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Thinking of Engineering, is the maths impossibly difficult?

  • 10-07-2012 11:34pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 1,645 ✭✭✭


    I'm nearly finished a degree in science and am really considering going on to do an undergrad in engineering - preferably civil. I dropped to pass maths in LC year and got an A2, would have stayed in honours but the teacher wasn't great and I could see no use for the maths as none of it applied to anything. Would I struggle if I went into an engineering degree? what would an IT be like compared to a University?


Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 2,738 ✭✭✭mawk


    you won't struggle too much. if you have already completed a degree you are already able to study and apply yourself.
    engineering maths is not a huge lot tougher than any other subject, and of course they teach you whatever you need to know from scratch.

    what maths did you do in science? stats? trig? calc? if so its totally transferable in a lot of cases

    dont let fear of maths stop you going into engineering if you are interested


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,548 ✭✭✭Harps


    The maths isn't all that difficult, it took me a while to get my head around integration and calculus when I was doing my degree but for the most part its straight forward once you learn the procedures. You'll start off doing a lot of the same stuff you did at leaving cert level and build from there so assuming you keep up with your work you should never feel out of your depth


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,202 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    If you are only doing pass maths it isnt impossible but it would be very difficult.

    You will be ruled out of most university engineering courses (TCD, UCD, UCC, etc) which would leave you with the ITs.

    DIT used to do a introductory maths course targeted at pass level maths people wanting to do engineering. Check that out.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,738 ✭✭✭mawk


    godtabh wrote: »
    If you are only doing pass maths it isnt impossible but it would be very difficult.

    You will be ruled out of most university engineering courses (TCD, UCD, UCC, etc) which would leave you with the ITs.

    DIT used to do a introductory maths course targeted at pass level maths people wanting to do engineering. Check that out.

    that would be the case if he were coming from leaving cert, but surely considerations are made due to the fact he already has a bsc. I cant imagine him being refused a university spot.

    but that said I actually think the ITs give a great engineering education. usually give more hands on experience


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,064 ✭✭✭Gurgle


    Calculus, finite and infinite series, statistics and probability. You'll have done the basics of all these in LC, nothing crazy complicated involved.

    As for university vs IT, I expect you'd see a lot more of physics in the universities.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 202 ✭✭memaul


    dont worry about it. i did pass maths in the leaving cert and didnt do very well at all. i took a few years out before i returned to study civil engineering. i just finished my honours degree in may.

    at first i thought the maths were very hard but i put in a little extra work and found them fine after a bit. you'll be fine if you're willing to work a little bit at the start if needs be.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,502 ✭✭✭chris85


    With a bit of work its definitely ok. Its one of the more maths intensive course but as long as you are willing to work hard on it there should be no issue.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,202 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    mawk wrote: »
    that would be the case if he were coming from leaving cert, but surely considerations are made due to the fact he already has a bsc. I cant imagine him being refused a university spot.

    but that said I actually think the ITs give a great engineering education. usually give more hands on experience

    my assumptions were based on a cao application


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,645 ✭✭✭yer man!


    godtabh wrote: »
    If you are only doing pass maths it isnt impossible but it would be very difficult.

    You will be ruled out of most university engineering courses (TCD, UCD, UCC, etc) which would leave you with the ITs.

    DIT used to do a introductory maths course targeted at pass level maths people wanting to do engineering. Check that out.
    My first choice would be NUIG anyway, had a talk with the lecturer there and he said I'd just have to pass the entrance exam which has a very high pass rate and with my pass result being quite high, he said I should be grand. I have no problem going back to college for 4 years, just the cost of it 7.5k per year :eek:. I'd be exempt from chemistry and first year physics along with stats also, so that's not so bad. I'd be working hard at it from day one, now that I know exactly how and when to study from the degree I'm nearly finished with now.


  • Registered Users Posts: 743 ✭✭✭KeithTS


    I went back to college as a mature student having dropped out of school in 5th year, never sat the LC or any maths courses and I'm getting on without any difficulties at all.

    I had to spend a bit of time before starting up learning a lot of the basics but was at nowhere near higher LC level upon starting college.

    I will say that you should be willing to put a lot of time into though as most subjects require a good knowledge of maths, not just the maths courses you will be sitting. The maths is far from easy but if you put the work in there's no reason you'll have any trouble.

    I don't think you'll be limited to the IT's at all if you go through the non traditional student route as opposed to relying solely on the cao.


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  • Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 12,514 Mod ✭✭✭✭2011


    godtabh wrote: »
    my assumptions were based on a cao application

    This is the standard route, but as a mature student (someone with a bsc would be I would guess) the normal rules would not apply.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,645 ✭✭✭yer man!


    Ya the lecturer in NUIG said that as I got an A2 in ordinary level and have taken a few maths classes already in my chemistry degree, I should be ok, as long as I put the work in. I just have to pass that entrance exam.... ugh.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,351 ✭✭✭DublinDilbert


    I'd say you'll be grand to be honest, once your interested in the course you are doing. I don't think anyone else has mentioned it, but KA Stroud is a great book.

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=k+a+stroud&tag=googiehydra-21&index=stripbooks&hvadid=4907857473&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=198266778464643417&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&ref=pd_sl_9d542da4jl_e


    The first year course is typically of a similar level to the HL leaving cert course, which your quite familiar with, so the transition shouldn't be too bad...


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,645 ✭✭✭yer man!


    Also, I always wanted to do civil but the jobs for that are few and far between, is it a bad idea to do it? would ye recommend I do undenominated to see if I like any other branch of engineering?


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    mawk wrote: »
    engineering maths is not a huge lot tougher than any other subject...
    I wouldn’t agree with that at all. I work with a bunch of biochemists and molecular biologists and they are almost completely mathematically illiterate. You can get through a BSc and completely avoid any kind of maths. This is precisely why one sees this kind of paper appearing in biology journals:

    http://jcb.rupress.org/content/177/1/7.short

    But anyway, OP, I think you’ll be fine if you’re prepared to put the work in.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,502 ✭✭✭chris85


    djpbarry wrote: »
    I wouldn’t agree with that at all. I work with a bunch of biochemists and molecular biologists and they are almost completely mathematically illiterate. You can get through a BSc and completely avoid any kind of maths. This is precisely why one sees this kind of paper appearing in biology journals:

    http://jcb.rupress.org/content/177/1/7.short

    But anyway, OP, I think you’ll be fine if you’re prepared to put the work in.

    Would agree here. What must be remembered for the OP is the maths is not only challenging but its in 80%-90% modules for engineering. If you dont grasp maths well then could be difficult in all subjects. That being said I think with hard work its possible.


  • Registered Users Posts: 744 ✭✭✭Darren1o1


    yer man! wrote: »
    Ya the lecturer in NUIG said that as I got an A2 in ordinary level and have taken a few maths classes already in my chemistry degree, I should be ok, as long as I put the work in. I just have to pass that entrance exam.... ugh.

    Would you not be eligible for a postgrad? There are many places which allow science students to do a precursor 6 months and pending results to get into a masters degree. Have you checked into this?It may be a cheaper alternate...


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,645 ✭✭✭yer man!


    Darren1o1 wrote: »
    Would you not be eligible for a postgrad? There are many places which allow science students to do a precursor 6 months and pending results to get into a masters degree. Have you checked into this?It may be a cheaper alternate...
    No haven't researched that option, I don't even know where to look.


  • Registered Users Posts: 744 ✭✭✭Darren1o1


    Try checking out the entry requirements to some schools and emailing the prog coordinator.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,738 ✭✭✭mawk


    djpbarry wrote: »
    I wouldn’t agree with that at all. I work with a bunch of biochemists and molecular biologists and they are almost completely mathematically illiterate. You can get through a BSc and completely avoid any kind of maths. This is precisely why one sees this kind of paper appearing in biology journals:

    http://jcb.rupress.org/content/177/1/7.short

    But anyway, OP, I think you’ll be fine if you’re prepared to put the work in.


    well I meant its no more difficult than other engineering subjects.. fluids, mechanics, electrotech, control etc
    I agree its certainly more difficult than many other subjects in absolute terms.


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,562 ✭✭✭eyescreamcone


    There are plenty of conversion Masters degrees in the UK.
    I'd imagine you would be eligible for plenty of these.
    Chemical or Energy Engineering would have better prospects than Civil at the moment.


  • Registered Users Posts: 170 ✭✭QuantumP


    Nothing is impossibly difficult if you're dedicated, coming from someone who got a D2 in Ordinary Level in the LC when he didn't give a toss and is now heading into his final year in Energy & Environmental Engineering. He also enjoys referring to himself in third person.


    Nothing worth having comes easy!


  • Registered Users Posts: 44 rubysgirl


    yer man! wrote: »
    Also, I always wanted to do civil but the jobs for that are few and far between, is it a bad idea to do it? would ye recommend I do undenominated to see if I like any other branch of engineering?

    This is dependant on the university or IT you intend to do your course in. I know civils from UL have struck lucky due to lecturer intervention in different firms around Ireland and Canada. I can quote a graduate in Calgary actually being asked if there were any other UL engineering grads looking for jobs to drop in!

    I'm not entirely sure NUIG is the place to be for a civil eng. If you're going into a course with such competitive job seekers, surely a more reputable engineering college would be the better option? UCD, UL and Bolton Street DIT are the top rated in Ireland for engineering. NUIG are more humanities and science based. Also, with UCD and UL you have a chance of doing work experience during the 4 years so you have an advantage over the other colleges when it comes to looking for a graduate job.

    Just something to think about :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    rubysgirl wrote: »
    If you're going into a course with such competitive job seekers, surely a more reputable engineering college would be the better option? UCD, UL and Bolton Street DIT are the top rated in Ireland for engineering. NUIG are more humanities and science based.
    In terms of reputation, there’s little to choose between any of the above. But anyway, a far more important consideration is course content.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 194 ✭✭Elvis_Presley


    +1 on doing a postgrad. There's loads of conversion courses in the UK, much better options than doing a 4 year course. You can pick any area you want to specialise in and once you have a decent undergrad and write a good personal statement you should get in.

    I really don't recommend doing civil, so many out of work EXPERIENCED civils out there. Even things pick up, with the massive over supply there'll be no money for years. Also, most graduate civils I know in Ireland/UK are being exploited. Working silly hours for crap pay. Not the nicest industry to be in at the moment and I don't see it changing for a long time. Other engineering disciplines are worth pursuing, just not civil.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,502 ✭✭✭chris85


    +1 on doing a postgrad. There's loads of conversion courses in the UK, much better options than doing a 4 year course. You can pick any area you want to specialise in and once you have a decent undergrad and write a good personal statement you should get in.

    I really don't recommend doing civil, so many out of work EXPERIENCED civils out there. Even things pick up, with the massive over supply there'll be no money for years. Also, most graduate civils I know in Ireland/UK are being exploited. Working silly hours for crap pay. Not the nicest industry to be in at the moment and I don't see it changing for a long time. Other engineering disciplines are worth pursuing, just not civil.

    Yeah massive oversupply in fairness. A lot of jobs going in the manufacturing industry especially the high tech end. I have been looking at jobs the last few months and everyone I interviewed with have been in one particular high tech industry which is booming. Seems to be ok in most high tech manufacturing industries.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,525 ✭✭✭Daniel S


    Nope, D3 honours in LC. Got in through the special maths exam. Failed the first semester of maths (through stupidity I might add, not mathematical ability). Second semester was fine (had it done in slightly over an hour and we were given an two and a half hours!) and I'm aiming as high as possible from now on in maths. :D


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,645 ✭✭✭yer man!


    chris85 wrote: »
    Would agree here. What must be remembered for the OP is the maths is not only challenging but its in 80%-90% modules for engineering. If you dont grasp maths well then could be difficult in all subjects. That being said I think with hard work its possible.
    Well from my science degree, where the math is applied to actual problems, I love doing and I'm fairly good at it. The only reason I didn't do HL maths in the LC was because it was taking up sooo much time and I wanted to boost my points through other subjects like most other students at the time.


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