Physics and English in Trinity

Zoodlebop wrote:

If not (and it probably is not) then would ye recommend me to do Science (TR 071) or a TSM of English and a language (or maybe maths).

I can recommend a subject. I won't know what's better for you however. That's your choice. Good to see your trying to make an informed decision.

Zoodlebop wrote:

I equally enjoy both subjects.

That's a doozy. I'd try to get away from that line of thinking eventually though, keep an open mind and strive towards picking one. Take all things into account: enjoyment, aptitude, difficulty, employment prospects etc.

I'll tell you a little of what I know of the differences.
If you do science you'll have quite the heavy timetable for the first two years, afaik you won't for tsm. If you chose physics/astrophysics your workload will triple (if you want to do well) in the sophister years even though your hours may go down. I think I'd be safe in saying that undergraduate physics is a hellova lot more taxing than undergraduate tsm. (Incidentally: In postgrad that's reversed, if I'm to believe any postgrads from both arts and sci I've talked with.)
Broad Curriculum: this is available to 3rd year science students (maybe 2nd year too?). Some have to do it, some choose to do it. It's available to 3rd year physics but we were recommended not to do it as our workload is considered quite enough. Its marks replace 1/3rd of the 3rd year lab marks and anyone I know who did broad curriculum ended up choosing not to use the marks gained from it.

Zoodlebop wrote:

What is the current and projected state of their departments, given the ARAM thing?

As it stands trinity's school of physics is well known and well respected throughout europe. Whether you're for or against it the facts remain the same. Due to ARAM, college restructuring and just the general aim of Provost Hegarty to get up in the "rankings", the school of physics among others is looking to do much better over the coming years. So by the time you graduate it could well be world leading. Bears thinking about.

Who's child, you decide?

The Apostrophe Protection Society would like a few word's with you.

Lit. Soc.

Its a small society, biggest event this year was a poetry reading from Longly. Every couple of weeks they have open readings where people can (obviously) read their own writing. They wer eusually on thursday nights. I never actually made it any despite best intentions. aside from that many societies have essay writing competitions and the like, so it's posisbel to kepe up an interest in English definetly. And then if you go with English theres physoc. I had a similar dilema to you last year, i wanted to do english and economics which isn't offered in Trinity.

Zoodlebop wrote:

As lots of ye seem to be Physics students, how much free time do you have?; enough to take an extra language module etc?

In first year I know some people who took a french etc language module. They weren't many and there were even less who kept it up in second year but they were able for it time wise. Though it did somewhat take up valuable drinking time being on at 7pm. In the sophister years you will have no time for any other studies. In third year I tried and failed (quite literally), it really is an inhuman amount of material and a massive jump from 2nd year. Any wonder 3rd year physics has a 50% failure rate? With no resits in august you'll tend to find a lot of social mixing between the years as so many people are repeating. Think I managed it ok second time round though thankfully :rolleyes:
They really do only want the cream of the crop. But thankfully it's not bell-curved and as such not competitive so there tends to be a good camaradarie among the class. They just make the exams and material really really hard.

Zoodlebop wrote:

Also what sort of careers or postgrad oppurtunities are ye looking at?

If you want to stay in physics after your degree you'll need to do postgrad. Usually this is done through a research PhD, usual length being 4 years. The opportunities for such research doctorates are ridiculous if you can get a 2.1 or higher. If you get a 2.2 you can even still get them though it's a mite bit more difficult. Research phDs are usually funded (by sfi, private companies, government, college etc), so it won't cost you anything to do them and you will get a wage. This usually about 14K per annum but can be anywhere up to 20K if you can manage to secure funding from ircset etc. So in essence it's a lowish-paid job that makes you a Dr. Joe Bloggs at the end.

Careers wise: Approx just over 50% of physics grads go into further study. 25% go into finance straight from their degree. Companies like HSBC, management advisors, mortgagebrokers, stockbrokers, insurance companies firms etc love physics/maths grads. The work is competitive but well paid and requires a bit of zeal I believe. After a phD many will tend to stay on for a little doing post-doctoral research either in the same college or somewhere else. This is basically the same as what they were doing for their PhD but now they're getting paid 30K-40K for it. If they are successful researchers they may get a fellowship and stay on become a researcher/lecturer. But usually they just stay on for more research experience and only a few have aspirations of taking up academia as a career.
There are research/management jobs in industry (think sony, hitachi, intel, siemens, even car companies etc. multitudes, it depends what your speciality within physics is) if you want to stay in physics. But even then some don't. They go into many many varied jobs that tend to be very well paid. According to the IOP, physics grads are only second to medicine and law grads when it comes to lifetime salary.

Zoodlebop wrote:

What options for studying abroad are there?

For an undergraduate year abroad? None. However there is a mandatory 4th year research project. This is the same for astrophysics and PCAM (phys & chem of advanced materials, which is mostly a physics degree tbh) but not TP. Basically you play the part of a phd student for 3-4 months over the duration of the first term. This can be done either abroad or within the college. Places for the project are competitive though. I'm attempting to get mine in Denmark starting september doing:

Growth of thin films with pulsed laser deposition (PLD)controlled by RHEED
Prof Jørgen Schou at Risø National Laboratory, Denmark
Local contact: Prof J Lunney

High quality thin films of nanometer thickness can be deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD), which is a unique method to produce thin films of materials of complicated chemical composition, for example metal oxides or nitrides. A typical example is YSZ (yttria stablized zirconia) which is used as electrolyte in solid oxide fuel cells. Risø National Laboratory has recently established a national PLD-facility to grow thin uniform films with diameters up to 125 mm. The growth of a film at the monolayer level can be controlled in-situ by a RHEED (reflected high energy electron diffraction) system. Deposition control of film growth of fractions of a monolayer is usually a very difficult project, but can be achieved comparatively easily with PLD equipped with a RHEED system. In the project layer-by-layer growth will be attempted with metals, oxides, nitrides or combinations of these materials.

Fingers crossed I get it

You could always do postgrad abroad too. The language of the lab is English thankfully so though you probably should learn some of the local toungue, it's not an essential prerequisite.

Zoodlebop wrote:

Sorry for all these ceist, but I find that tcd.ie doesn't give me detailed enough info. Ye're better.

Many thanks

Nay bother, hope the above schpeel was at least somewhat useful. Any more specific questions don't hesitate.