Cost of repeating the year?

Mr.Nice Guy

How much does it cost to repeat the year when you fail your exams?

I'd like to know how much it will hurt me in the pocket when I fail. (No this isn't me being defeatist, it's a foregone conclusion at this stage)

I know some people here have repeated the year. Is it alot?

Stepherunie

Depends on your course and stuff, if your're in first year it depends on how many modules you've failed.

If it's first year it's the fee for the year divided by the number of credits (ie 60) then multiplied by the number of credits you failed for that year. so if you failed a module worth 10 you pay 600e if your fee were 6000e.
You also have to pay the registration fee as far as I know.

If you're not in first year you're liable for full fees plus registration.

Chinafoot

It also depends on if you plan to do it externally.

Ya know, you could just spend the next two months studying very very hard and then wait and see how the exams go before you start freaking yourself out about repeating. There's also the Autumn repeats....

BKtje

i was told they got rid of external repeats. I may be very very wrong tho.

Chinafoot

Ah I see. To be honest MNG, if you're really that worried about it, your best bet is to go to admin and ask there.

There's been that many changes in the college over the past year that it may be very difficult for people here to tell you.

Stepherunie

If you're in first year or if you'll be repeating in the year that is currently first year then you will have to repeat internally. Email the fees and grants office.

This is something from the exams office from last autumn, not sure how accurate it still is but it may still be useful to you:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FIRST YEAR REPEAT STUDENTS

Students who did not pass their first year examinations in the academic session 2004/2005, and who wish to repeat the year, will be obliged to register for and attend the new modular courses for the subject area in which they are not exempt. The fee levied will be a proportion of the full-time fee, based on the total credit value of the modules taken as a fraction of the full-time credit load (60 ECTS* credits). A student taking 20 ECTS credits during a repeat year will thus pay 1/3 of the full-time fee. The University does not intend to offer external examination only repeats in the academic session 2005/2006 or any future session.

*European Credit Transfer System

Mr.Nice Guy

I'm not a first year I'm a second year.

It's not impossible that I'll pass my exams but I've missed so many essays and tutorials that I've resigned myself to the fact I'll fail.

I know there have been alot of changes but roughly speaking are we talking many hundreds...or thousands? :eek:

Blush_01

Look, my friend didn't do a scrap of continuous assessment all last year. He passed English and failed his other subject based on the exams themselves. I'm pretty sure the level of studying he did was limited at best - scrathc that, I know he did SFA for most of the exams.

If you start to study now, you can still pass. Plus, even though they're late, you can hand in your essays etc. until some time in April, as far as I know. At least you could last year.

Best of luck, ok?

cruiserweight

OP have you been to talk to any of your lecturers or tutors about your marks? All may not be lost or as bad as it seems!

Slippers

Stepherunie wrote:

If it's first year it's the fee for the year divided by the number of credits (ie 60) then multiplied by the number of credits you failed for that year. so if you failed a module worth 10 you pay 600e if your fee were 6000e.

(€6000/60)x10=€1000

Jonny Arson

Here's a linky.... http://www.ucd.ie/fees/1styearrep.html

e.g. this year I'm doing 10 credits so I paid 1,430 euro fees..... it hurts the pocket badly!

also that's based on 1st year repeat fees but I'd guess it would be similar for 2nd year. Also external repeating is gone for good.

TBH repeating is sh!t. Do everything you can to scrape a pass in your subjects. Even if you are resigned to failing the year overall do your best to pass whatever parts of the courses you are strongest at so that would mean you won't have to do the entire 60 credits in 2nd year.

snickerpuss

Yeah i did hardly any work or essays last year and passed everything (except english [by 1%!!] but i passed it in the autumn)
So i'd try to study and not worry about essays etc, do any that are due in from here on in and just generally give it a shot.
You might be jammy like me.

Riamfada

you'll be fine. We'll all be fine.

Don't resign yourself to failing, seriously. It's a lot of money and a complete waste of time. You still have quite a while left, do all your essays and hand them in if it counts for anything at all. Ask a reliable friend or person in each class if you can copy their notes. I often do this even though I attend all the classes because I have ADHD and can't concentrate for sh*t. Study hard for a month or two before the exams and you should be able to learn enough to pass. Unless you think you'll fail based on attendance, but if it's the exams, it's possible to pass and you should at least see a lecturer about the essays so they're aware of the problem. I don't know why you didn't attend classes but if it's cos you couldn't be bothered, you will have the same problem next time around as well. It's well worth giving up your social life for a while and giving the exams a shot.

Mr.Nice Guy

Thanks for the kind words. You're all surprisingly nice altogether. I fear your good words and optimism might be mispalced on me but I suppose if I study my arse off over the break I might be able to salvage something.

Thanks again. At least I feel better.

LovelyHurling

to be honest if youre panicking in march you'll probably pass summer or youll deffo pass autumn. provided the panic doesnt subside... never let it go!


The power is yourrrs. Rahh.

rainbow kirby

The panic makes you study. Really.
Though the last time I was in 2nd year, the panic hit in July... :eek:
So take a few deep breaths, and open the books

cruiserweight

rainbow kirby wrote:

The panic makes you study. Really.
Though the last time I was in 2nd year, the panic hit in July... :eek:
So take a few deep breaths, and open the books

Thankfully I never had to repeat! But a friend of mine when we were in Science did repeats every year and did his 3rd year exams 4 times! The panic did not hit him until August! But he got caught out when he did a H.Dip course which unknown to him had no repeats! he called the admin in July "When are the repeats", and the response "There are no repeats in that course Mr.*****, there never have been"

cruiserweight

Mr.Nice Guy wrote:

Thanks for the kind words. You're all surprisingly nice altogether. I fear your good words and optimism might be mispalced on me but I suppose if I study my arse off over the break I might be able to salvage something.

Thanks again. At least I feel better.

Trust me, go talk to your lecturers, tutors etc. It can make a difference, not in the marks you have received but will show that you care etc. You may not be in as bad of a situation as you think!

tintinr35

MNG seriously dont do it man, it is the worst ever!! the inital cost is about 1130 for fees to do it externally, but it is estimated that it will cost u aprox 40k in the long term as regards future loss of earnings accom, food etc!!! just work your ass off for the next 8/9 weeks and ul be fine its seriously possible to do!!

rainbow kirby

You know, that really makes me feel great about the 2 extra years I'm spending in college...

Chinafoot

Aww don't feel too bad! I know a guy who's in his 6th year of a 3 year degree

Scraggs

one of my mates is in his sixth yr of college and still in first year!!

Chinafoot

Wow! Ok...you win!

arbeitsscheuer

My bruv did a 10 year degree...
When he started in 1995 it was supposed to take 4 years... Finally graduated last year. Now that's impressive!

Anyway. You have a month and a half MNG.

Study your ass off and you'll be fine.

Or don't study, and be like me...

...and you don't want that.:eek:

Chinafoot

SebtheBum wrote:

Anyway. You have a month and a half MNG.

TWO months....he has TWO months!!!

Exams start on the 8th of May........just let me believe damn you!

tintinr35

its plenty of time time tho (well it better b) i repeated last year and believe me its not fun ended up with a bit of an ould habit cause id too much time on my hands (thankfully ive given it up now) but honestly the trees between the restaurant and the arts block still haven started to blossom yet so we are sound!!!!!!!!!!!

rainbow kirby

Ah yes. The true UCDian starts to study when the blossoms appear. And if you haven't started by the time the blossoms fall off, you're f*cked. I'm reminded of the time I was walking into science when they cut down a lot of the blossom trees about 2 years ago... There was a carpet of blossom on the ground, I hadn't started studying for my exams yet and part of me just went 'oh ****, it's the apocalypse!'

tintinr35

it was one of the first things our 1st politics lecturer(and head of dept i refuse to call it school) said to us in 2003 and little did i realise how true it was!!

beanyb

I think I remember you being all panicky about failing last year too, but you managed to make it to 2nd year!!

Mr.Nice Guy

beanyb wrote:

I think I remember you being all panicky about failing last year too, but you managed to make it to 2nd year!!

Fair point, although I don't know if I'll have two miracles in a row.

Jonny Arson

Out of interest Mr.Nice Guy (aka B-k, Seb, Scraggs, myself ), how much percentage deos your coursework make up for your subjects?

Don't think about repeat exams or repeating the year until you've got your summer exam results. No point at all even worrying slightly at this stage.

I'll be honest here and not negative but repeating your exams in August will probably screw up your summer a bit so be prepared for that and if it is the case just because you repeat them in August it doesn't guarantee that you will pass as I've found out the hard way thanks to those complete d!ckheads from the Sociology Department giving us the most almighty f**k off out of UCD paper. It all requires study and effort but you will have to be right on the ball as the exams could well be harder in August.

Good luck man, give it your all for May as it will be worth it!

Mr.Nice Guy

Zane from MTV2 wrote:

Out of interest Mr.Nice Guy (aka B-k, Seb, Scraggs, myself ), how much percentage deos your coursework make up for your subjects?

I'm not certain. The exam makes up the bulk of the marks but I've missed a scary amount of tutorials and essays. I would say the exam makes up 75% of the marks maybe but I'm not sure.

Zane from MTV2 wrote:

Don't think about repeat exams or repeating the year until you've got your summer exam results. No point at all even worrying slightly at this stage.

Well I've to head into UCD on Monday to return some books so that might be the perfect time to start some studying!

On another note, someone mentioned about April being the deadline for essays. Does that mean I could hand in essays now and still salvage something?

beanyb

The history department wont take late essays after 2 weeks, so that's a bit of a waste. Politics will take them, but you lose 10% per week it's late, so if it's more that 2 or 3 there isnt really too much point. You could get cracking on the IR one though, it was only due last Friday.

In Politics, tutorials and essays and all that make up 20% of the overall marks, with essays being just under 10%. (40 marks out of a possible 90 - 18 go to attendance, 24 to presentations and the rest to participation and all that lark.) In History i'm not too sure, but I think it's around the 20-25% mark for tutorials and essays.

arbeitsscheuer

In History essays and tutorials make up 25% of the overall grade.

beanyb

Ooh I just found a handy little chart my tutor gave us for the percentage each exam is worth too... might come in handy for ya:

Theory 16%
Comparative 16%
Research 16% (eek!)
IR 8%
Each option 8%, so 24% altogether.

So basically each exam question is worth 8% of your overall grade.

arbeitsscheuer

Heh, yeah I remember that from last yr alrite. Political Research was generally considered to be the worst course EVER - but in the Autumn Repeats I did much worse in Democratic Theory: 5%. FIVE PERCENT!

...And I still passed overall.:D

You won't be repeatin the year MNG, just ain't gonna happen, especially since ur worrryin about it NOW - as opposed to 2 weeks AFTER the exams, like me last year...

tintinr35

Political research is the biggest load of bollox, it makes NO SENSE

cast_iron

Well, having failed a couple of years, i've sat over 90 exams in UCD now....must be close to some sort of record, and having got marks from 0% to 87%, i'm well used of the UCD exam system.
Realistically won't start proper study for another 6 or 7 weeks.....in other words we all have LOADS of time.....
(It's probably that attitude that got me to where I am!)
....Roll on August

Mr.Nice Guy

beanyb wrote:

You could get cracking on the IR one though, it was only due last Friday.

I don't even know what the choices are for that one. That just goes to show what a waster I have been. Do you have the titles for the essays?

beanyb

1. Describe the main features of neo-realism.

2. Does international conflict originate in human psychology?

3. What are the key postulates of Democratic Peace Theory?

Mr.Nice Guy

beanyb wrote:

1. Describe the main features of neo-realism.

2. Does international conflict originate in human psychology?

3. What are the key postulates of Democratic Peace Theory?

Thanks alot. Number 2 sounds like a good one. What one did you go for?

m1ke

if you've got questions about politics stuff you should drop into G316 on your tutors office hour. They're usually just there twiddling their thumbs for 60 minutes waiting for someone to show..... there's nothing to do and u can't leave the room incase some1 turns up.

Blush_01

Plus, they get paid for it, whether they're reading the paper or talking to someone.

tintinr35

Mr.Nice Guy wrote:

Thanks alot. Number 2 sounds like a good one. What one did you go for?

its a bit late now it was due on friday at 5

Blush_01

Most of the offices will be open during the week though, if they'll accept it late.

Mr.Nice Guy

tintinr35 wrote:

its a bit late now it was due on friday at 5

beanyb wrote:

Politics will take them, but you lose 10% per week it's late, so if it's more that 2 or 3 there isnt really too much point. You could get cracking on the IR one though, it was only due last Friday.

Keep up, mate.

arbeitsscheuer

Mr.Nice Guy wrote:

Keep up, mate.

That's rich coming from you, ya haven't even started the bleedin' essay yet!!!:p

beanyb

And of course, he'll benefit from simply doing the essay anyway!

Mr.Nice Guy

SebtheBum wrote:

That's rich coming from you, ya haven't even started the bleedin' essay yet!!!:p

Can't someone else do it?

Vainglory

The Ultimate Story of Hope

This is all totally factual. If I can pass 2nd year Arts with this track record, then anyone can.

1. I went to two Philosophy tutorials all year (both of which were in October) and one History tutorial (also October).
2. I went to very, very few lectures before Christmas, and absolutely none after Christmas.
3. I did no essays in either subject all year, and so was down 25% in both subjects as I wouldn't have had any tutorial attendance marks either.
4. I got the "Are you still studying History?" letters from the department. Also Philosophy equivalents.
5. I didn't study at all over the three week break, even though I swore to myself that I would.
6. Towards the end of the year, I even forgot my timetable entirely.
7. Basically, I dropped out of college all year and then did the exams anyway.
8. I crammed like a complete lunatic for the two weeks beforehand. Reading room every night, Pro-Plus caffeine pills the night before an exam, early morning and late night cramming sessions. Very ill-advised and unhealthy, buuuuuuuuuuuuuut..

1270 HIS 2000 1 History Main Campus UCD 3H

450
1000
45%
Summer

1304 PHIL 2000 1 Philosophy Main Campus UCD 2H2

510
1000
51%
Summer

Ding dang doo.

It seems really impossible when you're in a situation like that, but in order to get a 40% when you only have 75% available to you, just think about it in terms of having to average a 53.3 in each essay you do in the exams (this is History, not sure about Politics) A 53% in an exam essay is far easier to get than a 53%in a coursework essay too...they're marked quite differently. If you reproduced in an exam a coursework essay that got you 55% you'd probably be given a first in it in the exam.

You'll do better in some questions, worse in others etc, but all you need is for it to average out.

Most lecturers give tips, it is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL to find out what these are. If it wasn't for tips I would never have passed college exams.

MNG, what history options are you doing? I might have done them last year.

Anyway, bottom line, Arts is passable if you don't get defeatist about it, especially not this early. I remember you saying you were going to fail last year too

PS Nobody is allowed to point out the irony of the Education Officer being such a bad student. Thankyou please.