Colton Gebben, An American Studying in Dublin

My name is Colton Gebben, and I am raising funds for my move to Dublin, Ireland, to pursue a Master in Computer Science at University College Dublin. This specific degree is designed for people without a computer science background a way to transition into the industry. The program will cover 16 months from September of this year to December of 2023 and consist of two trimesters of varied topics, a group project, and a final trimester in a more specialized field. My interest in obtaining this degree in Ireland is two-fold:

 

I have a longstanding love of Irish history and culture. I visited Ireland for the first time on a research trip back in 2013. I went to an archive at Trinity College Dublin for my senior thesis, an outline of Irish religious history. While exploring the city in my free time and marveling at the ancient churches and structures created and used by generations of Irish, I also discovered a tech-conscious and modern city. This appreciation for the past but drive to the future draws me to go back to Ireland.

 

I have wanted to transition into the computer science industry for many years. Beyond my love of computer video games, I consistently found myself in situations where I was the ‘de-facto tech guy' during my time in retail and finance. If new hardware needed to be set up or new software required to be learned, I was usually the guy to do it and then relay this information to my colleagues. I want to utilize this strength, grow my knowledge and skill in the field, and build a fulfilling career. Ireland is at the forefront of technology-related jobs in Europe. Studying there would give me quality knowledge of computer science and allow me to hit the ground running in the new industry.

 

My current goal is $5,000. Significant costs such as tuition and housing will be covered by student loans, so these donations will help a lot of the initial moving and traveling expenses such as plane tickets, insurance, immigration fees, etc.

 

If you are more comfortable donating directly, please reach out to me!

 

Thank you!