Science @ TCD

Natural Sciences at TCD

I’m doing this course.

Is the course good?

Good at what? Is it enjoyable? In first year you really have to choose if you’re going to go in the Biological or Non-Biological direction in terms of subject choice. Popular choices are “Physics (P), Chemistry(C) and Maths(M)” or Biology(B), Chemistry and Maths. You can also choose to do Geography/Geology (joint course)(GG)and two of the above. And the last option is to pick Maths methods(MM) (“ordinary level maths”) and 3 other subjects. I see Apexaviour as explained this a bit better than I have.

I chose Biology, Chemistry and Maths in first year. Apexaviour did PCM. The reason I chose my subject choice is because I had a biological orientation. A basic understanding of chemistry is important for all sciences so I did Chemistry too. In 2nd year you can drop chemistry and replace it with Geology. It is important to note that chemistry as a first year subject is a prerequisite for many moderatorships (you final subject choice for 3rd and 4th year, for example, Neurosciences and Biochemistry.) but you don’t need it in 2nd year except if you want to do Chemistry as your degree. I would recommend you don’t take up either Physics or Chemistry anew (if you haven’t done them for Leaving Cert.). However, there has been many people that take up Chemistry and had no problem after some initial hard work. I don’t know if it’s the same with Physics. Biology is fine to take up new. Unless you’re absolutely terrible at maths and/or hate it I recommend you take full Maths as opposed to MM.

All of the subjects are thought it a similar way. 3/4/5 hours of lectures a week per subject and a 3 hour lab on top of that. The lectures can be interesting and enjoyable and sometimes they can be boring and difficult to follow. The labs can follow this pattern too. The classes are quite big, especially for Biology. The timetable is quite full, not quite as bad as engineering but you’ll notice your friends in Business or History etc. have quite a lot less time in the class room.

So back on topic is it good? It depends really, like most things, on the individual. If you’re interested in science and you’re not terribly lazy or unsociable you’ll have no problems enjoying the year. You’ll get to know people quickly and have a laugh. However, if you constantly dodge lectures, you’ll find yourself quickly falling behind and alienating yourself. Unlike school, college is quite difficult to catch up on, on your own. There is no big, giant textbook or strict syllabus that lectures follow, so the best way to know what’s going on is to go to the lectures and read up after.

Difficulty? Unless you’re an idiot, the course is very doable. It just requires work and time. Conceptually nothing is extremely hard to understand. Because “Science” is a massive area, most of the courses and modules are really only a introduction.

Is it worth going for?

Well I’ve really spoken about the course from a 1st year perspective. In 2nd year the courses do gather a bit of momentum. They get a bit more tricky and they require an extra bit of effort. Unlike 1st year, IMO, the emphasis is on weeding out the litter. In first year you’d have to really try hard to fail. In second year, they’re less generous.

But if you get stuck in and find something you enjoy and work towards it you’ll have no bother. The 3rd subject choice is quite significant. You basically specialise. Physiology and Biochemistry and popular choices. Entry into 3rd year is a bit like the CAO. There are limited places in the different courses and it selection is based on the results of your two best subjects in the 2nd year annual (summer) exams. Unlike Pharmacy, Medicine or the other Health sciences, Natural Sciences isn’t quite as vocational as a degree. Not everyone that does a degree in Physiology becomes a Physiologist and works as a Physiologist etc etc. A lot of people stay on in academia and pursue M.Sc or PhDs. This requires more studying and exams/projects, often working long hours for less than what you’d earn in your summer job. Lots of people leave the whole science arena and go and work in completely different areas like consultantcy or media or teaching. And then others, like Biochemists go and work in labs. People with the chemical and Physics degrees with find an easier path to industry IMO.

So yes if you are genuinely interested in learning about science this degree is as good if not better than any other in Ireland. You will get a good job out of it, but don’t expect to be the next Bill Gates because you went to Trinity and got a degree. It will take a lot more than that.

physics students are all p1ss heads.

good choice. it's a big group, about 23 ppl. but that's 2 years away you never know what might happen. you considered going to ucd?

I was told UCD students are more into the partying than the Trinty students...is that debatable?

sounds like rubbish but who knows. you right to go with the college closer. taking everything else as equal

9 in NS,
12 in phs
27 this year in Zoo!

I know this guy that did Biochemistry a few years ago, he won 2000 euro on a scratch card, so it's definitetly a good degree to get.