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My college course... (A 3rd-level student's insight)

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  • Registered Users Posts: 22 TaraLo


    I've just finished first year so I can't offer much on the psychology side of it yet other than to say that my friends in first psych through arts really enjoyed the course so far and I know myself that the few lectures I sat in on were really interesting.
    In first year...............
    ....................... you study all science along with every other first year doing science so you're in big classes and you have lots of oppurtunities to make new friends. You are also given a first year psych timetable and invited to sit in on as many lectures as you like and you are invited to meetings with the heads of the dept. and the other people in your course(which isn't many) and are given the option of one to one meetings with the dept. heads to make sure that you're settling in to college and that you don't feel like you're not a psychology student. It can be hard to remember that you're actually studying psychology sometimes when you're buried under a particularily horrible maths assignment..
    .........................The science in first year is managable but I've been warned that unless you have an interest in the modules you will carry on to second year, they can get considerably harder, particularily chemistry.
    ........................Don't let the fact that you have to do maths in first year put you off this course as maynooth has an awesome maths support center where maths tutors(and the odd lecturer) volunteer their time to help any students that show up with whatever they're struggling with.. I know more than one person that would've failed without this help.
    ........................... In second year you go into the same psychology classes as the first year arts students and you continue on with two of your four science modules from first year(if you want to carry computer sci on then you have to keep up maths as well). Being a year wiser than your psych classmates should definently help.
    ............................ Come third and fourth year you only study psychology but the background in science that you gain from first and second year should help you if you go on for certain areas of post grad study.
    ............................Additional points.....
    The data analysis module in first year maths is basically the same as the statistics module in first psychology so if you're weak at maths this could be a help to you when it comes to the stats side of psych experiments.. if you're good at maths then it means your workload will be that bit easier in second year :_)

    Hope this helps and pm me if you wanna know anything else. :_) Plus I should add that maynooth is a great college.... with loads of college clubs and societies, good academic staff and a really nice atmosphere about the place in general!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭beccabeccabecca


    Just finished my first year in this course, loved every minute of it. I took French, Intermediate Spanish and English with it, am dropping English next year. I already wrote about this course in the N.U.I.G. form (http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055594977), but if anyone wants more info than that let me know :).


  • Posts: 0 ✭✭✭ Rayden Defeated Vet


    Course Title: Mathematical Science

    Points (2009): 355 + Minimum B1 HL Maths + At least one Lab Science
    (Was on vacant places list also)

    Number of students: Maybe 15 in all throughout the year, but they left in their droves. ~10 left by the end of first year.

    Hours: 19 +/- 2 hours. (Electives counted)
    9 O' Clock starts abound unfortunately, although the latest classes were at 4, and most days, classes would be finished at 1 or 2.

    Course Content:
    Broadly speaking, the course is an amalgamation of three separate subject groups - Mathematics, Applied and Computational Mathematics, and Statistics.
    In first year, basic Linear Algebra, Calculus and Statistics are covered. Students also must take a Mechanics and Special Relativity course. It's helpful to have done Physics and/or Applied Maths at Leaving Certificate level before doing this class, but there is an optional introduction to mechanics class in Semester one to prepare students for the class.
    There are also two classes which give students an introduction to proof and investigation, through number theory.

    There is also an oppurtunity to learn computer programming, and statistics programming and use of mathematical algebra systems is also taught in some of the classes.

    I'm a second year now, but in further years, topics covered include topology, real and complex analysis, advanced linear algebra, general relativity, measure theory, and more of course.
    The full list can be found here: https://myucd.ucd.ie/program.do?programID=75

    In my experience, the course is split evenly between the three mentioned subject areas, but there is a lot of choice in further years to specialise in a particular area. The elective system helps in this regard if you take more maths classes.

    I wouldn't try to discourage anybody from broadening their horizons, but personally I found using my electives to do subjects in areas outside of mathematics was bad for my motivation.

    Will I like this course?
    If you have an interest in mathematics or statistics, this is the course for you. A word of warning; last year one of my classmates chose this class from the vacant places list and quit after 2 weeks.

    The standard of maths is high, but for people with a genuine interest, a welcome challenge.

    PM me if you want more specifics. Many of the classes in my course are shared with UCD Theoretical Physics and Actuarial Science.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 14,127 ✭✭✭✭Leeg17


    Course Title : Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Forensic Investigation and Analysis.

    Points : 350 in 2009.

    No. Students : 32, Although I believe there were only 25-30 at the start of our course.

    Hours : 25 in Semester One, and I think 24 in Semester Two. 2.5 hours for Biology, Chemistry and Physics practicals, each once a week. Two hours a week for maths practical (If you get more than I think 70% in a maths practical, you only have to call into class to collect next week's practical and drop in the current one, and do that one at home). The rest are theory classes.

    Course Content :
    Semester One -
    • Biology (Practical and theory)
    • Physics (")
    • Chemistry (")
    • Maths ("). Maths practical is just a set of questions based on lectures from the previous week or weeks.
    • Learning to Learn. Presentation skills, group work etc.
    • Introduction to Forensics. General introduction to forensics as a field.
    Semester Two -
    • Bilogy, Phyiscs, Chemistry as above.
    • Maths (no practical).
    • IT. Basic word processing, spreadsheets etc.
    • Criminal Law. Different types of offences and defences in Law.
    Generally first year is to get everyone up to the same general standard, especially for those who didn't do certain subjects for the Leaving (I didn't do Chemistry and Physics) and mature students who may not have been in education recently.
    Most of the subjects are to a Leaving Cert pass level with a decent bit of higher level stuff thrown in. The only subjects from the 4 core ones I did were Biology and Maths. I found Biology to be tougher than the subjects I hadn't done, and I got an A1.
    Maths is managable, if you did higher level. If you did well in pass you'll be fine. There are weekly Maths support classes where there are 3 lecturers in the class and you just pop in, get help with the two or three questions you didn't understand or got stuck on and be on your way. :)

    Labs are enjoyable, and interesting. You'll make aspirin, dissect piglets and rats, all the fun stuff ;). Usually done in groups of 2/3, they sometimes are individual in experiments that count towards a practical exam. More often than not the 2 and a half our practicals are done early, and once all your work is done, you're free to go :D.

    Doesn't get much Forensic-y in first year to be honest, but that all changes second year onwards.

    Workload :
    Important thing is to do the work and not fall behind (easier said than one I know!). During the week the work load is usually fairly light, just practical write-ups to do, with fairly regular assignments for Intro to Forensics and Learning to Learn. Overall the workload is light at the beginning but picks up towards the end, in the second semester it's not as light, but again picks up towards exam and assignment hand-in time. One of the more important things is to make sure all practical write-ups are done by the time they're collected there's around 12 1-3 page experiments in them.

    Results are broken up into 55% Practical work (% for attendance also), 35% Final exam and 15% Continual Assessment. 100% CA for Learning to Learn, Intro to Forensics and IT. As always if you fail an exam, you're able to take it again in August, although I'd hate to have to.

    Summary :

    It's nothing like CSI (so far anyways :D).If you have a general interest in science with an investigative edge then this course is for you. Really really glad I picked this course. Friendly people, helpful lecturers and a not-too-big campus.

    Pm me if you're looking for more info, although I realise it's a bit late posting haha.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 90 ✭✭iLoveTwilight


    Well the course in NUIM differs from the one in DCU . I believe the one in DCU is a more practical based course .

    In first year , you do 5 modules in each semester : 1 in Biology , 1 in Biomed , 2 in Maths and another subject of your choice

    First Semester :

    The ciriculum changed for us in first year , but these are the subjects we did

    1. From Cell to Organism 2. Human Biology 3. Differential Calculus 4. Linear Algebra
    and i also took Experimental Physics

    You do a 3 hour lab a week for Biology (counts towards Continuous Assessment) and if you do another science subject you do a lab in that aswell

    The first few weeks is just going back over the LC , with some new termonology and BIIIG words :P You learn all about the cell , tissues and all that . In "Human Biology" you learn about how humans evolved over time and how we are "chordates" . The maths is rather easy , even if you did pass maths the course isnt so bad . Linear algebra though is all about matrices and vectors and new ways to solve them .

    Also in your first semester you do a 2000 word dissertation (i know ive scared ya now :P) Dont worry you get a month and a half to do it , and the topics are really interesting (Mine was on Type 2 Diabetes , but others included the Biology of Rice and Cloning) Its also easy marks .. it along with your maths assignments / lab work / class tests all go towards your Continuous Assessment


    Second Semester :

    1. Biological Function and Diversity 2. Cell Biology 3. Integral Calculus 4. Statistics


    The second semester mainly comprises of Plants .. Also you have 2 presentations to do . One is a group poster and you are given you group + topic (Mine was DNA Profiling like in CSI :P) The other presentation was an overhead slide one which you base on your dissertation topic . Once again these are easy marks ! The work load is alright , you've a maths assignment each week and class tests are very few and there is the usual study time .

    Now in my class , the number of girls trumps the number of guys .. There are like 3 girls for every guy .
    The year is also grand to pass .. there was 74 starting in first year , and only 8 dropped out .

    Hope this was helpful :) Biomed is a great course , delighted I picked it . Have no fear in asking any more questions :)


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,109 ✭✭✭QueenOfLeon


    Jaafa wrote: »
    Hey guys. Hoping to do medicine in UCD or any other college really! Anyway was wondering if there are any med students here willing to have a chat about it.....just to get some info about the course and stuff.

    Thank you.
    You can PM me specific questions if you want, I'm not in UCD though! :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7 pippa87


    hey im in my 1st year doing this course, finding it very hard, love the biology and biomedical parts but hate the maths, its honours maths even tho when applying it says u need a D3 in ordinary maths which is very misleading, maths is not my strong subject and i am seriously thinking of dropping out due to this.
    just wanted to let people know that the maths is difficult as normally biology students are not that fond of maths. seriously consider if you think you can do honours maths before applying :confused::eek::mad:


  • Registered Users Posts: 44 Monkwood


    This is just a short little post about what they don't tell you on the open day/in the prospectus.

    Trinity may be the top university in the rankings, but it severely lacks in certain areas. What it prides itself on are the fact that for the majority of 2nd year, and all of the subsequent years are taught by practicing clinicians, this presents logistical challenges. Most significantly in relation to provision of lecture notes. In college, the slides a lecturer presents is one of the best study resources you have, but in Trinity, it can take weeks, if ever, to get these. However, RCSI have a policy of providing these in advance, and if they don't the lecture doesn't got ahead. UCD have a very good Blackboard system for providing this, but there are always one or two lectures amiss, but still far better than Trinity.

    Trinity however, has an awful lot of clinical exposure. 3rd Med students spend 6 4-week "rotations" attached to a team in hospital and virtually all your time in 4th and 5th Med is on the wards. 2nd Meds have one day a week of hospital based clinical skills and hospital exposure. UCD doesn't start clinical stuff until the end of 3rd Med, it spreads out it's lectures more (Trinity jam pack what little lecture time they have to make up).

    When you progress to 3rd Med, these facts make a big impact, but of course most don't realise it until they have no control over it.

    Anyone entering no though, this may change, but don't hold your breath. UCD are working to get more clinical time for their students and Trinity are piloting a new fully integrated IT system called Genesis due for introduction within 2 years. However I envisage a problem in Trinity of lecturer failure to take on this new system when it rolls out.

    Also, another separate point, Trinity is very ad-hoc when it comes to examinations. They distribute exams mostly between Christmas and Summer in whatever weighting they please, and the subjects are tailored to be as little or big as needed. UCD are rigidly broken up into modules where each term consists of 5 core subjects and an elective (Horizons) which are entirely assessed within the 12 week block it occupies, usually with a mid-term, and end of semester exam, and then that's it.

    Hope this helps!


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,316 ✭✭✭gavmcg92


    Hey guys!
    My names Gav and this year I have started the long road towards the profession of engineering. Currently I am studying it in Trinity College.
    Firstly I'll tell you a bit about the college... Trinity is a beautiful place to study. The grounds are fantastic and just seeing all those old buildings in one place is amazing! It's easy to find your way around and you get to know where everything is very quick.
    For the course that I am doing the first two years are general which is a great idea for someone like me who doesn't know what they want to do in this sector. You will study Maths, Experimental Methods, Tech Drawing(which I have never done before), Physics and Introduction to Professional Engineering. The hours are quite long... I am in from 9 every morning and I generally finish up at about 5 everyday. Twice a week I have 3 hour breaks so it is not all that bad.
    I would suggest that you should only apply to this course if you are interested in developing your maths skills... That does not mean that you have to be brilliant at maths, I got the basic requirement of a Hc3 and I am finding it fine, just be prepared to do a good bit more in that area.
    Overall I am having a great time and I am really looking forward to continuing this degree.:D


  • Registered Users Posts: 774 ✭✭✭Musefan


    Points: 505 in 2010, I think this will go up next year though. Average points of those in the course is around 520, so expect a relatively high standard from everybody :)

    Duration: 3 years.

    Hours in first year : circa 15, depending on what other subjects you choose to take. In first year you have the opportunity to take 40 of your 60 credits in other subjects. This is somewhat due to the fact that the first Psychology degree in Ireland was offered in UCD, and it was a requirement that students had experience in other backgrounds.

    Hours in second year: Around the same, but expect a substantial workload compared to first year. Extra reading on a daily basis is required and essential along with ongoing work on your lab-reports etc.

    Subjects:
    1st year:
    Brain and Behavior (How the brain is involved in behavior, emotion, motivation etc).

    Developmental Psychology: This has been replaced with Introduction to Psychology this year afaik

    Intro to Social Psychology

    Perception and Cognition.

    2nd Year:
    Psychology of Language
    History of Psychology
    Psychology Labs One
    Psychology Labs Two
    Basic Analysis and Design
    Intermediate Analysis and Design
    Qualitative Research
    A whole host of other subjects which you can choose from : Sports Psychology, Psychology and Crime, Lifespan Psychology, Biological Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Health Psychology etc.

    Third year: I am not in third year yet, but I do know that advanced research modules are taken, as well as a 2 semester research project model, where you design and carry out your own project proposal.

    Workload: It is tough, but as long as you do not leave things to the last minute, you can easily get an A-B with clear, consistent, well-researched assignments. Laboratory modules require a good bit of work, but dont spend too much time on them, as they are after all, simply another subject. A lab report has to be submitted every 2 weeks, but only three of these are graded. Each subject has a midterm assignment (usually an MCQ/Short note exam, and in second year, MCQ/Essay submission). Essays are usually 1500-2500 words.

    Good-Points: The school has excellent facilities (eye-tracking labs, cognitive laboratories, around 50-60 Mac Computers in the laboratories. The lectures are excellent, and the group of laboratory demonstrators give excellent feed-back on work. The school is also run in connection with the Disability Studies institute in UCD, and you can take modules in disability studies as part of your course.

    Bad-Points: It is difficult to get to know people from the course in 1st year, as lectures consist of students across the whole faculty of arts, and you don't have much identity as a psychology student. Any academic advisories that the Arts Faculty organize don't apply to the denominated Psychology Students, and your student card won't even say B.A Psychology. In second year, you get the opportunity to meet more psychology students, but you will find classes get claustrophobic, as they all happen in the same room everyday.

    Overall, I absolutely love the course, and I would recommend it to anyone who is dedicated enough to put their all into it.
    .


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  • Registered Users Posts: 132 ✭✭orlabobs


    I've just started my first year in Galway, and to be honest, I love Galway. If you were unsure about Galway as a uni, it is fab.
    Arts is great - don't believe those who tell you it's a piece of cake though. In first year you have 4 subjects, and whilst it's not the worst... there are assignments and exams.

    I'm doing
    History: My favourite.
    English: Not at all like LC, much harder, but if your into english then you should be fine.
    Geography: Some of the lecturers are very yawn and the material is too, but it's not the worst.
    Soc and Pol: I chose this because I needed a 4th subject, but infact I really like it. A really interesting subject to chose, and not too tough (for this term anyway)

    Each subject has 2 assignments each term (except geog which has field trips and such things instead) Oh and be ready to learn all about referencing and PLAGIRISM......


    All in All, Galway and Arts is great. :) Your welcome to PM me about any questions if you like. :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,819 ✭✭✭EuropeanSon


    xcorina wrote: »
    Does anyone do pharmacy in trinity or RCSI ?

    Not personally, though I'm in TCD and have many friends in that course, who uniformly say two things about it: (a) It's quite interesting. (b) It's very work intensive (like most health science degrees TBH).


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 923 ✭✭✭Chunky Monkey


    Copy and pasted from the Health Education forum. Please PM me if you want to know what med school I go to.


    Having a degree already, you'll most likely have to sit the GAMSAT. BMAT is for Cambridge, Oxford, UCL and Imperial...not sure if it is for graduates too. UKCAT is quite easy but unfortunately I don't think you will get to do that one.

    AFAIK, PBL courses include UEA, Liverpool, Manchester, Peninsula, Glasgow (not sure though) and Kings (not sure about this one either, it may be mixed). There are probably more now but I think those were the only ones when I applied. I'm doing a PBL course- points I have about it...well it certainly doesn't suit everyone. I love it, a lot of people in my year were happy to see the back of it once we hit the wards. You teach yourself a lot, you won't have as many contact hours as on traditional lecture courses. You learn a lot of clinical medicine from your first week which people on traditional won't touch until their third year. However, you also don't get as good teaching in the basic sciences- to learn these properly you need to have an incredible amount of self discipline.

    Other differences between courses include whether it is subject or speciality based. Ours is speciality based and goes through the life cycle so we started first year with conception, embyrology etc and ended it with old age cases covering stroke etc and learned all the physiology, anatomy, pharmacology etc on that particular area at the same time. In second year we went through the life cycle again but in more detail. It's a spiral curriculum so we revisit topics several times. We also have a lot of student selected modules. Until recently med schools were required to dedicate 33% of teaching time to these but this has been decreased to 10%. However, our school has decided to keep it how it is which is good cos they can be a lot of fun. I've done two weeks in cardiothoracics and three in neurosurgery so far this year and have three weeks in A+E in March. You have to write a paper at the end which is a good opportunity to try and publish.

    One thing I don't like at this school though is that, in our clinical years, we do one week in a speciality and then move on (because it's a spiral curriculum). This puts you under a lot of pressure and you never feel like you have covered enough before you're moving on to something completely different. Other unis, like Southampton for example, do I think something like six weeks in each speciality but will never revisit it.

    Subject based courses have separate classes on anatomy, physiology, pharmacology etc. I think this is how it's done at all unis in Ireland.

    Another thing to consider is that some medical schools are based on a couple of campuses...Hull York is split between Hull and York, Peninsula is split between Exeter, Plymouth, Truro and Torbay, I think Brighton and Sussex and split between those two places. You may have to move to a different city during your time at med school which of course is a major pain in the bum.

    Our graduates get rinsed for not knowing anatomy very well but we are known to be excellent clinically. Not sure how much of a problem the anatomy thing is, there are graduates who got ST surgical jobs but I guess it is something to bear in mind if you are keen on surgery.

    Unfortunately this is the first year where there will more graduates than jobs. Now I can't stop freaking out about all the extra things I need to do to get more points on my application like publish papers and audits and do an intercalated degree. The F1 application is pants at the moment. It's basically an essay and points competition with no interview. They are trialling a change at the moment though with a view to bringing back interviews.

    That's the UK view, hope that was of some use


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 631 ✭✭✭neil_18_


    Ali92 wrote: »
    Hey, just wondering what anyone thought of business in DIT thinking of going there but not sure.

    I do business and french in DIT. Doing a language is a big advantage when you're looking for a job, and you also get to spend a year abroad!

    PM if you're considering doing a language too!


  • Registered Users Posts: 9 wannabparamedic


    Anyone who wants any info on engineering in UL (mech,bio,caed,aero) and in particular aeronautical feel free to PM me. :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 308 ✭✭PunkFreud


    Anyone who wants some information on any maths course in UL (Mathematical Science, Financial Maths, Economics and Maths) please feel free to PM me.


  • Registered Users Posts: 38 jazzzzy


    If anyone is looking for information about Applied Psychology in UCC or just Psychology in general, let me know! Would be more than happy to give information to anyone interested, as i can't promote psychology enough! :D

    I honestly wouldn't worry about the maths side of things. I got a C3 in ordinary level maths yet my average in statistics from throughout this year has been an A-/B+ so don't let your standard of leaving cert maths throw you off psychology! NUIM is an option alright, be aware its through science here! Also IADT offer applied psychology at 385 points and another option could be UL (480 points).


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3 BlackandYellow


    Course

    Biotechnology - NUI Galway

    Points

    Currently 370, Projected for 2011 -> 410

    Number of students

    22 (Reduced to 14 by the time I got to 2nd year between drop outs and failures)

    Hours and Subjects

    1st Year: ~25 Hours per week
    Subjects: Maths, Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Language (French or German and a Semester of computing modules. Labs also

    2nd Year: ~25 Hours per week
    Subjects: Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Chemistry and a Language

    3rd Year: ~22 Hours per week Semester 1, ~12 hours per week Semester 2
    Subjects: Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Genetics, Pharmacology and a Language. SUMMER INDUSTRIAL PLACEMENT :cool:

    4th Year: I Dunno yet :p
    Subjects: I Dunno yet :p

    Summary

    It's basically all about Cloning, Genetic engineering and stem cells.

    The lecturers are class for the most part, and the department is well equipped and very helpful.

    The Subject itself is very interesting, and has alot more resources invested in it at the university (we get special seminars, and computer modules that the other courses don't get, as well as work placement in 3rd year)

    You can go on to do some very interesting things with a degree in Biotech, the field is so wide and varied I really wouldn't be able to give it proper merit in a summary.. so if you are really interested look it up on wikipedia.

    Also bar-none Galway has the best student life in all of Ireland, I have friends from school who come from all over the country to go out in Galway :D

    Other thoughts

    If you want to do something Scientific related and want to come to NUIG, pick a DENOMINATED science. The people in undenominated have it rough when it comes to making friends and getting to know people because they are in huge classes.

    My Biotech class has loads of parties and we are all really good mates because we are a small group :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 927 ✭✭✭Maybe_Memories


    Course
    Mathematics, Trinity College Dublin

    Points
    485 in 2010 (a 70 point jump from 2009)

    My opinion so far
    It's an excellent course so far.
    Granted, first year is a little boring.
    You'll pretty much have three types of people; the people who love maths, and all the abstract theory in it; the people who love maths, don't care about the theory, love physics, but don't care about experiments (me); and the people who are like "Hmm, maths degree, could be a good idea."

    In first year you take; Linear Algebra, Advanced Calculus, Analysis, Group Theory, Statistics, Computation (C programming), Classical Mechanics. Some are two semester courses, others are one.

    As for the standard of teaching, some of the lecturers are excellent. (Vlad and Pete are names you'll soon hear everywhere if you do the course. They're basically heroes among the undergrads). Two come to mind that aren't so great..

    Basically, if you love maths, do the course. If you love maths and physics, do the course (the physics get extremely interesting in 3rd and 4th year. You get to study quantum mechanics and general relativity and others). If you like maths and statistics, or maths and computer science, do the course.

    PM me more any info you need :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,819 ✭✭✭EuropeanSon


    Course
    Mathematics, Trinity College Dublin

    Points
    485 in 2010 (a 70 point jump from 2009)

    My opinion so far
    It's an excellent course so far.
    Granted, first year is a little boring.
    You'll pretty much have three types of people; the people who love maths, and all the abstract theory in it; the people who love maths, don't care about the theory, love physics, but don't care about experiments (me); and the people who are like "Hmm, maths degree, could be a good idea."

    In first year you take; Linear Algebra, Advanced Calculus, Analysis, Group Theory, Statistics, Computation (C programming), Classical Mechanics. Some are two semester courses, others are one.

    As for the standard of teaching, some of the lecturers are excellent. (Vlad and Pete are names you'll soon hear everywhere if you do the course. They're basically heroes among the undergrads). Two come to mind that aren't so great..

    Basically, if you love maths, do the course. If you love maths and physics, do the course (the physics get extremely interesting in 3rd and 4th year. You get to study quantum mechanics and general relativity and others). If you like maths and statistics, or maths and computer science, do the course.

    PM me more any info you need :)

    A pretty good synopsis, but you forgot to mention Vlad is leaving next year. :( *cries*

    You also forgot to mention that quite a lot of the 3rd group are regretting their choice. You've really got to love Maths to do it. It can be far more tricky than Leaving Cert stuff.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 927 ✭✭✭Maybe_Memories


    A pretty good synopsis, but you forgot to mention Vlad is leaving next year. :( *cries*

    You also forgot to mention that quite a lot of the 3rd group are regretting their choice. You've really got to love Maths to do it. It can be far more tricky than Leaving Cert stuff.

    Vlad is leaving?? :eek:
    Well, to be fair, Vlad is awesome, but I'd rather see Vlad leave than Pete :P
    Although I'd rather if Colm left.

    Also, it's worth mentioning the lecturers are very helpful. In some courses they're very snobby and wont reply to your emails and whatnot. Every lecturer I've emailed has replied. Although a certain mechanics lecturer told me he'd get back to me on the topic of inquiry, which he didn't, but I'd say he forgot.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,239 ✭✭✭KittyeeTrix


    If you want to do something Scientific related and want to come to NUIG, pick a DENOMINATED science. The people in undenominated have it rough when it comes to making friends and getting to know people because they are in huge classes.

    My Biotech class has loads of parties and we are all really good mates because we are a small group :)

    Having completed 3 years of the undenominated science course in NUIG I would strongly disagree with the above statement.

    Even myself an auld one of 37 has managed to make a stack of friends in the undenominated course. Yes, the classes are huge in 1st year (300+) but within a short time only about half actually attend classes. From what I've seen of my younger classmates they've had no problem making friends and have partied nonstop straight from 1st year:D, lucky buggers!!

    The fact that there are soooooo many in the classes gives you even more of a pool of friends to choose from imo.........


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,551 ✭✭✭Squeeonline


    Having completed 3 years of the undenominated science course in NUIG I would strongly disagree with the above statement.

    Even myself an auld one of 37 has managed to make a stack of friends in the undenominated course. Yes, the classes are huge in 1st year (300+) but within a short time only about half actually attend classes. From what I've seen of my younger classmates they've had no problem making friends and have partied nonstop straight from 1st year:D, lucky buggers!!

    The fact that there are soooooo many in the classes gives you even more of a pool of friends to choose from imo.........

    I'll agree. Despite the small classes in biotech, most of my friends are outside it, in societies. Do not pick a course because you think you'll make friends or not. Seriously, that is one of the most stupid things I've ever heard.

    If i had the choice again, I think I'd go down a pure biochemistry route rather than biotech. The course needs another couple years of tweaking to get it right. The advantages are that in biotech you get organised work experience but there are enough UREKA courses (and others abroad) that you can apply to if you are interested in getting experience (hint, it's vital to put you ahead of your class). The biochemistry class by final year is quite small too, around 20 or fewer I believe. They arent so tightly knit from what I can see as us biotechs, but don't let that put you off.

    That being said, biotech is a great degree, lots of fun, but no flexibility compared to a undenom course.


  • Registered Users Posts: 250 ✭✭ciaradx


    Just finished 1st year Genetics in UCC. Anyone want information just ask!


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,298 ✭✭✭off.the.walls


    Just gonna toss in my two cents, so when i finished school i thought i wanted to study music so i went and did a fetac course in it out in kylemore college in ballyfermot and it was a amazing year got new friends, got to play the academy with the band i was formed into and got to record a song or two.

    But i decided that it was not for me. So now I am in ITTD in tallaght studying Creative Digital Media and to anyone who has a interest in media this course is for you. My week consists of, mondays--day off tuesdays 1 lecture from 1 till 4 wednesday tv production work shop 1 till 5 thursdays photography in the morning then tv and film studies in the afternoon, fridays av technology from 9 till 12 and then graphic design from 1 till 5. Now some of these classes you may look and think oh god their going on for ages but really the time flies, most classes give a break every hour for about 5 mins and all the lectrurers are cool and help you out with most stuff so anyone whos interested in media i'd reccomend this course. OH sorry my semester 2 is that there semester 1 was like monday 9-12 tuesday 12-2 wednesday 12-6 thursdays off friday 9-5


  • Registered Users Posts: 65 ✭✭hevsuit


    Just finished 1st year of electrical engineering in ucc.

    Tough course (maths). Get out what you put in. Very interesting.

    Message me if you want more info!


  • Registered Users Posts: 283 ✭✭Curlyhatescurls


    Riotguy wrote: »
    Anyone doing English Lit. in TCD? Or Film Studies in TCD? Or both?

    HI, I just finished first year in English Studies(it's the single honours course where you do pure english. The two subject moderatorship shares half our course. For example, if you did TSM with English and Film you would do 3 english modules and 3 film modules in one term. If you do a single honours degree you would do 6 modules of the same subject for one term.

    I wish someone had given me the advice I am giving you before I decided to put it as my first choice. THERE IS NO CREATIVE WRITING. EVER. English in Trinity is very much based on literature and literary criticism. First year was not fun. I am looking forward to next year though as we are doing stuff I am far more interested in. First year is about giving you a good grounding, we had to do a module in Old English language which was the bane of my life. It was like Leaving cert all over again, learning off impossible grammatical rules etc. However, I really enjoyed some of the modules, 'The Novel', 'American Literature', 'Irish Writing', however, if you did TSM then you wouldn't get to do some of these more fun modules. We did SO much medieval and renaissance literature- Chaucer, Spencer, the Gawain-poet. We had to also do Old English poetry which turned out to be very interesting.

    They work you hard, there is a lot of reading (which an English student shouldn't really find daunting) Secondary reading is a pain. Over the year you will have to do 6 essays (1500-2000) words and 6 exams in the summer (all two hours long) Your final mark will be 50% essay based, 50% exam based. Language classes for Old English are compulsory, two a week. You have tutorials in each module but only one a week, these are also compulsory. You are looking at a 12 hour week in college, but just because you're not in college doesn't mean you're not working- you will be spending a lot of your time trying to keep up with the reading (you could have 3 books in a week to read, and not always easy, reading middle english can be quite painful)

    The lecturers and tutors are absolutely excellent, the lectures were always very interesting and the tutors genuinely care for you. The arts block is rotten though, which is where you will be spending most of your time. It feels like a train station and the toilets are dingy. You will find yourself applauding lecturers when the lecture is over though, a whole hall of people clapping because the lecture was that interesting!

    If anyone has any questions please pm me as I will gladly give any advice I can.


  • Registered Users Posts: 96 ✭✭funki_munkee


    For anyone interested in doing law in UCC i can highly recommend it. I find it a really interesting topic, even if you dont go on to practice its good to have for your own general knowledge! Found it much easier to connect with than the secondary schools subjects! Once you can get the points, its not a hard course after that - direct quote from one of my lecturers. Maybe one or two assignments during the year depending on what subjects you pick, but mainly your only assessment are the exams in may, and with the month off in april there is plenty of time to study for them. Also very few hours approx nine a week! This is in comparison with some courses that have continuous assessment exams throughout the year, mandatory labs and shed loads of assignments...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2 lili89


    biggaman wrote: »
    Psychology in UL/DCU/UCD anyone? any input would be greatly appreciated :D

    Not sure about UL or DCU but I've just finished in UCD... It's a good course if its what you want to do.

    A lot of the people in my year had their hearts set on going onto to clinical/counselling masters etc. which you will have to do after the undergrad. course to work in the area. I wasn't really told any of this when I was picking my courses and thought I could walk out with some great job but if you want to go down the psychology route you will have to be willing to put in extra work (volunteering for helplines etc etc) to be in with a chance for a masters!! Some people even do other masters first to get them a better chance at the masters they really want!!

    If the psych. career route isn't for you (which I discovered fairly soon) the degree is still a good access point for many other career/education routes - although it is considerably similar to an arts degree if you don't follow it up with some kind of postgrad.

    The course itself (I found) to not be too bad at all - I took a relaxed approach to it but having been told I would have no social life and would be in the lib for 3 years I could not have found it to be more the opposite!!! The lecture hours are very few in a week (I had prob. 7 hours in third year and only a few more in second and first!!)

    First year in UCD psych is arts tho (which i was shocked to find out on my first day) where you will be taking other arts modules as well as your psychology ones.... You will be in large lectures with psychology students and arts students mixed and it can be difficult to meet people especially when none of the arts students will be with you after first year

    But don't let this put you off... just get involved! The psych soc. are always organising things for the psych students to do and thats a great way to meet your classmates because you'll be spending a lot of time with them in labs etc the next two years!!

    Anything else you wanna know just ask! I'm very glad I did the course as I now have endless options open to me but I wish I'd known some of these things before I started... especially the point about pretty much having to go on to more studies after!! I was probably naive at the time to think I wouldn't but if you are looking to do an undergrad course and then leave college with a job and never have to go back then this isn't really the course.... BUT if your not entirely sure which route you wanna go but would like a good, well recognised degree that can lead you down so many different paths then this would be perfect!

    Good luck!


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  • Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 5,018 Mod ✭✭✭✭G_R


    A quick search of the thread hasn't shown any results for DT365 - B.Sc. Business and Management so I'll put up a little bit about it.

    Course is run in DIT Aungier Street and is 4 years long.

    I've just finished first year, and so far I absolutely love the course. In first year, the subjects you study are:

    Long-Thin:
    Economics (Micro in Sem. 1, Macro in Sem. 2)
    Accounting
    Quantitative Methods and Techniques
    Organisational Behaviour and Management (OB in Sem. 1, Mgmt. in Sem. 2)

    Short-Fat:
    PC Environment (Sem. 1)
    Marketing (Sem. 1)
    Communications (Sem. 2)
    Introduction to Irish Politics (Sem. 2)

    (Just in case you're not sure, Long-Thin Modules are run over the whole year, Short-Fat Modules are run over one semester.)

    The course has a lot of Continuous Assessments which I think is great, it takes the load off your final End of Year Exam. I went in to my exam a couple of weeks ago having already passed two modules and only needing between 15 and 25% in the rest.

    The lecturers are all brilliant, IMO, apart from one particular one, I wont say which in the post (feel free to PM). They are all really approachable, and if you ever have a query they have no problem helping you out and doing all they can for you. Same can be said for the course co-ordinator Eoghan O Grady, who again is very approachable and only an email away if you ever need him. Another note about the lecturers, none of them are masters students. They are all fully qualified in the areas they teach, and over half of them have PHDs.

    The class sizes are quite small, only about 35 or 40 in my class, which I think is brilliant as you get to know your class really well, indeed my class has all gelled really well and we are always going on nights out together.

    In year 2, you start to pick some electives. You pick between EU Framework and a Maths based module. I'm not too sure about the content of either but if you are interested in this course have a look at the DIT Coursewise entry for the course. It has all the modules listed and a quick description of what you cover. The strands you take in Year 2 will influence what you get to do in Years 3 and 4.

    In Year 3 there is also the option of an ERASMUS year in anyone of DIT's Partner Universities throughout the world. There is loads in Europe, and also ones in the States, Canada and Australia (that I know of, there may well be more). If you dont choose to do the ERASMUS year you can do a work placement in Ireland (or abroad) either. The college will help you find a placement, but if you can find your own all the better. The DT365 course is very well known throughout Irish Businesses, and students generally have no problem finding a work placement. I think Eoghan said that last year, all 130 something students found a placement, most of which were paid I believe.

    When students graduate, they usually have no problem finding a job in their chosen career area. Again a statistic that Eoghan gave us is that all bar 2 or 3 or last years graduating class are in full time employment.

    I can't recommend the course enough tbh, I think it is great and really enjoy it. As for DIT itself, I really like it aswell. The staff throughout the college are always helpful in my opinion and I've never had a problem with any of them. And the coffee in Java is lovely!

    Any Qs about the Course or DIT in general, feel free to PM me and I'll do all I can to help!


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