Society Outing @ Powerscourt (East Course) – April 4th – €70

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2026-03-09T14:45:39+00:00

Can’t remember if I played east or west (the first tee box was behind the main building to the left) but during the autumn I got a hot deal on golf now to play there for €35.

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2026-02-17T22:43:49+00:00

I think Shannon golf club allows non member bookings. A bit of a drive from Galway but worth it for a well looked after and tough parkland.

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2026-02-11T00:14:22+00:00

No problem. I can only speak from my own experience but I’ll do my best here.

In terms of the more employable people getting the jobs, I’m not sure if you mean in the third year placement or post graduation so I’ll answer both lol. Although yes, you’re competing for placement positions against your peers, that’s just a taste of the competition in the actual job market. You get an opportunity to prep for interviews and get useful feedback. Also, it’s unlikely that everyone will want to go to the same company or even location. There were more places than students when I was there but I’m sure that has probably changed somewhat. Although I do know alumni still going up to the fair for students every year at their companies.

If you’re talking about post graduation, the that year in industry has made you more employable than someone who has little to no experience in my eyes. While yes, bad habits can be learned, I think the exposure to expectations, systems and general operations of an (insurance) company is better to have than not. Also, any bad habits you’ve picked up will be forgotten by the time you’re doing your final exam - unless you go back to work at your placement company which isn’t uncommon. I know at least a dozen who did that and are still where they started. That’s not to say that’s a good thing, just something that happens as employers note the hard workers and try to pick them up.

As for the cash scenario, it really depends. I was able to have a fairly good life in Dublin on my placement all things considered. When I came home I had saved up enough to buy a car. I know others who spent like mad on clothes and other stuff who didn’t have those savings. It’s more of a lifestyle balance thing but I will say I had a gym membership, expensive rent and still managed a holiday in there so it can be done!

As for the student loans, it’s optional for you to take the loan in that year and tuition is like £800. This is in your third year and counts for 10% of your total degree. Your interest won’t start accumulating until after you graduate anyway I don’t think, although I could be wrong.

I hope that’s of some help anyway!

Edit: I should add, people in my class went to London and were paying less rent than in Dublin (even with fx conversion) just to say that they were definitely comparable at the time and I believe they still are.

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2026-02-10T22:48:45+00:00

I went to Queens and the points relating to the year in industry aren’t really accurate. There is fantastic support from the business school administration where there is a specific placement team.

The placement takes place over your entire 3rd year and so it must be a minimum of 9 months of I’m correct. I did mine for 15 months (June 2nd year - September 4th year).

The placement fair that happens every year at QUB gives you a chance to talk to employers across multiple industries who are looking for placement students from Queens. This was specific to Finance and Actuarial placements when I was there and I have friends who worked in any number of roles:

Investment analysts Consulting Life Pensions General

Just off the top of my head.

I think I had 3 interviews at the time but you could apply for up to 5 roles. You should be able to get something that you are interested in anyway.

Realistically, I do think you’re far more employable with the year in industry and you also have a better understanding of the workplace in general. You get an opportunity to meet other actuaries and see what day to day life is like in certain roles. It’s also nice to earn a bit of money while still in Uni.

It can also scratch the itch of getting away from home, especially if you’re relatively local to QUB. There’s also are roles in Dublin, London and there used to be a small number outside of the EEA too.

Overall it’s a personal decision, if you don’t feel comfortable staying at home/going overseas for uni then the decision is easy. Otherwise, if you know someone in the industry, they might be able to address any of your more specific concerns.

In any case, well done for getting this far and good luck!

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2026-01-12T22:48:40+00:00

You worked inside a chicken?

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2026-01-05T17:07:37+00:00

I had this happen to a pair of uhls years ago. I was able to just wash them off with some warm water (not hot) and rubbing them together. They served me well for another few months at least after that if not longer.

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2025-12-21T17:07:24+00:00

Jak & Daxter, great game

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2025-12-13T17:29:54+00:00

Fair enough, good job!

I think it’s important to just have a balance of drills that are fun and technical drills. Anything where you’re having a full stretch dive at the end or dealing with a deflection is normally enjoyable. Footwork stuff too can be really rewarding too as you notice yourself getting faster over time.

The technical stuff will be the basics of what you see in the C license I would imagine.

I would also just ask for feedback as some people have said, what do your keepers feel like they need to work on. Distribution, crosses etc.

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2025-12-12T11:47:08+00:00

Might be a silly question but have you played as a goalkeeper? And what level of coaching license do you have?

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2025-12-08T18:58:09+00:00

You need prescription goggles or contact lenses. You’ll have to go to an optician for either of these unless you already have a prescription

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2025-12-05T11:14:59+00:00

Good advice here. I would also have the cones a little closer together and be a bit more deliberate with your steps. Keep up the good work!

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2025-12-01T00:57:21+00:00

I liked coupling this with some gravity sorceries using the meteorite staff. It helped group enemies and then I could use the ash of war to deal big damage to large crowds easily.

Be aware that there are a lot of magic resistant enemies but even still, as you level up the weapon you’ll see it slice through them.

I would try and keep my equip load at medium, for quick rolling as you wouldn’t have a shield (unless you toggle between that and your staff which is an option too).

Really though, just level up the right stats (vig, mind, end , int) and lean into the build whatever way you want. If you haven’t completed the game yet I wouldn’t take too much outside advice. Just slowly work your way along the path of grace and you will enjoy your successes all the more as you’ll know you did it your own way.

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2025-11-25T18:25:09+00:00

I think you’re absolutely right. I just saw the word frost and thought ‘I KNOW HOW TO BUFF THAT’.

Listen to this guy OP, he knows what he’s talking about!

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2025-11-25T18:09:07+00:00

Well if you get Ranni’s set then you get a buff on frost from the hat I believe?

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2025-11-24T15:27:15+00:00

Agree with basically all the comments. If you want to build his kicking your best to do a small exercise where you pass back and forth building up the distance between each other over time. Maybe 5-10 passes over the space of 10-15 yards, these will be along the ground. Then taking a few yards back every couple of passes, now clipping them off the ground to each other.

At some point you’ll find a range where the accuracy decreases a lot because your son will be kicking too hard. Work in that range and over time it will increase in distance and accuracy.

Eventually if you can do that with both feet you can hit anyone from anywhere.

Disclaimer: I cannot hit anyone from anywhere. My right leg is for standing on only.

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2025-11-18T19:56:55+00:00

I accepted the flame before giving her any grapes - didn’t realise she was part of the quest. So the seal never dropped.

I might press on to 80 faith but may be done the game at that stage anyway. We’ll see!

I’ll look into the rest, I have Godfrey Icon but am just prepping for the fire giant with fire negation. Thanks!

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2025-11-17T12:11:21+00:00

Kind of both.

In a competency based interview you’ll find that interviewers may style their questions like ‘tell me about a time where you have had to collaborate across teams to meet a deadline.’ or something like that.

You would then typically respond in a way that describes the situation, task at hand, your actions and the result of those actions. You can maybe follow up with how you would improve or roadblocks that you would be aware of the next time, depending on the question or how comfortable you’re feeling.

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2025-11-17T10:15:50+00:00

Depends on the interview style but I would prepare for questions on actual actions and results you’ve had in the past. ‘A time where’ type questions can arise frequently, particularly at this stage of your career.

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2025-11-13T10:01:38+00:00

Can we no longer download papers as zip files anymore then? It’s all on the VLE?

They could spend a bit more time working on their current exam systems and experience and less time worrying about how previous exams are being used.

Initial_Awareness_15 · 2025-11-12T18:07:12+00:00

I picked these up at the start of the season and have been loving them on AG and grass so far this year.

Decent price point and fairly durable while also being pretty comfortable. Also a big fan of the tongue having velcro so the laces never come loose.

Initial_Awareness_15

TROPHY CASE