What to consider when you look for a college

Choosing a college is a big decision. It’s where you will spend the next 3-4 years of your life and eventually where you’ll graduate from. There are many colleges and universities to choose from, making the choice even harder.

If you are in high school, you should first meet with a guidance counselor to discuss your options, then take a tour of colleges, talk with your parents and do some research on your own.

1. Class sizes

There are private colleges where you can get to know your lecturers and classmates better. The classes are much smaller, so you will probably experience more discussion based learning and one on one time with your professor. Universities have much larger class sizes, sometimes with over 200 students. Keep in mind, some universities also have discussion sessions of 20-30 students. This gives students a chance to ask questions and discuss course topics with other students. Assess your own learning style to help determine which environment is right for you.

2. Programmers offered

Find out which colleges offer the degree program you want to pursue. Some colleges focus more on specific programs, offering more challenging courses and opportunities. Do some research on the courses to help determine if the program you are interested in will teach you the skills you need to reach your career goals.

3. Research the lecturers in your chosen field

It is important that your lecturers and tutors are people with real experience and industry insight. Most colleges will welcome you to visit their premises and meet the lecturers.

4. Location

Location should factor into your decision. It might be worth considering proximity and ease of access to public transport.

Getting involved in extracurricular activities at your school will make your college a better experience. Plus, it looks great on your resume! Every individual will have different preferences when it comes to college. Ultimately, it’s important to do your research and weigh your options to make the best choice possible for yourself.

Professional Law Courses

The School of Law at Independent College Dublin is the largest provider in the State for the delivery of preparation programs for the entrance examinations to the Law Society of Ireland. For years, students of this program have finished 1st overall in these state-wide entrance examinations. The School’s preparation programs for the Entrance Examinations to the King’s Inns and the New York Bar Examinations have proven to be highly successful.

Law Society Of Ireland (FE1) Entrance Examination Preparatory Course

No other college can match our record for success with over 26 prize-winning students in the past few years.

We aim to provide students with the necessary skills to successfully negotiate the eight entrance examinations of the Law Society of Ireland. Each student is provided with the most up to date manuals that cover all key principals and case law.

Materials are geared specifically towards the Law Society of Ireland’s syllabus and designed with the FE1 Examinations in mind. Our tailored course materials are the ideal companion piece to the weekly lectures and present the course material in easily digestible form.

Provision of this material in print form allows students to concentrate fully on the lectures as they are freed from the distraction of excessive note taking We offer individual tutorials and, by appointment, meetings with individual lecturers who can deal with queries as they rise. Students have a facility to attempt questions from past examination papers, submit them to the College and have them corrected by the lecturers who will provide the class with general feedback on performance. Students will also receive a copy of their questions with personalized feedback.

The Honorable Society of King’s Inns Entrance Examination Preparatory Course

Independent College Dublin King’s Inns Entrance Examination preparatory course is delivered annually in Dublin and online. This course, which boasts an exceptional lecturing team and the most up-to-date study manuals contain the most current and course-specific information available to students.

LawHave you ever wondered what the study of law could offer you? Independent College Dublin offers unique and student-centric undergraduate, postgraduate and Professional Law programs for those who wish to become solicitors, barristers, legal executives or legal secretaries, as well as for those who simply have an interest in the discipline of law and wish to know more.

Our Commitment to Academic Excellence

Independent College Dublin is committed to providing all students with a rewarding, professional and a career-oriented third level experience. The School of Law at Independent College Dublin is a dose-knit community of full-time academics supported by part-time practicing barristers and solicitors. This team is committed to promoting academic excellence through the delivery of the highest quality teaching while offering personal support to all learners on an individual basis. Class sizes are limited in order to ensure the classroom dynamic is one where all can contribute to debate and discussion.

About Independent College Dublin

Independent College Dublin is situated in the center of the city, the College is a minute's walk from Dublin's main shopping throughfare, and closely located to the Four Courts and the Houses of Parliament. This location provide a wonderful educational environment for students both before and after lectures, and is easily accessible with excellent transport links including the Luas bus and railway.

BusinessThe School Of Business is a vibrant, friendly, progressive and cosmopolitan environment. In addition to high academic standards and relevance, we place great emphasis on student wellbeing, and ensure at a personal level that all who study with us obtain maximum value from the learning experience. This personalized philosophy remains at the heart of the school. If you are interested in a career in management and in understanding organizations and their performance, a qualification in business could be for you. Our courses offer an interesting choice of specialist area and they also present the opportunity to develop your entrepreneurial skills

While our learning and teaching emphasizes the importance of understanding the theory of Business Studies as a discipline, our undergraduate business courses underpin this with substantial use of action-centered experiential learning, “real-life” case studies, team learning projects, and individual “live” research projects tailored to individual career development.

BA (Hons) Business StudiesThe BABS program focuses on providing each student with a firm understanding and knowledge of contemporary Business theories, ideas and practice which will enable them to lay the foundations for their professional career in the business world.

The program is structured in a way which provides each student with the opportunity to study for a specialist Honors degree in Business Studies.

Three specialist pathway award options are offered for the completion of the Honors’ Degree.

These pathways are effective in Stage 3.

Meet Our Team - Jennifer's InterviewHere in Sales & Marketing at Independent College Dublin we recruit students from Ireland and all around the world. It is a fun and challenging job I share with my Marketing Manager Maeve. I started here in December 2014 and love the busy hustling corridors on a daily basis. No day is the same and I learn something new every day, whether it be from my task at hand or talking to current and potential students. We strive to make the college life a great experience for all students here at Independent College. We have a dedicated Student Services Team on hand to help cater for all student queries. We are currently very busy with our Professional Law Courses here at the college, including FE1s and King’s Inns.

What did you have for breakfast?

A scone and coffee … diet starts on Monday

What might someone be surprised to know about you?

I played golf in the Under 16 Leinster Finals when I was 16!

Besides work, what else do you enjoy doing?

I love to visit new cities whenever I can.

If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us?

Goats cheese salad with beetroot for starter, fillet steak with homemade sweet potato chips for main and my baked blueberry cheesecake for desert -I love my food!

Favorite place?

I lived in Australia for over a year when I was 21 and it was the best thing I’ve ever done.

Our Sales and Marketing Team

Our Sales and Marketing Team are always telling us how hard they work when they are promoting the school overseas but we are not so sure......

Steven Catching some rays!

Stephen our Business Development Manager, enjoying a nice boat trip across the Bosporus in Istanbul. A day trip from Europe to Asia sounds like a nice day at work!

Karaoke!!

Padraig, our CEO, working very hard looking up Karaoke lyrics on his phone at the IH Director's Conference in Belfast!

Bag pipe lessons

Aoife at the IH Director's Conference in Belfast, giving a bag pipe lesson to our overseas visitors

Suspicious looking pink drinks

It really is a hard job but someone has to do it!

Aoife hard at work....again

Aoife, our Marketing Director, at the Study Travel Magazine Industry Awards in London! It's good for the rest of us to know what she has to do to recruit students

We're on a tight budget for travel expenses

Robert, our Marketing Executive, using a unique form of transport to get to his meetings in Budapest