: It's great to be rewarded for high academic performance. The Ad Astra programme has also alleviated a lot of financial pressure for me, which is a great relief. In order to remain part of the programme, you have to keep to very high academic standards, which helps students to avoid growing complacent. It's like a society, and more and more of us are getting to know one another. I’d definitely encourage anyone considering it to apply for a scholarship to the Academy – it's really an honour to be accepted. The programme is designed to help further your talents, and any programme that strives to do that is worth being involved in.
Life beyond study: I play lacrosse for UCD and ended up playing on the Irish Development team in the European Lacrosse Championships in Amsterdam last summer. I also have a huge interest in local hardcore punk music in Dublin, and play a couple of instruments myself. Going to gigs has always been a big thing for me.
Caitriona Daly
2nd year student in Medicine
How the Ad Astra programme has added to her college experience: The Ad Astra programme gave me a real head start at UCD – as accommodation is provided as part of the scholarship, I was able to be based on campus and become very involved in life on campus.
Getting involved at UCD: As a member of the L&H society, TradSoc and St. Vincent de Paul, being on campus gives me the chance to go to many of their events, such as the weekly debates in the new student centre and volunteering at soup runs. I'm very involved in a lot of different areas of college life, which makes my typical day always a bit of an adventure! I play cello in the UCD symphony orchestra and in a string quartet group I started last year called The Cadenza Quartet. I am playing in the pit for the college musical Sweeney Todd, and also will be singing in the chorus of Phantom of the Opera, which will be so exciting!
Orla Mc Manamly
2nd year Actuarial and Financial Studies
On choosing Financial Studies: I had always enjoyed maths and accounting in secondary school and even though filling in my CAO proved to be an arduous exposition of my indecision, I managed to select the UCD Actuarial and Financial Studies programme in the end because it presented challenges and nurtured interests that I was enthused about pursuing at a specialised level. Second year has proven to be quite a step up from the Stage One BAFS experience, but this is the year when we make our first steps towards committing to a career and accepting the reality of our chosen profession. I have a particular interest in Health Economics and this area is one which I would be very keen to pursue from in an actuarial capacity going forward.
Life in the Ad Astra Academy: This scholarship puts students in a very privileged position as they start third level. Scholars are invited to attend purposeful seminars with specialised expert speakers, meet and go on social outings with scholars from different strands and benefit from financial support from the philanthropies behind the academy. In my experience, the scholarship component of greatest significance is the provision of an academic mentor to all scholars in their chosen field of study. This is both useful when seeking reassurance, guidance, assistance or support at any interval and it allows students to get to know some of the most informed members of the UCD staff on a one-to-one basis. Being part of Ad Astra promotes academic curiosity and motivates students to broaden their academic horizons beyond the traditional confines of their mandatory course undertakings, making study a more personally relevant and satisfying experience.
Opportunities and internships: This summer I was fortunate to serve as an intern in the UCD Geary Institute (an applied social science research institute) with the support of the Ad Astra Academy. I worked with an established team of economists, psychologists and Ph.D. candidates from other disciplines. Throughout the course of my time as an intern I was introduced to many new and evolving fields of study which helped to confirm my suitability for a career in my chosen field of study going forward.
Conor Waldron
2nd Year student in Chemical Engineering
A typical day: I have lectures from 9am to 1pm and then I usually have a lab from 2pm until 5pm. I then grab some dinner, either in the restaurant or in a friend's house on campus. I am a member of both the mountaineering society and the men's hockey club, so most evenings I can be found either training on the hockey pitches or rock climbing in the UCD gym. I am also the debates convenor for the L&H, UCD's biggest society. I hSome of my highlights working with the L&H have been organising for the president of the EU Parliament to come in to speak in a house debate on the value of the EU and as well as that I also got free back stage passes to meet Emile Sandé the British singer who sang in the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies so I could talk to her and arrange for her to come into UCD to speak to the students.
Ad Astra advantages: Being part of the Ad Astra scholarship programme conveys a lot of advantages, the fee reduction and stipend it includes lightening my financial burden and allowing me to get properly involved in UCD life. The Ad Astra programme also helped me to secure an internship place in a pharmaceutical research company during the summer, and I believe that the experience and contacts I gained from that opportunity will be of much use to me in my future career.
Kelvin Ho Koun Tai
2nd year student in Veterinary Medicine
On choosing veterinary medicine: I am drawn to veterinary medicine as it deals comparatively with a broad range of animals, both domestic and exotic, which allows me to explore animal pathology in a more comprehensive manner. In addition, I wanted a course that is practical and more hands-on, and after a period of time job-shadowing a local vet on weekends, I knew that veterinary medicine will equip me with not only the knowledge about diseases but also the skills to treat them, especially in companion animals. I am a cat lover, despite the gender trend!
Opportunities with Ad Astra: I got offered a place in the Ad Astra programme based on my first year exam results, so am new to the Academy this year. So far, Ad Astra has given me the opportunity to interact with other scholars in their respective fields of study through talks and seminars on innovation and creativity. My degree is very technical and specific, and these sessions will hopefully give me the chance to step out of my comfort zone and explore areas outside veterinary medicine. In addition, I hope to arrange some veterinary work placements, especially research in areas that interest me.
Helen Lawless
2nd year student in Politics and Economics
Starting out with Ad Astra: I received the academic Ad Astra scholarship this summer following receipt of my overall G.P.A. for stage one. I chose the arts program because I have a wide range of academic interests and wanted a program with as much breadth as possible, and I decided on my double major because I feel my subjects complement each other well whilst still being different enough to test separate skill sets and demonstrate my different abilities. When I found out I’d been selected it made all the hard work I put into my first year modules worth it.
Extra-curricular Life: I work with the UCD Access Centre tutoring program, and sit on Student Union Council as Union Class Rep for Second Year Politics, as well as being on the Campaigns and Communications Crew Committee. My biggest commitment is working as Competitions Officer for the Literary and Historical Society committee. This involves organizing every speaker’s trip to any external debating competitions, including checking they have transport, accommodation and are registered for said competition. I also have to be involved in general committee work such as judging school-level and first-year debating competitions, postering at the crack of dawn, attending meetings and our weekly house debates, sometimes giving speeches in those house debates and helping to advertise our events across campus.
Diarmuid Hickey
2nd Year student in Medicine
Highlights of student life so far? It’s a bit of a toss-up between winning Intervarsity medals with the Athletics Club for Shot Putt and Triple Jump, and being elected Auditor of the UCD Traditional Music Society (TradSoc) for this year. Both take up an awful lot of my free time, but I enjoy being involved; it gives me a chance to develop skills, experience, and friendships outside of the field of medicine. The auditor job in particular is giving me some valuable, hands-on experience in leadership, management, and budgeting that I hope will benefit me into the future.
A typical day: So far this year, no two days have been the same. Most days revolve around lectures, training for athletics, and dealing with TradSoc business. The early part of the week, up to Wednesday usually involves lectures in the morning, and trying to balance TradSoc events and planning for events, training, and study. Thursday and Friday are mainly about the coursework. I’m in until 5pm most Thursdays with dissections and CAL practicals, and usually have a lot of Friday lectures. I usually use the weekend to catch up on the study from the week, relax a small bit, and to plan the week ahead, although the focus shifts to the coursework a bit more towards the end of the semester.
Benefits of the Ad Astra Programme: Obviously, the financial side of things is a big bonus; it means I can live on campus, and avoid taking a part-time job during the school term, which is a big help both with study and getting involved in societies. It does mean there is extra pressure on me the whole time, and I’m often working (or attempting to work!) when the class has a social night. Also, the supports and seminars given by the Ad Astra programme are extremely helpful – I came into the Ad Astra programme after the Leaving Certificate Appeals, and I found their approach extremely personable and individually targeted. The seminars have been great – it’s clear that they put a good bit of thought and effort into arranging speakers and seminar topics.
