So, I'm going to D.I.T, need advice.

randomcountdown

So, presuming I get my first choice, which I should considering I cleared the points by a decent chunk, I want to go and do Comp Sci at D.I.T.

Firstly, Accomodation, the only place I even know of so far in Dublin RE student accomodation is The Gateway, which SEEMS like it's too good to be true, does anyone have any opinions on this place/past experience? Also, findahome.ie has a college section but needs DIT login to access, is there ANY hope of me getting into this to try and find accomodation there?

Secondly, opinions of the course, I know two people who do Comp Sci in Trinity and they've told me loads about their course, is the D.I.T course wildly different?

Thirdly, any special things I should avail of / take advantage of as a college student? A friend of mine has so far given me one bit of useful advice, and that's to get a B.O.I bank account, to avail of the free student travel pass. Just general tidbits like this will probably save my life, as being a bit of a home shut in I need all the help I can get !

Thanks guys in advance.

exiot

password for DIT section of findahome.ie is: pembroke

randomcountdown

Thanks!

VroomVroom

The Student Union posters about accommodation in Dublin and the different areas of Dublin are fairly good. They seem to be a combination of a few of these links from the www.ditsu.ie website:

Locations of DIT Buildings
http://www.ditsu.ie/docuploads/acclocation.pdf

Accommodation Checklist
http://www.ditsu.ie/docuploads/Accommodation_Checklist.pdf

There is some on www.dit.ie on the Campus section.
http://www.dit.ie/DIT/students/index.html

projectmayhem

randomcountdown wrote:

Secondly, opinions of the course, I know two people who do Comp Sci in Trinity and they've told me loads about their course, is the D.I.T course wildly different?

the course can vary from person to person. the core subjects will be the same anywhere, you do lots of programming and come out with a good understanding of C++, Java etc. so that you can go "attack" the real world. there are other things like understanding operating systems, hardware (to a small extent) etc. etc.

then of course there's the stupid additions every course seems to have like marketing and business that do nothing to aide your career and really just end up as filler.

if you're interested you should do fine, but the moment you lose any interest you'll be crying to get out

Kevster

Oi, those 'stupid additions' got me a Spanish certificate!

The Operating Systems subject is very interesting. I think it's taught in second year, which is arguably the toughest year of that course. Or, maybe it just seems tough because the first year is so God-damn easy!

Kevin.

Creamy Goodness

they've made first year harder and second year easier now.

first years now do web development 1 and operating systems.

web dev 1 i think includes the old web dev course (taught in 2nd year) to include these topics, HTML/xHTML/CSS/javascript. then in second year they do server side scripting and database and ajax.

this year's second year was quite funny because we done all the above topics in the second semester, leading to people not being sure on most of the content leading to a quite dislike to the subject.

second year is now the 12 old subjects split into two semesters you'll have OOP in both semesters and then the other subjects will split and run for one semester.

randomcountdown

Cremo wrote:

they've made first year harder and second year easier now.

first years now do web development 1 and operating systems.

web dev 1 i think includes the old web dev course (taught in 2nd year) to include these topics, HTML/xHTML/CSS/javascript. then in second year they do server side scripting and database and ajax.

this year's second year was quite funny because we done all the above topics in the second semester, leading to people not being sure on most of the content leading to a quite dislike to the subject.

second year is now the 12 old subjects split into two semesters you'll have OOP in both semesters and then the other subjects will split and run for one semester.

That actually sounds pretty awesome, javascript and CSS have always interested me and I think web development is pretty cool.

The subjects I've been told about by Trinity students are the ones that seem bloody ****e, like Computers In Society (Bull**** subject) and random pointless crap like that.

Taekwon-joe

Just checked the CAO this morning and I have been accepted for CS. The points are now only 210 (http://www.rte.ie/cao/) and I got 440 . I just hope it won't be full of loafers thinking its going to be a walk in the park. Also I hear the dropout rate is quite high, is that true?

Anyway it sounds interesting. I can't wait. I'll probably see you there randomcountdown.

Creamy Goodness

drop out rate is quite high, it is for most computer related courses.

i blame people who think "uh i can use bebo i can be a computer scientist".

just so you know there's a good bit of maths behind CS. as two people walked out of my induction when they heard that.

Naikon

Cremo wrote:

just so you know there's a good bit of maths behind CS. as two people walked out of my induction when they heard that.

I just hope I will be able to cope with the maths:o
I mean, I am no genius at maths, but I can work comfortably with maths when I need to.

Stench Blossoms

Cremo wrote:

drop out rate is quite high, it is for most computer related courses.

i blame people who think "uh i can use bebo i can be a computer scientist".

What about Myspace? If i can use that and make fancy backgrounds can i be a computer scientist?

Cremo wrote:

just so you know there's a good bit of maths behind CS. as two people walked out of my induction when they heard that.

If true and true is true, and true or false is true, what is the tautology of this statement??

randomcountdown

I know two guys who do the course in TCD and a mate who does the Comp Games Dev in Letterkenny, and everything I've been told by both about the maths and the programming sounds manageable, but I'll wait and see.
I'm not an "I can use bebo lawl i r comp scientist", I can handle myself pretty well and have pretty good experience with most stuff (Help admin Midlans), but no programming.

Naikon

orla wrote:

What about Myspace? If i can use that and make fancy backgrounds can i be a computer scientist?

OMG!!! i cAn blog and use my C.P.U to play the sims:D

Creamy Goodness

Naikon wrote:

I just hope I will be able to cope with the maths:o
I mean, I am no genius at maths, but I can work comfortably with maths when I need to.

imo most of the maths you learn in school doesn't not help very much with CS maths.

just know your x to the power of y's and you should pick the rest up easy.

orla wrote:

What about Myspace? If i can use that and make fancy backgrounds can i be a computer scientist?

well they give out special awards for girls

orla wrote:

If true and true is true, and true or false is true, what is the tautology of this statement??

ahh i see you're revising so

Stench Blossoms

Cremo wrote:

imo most of the maths you learn in school doesn't not help very much with CS maths.

just know your x to the power of y's and you should pick the rest up easy.

Higher level calculas and basic probelem solving knowledge will get your through it.

Cremo wrote:

well they give out special awards for girls

Is that why they gave me a student achievement award this year?

Cremo wrote:

ahh i see you're revising so

I have no repeats this year. I am however offering grinds at a very reasonable price.

Naikon

Cremo wrote:

imo most of the maths you learn in school doesn't not help very much with CS maths.

Is that why "discrete maths" is so heavily linked to CS?
Yeah, I reckon I should be Ok if I attend all the lectures and actually do work.

*touches wood*:D

randomcountdown

Off Topic?

Creamy Goodness

right few tips...

* join netsoc, best two euros i spent i think.

allows you to access your college drive at home through putty/winscp and it has saved my ass a couple of times when projects were due, a lot of assignments are collected - by use of a script - from your college drive by lecturers having access to your college drive at home will mean you don't really need to be in college on due dates unless the lecturer has specified it or wanted a hard copy of a report or something.

* when the SU shop has jolt cans in, don't buy them bottles are nicer

* when walking into a lab ask if there is a lab on in there, nothing more annoying when people just randomly walk in when you're doing your lab work, there are a few unfriendly folks who'll speak up for most people in the lab

* if you want a locker get one on the first day, i left it about a week and i had a ****ty locker with a broken hinge on the 4th floor. granted i didn't really need it so i just threw rubbish into it and heraldAM's/metro's.

* expect really bad jokes in your first programming lecture.

* respect your elders too.

Naikon

Cremo wrote:

right few tips...

* join netsoc, best two euros i spent i think.

allows you to access your college drive at home through putty/winscp and it has saved my ass a couple of times when projects were due, a lot of assignments are collected - by use of a script - from your college drive by lecturers having access to your college drive at home will mean you don't really need to be in college on due dates unless the lecturer has specified it or wanted a hard copy of a report or something.

* when the SU shop has jolt cans in, don't buy them bottles are nicer

* when walking into a lab ask if there is a lab on in there, nothing more annoying when people just randomly walk in when you're doing your lab work, there are a few unfriendly folks who'll speak up for most people in the lab

* if you want a locker get one on the first day, i left it about a week and i had a ****ty locker with a broken hinge on the 4th floor. granted i didn't really need it so i just threw rubbish into it and heraldAM's/metro's.

* expect really bad jokes in your first programming lecture.

* respect your elders too.

Cool, I will make certain to apply for netsoc:)
I drink Jolt cola too and I must admit it is crap from the can but nice from the bottle.
All advice has been Duly noted.

*btw, putty is a very nifty program I have to admit*

randomcountdown

Is the Netsoc the same as organisation as the TCD one? Or is that a different intercollege CS group?

Creamy Goodness

Naikon wrote:

I drink Jolt cola too and I must admit it is crap from the can but nice from the bottle.

IT WORKED HAHAHA, sorry no they never get cans in and i can't stand drinking jolt/coke from anything but a can, so i'm getting everyone on to bottles so...

randomcountdown wrote:

Is the Netsoc the same as organisation as the TCD one? Or is that a different intercollege CS group?

different, just same name.

Stench Blossoms

Cremo wrote:

right few tips...

* join netsoc, best two euros i spent i think.

Not sure if it'll be around this year. I don't think anyone has shown an interest in running it this year.

Cremo wrote:

* when the SU shop has jolt cans in, don't buy them bottles are nicer

Buy red bpm. It's much nicer.

Cremo wrote:

* when walking into a lab ask if there is a lab on in there, nothing more annoying when people just randomly walk in when you're doing your lab work, there are a few unfriendly folks who'll speak up for most people in the lab

You wouldn't happen to be talking about me now would ya??

I hate nothing more than pesky little first years (or any other years) playing feckin counter strike etc when i'm trying to get lab work done.

Cremo wrote:

* if you want a locker get one on the first day, i left it about a week and i had a ****ty locker with a broken hinge on the 4th floor. granted i didn't really need it so i just threw rubbish into it and heraldAM's/metro's.

Don't bother getting a locker, you won't need it. You'll have 5books max.

Cremo wrote:

* expect really bad jokes in your first programming lecture.

He probably won't have the extremly funny lecturer you had in first year.

Cremo wrote:

* respect your elders too.

Yeh, we wont give you any sort of help with projects/assignments etc if your a snotty little troll.

Creamy Goodness

orla wrote:

You wouldn't happen to be talking about me now would ya??

I hate nothing more than pesky little first years (or any other years) playing feckin counter strike etc when i'm trying to get lab work done.

lol i actually wasn't, but i can see how you thunk that actually now that i think about it the person i was talking about has left.

projectmayhem

orla wrote:

I hate nothing more than pesky little first years (or any other years) playing feckin counter strike etc when i'm trying to get lab work done.

they should only be banned from playing counter strike if they're better then me. not that it particularly matters now.

...i'm just bitter.

Baggly

orla wrote:

Not sure if it'll be around this year. I don't think anyone has shown an interest in running it this year.

Volunteer. Ill help ya...ive oodles of experience listening to Netsoc techies explaining things to me.

And tbh, college needs netsoc.

randomcountdown

Counterstrike? Jeesh, get some taste. :P

projectmayhem

randomcountdown wrote:

Counterstrike? Jeesh, get some taste. :P

i recall distributing UT to people, and they didn't bite. plus, when i was there, it wasn't just counterstrike, it was a haxed chinese cs source... which is all the more fun.

Creamy Goodness

randomcountdown wrote:

Counterstrike? Jeesh, get some taste. :P

reason why cs was picked was because it's the best game that can run on the machines. i think only one room has machines capable of source but that's ****e anyways that's neither here nor there.

i've never found a big problem with gamers in the labs nor do i care if they are playing as long as someone isn't looking for a space or they are not like "OMGZ HE HAX0RZ!!!1one".

Stench Blossoms

Cremo wrote:

i've never found a big problem with gamers in the labs nor do i care if they are playing as long as someone isn't looking for a space or they are not like "OMGZ HE HAX0RZ!!!1one".

Or people who mooch the face of each other at the back of labs. (a certain two 3rd years, lets call them G & A) They make me SICK!

LOTP wrote:

Volunteer. Ill help ya...ive oodles of experience listening to Netsoc techies explaining things to me.

And tbh, college needs netsoc.

Yeh maybe i will but i wouldn't have a clue where to begin. I'll pm my msn addy and we can cyber *cough* sorry I mean discuss it further!

Naikon

Cremo wrote:

IT WORKED HAHAHA, sorry no they never get cans in and i can't stand drinking jolt/coke from anything but a can, so i'm getting everyone on to bottles so...


different, just same name.

No, seriously Coke/<_insert soft drink name here_> is far better from a "ice cold" bottle.
Plastic containers own when it comes to soft drinks, glass is even better.
Everything else like beer must be draught or if need be from a bottle.
Maybe I am just weird?:D

Naikon

Cremo wrote:

reason why cs was picked was because it's the best game that can run on the machines. i think only one room has machines capable of source but that's ****e anyways that's neither here nor there.

You speak the unwritten truth:eek:
the hit boxes just aren't the same, plus the fact that plenty of server's are hosted by 10 year olds:mad:

CS 1.6 > CS:Source

Naikon

orla wrote:

Buy red bpm. It's much nicer.

*shudder*

orla wrote:

Yeh, we wont give you any sort of help with projects/assignments etc if your a snotty little troll.

Only fair I guess.

randomcountdown

projectmayhem wrote:

i recall distributing UT to people, and they didn't bite. plus, when i was there, it wasn't just counterstrike, it was a haxed chinese cs source... which is all the more fun.

I like you.

And if CS 1.6 will run, Q3 CPMA on r_picmip 5 will run! TO QUAKE!

So will Quakeworld
and Starcraft

Stench Blossoms

randomcountdown wrote:

I like you.

Don't idolize him too much. He's a college dropout.

Dunners

Pop into your union for accommodation stuffs!!!!

There's loads of posters and staff and accommodation listings and everything available for the discerning student type.

Computer Science is cracking fun in Kevin St, alot less maths than the TCD equivalent I think. As for advice - beware the fourth year labs! There be dragons...

randomcountdown

orla wrote:

Don't idolize him too much. He's a college dropout.

A UT playing college dropout!
:P

Pop into your union for accommodation stuffs!!!!

There's loads of posters and staff and accommodation listings and everything available for the discerning student type.

Computer Science is cracking fun in Kevin St, alot less maths than the TCD equivalent I think. As for advice - beware the fourth year labs! There be dragons...

Online, or, actually pop into Kevin Street and have a poke about?

Irishtrekkie

hey i got into Computer Science in DIT too, want to go for a career in the games industry , hope the course is interesting ..........or else ! , anyway see you in class.

munkeehaven

why do ITs have to start so goddamn early.i had a choice of DIT or UCC to finish my degree,i hope i made the right choice..but this accomodation malarkey is doing my head in.

Max_Damage

I hate nothing more than pesky little first years (or any other years) playing feckin counter strike etc when i'm trying to get lab work done.

As well as that apparently homeless weirdo who regularly frequents the 4th floor computer rooms, shouting random abuse at the computer screen.

Irishtrekkie

lots of people playing counter strike i take it . i know all about that in my old college we used the unreal engine for development, so we had Unreal Tournament 2004 on all the pc's , so UT and Alien Swam (ut mod) got played all the time .
but hey computer games make the world a better place .......or is it they turn us all into killers , hmm not really sure which one mass media are telling us to believe these days .

Dunners

randomcountdown wrote:

Online, or, actually pop into Kevin Street and have a poke about?

There is alot of information online and using the accommodation@ditsu.ie e-mail address you'll get plenty more. Unfortunately the website isn't great though so you would almost be better popping into the union offices on any of the sites and having a word with the Student Support Advisors there. You're more likely to get a reply in person now as the volume of people coming in at this stage means that the e-mails may only get checked once or twice a day

strychnine

Taekwon-joe wrote:

Just checked the CAO this morning and I have been accepted for CS. The points are now only 210 (http://www.rte.ie/cao/) and I got 440 . I just hope it won't be full of loafers thinking its going to be a walk in the park. Also I hear the dropout rate is quite high, is that true?

Anyway it sounds interesting. I can't wait. I'll probably see you there randomcountdown.

Congratulations on getting in!

I noticed the points are way down too, but dont let that put you off, its a tough enough course. As for it being full of loafers, yes there are loads of them but theyll be dropping like flies in the first few months, by second year 'most' of them are gone. Especially the ones who thought programming was going to be like something they saw on the matrix. And yes, a guy in first year did say that to me in the first few weeks!!! Suffice to say thats about as long as he lasted.

Best advice is to go to all the lectures. People fail because they dont go to lectures, they'll tell you otherwise but thats the simple truth.

Best of luck!

Kevster

Dunners, as far as I remember, you're doing DT228-4 again right? What's the story with it: Will there be classes during freshers-week? How soon will they have a bloody timetable up?


They still play counter strike in Kevin Street? I remember 7 years ago we used to play it every goddam day in the fourth-floor labs. It got so popular that, at times, half-a-lab could be filled with people playing it. I remember going in one day at 8AM and spending the whole day until closing (10PM) playing it. The last time I was there though, the admin staff had found ways to prevent us installing it.


Kevin.

Stench Blossoms

Kevster wrote:

Dunners, as far as I remember, you're doing DT228-4 again right? What's the story with it: Will there be classes during freshers-week? How soon will they have a bloody timetable up?


They still play counter strike in Kevin Street? I remember 7 years ago we used to play it every goddam day in the fourth-floor labs. It got so popular that, at times, half-a-lab could be filled with people playing it. I remember going in one day at 8AM and spending the whole day until closing (10PM) playing it. The last time I was there though, the admin staff had found ways to prevent us installing it.


Kevin.

Dunners finished last year. He's now Mr.Vice President of DIT.

I hate people like you who play games in labs when other people are trying to work :mad:

Kevster

Incorrect; you hate the person I WAS. I gave-up playing games after 1st year and soon began to also hate people who play them. It's good to be on both sides of the argument as I have been; because then you can form a better judgement. My ultimate judgement is that the games should not be played.

Kevin.

Irishtrekkie

................jesus i hope there are not people like that in my class , i will be well hated then , guess i am the one person who sees the benefits of games .

Stench Blossoms

Irishtrekkie wrote:

................jesus i hope there are not people like that in my class , i will be well hated then , guess i am the one person who sees the benefits of games .

You'll soon change your mind when you've got 2 or 3 projects to do and you cant get a free computer because someone is playing Counter Strike.

Kevster

Orla, I agree. When I was doing 4th year of Computer Science in 2004 there were many times when there was no computer available because people were playing games. The fourth year lab is always full too; sometimes by fourth-years also playing games... ...:rolleyes:


I remember once, actually, I locked my PC to go to the toilet. I had been doing some work on the computer. When I came back, some guy had placed my bag at the back of the room and was playing Counter Strike on my computer. He had the nerve to turn-off the PC and play that game. I cursed madly at him and then just left.


Going back into fourth year next weak, I hope the same stuff doesn't happen!

Irishtrekkie

orla wrote:

You'll soon change your mind when you've got 2 or 3 projects to do and you cant get a free computer because someone is playing Counter Strike.

could i not just use my laptop if there where no computers free, or even better just use my laptop to play games , aslo yea i agree the first rule of using a computer in a lap is if your going to the toilet, back everything up, lock it, and tell someone sitting beside you not to let anybody use it .

Creamy Goodness

you'll be playing on your own if you're going to play on your laptop. that's the whole reason why people use lab pc's is for the NETWORK.