Intra

Kevo

Hey
I just got a job in IT support for intra. I'm a little worried because it involves very little programming. I'm think that this might put me at a disadvantage for the 4th year project since lots of people will have been programming for 6 months straight.
Do you learn a huge amount extra as a trainee software engineer?
Thanks,
Kev

BlackWizard

You could be a "trainee" Software Engineer and do sweet nothing all day or you could be programming your ass off doing the same repetitive things day in day out and learn nothing. So it might not be all that good.

Then there is support. You either love it or hate it. But it's always what you make of it. One piece of advice is to always ask questions and try to get involved with what ever interesting is happening.

There is very little difference between 4th and 3rd year projects. So don't worry about that. Unless you are going to use a unique idea you have for a piece of software that your company does not already have, you will find yourself in the same boat as everyone else, looking through page after page of lecturers suggested project ideas.

What course are you doing and what company are you working for?

Kevo

Thanks for the reply.
I'm doing software engineering in computer applications. I think I will like support but I definitely want to be a programmer when I finish my degree.

I'm not really worried about project ideas for fourth year. I'm just worried that most people will be ahead of me since they will be learning new languages in INTRA.

H2G2

BlackWizard wrote:

There is very little difference between 4th and 3rd year projects.?

Not true. There is a quantum leap between what is expected in CA4 projects, compare to CA3. It is fair to say that some people have ‘thrown’ together something basic for CA3 and get 40%, but not true with CA4. And as for getting a 1st, you had better work hard. Also, don’t forget that the process has changed this year, with a huge emphasis on quality

Kenny_D

The general concensus is that Intra is crap for 95% of people. I was hired as a software engineer and did practically no programming. Don't worry about other people learning way more than you on Intra because it simply won't be the case for most of the class

Though I am looking forward to when you guys start Intra and your third year projects. Maybe then we can get some peace and quiet in the labs again to do project work

dregin

TBH, I was in L125 earlier and as far as I could see it was mostly 4th years that wouldn't STFU.

BlackWizard

Yeah it's both 3rd and 4th years alright.

Once it's starts to heat up with deadlines, we will see it getting quieter. But there will always be a few yobs going crazy. I'm guilty of it myself. :mad:

Well, H2G2, I still think its the same. Bitch hard to get a 1st and very easy to fail if you don't put the effort in. The projects are expected to be of the same size and expectations of functionality has not been increased or decreased. However, the functional spec and the individual presentations could be marked harder than 3rd years.

So from Kevos point of view, the only thing he needs to know is that nothing is really different besides there being harder marking on certain stages module.

However it's easy looking back at it now and saying "oh 3rd year project was easy. I could so get a first." But at the time it's difficult to do. Sames goes for graduates looking back at our "little" fourth year projects.

That's just my opinion. Everyones differs.