Computer Science

Timans

I am only a 5th year but I am looking to do Computer Science in Trinity when the time comes.

Is a Science subject required or would I get in without it?

I need answers soon as I may change History for Physics if it's required.

Thanks,

Timans

xebec

Wow, big variety! CS or History or Physics - you sure you know what you want to do?!

snappieT

No, all you need is the points, and an honour in honours Maths.

That's for now anyway, it could change, but I doubt it. Physics will help you though (in "Electrotechnology & Telecommunications"), but you can survive without.

Timans

No,

I want to do CS.

But, If a science subject is required for CS, then I may drop one of my current LC subjects (i.e History) for a science subject (i.e Physics)

Timans

snappieT wrote:

No, all you need is the points, and an honour in honours Maths.

That's for now anyway, it could change, but I doubt it. Physics will help you though (in "Electrotechnology & Telecommunications"), but you can survive without.

Are you definite?

If so, could you give me some linkable evidence. It's just my Guidance Counsellor said that I need a Science subject for any course with Science in the course name. :rolleyes:

Thanks. I really want this course.

Endymion

He does computer science so I'd say he is sure. Check out TCD.ie for course requirements

Timans wrote:

If so, could you give me some linkable evidence. It's just my Guidance Counsellor said that I need a Science subject for any course with Science in the course name. :rolleyes:

He/she/it is a muppet.

Creamy Goodness

you don't need a science subject, but one will definelately help especially physics.

Timans

Ah right,

Cheers.

xebec

CS only requires a C3 in honours maths, see page 4 of this for info.

Timans

The same guidance counsellor told us we needed a science subject for Engineering aswell..

She's so bad.

eth0_

Timans wrote:

The same guidance counsellor told us we needed a science subject for Engineering aswell..

She's so bad.

Maybe she meant you really need to have a science subject at leaving cert level to be able to cope with the course. I would say you have a high chance of failing engineering if you've never done physics or honours/applied maths.

Endymion

Timans wrote:

The same guidance counsellor told us we needed a science subject for Engineering aswell..

She's so bad.

You used to. Applied maths was counted as a science. Forget about engineering unless you have somescience. Tbh, what are you thinking doing history if CS or Engineering is where you're going? Applied maths and Physics whould be what you build your subject choices around. Also technical drawing and chemistry would help, but only in first year.

Timans

I don't want to do Engineering.

I was just using an Example. What's wrong with History?

Like, I love computers but I also love History.

Endymion

Timans wrote:

I don't want to do Engineering.

I was just using an Example. What's wrong with History?

Like, I love computers but I also love History.

The leaving cert isn't about what you "love". Yes theres no point doing something you hate, but frankly since you know you want to do CS, you should pick subjects you know you'll have a use for after you finish school. Physics will be allot mroe usefull then history.

shay_562

The leaving cert isn't about what you "love". Yes theres no point doing something you hate, but frankly since you know you want to do CS, you should pick subjects you know you'll have a use for after you finish school. Physics will be allot mroe usefull then history.

Two things. First of all, the leaving cert isn't about preparing you for the real world, it's about getting points and meeting matriculation requirements. You're more likely to pick up points in a subject you love and are well-motivated in. Secondly, I'm assuming the OP is 15 (maybe 16?); isn't there the slightest chance that in the next two years he might change his mind? (when I was 15, I was dead set on becoming a teacher. Now I wouldn't dream of that)

Besides, if Physics and Applied Maths aren't subject requirements for CS, it's because they're not necessary for the course - they might help a little, but aren't indispensible. The leaving cert is miserable enough without doing two years' worth of subjects you don't want to do just to give you a minor leg-up in one year of college.

Endymion

shay_562 wrote:

Two things. First of all, the leaving cert isn't about preparing you for the real world, it's about getting points and meeting matriculation requirements. You're more likely to pick up points in a subject you love and are well-motivated in. Secondly, I'm assuming the OP is 15 (maybe 16?); isn't there the slightest chance that in the next two years he might change his mind? (when I was 15, I was dead set on becoming a teacher. Now I wouldn't dream of that)

Besides, if Physics and Applied Maths aren't subject requirements for CS, it's because they're not necessary for the course - they might help a little, but aren't indispensible. The leaving cert is miserable enough without doing two years' worth of subjects you don't want to do just to give you a minor leg-up in one year of college.

Heres my two things. I said theres no point in doing something you hate, and I said that you will have more use for physics rather then history in CS. what was your point? That the subjects you love the most you'll do the best in? That doesn't hold true.

Btw, applied maths isn't in anyway necessary for CS, That post was about Engineering.

Crash

If I were you, I'd do physics instead of History. am in 3rd year CS and purely just for settling in in 1st year, it makes one course about a bazillion times easier (I still have nightmares about electrotech stuff thanks to my lack of physics knowledge)

its not necessary, but it'll make life easier.

If you want info on cs feel free to send me a pm to answer any questions - I could take a while replying but i'm on here a lot, so probably won't


actually, now that I think about it...*goes to check my course content for this year*

exiztone

Physics will make 'Electrotech' somewhat easier alright, but it's still a bogus class and you can pass it with its sister class 'Telecomms' if you don't like the difficult stuff.

History is more difficult than physics (in my opinion), but if you have an enthusiastic teacher, damn it's worth doing!

snappieT

exiztone wrote:

Physics will make 'Electrotech' somewhat easier alright, but it's still a bogus class and you can pass it with its sister class 'Telecomms' if you don't like the difficult stuff.

History is more difficult than physics (in my opinion), but if you have an enthusiastic teacher, damn it's worth doing!

This is true. I got my honour in Physics at LC level, and still was in a wtf! sorta place once Electrotech hit me. Studied Telecoms, passed.

Crash

Heh, in first year I managed to get a mark that meant I essentially aced telecoms, and got zero marks in electrotech that was hilarious

Timans

I don't mind Physics. It's just I prefer History and Geo is easier for points.

Also, I don't particularily like the Physics teacher as he can't really control the class.

If I don't NEED it, I won't do it.

Thanks for all the replies lads, I was really worried when The Guidance one said that I needed Science..

So happy to hear all the replies.

Answers have been given, but a handy site for checking course requirements is the TCD Admissions site (located here).

Timans

Myth wrote:

Answers have been given, but a handy site for checking course requirements is the TCD Admissions site (located here).

I checked that but because the Guidance Councellor had said about a Science subject.

I wasn't sure whether it was just a given that Science was needed when it was applying to the "Science Faculty" and it had science in the course title.

I will not take her very serious in future.

Nietzschean

Timans wrote:

I will not take her very serious in future.

given my experence of them in 2 different schools during my lc years that seems like a prudent approach, both were beyond pointless.

Endymion

Timans wrote:

I checked that but because the Guidance Councellor had said about a Science subject.

I wasn't sure whether it was just a given that Science was needed when it was applying to the "Science Faculty" and it had science in the course title.

I will not take her very serious in future.

Forget about faculties, everything is done at the school level these days. Cs is pretty much a law onto itself.

btw, Cs has a very high drop out/failure rate from what I've been told. Keep that in mind. But yea, no one can argue with you doing the subjects you feel you'll get the highest points in. You can always get grinds on the relavent aspects of electronics, if you feel you need to, after the leaving.

Nietzschean

Timans wrote:

"Science Faculty"

As a point of interest, CS isn't in the science faculty anyway, engineering and system sciences faculty(unless they renamed it...)

exiztone

Nietzschean wrote:

given my experence of them in 2 different schools during my lc years that seems like a prudent approach, both were beyond pointless.

Yeah, they really are. Just as bad as my Irish teachers telling me I needed Irish to get into Trinity. Don't listen to them. Any non-English language is fine.

JackKelly

I wrote a big long reply for this thread and realised it really wasn't necessary, at the end of the day, do the subject which you think will get you the more points.

I did physics for LC and got high marks, spent the first 3 months of college doing pure physics, and the electrotech still went flying over my head!
The difference in leaving cert physics and college physics is huge, so any new physics you do is going to be very difficult to get your head around until you give it time to sink in towards the end of the year.
The course can be passed with only the telecomm's anyway. Just make sure to give your lab reports time, as they are worth 20% of your overall grade.(4% for neat writing and presentation we were told;))

Timans

Lab reports?!

I thought this was JUST about Computers. Is there practical experiments like JC science experiments? *shakes in terror at the thought*

kayohore

Haha, not even started the course and I'm already expecting to fail a portion of it

ixoy

Timans wrote:

Lab reports?!

I thought this was JUST about Computers. Is there practical experiments like JC science experiments? *shakes in terror at the thought*

There certainly was lab reports for Electrotech back when I did it and the professor of the time was a fussy git about it - he wanted them written out pretty much perfectly. But that was nearly a decade ago...

I'd highly recommend a grounding in physics for that portion of the module. It certainly helped me and my friends who hadn't touched such science had a much more difficult time.

Also make sure you focus on the maths. Although you only need a C3+, it'd really help if you're more at a B2+ level when it comes down to it.

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI

ixoy wrote:

There certainly was lab reports for Electrotech back when I did it and the professor of the time was a fussy git about it - he wanted them written out pretty much perfectly. But that was nearly a decade ago...

Still are lab reports, and the fussiness over presentation is almost farcical, especially considering they won't ALLOW you to do lab reports on a PC, they had to be hand written. People have been docked marks for "not using enough different colours" and when I made boxes around diagrams, I got docked marks for having 2 boxes around a diagram instead of one...when I pointed out that this accentuated the diagram, and showed how a single box was markedly less clear, he goes "ok..well, on these diagrams the box is angled to the right, but on this one it's angled to the left...at least be consistent, so I'm docking you for that"...there are plenty of other weird and wonderful stories from that class, but I'll let someone else tell the rest Great subject, not great the way it's taught.

kayohore

Is that a consistent thing with CS reports and assignments? That they have to be handwritten?

Or is it just Electrotech...

Crash

Just electrotech. you have to keep a lab book in 2nd year for systems stuff, but its not too picky.

also if when it comes to doing lab reports this year a few of the 1st years could talk to me about it i'm kinda intending to kick up a fuss on making them somewhat accountable. its just disgraceful tbh, I put up with it in first year and heard complaints from others when I was in 2nd year, and kinda don't wanna see it go on any more. its a degree course, there should be proper standardisation.

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI

Just Electrotech.

Well...there's 1ba2's patented "java on paper bollocks", but that's tolerable...

WunderFull

Behold, if ye are CS, then you are permitted to use such gems as the pickup lines below:

"This ain't no 3 1/2" floppy."

"Want to see my software turn to hardware?"

Et cetera.

cianclarke

Eek, so I'm into first year CS without *any* physics. Bollocks.

&#231 wrote: »

Just electrotech. you have to keep a lab book in 2nd year for systems stuff, but its not too picky.

also if when it comes to doing lab reports this year a few of the 1st years could talk to me about it i'm kinda intending to kick up a fuss on making them somewhat accountable. its just disgraceful tbh, I put up with it in first year and heard complaints from others when I was in 2nd year, and kinda don't wanna see it go on any more. its a degree course, there should be proper standardisation.

Glad to be your "man on the inside" for first year electrotech :P

WunderFull wrote:

Behold, if ye are CS, then you are permitted to use such gems as the pickup lines below:

"This ain't no 3 1/2" floppy."

"Want to see my software turn to hardware?"

Et cetera.

Think I'll pass on these ones. :rolleyes:

cianclarke

cianclarke wrote:

Eek, so I'm into first year CS without *any* physics. Bollocks.

Meh, have a read of the science threads and you'll find some comments about how those who haven't done physics/chemistry before really took to them.

Endymion

cianclarke wrote:

Eek, so I'm into first year CS without *any* physics. Bollocks.

Whats done is done, don't worry about it. I went into first year engineering without any chemistry, and I got by. Just realise its an area you'll be weak in, and study up on it that bit more.

çrash_000, Good luck with that.

Pet

have a read of the science threads and you'll find some comments about how those who haven't done physics/chemistry before really took to them.

lol. Bitterly.

John

Personally I think not doing chemistry for the LC is a bonus when doing it in college. I had to forget a few "facts" I learned in chemistry when I got to college.

Nietzschean

well i found the same with physics

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI

cianclarke wrote:

Eek, so I'm into first year CS without *any* physics.

Seriously, it's nothing to worry about :O

So how many new CSers are there here this time? There was a whole slew of us on boards this time last year...

estilos

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI wrote:

So how many new CSers are there here this time? There was a whole slew of us on boards this time last year...

Three, I think... Me, Cianclark and Kayohore.

cianclarke

It tends to be the geeks doesn't it...
I swear I don't have a trenchcoat.

Nietzschean

good.

kayohore

Depends on your definition of a geek I suppose... unfortunately I think the fact I've worked with computers for years probably makes me one

Litmus test...

Do you wear clothes identically similar to this man?

cianclarke

kayohore wrote:

Depends on your definition of a geek I suppose... unfortunately I think the fact I've worked with computers for years probably makes me one

Yup, same boat...


Myth - nope, dunnes don't do leather Morpheus jackets.

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI

Identically similar? as opposed to Identically different?

Crash

Oh noes - morpheus is in trinity! *very bad sex pun*