[CoderDozer]

^ Good post

Had planned on replying last night but ended up losing everything so gave up as I was exhausted.

But just to add to 2nd year Databases, if you can practice SQL queries and get your head around them then you should be away with it. Reason Im saying this is they form a huge percentage (as in marks) of the overall module. You will probally see it on a written CA, a Lab CA and the FE. So even if you cant swallow the theory (which is mindnumbing at best) you can still do well.
some tutorials http://www.w3schools.com/sql/default.asp

Structured Analysis and Design (aka SAD, for a very good reason) is a fairly time consuming module. You will have a project (design some sort of system i.e a booking or rental system, no coding just designing). On top of that there is a block of theory to swallow aswell, so this is another one you will have to watch. But I think if you do well enough in the project you can pretty much pass the module (apart from that 30% rule).
As mentioned above if you are MM then you will be coding your design as part of the sem2 project.

Everything else was grand as I rememeber, java is moving away from using tutorial style lab sheets to working on your own initative using the API which is pretty much how it works in industry.

Networking ... yeah more theory but also involving practicals. I found it interesting, its not everyones cup of coffee.

Overall, y2 semester 1 is tough, no point trying to sugar coat it, but work at it and you will be fine. Semester 2 should be alot more relaxed with more laid back modules.

[WillyWonkaBar]

Originally Posted by AntiRip

Are there many presentations during 2nd and 3rd year or is it only with the 3rd year project?

Thanks for all the info, greatly appreciated

There isnt many presentations at all, just the projects and th ocassional module but the ones you do have are only with 2/3 lecturers. So its not that bad at all.

[Opinicus]

Originally Posted by WillyWonkaBar

Object Oriented Analysis and Design
Suicidal module. Hardest module out of the lot. Purely because of the lecturer. You'll end up learning a new language from scratch (C#) and You'll be expected to know it very well. Its frustrating and some people failed this. So expect the worse and whatever happens won't seem so bad. And Goodluck!

I would agree here that this module is pretty much sink or swim. It's the first module where you really have to use your initiative and think for yourself, teamwork is also a major part of this module. Help is there if you need it but the lecturer doesn't babysit you. What I imagine the real world is like

Anyone doing games will be well up on C# already so if you're having problems maybe bend one of their ears. That said, you'll realise it's really not that different from Java (for the little things we use it for anyway).

[CoderDozer]

Originally Posted by Opinicus

I would agree here that this module is pretty much sink or swim. It's the first module where you really have to use your initiative and think for yourself, teamwork is also a major part of this module. Help is there if you need it but the lecturer doesn't babysit you. What I imagine the real world is like

Anyone doing games will be well up on C# already so if you're having problems maybe bend one of their ears. That said, you'll realise it's really not that different from Java (for the little things we use it for anyway).

Yep, we are the experts

Console.WriteLine("Hello World");

Originally Posted by WillyWonkaBar

Object Oriented Analysis and Design
Suicidal module. Hardest module out of the lot. Purely because of the lecturer. You'll end up learning a new language from scratch (C#) and You'll be expected to know it very well. Its frustrating and some people failed this. So expect the worse and whatever happens won't seem so bad. And Goodluck!
[U]

I thought it was going to be downhill from here on, you are scaring me now

[Opinicus]

Are you going into 3rd year Sintel?

[CoderDozer]

yes

[Opinicus]

PM'd

[AntiRip]

Question about the electives to the guys in 3-4 year. Just going into 2nd year MM myself so don't have to pick electives until semester 4.

The choices are quite scary as none of them really relate (I think) to the course so none of them really interest me.

Have you guys any advice/experience to the ones you did/enjoyed/regretted as I don't want to be picking electives (Eeny meeny miny mo style) and then regretting it because of lack of interest or eating too much time from the core subjects.

In Sem4 the electives are Community Service Initiative 1 (What! ), Creative thinking, Environmental & Earth Science, German, Spanish, Intercultural Communication and Personal Financial Planning.

In Sem 5 the electives are Anglo Irish Literature, Eco-Tourism, Entrepreneurship, Psychology, Nutrition, Taxation, Political Studies and Personal Financial Needs and Products.

At least in Sem 7 the electives are all computer based subjects like Video Motion, Mobile Technology, etc.

[Opinicus]

Originally Posted by AntiRip

none of them really relate (I think) to the course

That's the whole point of electives, they are there to give you a chance to broaden your education and learn things which would not normally be part of your course. Didn't make any sense to me either until one of the lecturers said it.

I did Intercultural Communication myself, it's a good subject, not too taxing time wise, you get to meet a lot of Erasmus students and you learn a lot about other cultures and some differences and similarities between cultures. We had Peter Van De Kamp for it and he was sound. One exam and one project.

Personal Financial Planning was also very popular, and I think that the Games guys might have had to do Creative Thinking.

In sem 5 I did Personal Taxation which I found not to be too taxing! (sorry). The maths side of it is not terribly difficult and you learn a lot about the tax system which will be very beneficial if you end up self-employed and if PAYE then at least you know how your tax is calculated and can spot errors. One CA and one final exam.

Don't know what I'm doing myself for 4th year. Choice is between Image Processing and Mobile Applications.

[AntiRip]

Originally Posted by Opinicus

That's the whole point of electives, they are there to give you a chance to broaden your education and learn things which would not normally be part of your course. Didn't make any sense to me either until one of the lecturers said it.

I did Intercultural Communication myself, it's a good subject, not too taxing time wise, you get to meet a lot of Erasmus students and you learn a lot about other cultures and some differences and similarities between cultures. We had Peter Van De Kamp for it and he was sound. One exam and one project.

Personal Financial Planning was also very popular, and I think that the Games guys might have had to do Creative Thinking.

In sem 5 I did Personal Taxation which I found not to be too taxing! (sorry). The maths side of it is not terribly difficult and you learn a lot about the tax system which will be very beneficial if you end up self-employed and if PAYE then at least you know how your tax is calculated and can spot errors. One CA and one final exam.

Don't know what I'm doing myself for 4th year. Choice is between Image Processing and Mobile Applications.

Thanks for that, didn't know that about the electives. I had Van De Kamp years ago for English of all subjects as he's Dutch . Didn't think he was sound back then .

Was actually swaying more for taxation and financial planing as I did economics and also I like the Maths side of it. Languages & Creative Thinking a big no no.

[Opinicus]

I tried to get Personal Financial Planning but there were too many students for that elective so some of us had to pick an alternative.

[siblers]

Summer holidays are way, way too long.

That is all

[JFlah]

Originally Posted by siblers

Summer holidays are way, way too long.

That is all

Yes they are I'm starting to forget stuff now

[CoderDozer]

Last day of holidays, back to the grind stone tomorrow and I have forgotten so much , good luck guys.

[siblers]

2nd year timetable is pretty rough, all 9am starts, although 4pm is the latest we finish and don't have any huge gaps between classes.