DCU Computer Applications!! Any1 doing it?

BlackWizard

I was wondering if anyone else out there has applied for this course? And are you worried about getting the points?
Im more worried about gettin my 2 C3's...god wat if i dont get them!!
And who invented that **** phrase 'what if', they should be shot cause its waking me up at night!!!

Smellyirishman

OMG

im doing that course (well hopefully) what a coinsidence!

Gonna be rocking it up nerd style in DCU

Ciaran500

Two of my friends are hoping to do that course, but one of them is unlikely to get the points.

phreak

what are the points this year? if you cant even scrape the 300 god help you.

also, if you did ordinary maths for the leaving cert you're probably screwed.

Smellyirishman

Dont need higher, and the points wont be known for a few days after the results.

Should be 300 though as the 300 places werent filled last year, and prolly wont be again this year

P.S did you do CA?

adjodlo

150 you mean. the 150 weren't filled. Even after that a load of people had left within weeks. CA = evil.

Smellyirishman

sorry 150, was getting points and places mixed.

Ye first year is ment to be TOUGH.

CuLT

AFAIK they actually lowered the number of available places last year just ot keep the points above 300.

It's on my CAO list too.

StickyMcGinty

mee too.... i can see us all together in a big room in the future..... called the bar!

Sarunas

yeap, i *should* be on the course (note the "should)". ahh better go get readdy to go.

hardCopy

Ye first year is ment to be TOUGH

I just finished first year CA, it's fine if u into computers. lot of people take it just coz it's low points even though they never used a comp before, they generally struggle. If u like computers and make a *bit* of an effort u'll b ok

Smellyirishman

Yes Im On My Way!!! :d

CuLT

Me too my the looks of it

Sarunas

Any one know/expect what the points will be this year? Lower than 300 or will they keep it the same?

I should be in there too, as i got 395.
See you guys there.... CuLT, Smellyirishman and others....

eth0_

Phreak wrote:

what are the points this year? if you cant even scrape the 300 god help you.

also, if you did ordinary maths for the leaving cert you're probably screwed.

True. If you did ordinary maths for the leaving you WILL find a course like this tough.

Sarunas

eth0_ wrote:

True. If you did ordinary maths for the leaving you WILL find a course like this tough.

It depends on the individual. I did pass maths, and got A2, but i expected A1, for junior cert i got A aswell. I always wanted to do higher maths, but i was in a pass maths class, so i ended up doing pass maths.

I like maths, and fine it simple and interesting. Im also a bit of a computer freak(*nix, BSD especialy)so i like comp alot.

Most of the comp people are good at maths, i mean good. They enjoy it.

If you hate maths, you may find the course hard. but if you like maths, and enjoy it. and have some time to spend/play around on it. you will be fine.

I wonder who 11% of whatever students did pass maths failed? where they completely thick? (no offence for anyone who failed maths in here).

halenger

eth0_ wrote:

True. If you did ordinary maths for the leaving you WILL find a course like this tough.

Well they do split the class into 2 maths classes. Those who did honours and those who didn't.

But the pass maths teacher's not supposed to be the greatest. :rolleyes:

First year's not terribly bad. Second year's worse. Lotta people think it's a doss course but it's not as easy as it seems. Very practical oriented (good thing). Going into 4th year of it myself.

Repli

eth0_ wrote:

True. If you did ordinary maths for the leaving you WILL find a course like this tough.

Thats bull. Most of the maths they teach in comp science is nothing like leaving cert. (Graph theory, logic, number systems, relations, modelling software, etc) I sure dont remember learning any of that stuff in the leaving cert. Thats the way it was in my course anyway. Actually out of the 7 subjects in 1st year and the 11 subjects in 2nd year I did, I found maths among the easiest of the lot.

Sarunas

Is it possible to be in the part of the class that did higher maths? Say like an exception? im getting tired of having a sticker put on my head saying "ordinary mathematics". Its like all with pass maths are put into a looser,lamers and idiots corner...

CuLT

Thanks Repli, I was starting to get a little worried. I'm good at Ord level maths, and I probably should have been moved to higher level after the JC but wasn't.

Talking to professors last year I was under the definite perception that the course requirements pretty much work for making sure people who CAN do it DO it.

BlackWizard

Well after all that worrying....Im off to DCU to do Computer Applications!!! I hope i enjoy the cousre. I love computers and enjoy maths(when i pay attention to to wats going on because my mind always drifts off to this day! the day of my results!) Rock on all you prospect DCU Comp.App students. the next four years will be great

Sarunas

Who else is doing/want to do DC121 (Computer Applications, DCU) ?

So far on this list are:

o Me
o BlackWizard
o CuLT
o Smellyirishman
o VinnyL
o napalm@night
(i might have skipped some one)

Right guys, how are we gonna know who is who? I can be easilly spotted, just look for a skinny guy who is 6' 3"...

[Edit: add napalm@night to the list]

[CrimsonGhost]

Join Redbrick, the DCU networking society. It's like almost mandatory if you are in CA. Very active soc, and probably the largest in the college.

Sarunas

Yeah i know of redbrick. Cant remember how much doest it coast to join, but i think its a few euros . Can also remember that redbrick's choice of OS is debian, which im pretty happy with (i actualy newer used debian properly, just install it play around for few minutes, let it cool with other *nix OSes). As long as i don't have to use Red Hat 9 (which was installed dual boot with win 2000 service pack 4 on lab computers, i was told that before that they had solaris). On the second thought, its still better than using windows.

napalm@night

add me2 the list hopefully c uz all there.....

StickyMcGinty

[CrimsonGhost] wrote:

Join Redbrick, the DCU networking society. It's like almost mandatory if you are in CA. Very active soc, and probably the largest in the college.

and you get a cool t-shirt. :rolleyes:

very nerdy society from what i see... like TOO nerdy!

aye, twill be good craic next year, it was for me last year, i just changed course from CES to CA this year.

anyone gonna be living up in dublin?

Draupnir

Im in Halengers class, who posted here already. That is, we are both going into fourth year CA. Dont worry about first year maths, that "you need to do higher" crap is just that, crap.

The maths is grand enough, very simple set theory, probability and that kind of thing. The lectures are boring as hell so it seems tough from the but the exams are easy peasy. If anyone is interested, send me a PM and I can dig out some electronic copies of old first year maths papers you can look at.

The course is really good crack if a tad boring at times. Some of the subjects are a little pointless aswell, but if you choose wisely, you will really enjoy the degree.

Join redbrick so that you can randomly message people if for no other reason, oh and play the mud, if it returns of course.

All in All, CA is good crack, anyone with any more specific questions or requests, PM me and Ill be happy to help out.

StickyMcGinty

Draupnir wrote:

Im in Halengers class, who posted here already. That is, we are both going into fourth year CA. Dont worry about first year maths, that "you need to do higher" crap is just that, crap.

The maths is grand enough, very simple set theory, probability and that kind of thing. The lectures are boring as hell so it seems tough from the but the exams are easy peasy. If anyone is interested, send me a PM and I can dig out some electronic copies of old first year maths papers you can look at.

The course is really good crack if a tad boring at times. Some of the subjects are a little pointless aswell, but if you choose wisely, you will really enjoy the degree.

Join redbrick so that you can randomly message people if for no other reason, oh and play the mud, if it returns of course.

All in All, CA is good crack, anyone with any more specific questions or requests, PM me and Ill be happy to help out.

draupnier, u sound like a REAL sound chap!! PM sent.

BTW for anyone else, What module you doing in first year, Businness/science or language?

mise_me_fein

CA is cráp if you ask me. I hate DCU, there's no life in the college. Some of the women are good looking ok, but the whole atmosphere in the place is cráp. CA is not a hard course if you make friends with the right ppl.

Draupnir

yeah the social aspect is a bit dull but the same can be said for any college in the country. make a few friends and your laughing.

tip of the week:

make friends with someone who lives on res.

tip 2 of the week:

make friends with some women if you can, they are an invaluable resource.

StickyMcGinty

ah its what you make of it really!

i'd a fookin blast last year!

Sarunas

VinnyL wrote:

and you get a cool t-shirt. :rolleyes:

very nerdy society from what i see... like TOO nerdy!

A friend of mine said that the people in comp department are strange, to strange. Guess we will have to wait and see.

BlackWizard

Hey Sarunas your not gonna be that easy to spot cause im 6ft3inc also and athletic(skinny) so.......Your not alone. I also heard the social side is not quite as obvious in DCU as in most colleges but if we make friends it will turn out to be great! Does anyone live as far away as Palmerstown or am i gonna be the only one gettin TWO! buses every morning??

Draupnir

The people in CA arent strange at all, its pretty much run of the mill, ordinary joes. You wont see a lot of oddballs or nerdy types, and these guys tend to be sound. There arent any assholes around, everyone just has a great bit of laugh with their own mates. I personally love the craic in DCU, its what you make of it as others have said. Join a club or something to make friends if you have to.

as for the two bus thing, that shouldnt be a big problem, loads of guys I know come from blanchardstown and dont find it too bad

BlackWizard

oh and unlike L.C maths the C.A maths actually means something to us. So we will hopefully be interested in everything we come accross. Thats how im looking at it and if it turns out to be pointless maths like in the L.C, well im gonna find it tedious and boring.........Party time soon YES!

BlackWizard

Yeah the soccer club and Basketball and Paintball if u have one. They are the ones im interested in at the moment

Draupnir

its pretty much higher level LC maths in first year, they just wanna get everyone to the same level. its not to hard to pass though.

halenger

Repli wrote:

Thats bull. Most of the maths they teach in comp science is nothing like leaving cert. (Graph theory, logic, number systems, relations, modelling software, etc) I sure dont remember learning any of that stuff in the leaving cert.

Well the maths we did was very leaving cert like. Set theory was easy alright but there was differentiation, a whole module on Linear Algebra and Vectors. Logic is a module in itself but first year maths is quite like leaving cert maths, unless I'm remembering someone elses life. :P

BlackWizard

Are the teachers good? easy to talk to and ask questions? I dont mind if some are **** cause im come from one of the worst schools in Dublin

Sarunas

mise_me_fein wrote:

the whole atmosphere in the place is cráp.

I could sence that on the open day, and didnt really like the head of the computer department (prof. joe morris). Uctually i nearly dicided not to go because the place was crap until i went to look around once more. There was a lecturer ( Dr John McKenna) whom i have met before in higher option in september in RDS. He remember me. I had a chat with him for some time, and i changed my mind about dcu.

Some lectures are boring (i was told by a 4th (or 3rd) year student the prof. joe's java lectures are boring, and he was actually afraid to say it, but in the end he said they were still good), but there job is to teach and not to be interesting, but some have these qualities naturaly, its upto one to decide how he/she will reach to the information presented to him/her. Also its upto one to find activities/fun outside of learning, the uni can't bring all the fun to you and serve it on a plate, its up to yourself.

So what am basically saying, if one finds lecturers and the place boring, its mostly ones fault (uni is partially responsible to make sure that students are interested, but their power is limited).

Its up to one to decide how he will react to the college. Just my two cents .

halenger

It's not that hard though. Maybe I'm making it sound harder than it is.

They're very lenient. Continuous Assessment during the semester is great and they don't make things to hard in the exam which is only work about 55%. The other 45% is from 3 continuous assessments.

Enjoy when you get here anyhow!

No free t-shirt though with Redbrick. Buy your own!!

BlackWizard

I totally appreciate your two cents and thank you. Im off to get drunk..doesnt happen often9or often enough) so im gonna make sure i enjoy tonight Bye and thanks ya'll ill write here tomorrow letting u know exactly how many of my mates are going. 3 so far but more on their way i think, so we can compile a list of the entire class who surf boards

Sarunas

BlackWizard wrote:

Are the teachers good? easy to talk to and ask questions?

I found head of computer department prof. joe morris( http://www.computing.dcu.ie/~jmorris/) very hard to talk to, i found him very against the values that i believe in.

On the other hand (sorry but im still in the english comparative mode) Dr. John McKenna (http://www.computing.dcu.ie/~john/john.html) i found very easy to talk to, he accepted the hackerish values that i have, and i saw that he shares many of them. I hope that there are more lecturers in dcu like him.

Someone in dcu should know better which lecturers are kewl and sound. Once again, just my two cents .

CuLT

I live in Dublin, I'll get away with a 15 min walk to the 16 bus stop and then about an hour in. Still, a long haul, might try for res if I can.

You'll spot me easily enough, there's numerous photos of me online and I'm 6ft, skinneh and have a mop of curly brown hair. Unmissable.

Ciaran500

Sarunas wrote:

Right guys, how are we gonna know who is who? I can be easilly spotted, just look for a skinny guy who is 6' 3"...

Blackwizard is a skinny 6'3" guy with glasses and Smellyirishman is an even skinier 6'2" guy.

StickyMcGinty

Ciaran500 wrote:

Blackwizard is a skinny 6'3" guy with glasses and Smellyirishman is an even skinier 6'2" guy.

i'm glad thats cleared up so

trust me, you'll have a blast! i made so many friends last year and i was only in till crimbo.

i'll introduce ye!


seriousley though, you'll have a blast!

Smellyirishman

OK just got back.

Firstly the maths thing is bull, I did honours till x-mas and when I talked to the female head of CA she said "ah you will be perfectly fine so" and she said your OK with pass as long as you knuckle down a bit, I mean im not expecting to just breeze through the first year, but I dont expect to be in my house from 6pm-10pm studying!

Secondly, The points will go no lower than 300, this is a benchmark set so that messers dont get in (as the course is not easy, just unpopular for the last few years and they already have enough drops)

Thirdly , Yep looks like we all 6 foot something skinny fookers! Ill be the one in the leather jacket.

Fourth, Iv heard ill of the social aspect but im sure it is what you make of it, I know Im up for a laugh and aint just gonna drag myself through 4 years of school without talking to anyone!

P.S incase it hasent been noticed, me and wizard are both from palmerstown.

We need a boards meeting in the HUB!!

PPS, Will be PMing some of you veterans sometime im sure

PPPS also anyone going to DCU should meet up too! not just us DC121ers, But remember ALL YOUR POINTS ARE BELONG TO US

BlackWizard

Smelly was drunk when he wrote that. Id to walk him home from my house lol ..........he knows he is screwed for the maths! ha ha. Maths Smaths we will be all fine

Smellyirishman

Go to bed you bum!

Got an A1 in pass so I should be grand for the maths part, and at least we see it being put to use, not like we just plugging away at stupid questions for no end goal.

Now sleep Mr.Wizard, I cant my mam is in m bed reading cause my dad is snoring

Moonbeam

The points will depend on the demand so don't be too disappointed if they go up and you don't get it.

Sarunas

BlackWizard wrote:

Hey Sarunas your not gonna be that easy to spot cause im 6ft3inc also and athletic(skinny) so.......Your not alone. I also heard the social side is not quite as obvious in DCU as in most colleges but if we make friends it will turn out to be great! Does anyone live as far away as Palmerstown or am i gonna be the only one gettin TWO! buses every morning??

Few of my friends are hoping to do go to DCU (a mate of mine wanting to do theoritical physics, then his mate wanting to do genetics, and then few other people who hopefully will get in to comp app). Then few other people who are already in DCU, actually i met him in the early hours of the morning today, while waiting for a taxi, i was heavily drunk, but he said that he will be a mentor .

I live in laytown co. meath (just below drogheda), i will be getting a commuter train from laytown to connoly station(~1 hour), then get the bus(something like 30 min) to dcu, overall its like an hour and a half just to get to dcu. Me will have to travel for 3 hours a day...