[CB93]

Ok, I got A's in Maths and Applied Maths and 580pts so I think I've done enough to get into the Maths course

3 questions.

1) Should I be doing anything to prepare for the course? I haven't looked at anything since finishing the l.c and don't want to be slow when the course starts.

2) Are there many books needed for the course or are laptops/eReaders in use?

3) Anyone got any tips for which modules are best to take?

Thanks for any replies

CB

[ride-the-spiral]

I'm a theoretical physics student going into second year, so we took 2/3 of the maths modules. (Didn't do stats, computation I or group theory)

You don't really need to do any work before going into it. Especially if you got A's in matha and applied. They'll assume that you know how to do basic algebra, how to differentiate and integrate, a bit about complex numbers perhaps, but never too much that you'll needed to have studied before covering anything. All of the modules start from scratch, and as long as you keep up with everything being done in the lectures you won't be behind at all, in fact if you keep up with everything during the year you'll find studying toward the end of the year not that difficult at all.

The library is good enough for the books that you'll need. I bought two of the books for the year and didn't really need them. Some lecturers such as Pete (Dr. Paschalis Karageorgis) give such comprehensive lectures that you might not even need to use a book at all for that module. Although you still need to go the lectures... A laptop is handy to have, but by no means necessary, as anything which you might need to do on a computer can be done with the the college's of which there's quite a lot around. I only really used my laptop to access exam papers, and that was just before exams.

Unfortunately as I'd no choice myself I wouldn't really know about which modules are best to pick. If you're at all interested in physics though, I believe not picking mechanics can be very limiting in what modules you can do in 3rd and 4th year.

[EuropeanSon]

Originally Posted by CB93

Ok, I got A's in Maths and Applied Maths and 580pts so I think I've done enough to get into the Maths course

3 questions.

1) Should I be doing anything to prepare for the course? I haven't looked at anything since finishing the l.c and don't want to be slow when the course starts.

2) Are there many books needed for the course or are laptops/eReaders in use?

3) Anyone got any tips for which modules are best to take?

Thanks for any replies

CB

1) Not really, no.
2) Not many books, you shouldn't need to buy any, lecturers generally have notes, or you are expected to take them.
3) You take all courses initially, unless it's changed. So you can decide for yourself really.

Source: Entering 3rd year Maths

[Tears in Rain]

What's the story...

Going into 3rd year TP and yeah, I'll pretty much confirm what the other two said, books are unnecessary. Only reason you'll need to prepare would be if you took Project Maths (and no Applied Maths), but if that's the case you're probably a lost cause anyway.

[EuropeanSon]

Originally Posted by Tears in Rain

What's the story...

Going into 3rd year TP and yeah, I'll pretty much confirm what the other two said, books are unnecessary. Only reason you'll need to prepare would be if you took Project Maths (and no Applied Maths), but if that's the case you're probably a lost cause anyway.

Unlikely. They don't assume any knowledge, and having spoken to Donal about it a while back, they won't next year, either. Don't be frightening the first years.

[Tears in Rain]

Originally Posted by EuropeanSon

Unlikely. They don't assume any knowledge, and having spoken to Donal about it a while back, they won't next year, either. Don't be frightening the first years.

Either way it's worrying...

Have you seen how little they do in Project Maths? They don't even cover integral calculus...assuming what you say is correct then either:

a) They will dumb-down the course so that incoming PM'ers will find it subjectively as difficult as we did, but the course will cover less.

or

b) They will require extra ramp up material, like integral calculus, to bring incoming PM'ers up to the same level as previous LC students, in addition to the same material we already cover. This will make the course subjectively harder for new students, leading to a higher rate of failures and pressure to dumb-down the course.

Obviously either of these things are bad.

If what you say is not correct (not to accuse of lying, but just to show that either way it's a lose/lose situation), then:

c) The course will be the exact same as before. This will make the course subjectively harder for new students, leading to a higher rate of failures and pressure to dumb-down the course.


Ugh, Project Maths is so bent...

[sock puppet]

Originally Posted by Tears in Rain

Have you seen how little they do in Project Maths? They don't even cover integral calculus

Pretty harsh of them to put it on the exam if it's not on the course.

[EmmetOT]

We covered integral and differential calculus quite extensively actually, better recheck your sources.

[Sheedy07]

Originally Posted by EmmetOT

We covered integral and differential calculus quite extensively actually, better recheck your sources.

Yes our paper one never changed its those poor fellows that are doing the lc next year that are f*cked

[Tears in Rain]

Oh...must have made a mistake...I thought they'd gotten rid of integral calculus entirely from the Project Maths course, it was my impression from going through the papers :|

Sorry if I made a mistake!

[CB93]

I think we're ok for this year as we only did project maths for paper 2, we did the old paper 1 - calculus, algebra, induction etc (the important stuff!).

However the pilot schools would have done the new paper 1 and everyone will be doing it next year. I think these will face the fate mentioned by Tears in Rain.

Integral calculus is not being removed from the project maths but, like the rest of the course, it has been 'dumbed down', I think they have removed u-subs etc.

Thanks for the replies,
1 more question: Are lockers necessary and how do you get them?

[Tears in Rain]

Originally Posted by CB93

I think we're ok for this year as we only did project maths for paper 2, we did the old paper 1 - calculus, algebra, induction etc (the important stuff!).

However the pilot schools would have done the new paper 1 and everyone will be doing it next year. I think these will face the fate mentioned by Tears in Rain.

Integral calculus is not being removed from the project maths but, like the rest of the course, it has been 'dumbed down', I think they have removed u-subs etc.

Thanks for the replies,
1 more question: Are lockers necessary and how do you get them?

Lockers aren't necessary but they can be pretty handy, bear in mind that they're pretty small, not big enough to fit the average sports bag into.

Lockers go on offer on the first day of lectures, you get an application form form from the security desk in the Arts Block, usually there's a massive queue from like 7 in the morning or earlier for this.

You can apply for a locker in the Arts Block, Hamilton, Lloyd or Panoz buildings. I think the Lloyd and Panoz are less desirable since they aren't 24h like the Hamilton is, and I think there's a few larger lockers on offer in the Arts Block.

In general, demand outstrips supply by quite a bit, hence the early morning queues, but I think they installed quite a few more lockers in the Hamilton this year if anyone can confirm...

[CB93]

Originally Posted by Tears in Rain

Lockers aren't necessary but they can be pretty handy, bear in mind that they're pretty small, not big enough to fit the average sports bag into.

Lockers go on offer on the first day of lectures, you get an application form form from the security desk in the Arts Block, usually there's a massive queue from like 7 in the morning or earlier for this.

You can apply for a locker in the Arts Block, Hamilton, Lloyd or Panoz buildings. I think the Lloyd and Panoz are less desirable since they aren't 24h like the Hamilton is, and I think there's a few larger lockers on offer in the Arts Block.

In general, demand outstrips supply by quite a bit, hence the early morning queues, but I think they installed quite a few more lockers in the Hamilton this year if anyone can confirm...

Oh, had hoped that they would be big enough for a sports bag. Are there lockers in the sports centre that you could leave your gym bag in all day or are they just for use while you're in the centre?

Would I be right in saying that most maths lecture would be in the Hamilton or surrounding buildings? These might be the best lockers to go for.

[Tears in Rain]

Originally Posted by CB93

Oh, had hoped that they would be big enough for a sports bag. Are there lockers in the sports centre that you could leave your gym bag in all day or are they just for use while you're in the centre?

Would I be right in saying that most maths lecture would be in the Hamilton or surrounding buildings? These might be the best lockers to go for.

I think there might be a couple big ones in the Arts Block but I dunno what the story is, it's probably not worth it...uh, the Sports Centre definitely has a ton of lockers just upstairs, I dunno what the official policy is about leaving stuff in them all day, but I'm pretty sure it's all right, only thing is as far as I know you can't leave stuff there overnight. Someone else will have to confirm..

And yeah, all your lectures are going to be in the Hamilton

[Cian59]

Originally Posted by Tears in Rain

I think there might be a couple big ones in the Arts Block but I dunno what the story is, it's probably not worth it...uh, the Sports Centre definitely has a ton of lockers just upstairs, I dunno what the official policy is about leaving stuff in them all day, but I'm pretty sure it's all right, only thing is as far as I know you can't leave stuff there overnight. Someone else will have to confirm..

And yeah, all your lectures are going to be in the Hamilton

Yeah, you're not supposed to leave items in the locker when you're not using the sports centre but who knows whether you're in the sports centre or not. It's ok.
Most lectures will be in the Hamilton however you may have a few tutorials in surrounding buildings. If you're going to get a locker, get one in the Hamilton and be prepared to get to college quite early on the morning that they become available.
Books aren't needed but can be helpful. Even better, you can find free online copies of (most of) the books online. Saves you going to library. Computers are good for checking exam papers, emails, maths websites and research but with regard to in-class, they're a bit of a pain trying to transcribe maths. Better with a pen and paper.