For Rachel McGrath having a college close to home with a strong sense of community gave her a third-level experience like no other. Being part of a society, and receiving support from peers and lecturers helped with plans for her future career.
A close-knit college
Rachel McGrath, a Bachelor of Law (Hons) in Law student, feels the SETU student experience is something unlike any other college. “There are smaller classes so I feel like you can form more of a relationship with your peers and the lecturers because you know everyone in the class. There’s a good sense of community in the college in which everyone will be willing to help you out in any way that they can. The university is located close to my home so I didn’t have to far to commute to find the course for me,” Rachel says.
Student orientated
During her time at SETU, Rachel found the university and the student’s union to be student oriented: “As a result of that, I feel like the college is a very close-knit community in which you would never be afraid to ask another student anything and you can discuss your work with lecturers and receive pointers, something the larger colleges cannot always provide.”
Support and student life
Rachel is glad she chose to do her LLB degree at SETU: “I do not think that I would have received as much support from both friends and lecturers had I gone to another college. The nights out are also great and I love how Tully’s and the Barracks always have student events specifically for SETU students, it definitely gave me something to look forward to while I was studying!”
I do not think that I would have received as much support from both friends and lecturers had I gone to another college.
Rachel McGrath
Building community in societies
Speaking about her involvement in the Law Society, Rachel says, “It was non-existent for a number of years and I felt that the students would benefit immensely from having a society that relates to their course. In a way it is a support group, because almost everyone who joined the society was a law / business with law student, so they all understood the struggles that each were facing. I’m most proud of our Pub Quiz in Tully’s and the Law Ball in the Dolmen. The Pub Quiz had such a good turnout, the whole of Tully’s took part and it was a really fun night. Similarly, the Law Ball was also such a good way to end the year before exams and for members of the society to get dressed up, chat, and have a good night.”
The society has helped Rachel to enhance her public speaking skills and feel more comfortable in her future career choice as a barrister. “We hosted many guest speakers who all gave valuable insights into careers that our members could potentially go into with their degrees, along with organising a court visit to the CCJ in Dublin. We also had an event that helped to give study tips and tricks,” she says.
