Grace tells how she sought out common entry engineering when researching her CAO options and how it helped her branch in to the right engineering stream for her
BEng (Hons) Sustainable Civil Engineering student Grace Malone is a past pupil of Presentation Secondary School, Waterford and a WIT President’s Scholarship recipient
I wanted to study this course at WIT because:
My interest in studying engineering stems from my passion for maths and love of invention. I want to better understand the world we live in and contribute to society by solving problems. I chose to do common entry because I wanted to keep my options open. I wanted to have the chance to sample what is now 5 disciplines of engineering before deciding which one I want to pursue a career in. When I was deciding on an engineering course I wanted to make sure it offered common entry because it was really important to me that I had the opportunity to try various disciplines before settling on just one. This particular course offered the chance to study four (now five) different engineering streams in year one, the four options in WIT. All seemed so different and equally interesting to me. After reading the reviews and descriptions in the undergraduate course handbook as well as researching the modules in this course and work placement opportunities I knew it was one that would keep me challenged and that it would lead me into career that I would love. WIT played a large part in my decision to study this course too. WIT is close to my home so I wouldn’t need to move away and the opportunity came about for me to apply for the WIT President’s Scholarship, which is a programme that has greatly supported me in my studies here in WIT. This course and WIT, the more I thought about it, offered me much better opportunities then others I had looked at and I knew it was the one for me. In second year I chose to branch into Sustainable Civil Engineering, a decision I could confidently make after sampling all other streams in first year. I love every single module so far, it is such a well-rounded course. From math modules to materials and computer software and also plenty of lab work. It’s the perfect course for me and encourages me to look forward to my future career in this industry.
My favourite module:
I have loved studying all of my modules I would say but one that's really stands out to me is Environmental Engineering. All of my other modules are similar as you would imagine, maths and materials heavy. But environmental engineering is different and offers the chance to see another side of civil engineering.
My advice for CAO applicants to this course:
I would say that for anybody interested in any way in engineering or maths this course is ideal. The five different disciplines in first year help students to keep their minds open and there is plenty of opportunity to decide what you really love and also what you really do not want to spend your future doing. It allows you to make an informed to decision which almost guarantees you enjoy your next three years of studying, this couldn't be more important. I think that once you enjoy what you're doing it's immediately easier.
Why I would recommend studying in Waterford:
Although being from Waterford I could be bias, but I think Waterford is the perfect college city. It’s not too small but not too big and has everything you could ever want, nightlife, the beach, the mountains, countless activities and outdoor amenities as well.
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SETU Waterford, Cork Road, Waterford City, 
