Science TR071

celtic723 · 13-08-2009 1:17pm #1

I know this is probably the umpteen thread and you're all tired and weary but i would just like to ask a few things regarding this course, and if anyone can add other bits of info it would be greatly appreciated.

Now i see last years entry requirement was 420 points. I got my L.C results yesterday and ended up with a graceful 485.

Is this enough to see me into this course?
What should i prepare for?
Is the workload fierce and heavy?
What are the lecturers like?
Are the hours split between that of theory and practical work?

Thanks in advance.

13-08-2009 1:29pm

Entry numbers for Science is something like 200 people isn't it? It shouldn't change dramatically so I'd be surprised if it jumped to 485+ points.

Craguls · 13-08-2009 1:30pm

celtic723 wrote: »

Now i see last years entry requirement was 420 points. I got my L.C results yesterday and ended up with a graceful 485.

There's 300 places and you're above the average points for last year. (480)
I reckon it'll go up by only 25 points at the most.

I got 490 myself, I'll probably see you there!

Fad · 13-08-2009 1:32pm

Was 415 last year according to Qualifax.

Craguls · 13-08-2009 1:37pm

Actually I remember from the open day, I was told they've increased the places by 30 to accommodate for the new earth sciences degree.

Hamiltonion · 13-08-2009 1:37pm

celtic723 wrote: »

I know this is probably the umpteen thread and you're all tired and weary but i would just like to ask a few things regarding this course, and if anyone can add other bits of info it would be greatly appreciated.

Now i see last years entry requirement was 420 points. I got my L.C results yesterday and ended up with a graceful 485.

Is this enough to see me into this course?
What should i prepare for?
Is the workload fierce and heavy?
What are the lecturers like?
Are the hours split between that of theory and practical work?

Thanks in advance.

Definately, points wont jump that much, even if demand soared 10% you're safe
Heavy reading from the start, no one does but ffs keep on top!

Manageable once you keep on top and dont leave assessments to the last minute in favour of drinking. Although come Trinity term they really pile on the assessments, which is not appreciated in exam season!

In general quite good and v approachable, one in particular though in the chemistry department who I shant name is useless, cant understand him, read his writing and if you ask a question he wont have a clue what you're talking about. Hint, he looks like Hans Moleman from the Simpsons

Depends on the Subject choice, for Maths M, chem, bio and geology you're talking 28 - 32 hours a week of which 6 will be lab and 3 tutorial, though its not surprising for them to thow on/cancel extra lectures at random without notifying anyone.

Any questions PM me!

celtic723 · 13-08-2009 1:56pm

Cheers for the input guys. Good to have somewhere i can ask actual students about the course they are currently taking.

Appreciate it.

danishidiot · 13-08-2009 2:42pm

I'm hopin I'll get in with my friend......we got 475 and 470 respectively so its kind of a worry at the moment with science applications up around 30%

Whats the likelihood we scrape through?

Pet · 13-08-2009 3:07pm

danishidiot wrote: »

I'm hopin I'll get in with my friend......we got 475 and 470 respectively so its kind of a worry at the moment with science applications up around 30%

Whats the likelihood we scrape through?

Instead of asking stupid, unnecessary questions, maybe you could try reading the thread.

danishidiot · 13-08-2009 3:17pm

Pet wrote: »

Instead of asking stupid, unnecessary questions, maybe you could try reading the thread.

I read the thread and understood entirely. I was asking an opinionated question not a statistical one

Although it does come across like that

Fad · 13-08-2009 3:21pm

danishidiot wrote: »

I'm hopin I'll get in with my friend......we got 475 and 470 respectively so its kind of a worry at the moment with science applications up around 30%

CAO themselves said 11% when they published the figures, and that is for Science overall, that includes people applying from Mayo for NUIG, not just for TCD.

So there could be a small increase, or there could be none at all.

wittsend90 · 13-08-2009 6:44pm

I finished first year of TR071. It's a grand course, on saying that I hated it! I have my heart set on veterinary so I did a year of it to give me a good solid base in the sciences. especially saying as the leaving cert only skims over stuff.

Workload is pretty heavy but I think that goes for pretty much every college course.Just stay on top of it.It's difficult to juggle all the subjects you have chosen. Hours are long...Most days I was in 10 - 6 or so but that depends on your timetable.
The lecturers are mostly really good. I found the Chemistry ones the worst & for a finish just taught myself! The biology tutorials were a good help to me as they put it in plain english.
But most TR071 students I have talked to said that once you start specialising in your field after 2nd year you begin to enjoy it!

KiLLeR CoUCh · 13-08-2009 8:04pm

Workload will vary depending on your subjects that you'll choose when you start. If you ask about specific subjects you can get a more cohesive answer. I've done Physics, Chemistry and Maths since first year and I'm going into my third now. Hours were roughly 10-5/6 in first year and 9-6 this year.

Lecturers are as they are anywhere else, some good, some bad. Generally you'll have them from anywhere from 6 to 12 lectures. I didn't find the workload horrendous, provided you keep up to date with any assignments given and attend all labs.

Michaelrsh · 13-08-2009 11:59pm

I got 430, would I have a chance with this course??

wittsend90 · 14-08-2009 12:06am

Michaelrsh wrote: »

I got 430, would I have a chance with this course??

yeah you should do!

Bajingo · 14-08-2009 12:58am

Hamiltonion wrote: »

Definately, points wont jump that much, even if demand soared 10% you're safe
Heavy reading from the start, no one does but ffs keep on top!

Manageable once you keep on top and dont leave assessments to the last minute in favour of drinking. Although come Trinity term they really pile on the assessments, which is not appreciated in exam season!

In general quite good and v approachable, one in particular though in the chemistry department who I shant name is useless, cant understand him, read his writing and if you ask a question he wont have a clue what you're talking about. Hint, he looks like Hans Moleman from the Simpsons

Depends on the Subject choice, for Maths M, chem, bio and geology you're talking 28 - 32 hours a week of which 6 will be lab and 3 tutorial, though its not surprising for them to thow on/cancel extra lectures at random without notifying anyone.

Any questions PM me!

Haha ye his handwriting was atrocious but ya couldnt hold it against him he was like the tiny English grandad ya never had :P...what about Michael 'thermodynamics' Jackson?!

Anyway back to your question..

Ye you should get in with that I heard someone say its supposed to shoot up by 70points which sounds riduculous to me!

Theres nothing you can prepare for just wait until ya get there and ya'll have plenty of work to do.

With regards to workload from a Bio/Chem viewpoint you dont really get a lot of work to do outside lectures and labs until the second semester and even then they're not too bad. If ya want to keep up though you will have to study a bit.

The tutorials can be helpful but personally I found the bio tutorials to be too like lectures and so I didnt go to them.
The chem tutorials were helpful I recommend going to the basic chem tutorials they are very helpful even if you did it for the LC.

Good luck:)

Craguls · 14-08-2009 1:58am

http://www.google.ie/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&hs=155&q=what+do+I+need+for+Science+in+TCD&btnG=Search&meta=

I hate when stuff like this happens. Easy to see where google's bias is!

On a serious note I've heard you can get better lab coats and kits online rather then here.

Is this true? Any recommendations?

wittsend90 · 14-08-2009 11:17am

Well I got my lab coat in Clarendon medical on clarendon street..and my dissection kit & they were a bit cheaper than in Trinity!

As for Michael thermodynamics Jackson... :mad: i despised goin to his lectures!!!!!

Hamiltonion · 14-08-2009 11:39am

Its not going to shoot up 70 points, 10 max.
Wasn't Wolfie so cute!?

Jammyc · 14-08-2009 12:30pm

Out of curiosity, what are the labs like? Not the actual rooms but what ye do in them? for JF anyway?:D And whats this about labcoats and disection kits?

wittsend90 · 14-08-2009 2:36pm

you need a labcoat & dissection kit for biology labs....and safety goggles for chemistry labs!
Labs are BOREDOM..well biology ones are. the only thing i liked was disecting the prawn & worm!Chemistry labs are alright...The demonstrator I had was sound out and practically gave us all the answers. Labs are meant to be three hours long but if you work fast and carefully you can be out in an hour or two!
It helps if you have a lab partner you get on with as well!

and yeah wolfie was soooooooo cute! possibly the only chemistry lecturer i liked. & the one who did all about equilibrium & pH - he was my tutor too! deadly!

Bajingo · 14-08-2009 2:40pm

I fell asleep trough a lot of Wolfies lectures and couldnt wait for him to be gone..then he left and we got Michael Jackson I really missed Wolfie

..is he doing any SF lecturing?

To be honest I found the actual stuff we were doing in lab to be horrifically boring especially for biology. On the other hand they're good craic to talk to your mates and meet new ones especially the organic chem labs because you basically do nothing in those labs but watch stuff boil.

Ill be checking out that Clarendon Medical place.

Fad · 14-08-2009 2:50pm

I'm pretty 50-50 on whether I want to do Biology or Physics (Maths and Chem are already chosen), I like them both for different reasons.

Someone sell me one of them!

Bio doesnt seem to have the most thrilling labs, but if LC Physics experiments are anything to go by...

wittsend90 · 14-08-2009 3:07pm

Biology is pretty interesting..well I thought it was! I loved the developmental biology (about how we get our shape from a ball of cells and stuff - trying to put this into plain english here so apologies for sounding really unscientific). I also liked genetics! (they were both great lecturers which was half the battle!) and microbiology.
I don't really like plants and that kinda craic so plant form and function annoyed me!Animal diversity and ecology are easy(ish) too...BY1101 was definitely my favourite last year!

As for Physics I couldn't tell you anything about it....I did foundation physics even though I didn't want a bit of it! We had to do labs which were good craic as it was really relaxed & the demonstrators were dead on! The only thing was you had to do really detailed write ups for each experiment but once you did them a few times you were grand!

celtic723 · 14-08-2009 3:27pm

I'm thinking of picking Geography,Biology,Chemistry.

I've a few questions based on the above choices if that's okay.

1. If i haven't done Geog... for the L.C will i be far behind and unable to keep up?

2. Is the Biology and Chemistry choices geared like the L.C with the exception that they both dive deeper into the whats,whys and whens?

Cheers again.

fungie · 14-08-2009 5:26pm

i did geography last year having not done it for the leaving cert. its quiet easy and there are very low hours. werent any tutorials or assignments other than 1 essay tat was due in april eventhough geography finished in january.

i did maths and physics so cant say about bio or chem.

Craguls · 14-08-2009 7:10pm

I'm considering going for Chem Bio and Maths and just Chem and Bio for second year.

Am I getting myself into trouble?

DaXiS · 14-08-2009 8:40pm

Hamiltonion wrote: »

In general quite good and v approachable, one in particular though in the chemistry department who I shant name is useless, cant understand him, read his writing and if you ask a question he wont have a clue what you're talking about. Hint, he looks like Hans Moleman from the Simpsons

You are crazy. He is the best lecturer you will have in Science, learn to appreciate him!

"I'm considering going for Chem Bio and Maths and just Chem and Bio for second year.

Am I getting myself into trouble? "

Not if you want to do a moderatorship in a Biology subject or Chemistry.
Otherwise, yes

Piste · 14-08-2009 9:33pm

How often do you get to wear your lab coats?

Fringe · 14-08-2009 9:50pm

I'm gonna wear my lab coat and safety goggles all the time.

Bajingo · 15-08-2009 12:02am

Craguls wrote: »

I'm considering going for Chem Bio and Maths and just Chem and Bio for second year.

Am I getting myself into trouble?

If you actually like chem and bio do them..if you're thinking of not doing this modules because you're afraid they will be hard..do them anyway..you're going to find all hard more than likely so just pick what you think you will like. If you end up not liking the module just quick it and pick another.

I'm gonna wear my lab coat and safety goggles all the time.

Please don't :P but ye you only have to wear the coat during labs.

Finally i'd agree DaXis our tiny English lecture was the best lecturer for semester 1 after Wolfie of course!

Jammyc · 15-08-2009 12:21am

Fringe wrote: »

I'm gonna wear my lab coat and safety goggles all the time.

Piste wrote: »

How often do you get to wear your lab coats?

Im gonna wear mine on the DART on the way in each day! :cool:

I know theres a lot of 'I have X points..' but Im actually worrying now! Ive got 460, can anyone assuage my fears?

Michaelrsh · 15-08-2009 12:28am

I'm mad keen on this course,(:pac:I'm a bit of a Trinner head, lyke) I'd say I'll be lucky to get in in the second round of offers, first round were like 480 last year!! (Saw that in the Irish Times a few days ago)

If I'd don't I'd wanna do Physics with Astonomy and Space Science in UCD:pac:

Jammyc · 15-08-2009 12:47am

Im sorry but where are people getting the 480 and stuff from?
Anywhere Ive looked its said 415/430ish. Stop freaking me out!!

CAO Website wrote:

2008 2008
ROUND 1 ROUND 2
TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN

TR071 Science 415

Craguls · 15-08-2009 12:53am

480 was the average intake last year guys you'll all be fine!

That said I'm really getting into the idea of science here now, it's my 3rd choice but was my 1st initially.
Then Human Health and Disease came along...

Although I'm no longer very optimistic about that now since the HPAT drew alot more interest to medical science

Craguls · 15-08-2009 1:00am

Bajingo wrote: »

If you actually like chem and bio do them..if you're thinking of not doing this modules because you're afraid they will be hard..do them anyway..you're going to find all hard more than likely so just pick what you think you will like. If you end up not liking the module just quick it and pick another.

I actually love chem and bio; would you consider the labs and lectures to be particularly difficult?

I was good at both of them at school; organic chem was my best section and I found human biology and genetics to be a breeze (Sorry if that comes across as strange I was always told these were the hardest ones)

Bajingo · 15-08-2009 12:17pm

Craguls wrote: »

I actually love chem and bio; would you consider the labs and lectures to be particularly difficult?

I was good at both of them at school; organic chem was my best section and I found human biology and genetics to be a breeze (Sorry if that comes across as strange I was always told these were the hardest ones)

I wouldnt say bio and chem are difficult it is just the amount of stuff you have to learn but it just requires work to keep up with what they cover in lectures.

With regards to labs they're not that bad you get a lot of help from the demonstrators. In chem semester 1 everything is basically a titration it isnt very taxing.

If you like organic chem you'll like the course especially if you get the young(compared to the rest) red headed lecturer he's a legend and will always help you out if ya get stuck.

Human biology isnt on the first year course as such..if you mean physiology that begins in second year unless something has chamged. If you found genetics a breeze I think you will like that part of the course..it's tough but it is interesting and im saying as a hater of genetics when I did the LC.

Craguls · 15-08-2009 12:23pm

Bajingo wrote: »

I wouldnt say bio and chem are difficult it is just the amount of stuff you have to learn but it just requires work to keep up with what they cover in lectures.

With regards to labs they're not that bad you get a lot of help from the demonstrators. In chem semester 1 everything is basically a titration it isnt very taxing.

If you like organic chem you'll like the course especially if you get the young(compared to the rest) red headed lecturer he's a legend and will always help you out if ya get stuck.

Human biology isnt on the first year course as such..if you mean physiology that begins in second year unless something has chamged. If you found genetics a breeze I think you will like that part of the course..it's tough but it is interesting and im saying as a hater of genetics when I did the LC.

Ah lovely, thanks! Sorry to bug you again but what would the bio labs consist of? And would anything else fall into chem labs aside from organic preparations and titrations?

Bajingo · 15-08-2009 12:36pm

Craguls wrote: »

Ah lovely, thanks! Sorry to bug you again but what would the bio labs consist of? And would anything else fall into chem labs aside from organic preparations and titrations?

No worries mate..I remember the first few bio expriments to be a bit tricky just because there was a lot of tubes to label..it involved purifying a protein..in the bio labs we had to grow different types of micro-organisms, typical microscopy work,dissections and measuring evaporation and transporation in plants.

Not very interesting but not very hard either.

Organic preparations are fine but you will have to write a report on them after.

For semester 1 if you're not doing a titration of some sort you could be doing tests for halogens and ions..there was one really horrible experiment I found I cant remember what it was about fully but it involved iodate ions..look out for it anyway you might find it easy.

Also, I dont know how many new freshers will know but you will get a mentor(1 mentor gets 15 students) who is there to help you out and answer questions..if boards.ie fails to help I mean.

Craguls · 15-08-2009 12:49pm

Bajingo wrote: »

No worries mate..I remember the first few bio expriments to be a bit tricky just because there was a lot of tubes to label..it involved purifying a protein..in the bio labs we had to grow different types of micro-organisms, typical microscopy work,dissections and measuring evaporation and transporation in plants.

Not very interesting but not very hard either.

Organic preparations are fine but you will have to write a report on them after.

For semester 1 if you're not doing a titration of some sort you could be doing tests for halogens and ions..there was one really horrible experiment I found I cant remember what it was about fully but it involved iodate ions..look out for it anyway you might find it easy.

Also, I dont know how many new freshers will know but you will get a mentor(1 mentor gets 15 students) who is there to help you out and answer questions..if boards.ie fails to help I mean.

Ok that's me sorted! Maths Chem Bio it is! Thanks a million for the advice!

almostnever · 15-08-2009 2:19pm

I'm thinking of chemistry,physics....and something else. I have no idea what else,though.

Futurism · 15-08-2009 2:49pm

Hopefully 465 will get me in.

What's everyone thinking of taking? I definitely want Biology. I didn't do physics for the Leaving Cert, but I kind of want to do it now. Is that stupid, yeah?

fungie · 15-08-2009 3:08pm

depends the physics would be hard enough starting from scratch but not impossible, the labwork and assignments are worth alot and are handy. if you find it hard there is plenty of people there to help.

Craguls · 15-08-2009 3:35pm

I've decided this morning to go with

Chemistry Biology Maths in first year
and Chemistry and biology in second year

That way I'm open to Molecular Medicine Neuroscience and the Biochemistries

KiLLeR CoUCh · 15-08-2009 3:44pm

almostnever wrote: »

I'm thinking of chemistry,physics....and something else. I have no idea what else,though.

Unless you're referring to Foundation Physics or whatever it's called now you need to take Physics with Maths. That's the year long Maths course, not the single semester course.

Futurism · 15-08-2009 3:56pm

KiLLeR CoUCh wrote: »

Unless you're referring to Foundation Physics or whatever it's called now you need to take Physics with Maths. That's the year long Maths course, not the single semester course.

Ah. The Maths might be too hard for me then.

EDIT: I love Maths. I'll do it anyway.

Looks like I'll be taking Biology,Physics and Mathematics then.

KiLLeR CoUCh · 15-08-2009 6:10pm

http://www.science.tcd.ie/undergraduate/jf/

I think some people could benefit from looking at the above link to prevent any nasty suprises when it comes to picking your subjects.

If you want to do physics you must take maths for the whole year. The year long maths course is more or less and extension on leaving cert higher leve albeit taught very differently. Further to this if you want to do Physics in second year, you still need to keep doing maths.

Biology splits into two seperate subjects in second year, Bio 1 and Bio 2. I can't find any info online at the moment but I think it still stands that Bio 2 students cannot do maths in second year.

For people doing physics the most common subject combination is Physics, Chemistry, Maths or Physics Geog/Geol and Maths. Taking Physics, Bio, Maths leads to problems in second year. I've known of one person taking Bio, Maths and Physics in first year and come second year they were required to take up Geology. It's completely possible and not a problem. If you really are split 50/50 between bio and physics, it might be your best option.

Assuming everyone here who wants it gets Science you get to have a nice little chat with a lecturer before you choose your subjects so they'll walk you through all your options. That doesn't change the fact that there's around ~350 students split between about 7 or 8 lecturers. It'll help things run more smoothly if you get what you want clear in your head before you head in.

Piste · 15-08-2009 6:15pm

Craguls wrote: »

480 was the average intake last year guys you'll all be fine!

That said I'm really getting into the idea of science here now, it's my 3rd choice but was my 1st initially.
Then Human Health and Disease came along...

Although I'm no longer very optimistic about that now since the HPAT drew alot more interest to medical science

Omg Human Health and Disease, seeya there! I'm really looking forward to it now, so much so that a part of me kinda doesn't want medicine anyway.

Craguls · 15-08-2009 6:29pm

Piste wrote: »

Omg Human Health and Disease, seeya there! I'm really looking forward to it now, so much so that a part of me kinda doesn't want medicine anyway.

As much as I'd love it I don't think I'm going to make the cut for Human Health and Disease! (Only managed 490)

But then again the CAO could have a surprise in store for me! The same courses in NUIG and UCD fell to 485 last year

Futurism · 15-08-2009 6:36pm

Thanks Killer Couch. I'll have to do some thinking about it.

Piste · 15-08-2009 7:39pm

Yeah it's weird not knowing how the points will turn out. Like I'm pretty sure I'm getting it, unless the points go above what medicine used to be =/

Science TR071

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