Biotech in NUIG

Squeeonline

I got my course this morning but i am almost disappointed to read that the course (GY304 i think) has gone down a massive 25pts.

Does anyone know if there are a lot of new places or just if demand is down this year? And if so, why? Have I picked the wrong course?

Thanks,
Squee

genericgoon

CAO offers are based on popularity. Courses like Law and Medicine are seen as prestigious and thus attract more applicants. However employment prospects for all science graduates are excellent. Science is not seen as very prestigious course but that doesnt mean its a bad course and combined with low uptake of science subjects at LC and high Maths failure rates the low uptake of science courses is expected.

Squeeonline

I havnt found anyone on these boards who has done or is doing biotech, but if there is anyone in here, Id like to set up a dialog so i can find out more about the course.

cgc5483

Squeeonline wrote:

I havnt found anyone on these boards who has done or is doing biotech, but if there is anyone in here, Id like to set up a dialog so i can find out more about the course.

I have done Biotech if have any questions.

Squeeonline

Excellent! How detailed is the european language? I cant seem to find out whether it is any more detailed than the leaving cert or not. Id like to keep up my German as its always good to have a foreign language but does the course include difficult grammar or anything similar?

JIZZLORD

dont worry about the points, they're not a true representation of how good or how hard a course is.

cgc5483

Squeeonline wrote:

Excellent! How detailed is the european language? I cant seem to find out whether it is any more detailed than the leaving cert or not. Id like to keep up my German as its always good to have a foreign language but does the course include difficult grammar or anything similar?

It's actually a bit of a joke the language component. You have a choice of either French or German and it's only for the 1st 3 years (well in my day anyway, been a while). It used to be a couple of hours a week when i did it, but to be honest my French was probably better after my leaving than when i finished, probably down to the teacher really who was off sick more times than i can remember, certainly wasn't taken very seriously by the people runnning the course. That said i know the people who did German certainly learned a lot more, the lecturer was much better.

The course is essentially a Science degree with a little bit of Business and Languages thrown in. The other Biotech courses in DCU and Maynooth (probably more now) are much more applied than the Galway one.

cgc5483

Squeeonline wrote:

I got my course this morning but i am almost disappointed to read that the course (GY304 i think) has gone down a massive 25pts.

Does anyone know if there are a lot of new places or just if demand is down this year? And if so, why? Have I picked the wrong course?

Thanks,
Squee

Actually meant to ask why you are disappointed that the points for the course have gone down (actually what were they?). Why would that dictate that you may have chosen the wrong course? In general i think that despite the governments best efforts the interest in careers in Science is diminishing each year.

skelliser

points mean nothing, as said above law and med are seen as prestigous, so high points always, while if ur not sure what u want to do and wouldnt mind drinkin for three years do arts hence why arts is generally high

biotech will have alot of science in it and then abit of business and language thrown in to make up the ecdts or whatever they are, good job prospects also and the new building they have is class lookin!
and if ur not happy after 1st year u may be able to switch to another science as must 1st year science students all take similar subjects

dont be disappointed! ur goin to college in galway!! best student city in ireland! u will have a brilliant time!!, im still here:D

Squeeonline

I know that the points have no reflection on the standard of the course but they do reflect the popularity. I was wondering whether there was a reason for it to be much less popular this year.

I am by no means disappointed, but it will be a financial strain on my family to move me from kildare to Galway when i could have done the same course in maynooth 5mins away by car. I will be leaving behind all my friends but somehow i know that what i am doing is the right choice. I still cant help but feeling that i am almost being selfish about my choice?

I could stay at home and cycle to maynooth (20mins), stay with all my friends.
I suppose that if i do decide i cant live in galway (either means based or socially cos i can be very quiet at times) i can transfer to maynooth.

The points fell from 315 to 290.

I am also wondering whether it would be worth investing in a laptop for the course?

skelliser

so ur more dissapointed that u didnt get maynooth? since all ur friends are goin there, fair enough

u will however make lots of new friends in galway and to ur surprise you well see that they become better friends then in school, in my experience anyway.
just make sure to make an effort to socialise at the start, get a feel for the ppl in ur class etc. then after a few months u will be settled nicely and even eager to get back to college after weekends at home!!
remember ur not the only one in a new place!

ur right the only drawback is the monetary situation, have u checked to see are u eligible for a grant, if not you maybe able to get some help from the european social fund which is aimed at students who need funds but cant get a grant cause they dont qualify. Ask the student welfare officer about this in the student union when term begins, plus ur a student now so leaving on cuppa-soups is all part of the fun:D

skelliser

on the laptop, id say no, not in first year anyway, there are lots of comp. suites around campus, so u wont really need it
although if u need to look at bebo and myspace they are blocked! but there are ways around that;)

Squeeonline

skelliser wrote:

so ur more dissapointed that u didnt get maynooth? since all ur friends are goin there, fair enough

I would have easily gotten maynooth if i had put on the top of my cao but i wanted a change of scene. As i said before, i think that might have been selfish of me to expect me parents to support me. Even if i get a parttime job, that wont do it and could be difficult to juggle with course work.

skelliser wrote:

ur right the only drawback is the monetary situation, have u checked to see are u eligible for a grant, if not you maybe able to get some help from the european social fund which is aimed at students who need funds but cant get a grant cause they dont qualify. Ask the student welfare officer about this in the student union when term begins, plus ur a student now so leaving on cuppa-soups is all part of the fun:D

I checked the sites: Not poor enough for the grants, not rich enough to pay for it easily!
I suppose thats life and I'll survive some how, there have to be others in the same situation. I guess thats why Aldi and Lidl were invented!

Nice to hear that i wont need a laptop for first year.

Looks like i might be staying in Lisdoughna if anyone knows anything about it.

Any other titbits of advice gained from experience over the years? like about books for example?

skelliser

lisdounagh is a bit of a walk to college, and when its raining its particularly nasty i.e. it rains quite alot in galway, try and get somewere abit closer to college , say newcastle or dangan maybe or even in town

i never went near the library in first year, but if ya want to go in they have one or two books in there!!:p

Squeeonline

Just back from Galway. I have put a deposit on Lisdonagh but im not that impressed with it. Looks like I'll be stuck in a twin room, where I'd prefer to be by myself. Is it better to pay more and sacrifice space to stay in these student accomm places for the contacts you gain?

Or is it to be in the cheaper, better sized, private accomm?
I viewed both types yesterday and i was far more impressed by the private stuff even if there is only a small chance that there will be other first years there.

genericgoon

Squeeonline wrote:

Just back from Galway. I have put a deposit on Lisdonagh but im not that impressed with it. Looks like I'll be stuck in a twin room, where I'd prefer to be by myself. Is it better to pay more and sacrifice space to stay in these student accomm places for the contacts you gain?

Or is it to be in the cheaper, better sized, private accomm?
I viewed both types yesterday and i was far more impressed by the private stuff even if there is only a small chance that there will be other first years there.

Well youve just outlined the main advantages and disadvantages of each. It really does depend on what you want the most. Although Im sure youll still meet people even if you arent in a student place.

Squeeonline

Couple more things.....

What are the fridays like i.e. lots of lectures? Looks like my first Friday i will have to go back to kildare for my GFs debs and two weeks later i will have to go down for MY debs. I dont want to be missing loads...

Actually does anyone have a first year timetable? I know it will probably be from previous years, but just to give me an idea.

Thanks!

JIZZLORD

i had 2 hours on a fri in first year i think.

Squeeonline

Does anyone still have their first year timetable for biotech?

Would a laptop help? Whether it is completly nessesary or not. I need to know whether i need to pressure my parents or not.

Thanks