Who is intending on doing maths, physics, tp after the leaving..

dan719

This is just a place for anyone consideribng doing these kinda courses to talk to others about there own impressions and plans for after the lc.

md99

I ain't no mathlete, bro, so I'm out.

eZe^

Physics in either UCC or Imperial College London. Cant wait!

Naikon

Seconded, Although thankfully I will use maths as a tool to a certain degree, just not to the same rigour required for heavy maths degrees etc.

JC 2K3

Oh God, you're going through that "OMG Physics is amazing and explains everything!!" phase.

I've been there. After realising that most of these highly advanced physics theories are unlikely to have any practical applications in our lifetimes I kinda lost interest.

Despite liking it a lot at first LC Physics has become dull to me. Chemistry(organic chem in particular) actually interests me a lot more now, and i've thought about putting Pharmacy or somehting similar on my CAO.

I'm doing Computer Science in TCD however. Quite a good bit of maths and logic involved there I think you'll find.

dan719

Imperial college. Interesting. Which one are you leaning towards?

eZe^

dan719 wrote:

Imperial college. Interesting. Which one are you leaning towards?

UCC, for the simple fact its a 10 minute drive and cork isnt one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in! Quite aware that it is a whole different experience over there, and you have you masters within 4 years. But Im quite lazy, Ill just apply to Stanford to do my PhD hopefully.

dan719

JC 2K3 wrote:

Oh God, you're going through that "OMG Physics is amazing and explains everything!!" phase.

Yeah 16 years is a long phase. Of course physics explains all these phases and orbits too.

And since you have realised that, perhaps we should all give up. I mean who are we to argue with your superior knowledge of physics and its applications. If only you had been around a hundred years ago, you could have saved einstein all the bother. Oh add a couple of centuries to that, bang no newton!! And science as we know would not exist!!

dan719

Stanford. Cool. And that ten minute drive thing seems handy too!

Naikon

JC 2K3 wrote:

Oh God, you're going through that "OMG Physics is amazing and explains everything!!" phase.

I've been there. After realising that most of these highly advanced physics theories are unlikely to have any practical applications in our lifetimes I kinda lost interest.

Despite liking it a lot at first LC Physics has become dull to me. Chemistry(organic chem in particular) actually interests me a lot more now, and i've thought about putting Pharmacy or somehting similar on my CAO.

I'm doing Computer Science in TCD however. Quite a good bit of maths and logic involved there I think you'll find.

I looked at that course, nice overall but I think that its weird that its the only CS course in Ireland that requires HL maths.
The course has a bias towards Electrical Engineering which I admit is not for me.

Not to say computer architecture is pointless, I do small bits of programing and understanding the machine you use at an assembly level is very usefull, just not to the atomic level which is too deep unless you intend on building computer Hardware.

This is what I have in mind

http://www.dit.ie/DIT/study/undergraduate/programmes07/DT228.pdf

JC 2K3

dan719 wrote:

Yeah 16 years is a long phase. Of course physics explains all these phases and orbits too.

And since you have realised that, perhaps we should all give up. I mean who are we to argue with your superior knowledge of physics and its applications. If only you had been around a hundred years ago, you could have saved einstein all the bother. Oh add a couple of centuries to that, bang no newton!! And science as we know would not exist!!

lol.

Mate, one thing you have to realise about me is that if you assert any kind of superiority or overt enthusiasm in your posts I WILL reply in a dismissive fashion.

lemansky

found it! nice job!no i've looked at the tp course and its defo interesting.o don't care if in my lifetime i never see a practical use for the theories really!:) its all good!

dan719

please do be dismissive, in fact no need to reply at all, I think I will be able to cope with it. And since I obviously wasn't being superior I must have been showing 'overt enthusiasm'. Which is ridiculous because to be enthusiastic about something would indicate a willingness to discuss it with others. i.e it would always be overt.
I am merely stating that things have uses no one can predict, e.g relativity and satellites.Who knows what technology todays theories will bring. Quantum computing maybe???

JC 2K3

Naikon wrote:

I looked at that course, nice overall but I think that its weird that its the only CS course in Ireland that requires HL maths.
The course has a bias towards Electrical Engineering which I admit is not for me.

Not to say computer architecture is pointless, I do small bits of programing and understanding the machine you use at an assembly level is very usefull, just not to the atomic level which is too deep unless you intend on building computer Hardware.

This is what I have in mind

http://www.dit.ie/DIT/study/undergraduate/programmes07/DT228.pdf

Looks like a nice course. I was in DIT a while back at a computer games conference and they seem to have a good focus on computers. They're one of the only places I know that allow you to specialise in computer game design.

I like all aspects of PCs and understand the hardware to a decent level already. In the end I narrowed it down to Computer Apps in DCU and CS in Trinity and chose Trinity in the end, basically because DCU is rather far away compared to Trinity and there's not that much to seperate the degrees(although DCU's is apparently the "best" in Ireland).

lemansky

JC 2K3 wrote:

Oh God, you're going through that "OMG Physics is amazing and explains everything!!" phase.

whereas personally i'm not like that:) i must say that when you boil everything down to it's bare minimum you do find physics at the heart of them.....

JC 2K3

dan719 wrote:

please do be dismissive, in fact no need to reply at all, I think I will be able to cope with it. And since I obviously wasn't being superior I must have been showing 'overt enthusiasm'. Which is ridiculous because to be enthusiastic about something would indicate a willingness to discuss it with others. i.e it would always be overt.
I am merely stating that things have uses no one can predict, e.g relativity and satellites.Who knows what technology todays theories will bring. Quantum computing maybe???

I don't mind that you like physics, it's just like calm down. I love computers but you don't see me making a thread saying, "OMG I'm doing Computer Science next year, isn't it the best course ever!? Please post here about your course and why computers rock!".

Not that I have a problem with threads about physics courses, just don't let yourself come across that you've just read a bunch of articles on stuff like special relativity and string theory and feel the need to spread the love of physics to the masses.

lemansky wrote:

whereas personally i'm not like that:) i must say that when you boil everything down to it's bare minimum you do find physics at the heart of them.....

Well of course, I'm referring more to the apparently inherent need some people have to tell the world how amazing physics is.

dan719

good point, so that now any personal affronts are out of the way and forgiven lol:D . Yeah so tp anyway....

dan719

okay maybe I did get carried away there, certainly wasnt intentional. To correct that I would like to point out that I do leave my house, shower and socialise, often in the same day!!!lol no but seriously I intended this as a forum for people who are doing tp to talk to others. I am quite worried that I will be out of my depth, and I know some others are too. Apoligies again.

Naikon

JC 2K3 wrote:

Looks like a nice course. I was in DIT a while back at a computer games conference and they seem to have a good focus on computers. They're one of the only places I know that allow you to specialise in computer game design.

I like all aspects of PCs and understand the hardware to a decent level already. In the end I narrowed it down to Computer Apps in DCU and CS in Trinity and chose Trinity in the end, basically because DCU is rather far away compared to Trinity and there's not that much to seperate the degrees(although DCU's is apparently the "best" in Ireland).

True, its a nice course I must say and I was impressed at the three types of graduates the course develops.

1 Development.
2 System/network person who can program.
3 Databases specialism.
4 computer games developer.

DCU is regarded as the best with its "practical" emphases, but DIT is my first choice over Computer Applications as DCU is indeed a pain in the ass with regards to Location and the fact that they are very similar courses.

EDIT: I would argue that CS in TCD is far more "mathematical" as it aims to produce Computer scientists as opposed to developers who apply that knowledge in terms of DCU,s aims.(minus games programming which is optional)

JC 2K3

Well, it's a thread not a forum, and stop using so many exclamation marks. But ok, we're even.

Since I'm not doing TP I'll leave this thread now unless Naikon wants to discuss CS further.

eZe^

Prefer normal physics to be honest, it deals with the more practical side of things as well as the mysterious and what not. Having a 50/50 spread of math and physics doesnt appeal to me either, I prefer using mathematical topics in solving physics problems, each to their own!

Computer science seems like a pretty cool course, those computer languages are pretty damn useful, might learn the basics of C+ when Im not too lazy!

Naikon

JC 2K3 wrote:

Well, it's a thread not a forum, and stop using so many exclamation marks. But ok, we're even.

Since I'm not doing TP I'll leave this thread now unless Naikon wants to discuss CS further.

The latter:D(if you want)

Naikon

eZe^ wrote:

Prefer normal physics to be honest, it deals with the more practical side of things as well as the mysterious and what not. Having a 50/50 spread of math and physics doesnt appeal to me either, I prefer using mathematical topics in solving physics problems, each to their own!

Computer science seems like a pretty cool course, those computer languages are pretty damn useful, might learn the basics of C+ when Im not too lazy!

Learn C first then C++ ,C++ assumes you know C before hand(mostly)
Besides C is the "lowest" HIGH level language and gives you control over memory management etc whereas JAVA, PERL do these things for you.
I would recommend learning some form of UNIX too, FREEBSD is my current favorite

eZe^

Naikon wrote:

Learn C first then C++ ,C++ assumes you know C before hand(mostly)
Besides C is the "lowest" HIGH level language and gives you control over memory management etc whereas JAVA, PERL do these things for u.
I would recommend learning some form of UNIX too, FREEBSD is a good bet.:)

See, I could have made a big mistake there. Thanks! :P

Naikon

No problem:)
Dont waste your time on VISUAL BASIC by the way, its more concerned with building objects for you without the real reasoning behind what your doing.
Great for Business studies majors(no offense, Business people wouldn't waste their time on "real" programming now would they):D

*not taking notable exceptions into account*

Besides programming is applied to business largely as well as other applications.

JC 2K3

Naikon wrote:

I would argue that CS in TCD is far more "mathematical" as it aims to produce Computer scientists as opposed to developers who apply that knowledge in terms of DCU,s aims.(minus games programming which is optional)

Well, not so much mathematical as "theoretical". I like the look of the CS course myself.

Naikon

I sort of get what your saying but yes, TCD CS is more about the theoretical underpinnings of CS in contrast to DIT which is more "applied" in nature.

ZorbaTehZ

Meh, you guys are nerdz.
NERDZ, I say.

Naikon

ZorbaTehZ wrote:

Meh, you guys are nerdz.
NERDZ, I say.

0mg!!! 1n$|_|l7, 3Y3 4m 4 l337 h4x0r!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rolleyes:

Also, I fit the criteria of a "Geek" not a "nerd"
and no I am NOT fluent in leetspeak.....yet:D

Naikon

Brothers, we must unite and unanimously agree to format our current partitions and install a Unix or Linux varient on the Machine.
I am really starting to dislike Windows.
It will be worth it besides the initial frustration:D

JC 2K3

Meh, I've been meaning to set up a dual boot on my machine for a while now but meh, windows is just so easy...

Nehpets

Do you think the majority of people going into CS courses know how to program already?

Naikon

Naikon wrote:

Brothers, we must unite and unanimously agree to format our current partitions and install a Unix or Linux varient on the Machine.
I am really starting to dislike Windows.
It will be worth it besides the initial frustration:D

All I'm going to say is "enjoy Lg12". If you don't know what I'm talking about, flick over this thread when you're doing CS next year

And some people know how to program before college in CS - but not all. It's not a requirement.

Lastly, I've met people (indeed, one on my first day of college!) who told me years ago what they were going to do their PhD on. Needless to say, you may change your mind while your in college.

Naikon

True, installing a windows manager and desktop environment and setting parameters which arent your typical windows "CLICK HERE" and forget procedures is more involved than installing XP for example.
A friend of mine calls it "Nerd OS" which is true to a certain degree.
I still havent covered or mastered it by any means:/

Boston

Naikon wrote:

I looked at that course, nice overall but I think that its weird that its the only CS course in Ireland that requires HL maths.
The course has a bias towards Electrical Engineering which I admit is not for me.

The level of maths involved in Computer Science course is a joke. It shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as a pure Maths or TP degree, let alone be compared with them. That said in later years you do some mildly difficult maths involving statistics. There is no Electrical Engineering elements to the course. None what so ever. There's is some basis digital electronics, which is a world away from Electrical engineering. Edit and it's the kind of stuff any decent CS course should have.

Not to say computer architecture is pointless, I do small bits of programing and understanding the machine you use at an assembly level is very usefull, just not to the atomic level which is too deep unless you intend on building computer Hardware.

This is what I have in mind

You don't go past the register transistor level, even then you seldom work at that level. It can be very relevant to designing hardware or just having the right mindset when programming code that actually has to run on hardware.

The DIT link you provided I don't see anything there bar the work placement not available at TCD.

Learn C first then C++ ,C++ assumes you know C before hand(mostly)
Besides C is the "lowest" HIGH level language and gives you control over memory management etc whereas JAVA, PERL do these things for you.
I would recommend learning some form of UNIX too, FREEBSD is my current favorite

I fundamentally disagree. C++ can do everything C can, and is far more useful. You do no need to know C in order to learn C++, infact having no prior knowledge of C is a great help in learning C++, as C programs are precedural in nature while C++ programs are object orientated. It's easy to go from an object orientated mindset to procedural mindset one, but it is difficult to do the opposite.

The only reason you see people still writing C code is because of compatibility issues with older code. You'll learn both C and C++ in CS at TCD, however you will learn C++ first from what I recall.

Also the only reason people say DIT is more "practical" then tcd is due to the work placement. The material covered is to the same standard and off a very similiar nature.

Naikon

Myth wrote:

All I'm going to say is "enjoy Lg12". If you don't know what I'm talking about, flick over this thread when you're doing CS next year

And some people know how to program before college in CS - but not all. It's not a requirement.

Lastly, I've met people (indeed, one on my first day of college!) who told me years ago what they were going to do their PhD on. Needless to say, you may change your mind while your in college.

Something to do with file executables
I think you have me.

ZorbaTehZ

Naikon wrote:

Brothers, we must unite and unanimously agree to format our current partitions and install a Unix or Linux varient on the Machine.
I am really starting to dislike Windows.
It will be worth it besides the initial frustration:D

Strange you should mention that since only three days ago I set up a Ubuntu partition.

Fobia

eZe^ wrote:

Physics in either UCC or Imperial College London. Cant wait!

I think you may be right to go to Cork for your first degree alright. My cousin's doing his PHD in imperial college (though, in maths rather than physics) after doing his degree in NUIG. He says NUIG is clown college in comparison, but were he to pick again he'd still pick NUIG - imperial college give a much better degree, but you'll work non-stop to get it. Not to mention if you're doing a masters/phd anyway your base degree doesn't bear much weight regardless.

Naikon wrote:

Brothers, we must unite and unanimously agree to format our current partitions and install a Unix or Linux varient on the Machine.
I am really starting to dislike Windows.
It will be worth it besides the initial frustration

Hehe, I'll pass. I use a shell for lots of online activities but still (mostly) use windows on my base machine. I need to use photoshop alot and just didn't take to using Wine for it. But strangely enough, some games now run even better on linux than on windows (quakeworld for one!), so the old "I needz my gamez" excuse is becoming less valid by the day

Me, after deferring for a year I'm going to do undenominated Science in NUIG probably ending up with a maths or maths physics degree. If I want to get anywhere decent in that area I'd need to do a postgrad so may as well stay at home for my base degree!

ZorbaTehZ

Fobia wrote:

. . .NUIG is clown college in comparison

Ghad I hate NUIG with a vengeance. Had to go in there today, and wtf is with all the coilíns going to college? What I actually heard two guys say:
A muise Johnny, aon craic a mhac - tu dhul isteach sa SITEEE SENNTERR le haghaidh cupla pionta?

Naikon

Boston wrote:

There is no Electrical Engineering elements to the course. None what so ever. There's is some basis digital electronics, which is a world away from Electrical engineering. Edit and it's the kind of stuff any decent CS course should have.

I see,its just that I glanced at stuff like "electro technology" which gave me a stupid reason to associate the course with Electrical Engineering:o

Boston wrote:

You don't go past the register transistor level, even then you seldom work at that level. It can be very relevant to designing hardware or just having the right mindset when programming code that actually has to run on hardware.
The DIT link you provided I don't see anything there bar the work placement not available at TCD.

I see, from a programmers perspective(minus HW development) that makes sense.

Boston wrote:

I fundamentally disagree. C++ can do everything C can, and is far more useful. You do no need to know C in order to learn C++, infact having no prior knowledge of C is a great help in learning C++, as C programs are procedural in nature while C++ programs are object orientated. It's easy to go from an object orientated mindset to procedural mindset one, but it is difficult to do the opposite.

I thought the opposite
I agree the procedural approach is different to OO approach, but I learnt programming in this fashion.

Python->C->C++.

As I mentioned I admit I am not this stage A great or experienced at programming as I have not gone through Advanced stuff like loops.arrays pointers etc. Maybe it will effect me later on.

Boston wrote:

The only reason you see people still writing C code is because of compatibility issues with older code. You'll learn both C and C++ in CS at TCD, however you will learn C++ first from what I recall..
Also the only reason people say DIT is more "practical" then tcd is due to the work placement. The material covered is to the same standard and off a very similar nature.

Really? I taught they looked a little different.
I will take your word considering you are doing EE or else CS.

Boston wrote:

The level of maths involved in Computer Science course is a joke. It shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as a pure Maths or TP degree, let alone be compared with them. That said in later years you do some mildly difficult maths involving statistics.

What confuses me is that CS in TCD requires a C3 minimum in HL maths whereas DCU DIT, UCD require a C3 or in some cases a B3 minimum in OL maths.
If the courses are of similar nature, why is there a huge difference in the level of maths required?
I mean DIT is a C3 in OL whereas TCD of a similar nature is HL C3.
Is this down to the number of maths contact hours and modules?
Is a decent score in OL maths enough?
I think I am now at a real disadvantage in terms of maths now.

Naikon

Fobia wrote:

But strangely enough, some games now run even better on linux than on windows (quakeworld for one!), so the old "I needz my gamez" excuse is becoming less valid by the day

And yet I reckon the only reason I use Windows is for games and stuff I am not confident yet with FREEBSD.
Also Multimedia stuff is pretty bad at the moment in BSD like video playback which is a nightmare to get working.
Right now I am using Mozilla in a Gnome environment.

sd123

I love maths and physics and im doing app maths and i'd love to do something like that in college but i dont know about the different courses or where to go. i cant go to any nui's for most courses. anyone have any recommendations?

Boston

From the PDF nothing stands out to me. It might be that I'm able to translate some of the things which are phrased differently in the DIT course, into the equivalent TCD CS course.

As for the maths, you require a certain types of maths for CS. You need a head for numbers and the ability to think logically. Now by placing a requirement for honours maths they can start off at a certain level, while having a lower requirement it may require longer to bring people up to a certain level. I wouldn't get stressed about it or developing feeling of being at a disadvantage.

As for C++/C, the main power of C and C++ for that matter comes from pointers and their manipulation. Until you get to that level you'll not be able to judge the two properly.

Boston

sd123 wrote:

I love maths and physics and im doing app maths and i'd love to do something like that in college but i dont know about the different courses or where to go. i cant go to any nui's for most courses. anyone have any recommendations?

Well why can't you go to the NUI's, is it the language requirement? Trinity accept irish as a second langauge.

Raphael

Getting back towards the original topic, I'm currently most way through 1st TP in UCD, so if anyone has any questions about the course or UCD itself, then feel free to ask. Inside scoop and all that jazz .

JC 2K3

Naikon wrote:

IWhat confuses me is that CS in TCD requires a C3 minimum in HL maths whereas DCU DIT, UCD require a C3 or in some cases a B3 minimum in OL maths.
If the courses are of similar nature, why is there a huge difference in the level of maths required?
I mean DIT is a C3 in OL whereas TCD of a similar nature is HL C3.
Is this down to the number of maths contact hours and modules?
Is a decent score in OL maths enough?
I think I am now at a real disadvantage in terms of maths now.

Nah you're not really. HL Maths for TCD is simply a prestige thing.

lemansky

JC 2K3 wrote:

Well of course, I'm referring more to the apparently inherent need some people have to tell the world how amazing physics is.

well yes of course!theres no need for everyone to know how amazing physics is:D but this is moe for people to share their views on the courses.Through this they can gain info on the courses and talk with like minded people about it.If people don't wanna read about the subject then they don't have to come here!

lemansky

sd123 wrote:

I love maths and physics and im doing app maths and i'd love to do something like that in college but i dont know about the different courses or where to go. i cant go to any nui's for most courses. anyone have any recommendations?

well if you love maths and physics then i would suggest that you do a course which focuses in specifically on those things,rather than do them as part of perhaps a more general science degree.That way you cover as much of them as possible without running the risk of finding yourself having to study some things you don't like.Are you more interested in the experimental side of physics or the theoretical side?Because that knowledge would allow people to help you out more:)

sd123

it's because i dont have a foreign language I think i can go to DCU TCD and IT's.At the moment my first choice is med. in TCD, but i'm strongly thinking of changing. I'd say its more the theory part of physics, like doing alot of maths, O and i don't like the electricity/ static elect and magnet areas but love mechanics and everything else. but im not really sure what to do. Maybe my subject choice for the LC would help. Phy Chem Mat APP mat Bio Tec draw Eng Iri. After that i dont know. The career guidance is pretty bad in my school. :mad: Im gonna show my ignorance now and ask whats the difference between different physics courses?

dan719

The key difference between theoretical physics and an experimental physics degree is the level of maths required. Assuming you go to TCD, you will be studying the equivalent of 5/6 of a pure maths degree as part of tp. however by studying science you will avoid most of this maths. Your choice depends on how mathematically inclined you are. Also it is possible to change from tp to experimental physics, but not the other way around.

Pure Cork

sd123 wrote:

it's because i dont have a foreign language I think i can go to DCU TCD and IT's.At the moment my first choice is med. in TCD, but i'm strongly thinking of changing. I'd say its more the theory part of physics, like doing alot of maths, O and i don't like the electricity/ static elect and magnet areas but love mechanics and everything else. but im not really sure what to do. Maybe my subject choice for the LC would help. Phy Chem Mat APP mat Bio Tec draw Eng Iri. After that i dont know. The career guidance is pretty bad in my school. :mad: Im gonna show my ignorance now and ask whats the difference between different physics courses?

Have you thought about engineering? It's all maths. I don't think you need a language to do engineering in UCD either.

Career guidance is crap in every school.....