The Engineering Thread

irishguy00

I shall be starting my course in Engineering on the second also. There doesn't seem to be many on this thread doing that course, only counted 2 out of the 170 available places! Oh well.

Anyone with a few years experience in Engineering, PM me with some tips. Shall be quite helpful as i know no one else doing engineering

irishguy00

irishguy00 wrote:

Anyone with a few years experience in Engineering, PM me with some tips. Shall be quite helpful as i know no one else doing engineering

You're probably better off - while you will find that while you will have to 'put yourself out' a bit more, it will work out better for you. There are several horror cases of people going into a college with some of their friends that they know, only to realise at the end of 3/4 years that they haven't made any new friends.

There's some random bit of information here about the make up of the course.

Basic tips go to as many tutorials & labs as you can (as well as lectures, but the other two are more important in my opinion). These are the places where you will actually have an opportunity to ask detailed questions, as well as do some problem solving (rather then absorption in lectures). Because you're in a lecture room with 200 other people, there usually isn't time to ask the lecturer a detailed question if you don't understand something.

Maths (1E1, 1E2, 2E1, 2E2, 3E1, 3E2): Usually ok, though it does vary from lecturer to lecturer. 1E2, if it is still Donal O'Donovan is a tough subject, but he's a decent guy so do ask questions. Conor Houghton is a legend. You'll go to lectures just to hear his stories.

Computer Science (1E3, 2E3): Again, go to the tutorials and you should be ok. Has changed since I did it, but apparently it is a lot more interesting in second year.

If you haven't done Applied Mathematics, you will find from talking to others that have done it that some of first year is based around it (I'd guess that more of the new 'Mechanics' course will be anyways!). There are usually plenty of the brown 'Fundamental Applied Mathematics' books in the library, if you need it.

Your first year will be changed considerably from previous years, which may lead to some hiccups in the first few weeks as it will be a new course, but that's just guesswork.

On the social side of things, make sure to go to the class parties (class reps or Engineering Society will be organising something within a week or two). Join societies, come in to Freshers' Week (even if you don't know anyone, go on a tour group with some people and say hi to them, or come to the Beers).

And that's all I can remember for now. You'll pick up most things within the first weeks/months, but do remember that there is a failure rate of around 30% in first year. There are repeats during summer, but it's not the nicest studying in August & September. Remember, tutorials & labs!

Good luck!

(ApeX, Nietzschaen, Crash_000: any chance irishguy00's post could be copied to another thread sometime? Would be helpful for the sake of archiving later, as there isn't a decent thread on Engineering at present.)

irishguy00

Thanks for that!! Really helpful info there.

Yeah, i like the idea of being thrown in the deep end for meeting new people. In a way i'm kinda glad it's just me. All the more people i get to know!

Was thinking of going to the beers, but the people on that forum seem to know each other quite well so i'd probably end up sitting by myself in the corner. Defo gong to freshers week though. Really looking forward to it actually.

Crash

Dude, we're pretty inviting tbh we've all been the newbie at a beers - you know you wanna come along

Barry Aldwell

In general, don't let yourself fall behind. Especially 1E7 (Chemistry) and 1E3 (Computer Science for Engineers). One of my less fun moments this year was realising 2 weeks before the exam that I had no clue whatsoever about chemistry.

1E3 is one of those weird subjects. If you like computers, and are interested in programming you can easily get 99% in the exam (I got 97, I'm still wondering where the other 3% went). But if you don't like computers, it won't be your friend at all. Don't do the stupid thing that a lot of people do, and get someone to email you the solutions to the labs, and then present them to the examiners. Get help with it, ask someone who is doing well to explain it to you again, use the programming support centre. You can't get the answers emailed to you in the exam. It's all fairly easy stuff tbh, the main problem that people have is the way of thinking associated with solving the problem you're given.

1E2 is annoying, but pay attention and do the assignments and you should be fine.

You got at least a C3 in honours maths in the Leaving Cert. That's 1E1 sorted already...... (seriously)

The rest of the course is fairly alright, just pay attention and do the assignments, and you shouldn't do too badly.

irishguy00

Right so! I shall head to the beers, you've pulled me arm (Any excuse to drink) Is it taking place over the Fresher's week? And most likely it will be on campus or in a pub nearby? Jesus, can't wait for college! Tis goona be mad...

Thanks for all the advice, btw. I was going into college blind, but i've a fair bit of info now.

Gileadi

Couldnt agree more with the comments about not falling behind in 1e3, if you start getting things emailed to you at the start of the year you may aswell pencil it in your planner that your gonna repeat that subject (judging from the experience of 4 of my friends who were repeating it just yesterday)

Anybody know if engsoc is gonna be active this year again? Last i heard some guy called Aidan going into SS was gonna run things

Gileadi

Gileadi wrote:

Anybody know if engsoc is gonna be active this year again? Last i heard some guy called Aidan going into SS was gonna run things

No idea. Didn't really see hear too much of Eng Soc last year, bar the Eng Ball (which I couldn't go to, stupid elections.)

Endymion

EngSoc is always messed up and about. I wouldn't join it again.

wrt chemistry, theres this little purple book they recommend every year. IT was writen by and engineers or something like that, for people who don't have a background in chemistry. Its a good little book, get it at the start. Forget Silberberg.

rob lewis and wynne evans
Chemistry
palgrave foundations
ISBN 0-333-96257-5

enda1

Ah yeah engineering is great. Most friendly course in college, but then i'm biased! Make sure to chat with people in the first eek. Even the intro lectures during freshers week is a great place to introduce yourself and see if they're going to any of the nights out (go to them all!).

Going into SS myself. Aidan is taking over the EngSoc is he??
He's great at getting things done so that shoud help the society.

Yeah 1e3, 1e7 (chemisty i think) are hardest if ye have never done them. Chemistry is even hard if ye have. Quite a big step up from LC, plus (or maybe mainly) its boring as sh!t.

Labs and tutorials as said beform. VVVVV Important.

Good luck!

Endymion

The chemistry isn't a huge step above the LC, however it is a re-education for those that did it for the LC, oh and yes it is boring as ****.

For new first years, Physics & Chemistry will be combined into one subject.

Endymion

Myth wrote:

For new first years, Physics & Chemistry will be combined into one subject.

Thats great news, I can honestly say that only half of what was taught in both those subjects had any importance what so ever to the degree.

enda1

Yeah thats probably true it wasnt a huge step up but man i hated it. Always knew i was going to be doing mec so was just going through the motions....
Joining the subjects is good. cut out a lot of the waffle.

Endymion

Are you a senior sophistor? I might know yea.

enda1

Well will be on the 9th. Can we call ourselves that now??
what stream are ye?

enda1

enda1 wrote:

Well will be on the 9th. Can we call ourselves that now??
what stream are ye?

I've been calling myself SS since last year. Once you're in, I suppose it's fair game.

I'm in Civil.

Endymion

Computer and electronic.

Barry Aldwell

enda1 wrote:

Yeah 1e3, 1e7 (chemisty i think) are hardest if ye have never done them.

1E7 is (was, they'll probably all drop a number now that they've combined physics and chemistry) engineering drawing. Boring as hell through the year, but outrageously easy to pass once you do even the smallest amount of work.

Nietzschean

Myth wrote:

I've been calling myself SS since last year. Once you're in, I suppose it's fair game.

I'm in Civil.

is it not rising SS until you reg? though i dunno....

Shelga

Yay. finally a thread on engineering! I am a newbie also, heading into 1st year... Can't wait for it, but don't really know what to expect. Advice appreciated!

Endymion

If you can survive past christmas your doing good. The first term is scary as hell, and they dilberately make it that way, to flush out the weak.

Shelga

Wh-what? So it's NOT all drinking and dossing?! Seriously though, how hard are we talking? Would I still be able to keep a part time job, about 15 hrs a week? Have heard conflicting views from people about that.

Nietzschean

depends on your ability really, no way to know before you start it, engineering has lots of labs and tutorials you need to be therefore. Some people i know managed fine missing terms of lectures in some subjects.... Myth wasn't exactly the model of attendence in 1st year iirc

Barry Aldwell

Shelga wrote:

Wh-what? So it's NOT all drinking and dossing?! Seriously though, how hard are we talking? Would I still be able to keep a part time job, about 15 hrs a week? Have heard conflicting views from people about that.

I seriously doubt you could keep up a part time job without falling behind......

sully-gormo

Engineering is supposed to be 35/40 hours a week, so youre least likely to be able to keep it up

[Edit]
A job that is
[/Edit]

Endymion

It is very very easy for engineering to get on top of you and fall behind. It will take you awhile to realise what you can skip and what you absouletely can't. I wouldn't advice a part time job unless you really have to do it.

To put it in propective, First year has the most hours of all the years, followed closely by second year. You'll be in from 9 - 6 allot of days, with usually just the one hour off in the day. After a week like that you need a break at the weekend or you'll burn out. First year was hell.

Seriously you have to make a decision, are you a student or are you a member of the work force. Are you going to committee yourself for four years or arn't you.

I know some people have have held down part time jobs and engineering, but they are few, the majority of your class won't have a part time job. Just wait untill you're afew weeks in before making the decision, thats the best advice you can get.

Shelga

Ok, not exactly what I was hoping to hear... I know engineering is a lot of hours but it's not a question of choosing work over college. I don't want to rely on my parents for money throughout the year. Think I'll just stick with it for a few weeks (15 hrs MAX) and see how it goes. If it gets too much I'll just quit my job, seeing as I hate it anyway! So really it's a win-win situation. :-)

As was said in other threads, think about giving grinds. Usually if you made it into Engineering, you'd be ok at the old maths, and there's a lot of demand for Leaving Cert maths grinds. Plus it can be revision too for 1E1

Endymion

Well I'd suggest swallowing your pride. I came to an agreement with my parents that if I did engineering I would be leaning on them. I'd work during the summer and get some money together, but wrt to travel expenses, books, meals, stationary, I'd be needing hand outs. Parents agreed that it made the most sense. Repeating a year is expensive. And since murphy's law applies, anything you skip out on and fall asleep on, will be end up biting you in the ass the following year.

You can easily survive in college on 20 euro a week once the above are taken care of. That said, I've known of people who go through 50 euro a day.

Would you not try the course out first, and then see if you can handle a part time job, rather the other way around? Cause I'd love to know where you think you'll be fitting in 15 hours of extra work a week on top of 35-40 hours of lectures, labs and tutorials plus assignments and write-ups. Take it from those that have gone before, the last thing you want to do is fall behind in write up's and Labs, they can contribute greatly to your final marks, and in tight subjects often make the difference between pass and fail.

Then again you might be able to handle it, Some can. Would it be an idea to get your parents to read this thread?

Shelga

*begins to gulp at the mountain of work that awaits* I appreciate the advice, seriously, because I don't know anyone doing engineering!! Right, I am beginning to look forward to the day in the very near future that I tell my boss to shove her job where the sun don't shine. My thinking now is... Keep working for the first 3-4 weeks of college (going to NYC at xmas and desperately need money, nothing to do with pride) and then give it up. Surely that's manageable? SURELY?? Please, I need some reassurance that engineering is not all I will be doing from dawn til dusk every day! I am starting to become a tad apprehensive, don't know what to expect at all.

Shelga

Ok I have just read my last post, I realise that makes it sound like I didnt give a second thought about my first CAO choice, but you know what I mean... I did plenty of research about what I'd be studying, it's just not the same as talking to actual students.

kayohore

I can't comment directly about the course; but I do know a good few engineers professionally and know for a fact several were able to manage college and part-time work perfectly fine.

The only advice I can give is to try it and see how you go; just make sure you sort your priorities out before you do. Some people can work and study just about every god-given hour and get by fine, others cringe at the thoughts of actually WORKING while in college. The horror!

Nietzschean

kayohore wrote:

I can't comment directly about the course; but I do know a good few engineers professionally and know for a fact several were able to manage college and part-time work perfectly fine.

You say professionally? i.e. they are all finished? engineering courses are all different i.e. if they went somewhere else its pretty meaningless. Also the courses change pretty frequently so its still probally meaningless.....

Carnivore and Myth are current eng students so i dunno they are probally the most relyable source of info. While i'm sure its possible to do a part-time job, in most high load courses wheither people have managed them or not it has dented their grades by more than a little.

Endymion

kayohore wrote:

I can't comment directly about the course; but I do know a good few engineers professionally and know for a fact several were able to manage college and part-time work perfectly fine.

Few engineering Degree's have compulsory common years these days, let alone two years common. In my opinion studying four different and distinct disciplines of engineering is what makes the first two years difficult and time consuming. You really have to spend your time wisely, and there's allot of very different material to take in. I think I sat something like 8 -9 exams at the end of first year, and a similar number at the end of second. I knew pretty much no one with a part time job in first and second year.

All that said you're lucky that they combined chemistry and physics, these two had the highest failure rates when I was going through first.

Again, I know people that have taken on part time jobs and college, and managed to get through, some have done well enough. However it's always pretty sad seeing a smart guy without a clue because he's skiping lectures due to work committments or falling asleep due to all nighters. Even worst when you're in a group with him/her.

If you absolutely have to work, make it the weekends, and get something quiet where you can do out lab reports or assignments.

kayohore

You say professionally? i.e. they are all finished? engineering courses are all different i.e. if they went somewhere else its pretty meaningless. Also the courses change pretty frequently so its still probally meaningless.....

Some recently finished, some not-so recently. I'm not disputing the amount of time required to do well on the course, merely trying to get the point across that people manage in different ways. And also not everyone has the luxury of being supported by their parents.

Poor Shelga nearly has his mind made up before he even begins the course, rather than finding out for himself how he manages with part-time work. As I said, some people can manage fine.

Anyway, best of luck whatever you decide to do Shelga.

Endymion

There are some inherent difficulties which arise purely from the fact you're starting a course like the Trinity engineering one, and you're unsure of how things actually work. These do subside with time, if you can out last them. Drop out rates are fairly high in the first term.

But meh, I think pretty much all that can be said has been said wrt part time jobs. You'll have to see for yourself.

Shelga

Poor Shelga nearly has his mind made up before he even begins the course, rather than finding out for himself how he manages with part-time work.

Ahem... Shelga is a girl... Thanks for the sympathy tho! & thanks to everyone for the help. Aside from the job issue, I just want to get in the damn place at this stage!!

irishguy00

I knew Shelga was a girl!!! My instincts were right. I am honed to women like a paedophile to a group of children...

Oh god, what a horrible analogy. Sorry to any children, or paedophiles

Endymion

One thing I think I should add, which I was thinking about earlier. In secondary school the attitude is often "learn everything off" learn, study, learn, study, learn study. That approach will fail you completely in this course as they try and focus on cencepts rather then memoriesing large volumes of information. Also the range of subjects are so wide that there is no way you can learn every details of every subject, and most courses are only an introduction briefly touching of certain topics, then moving on.

I remember a lab I did in first year about radio trancievers, which I hadn't a clue about nor had i had any lectures on it. We where just thrown into the deep end and expected to sink or swim. The matierial for the lab I only covered in third year, and some students will never cover it. You'll get allot of that in first year, struggling though labs with the barest of ideas about whats going on and what you are ment to do. Sure every single chemistry lab my lab partners pulled my though. It can get you down and make you feel delusioned, but nearly everyone is in the same situation.

Concepts and techniques, thats what it's all about. You understand the concepts and techniques for problems solving, and you'll be able answer pretty much every question asked in the exam. If you can only asked stuff you've seen before, you'll be pretty ****ed in a couple subjects.

Some completely random points...

When it comes to exams (you should have two at Christmas, two at 'easter' and lots at the end of the year), remember that just because something came up in the exam papers last year does NOT mean that 'it has been asked' in the last number of years and so won't come up again. This mentality caught several of my friends out who just assumed that lecturers would change how they would set papers similar to the Leaving Cert. College is incredibly different to school.

Of course, the converse also applies - if something has been asked recently, there is no way of knowing that it will definitely come up in your year. If you are looking for any hints for exams, the last few weeks of a course are the handiest as the lecturers have, at times, given hints as to what will come up.

On the point Carnivore just made about labs I completely agree... because you'll be in a class of 160 - 200 people you might find that labs make sense about 3 months later than when you did the lab since you probably won't have covered some labs in lectures. This can be advantageous to you, or not. If you haven't covered it in class, it means that you have to go and research what the hell the lab is about, because when you're writing up a report you won't really know what's going on otherwise.

Because there's no-one to push you along in College, you tend to learn a lot about yourself and your capabilities, especially for a lot of people it is their first time away from their parents.

Oh, and on the job point I'd agree with Carnivore and others on how you have a lot of hours so it won't be easy, but it isn't impossible. Don't kill yourself through overworking (job, I mean) but at the same time if you can find a balance, than so be it.

fiddlestick

Yeh very long days...dont make the same mistake i did by taking half days when you should have been staying around for tutorials.
Tutorials are VERY important for a reason.
Submit every lab report even if you dont understand the lab in the first place. Youll do some telecomms labs that you wont learn the theory for until 3rd year, but all the same submit something...that goes for every lab and marked tutorial/continous assesment. At the end of the year lecturers really really hate doing repeats, so if you are borderline fail/pass and have some continous assesment marks, they'll pass you.
With respect to 1e2. it can be a hard subject for first years. You will have exams at christmas and easter. Try and study for them they really take the load off the summer exam.

All this advice is the opposite to what i did in first year!
Needless to say, I failed 1e2,1e4,1e6,1e7,1e8 .
Do the maths...a small bit of work during college leads to a repeat free summer.
However the biggest advice i can give is, if it all catches up on you and you feel snowed under with work, dont give up!keep your chin up....after failing five in 1st year I graduated with a very good degree 3 years later!
Join socities, drink alot (your an engineer...its what they do) and have fun.

Aero787

Can you take a French language module as part of your course? For example "French for Engineers"?

Barry Aldwell

There is the option to do a foreign language module in second year.....French isn't one of the options though, at least not this year.

Newb

Hi all,

I am starting Engineering this Oct and I was wondering if reports must be bound in any special way - such as Swing Clip Files - or will just stapling everthing together be fine with the lecturers?

Newb

Attractive Nun

Best question ever.

Barry Aldwell

Erm.......I'm sure the lecturers in question will tell you when the time comes......

Endymion

Newb wrote:

Hi all,

I am starting Engineering this Oct and I was wondering if reports must be bound in any special way - such as Swing Clip Files - or will just stapling everthing together be fine with the lecturers?

Newb

Dear god no. You've far to many reports and writeups and assignments for that carry on. That said some people like to put project write-Up's in those little folder things, it's not needed.

Endymion

oh, wrt the langauage thing, You could do French and german. However Things may have changed due to ARAM.

Newb

Thanks Carnivore

Carnivore wrote:

Dear god no. You've far to many reports and writeups and assignments for that carry on. That said some people like to put project write-Up's in those little folder things, it's not needed.

fiddlestick

Newb wrote:

Hi all,

I am starting Engineering this Oct and I was wondering if reports must be bound in any special way - such as Swing Clip Files - or will just stapling everthing together be fine with the lecturers?

Newb

Staples are fine. The last thing you need when marking 40 reports is to be ripping apart folders. Remember to be neat. if you are writing, do so legibly, for gods sake dont mix black pen and pencil!
If you type, USE SPELLCHECK,you would think this is obvious.
And no smart remarks about my spelling or grammar!