I've had enough

opinionated

Computing was always a hobby of mine and always something that interested me but since the first day I started CA, I felt like this course for some reason wasn't for me. None of the lectures interest me at all, which is not the way I thought it would be. Should I stay with it in the hope that it will get better or should I bail out now and focus on something that actually interests me?

micromegas

Speaking generally, if you don't find the subject you're studying compelling, you should probabably start looking elsewhere. This is probably the proof that computing is just a hobby, not something you have professional aspirations for.

Start looking around. Don't make any committments until you've throught it all the way through.

neil_hosey

It might be an idea to have a look at some of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th year subjects and maybe even go to the lectures and see what you think of them before dropping the course.

First year usually covers the ****ty subjects that give you the foundation to develop apps. ie methodologies, basics of logic, different data structures etc. not sure how DCUs course works though

Will

im in 3rd year of the course in dcu, stick with it!!
I wanted to drop out in first year because i didnt like it, i stuck out the year and gave second year a lash, best decision i ever made.
what is it exactly that you dont like about the course? what stream do you want to go into? IS or SE?
Stick it out for the year seriously

Kenny_D

I'm in fourth year CA now and hate the course. I liked the course in first year and I have felt that the course got progressively less interesting as each year went by. You end up doing more boring maths/written based modules. I know CA used to have a great reputation as one of the best computing courses in Ireland but now I'm not so sure anymore. If I could do it all again I'd probably do either another course or the same course in another college. My friend who still likes the course now even thinks he'd probably go somewhere else if he had to choose again.

If you're losing interest now then I'd personally recommend you look for another course. You don't want to be in my position where you get to third or fourth year and hate the course yet you cant do anything about it because you need to get some kind of degree after all the time and effort put in so far. When I get my degree I don't think I want to work as a software engineer. I'll probably look at something totally different now ( I was always convinced I wanted to work with computers since I was a kid and even during the first two years of the course)

BlackWizard

GStormcrow wrote: »

I'm in fourth year CA now and hate the course. I liked the course in first year and I have felt that the course got progressively less interesting as each year went by. You end up doing more boring maths/written based modules. I know CA used to have a great reputation as one of the best computing courses in Ireland but now I'm not so sure anymore. If I could do it all again I'd probably do either another course or the same course in another college. My friend who still likes the course now even thinks he'd probably go somewhere else if he had to choose again.

If you're losing interest now then I'd personally recommend you look for another course. You don't want to be in my position where you get to third or fourth year and hate the course yet you cant do anything about it because you need to get some kind of degree after all the time and effort put in so far. When I get my degree I don't think I want to work as a software engineer. I'll probably look at something totally different now ( I was always convinced I wanted to work with computers since I was a kid and even during the first two years of the course)

I salute you good sir!! I'm of the same opinion. Currently in Information Systems 4th year and I'm most likely not going into any kind of application development. I had to get in touch with DCU Careers to help me feel better and give me hope, so now Ive a few options that I'm thinking about that are outside of IT. Can I ask what stream you are in Storm?

I still love IT though. Enjoy learning about computers and the technology out there. Ranting about all the computing systems and basking in Googles infinite wisdom. But I have no interest in application development. It took me till the summer of 3rd year in Intra, to realise what the "real world" is like before understanding what I really want to do in life. There are lots of careers in IT that do not involved 90% of what we are doing in college. But the thing is, those careers kinda require an IT education.

Also there is the lecturing issue for a lot of students. I can only speak on behalf of Informations Systems 4th Year here, but we have little or no respect for many of the lecturers. I guess this is an entirely different off topic problem so I won't go into it. But to sum it up: Lecturers are way out of touch with the real world.

opinionated, unless you have a particular career you want to get into I would not pull out of CA. Also ask your year head for advice, see if getting in touch with careers might help too.

Will

the plot thickens

Kenny_D

I'm in CASE4. Intra was also where it hit home for me. I worked as a "Software Engineer". A horrible 6 months

cognos

I'm 3rd Year CASE and recently for the first time I've been thinking of getting out of it. I loved the course at first but every semester it becomes less interesting, less relevant and less challenging and my opinion of the school and its staff diminishes by the day. Most likely I'll end up seeing it thru but if I was in a course not enjoying it in first year I'd get out of it.

I dropped out of another degree 2 years in and always regretted that I didnt leave the instant I realised it wasn't for me - so much time was wasted and it was so depressing.

Don't make any rushed decisions but if it becomes clear to you that you're not going to enjoy doing what you're going to be doing for the next 4 years - quit. Best of luck.

00sully

I finished CA in 2005 - Always loved computers from a young age and always fascinated by them (im a real tech head always buying new technologies)

I never really enjoyed the maths aspect or the "heavy" coding such as C++ hence why I picked the IS stream - however, after qualifying you dont necessarily have to go into application development - at least not the hard core Software Engineering equivalent - you can always go into business app developement which is what I did.

If you dont like ANY aspect of the course now you might want to think about switching. Altho having said that, 1st year is a bid odd in CA. you are introduced to a myriad of subjects, some interesting some not and some completely new topics. 2nd year doesn't get much better - just building on your foundations. 3rd and 4th year are quite good i thought - you are free to approach projects in whatever way you choose from what you've learned in 1st and 2nd year.

Also, INTRA is hit and miss so I dont think you can judge that - I had a great INTRA but that was because I had someone in the know who got me straight into web development which was innovative and fun!

Will

why are people being so negative about the course?
You dont necessarily have to go into programming when you finish the degree, theres so much out there to chose from, the great thing (or bad) about the degree is that its quite broad and gives you a good grounding in everything.

:|

everyones CA bashing these days. It must be the in thing.......

opinionated

Right, decided to stick it out with the course...

Kenny_D

Good luck then. Hope it works out

GavMan

BlackWizard wrote: »

Also there is the lecturing issue for a lot of students. I can only speak on behalf of Informations Systems 4th Year here, but we have little or no respect for many of the lecturers. I guess this is an entirely different off topic problem so I won't go into it. But to sum it up: Lecturers are way out of touch with the real world.

I'm sorry, but who is it exactly that you think you are? When you pull your head out, you'll find that you aren't actually the spokesman for the hearts and minds of CAIS4.
If you actually cared to canvass the opinion of your classmates before making such a sweeping generalisation of the schools staff, as I have, you'd find that the vast majority of the class actually have a great respect for a large portion of the schools academic staff that we have encountered throughout the degree.
I would suggest you take time to reassess who it is you actually can speak for in future, as it is certainly not the majority of your class.
As an aside, what folly to produce on an internet message board, which is read by some staff members, so close to exam time. Its truly baffling :rolleyes:

Will

Darragh you stupid knob-end!

BlackWizard

Sorry, just not a fan of Howy D,Nora Borphy, J Horgan.. actually my appoliges . I've no respect for them as teachers. I guess as acaedmics they probably are some of the best. I would just expect to know something about probability or statistics after doing so many modules. Or to know something about networking computers by now. 4 years on and networking is still considered magic.

From the few who I have talked to is IS Gav, they are not so impressed with some of the lecturers methods of teaching or what ever you want to call it. I even heard you mention your frustration of being thought Business Process Engineering in the current way it is. Or how about AI or Networks? Application Programming? I'm nearly sure we've all vented our frustration about many of our courses.

To nail it entirely on the lecturers is unfair. We've had some great lecturers though. Especially in first year. I feel somewhat lucky to of had them.

Thanks for bringing me back something from France Will

Will

what offensive nick names?
il give ya something... doubt youl be happy with it though

BlackWizard

Definitely not, I like it medium to large. Not small.

Anarking

I hate the course but I mostly just hate Wilburt.

GavMan

Anarking wrote: »

I hate the course but I mostly just hate Wilburt.

well everyone does

GavMan

BlackWizard wrote: »

Sorry, just not a fan of Howy D,Nora Borphy, J Horgan.. actually my appoliges . I've no respect for them as teachers. I guess as acaedmics they probably are some of the best. I would just expect to know something about probability or statistics after doing so many modules. Or to know something about networking computers by now. 4 years on and networking is still considered magic.

From the few who I have talked to is IS Gav, they are not so impressed with some of the lecturers methods of teaching or what ever you want to call it. I even heard you mention your frustration of being thought Business Process Engineering in the current way it is. Or how about AI or Networks? Application Programming? I'm nearly sure we've all vented our frustration about many of our courses.

To nail it entirely on the lecturers is unfair. We've had some great lecturers though. Especially in first year. I feel somewhat lucky to of had them.

Thanks for bringing me back something from France Will

My only issue with BPM is that i just don't like the subject. If you dont know anything about Stats or Probability or networking, thats really only your problem, because the fact of the matter is people do this course and do know about the stuff they're taught. The course is famed for the graduates it produces, so they cant have been getting it too far wrong. But i suppose you'd know better then them.

We had a disscussion about it, the majority of the people who are usually in, bar urself and Kev were in, and we came to the conclusion that we do in fact have a lot of respect for the lectures of the school. So im not sure what class you talked to.

There is a difference between finding lectures boring and them same lectures being taught badly. Realisticly, Lectureres aren't here to entertain nor are they here for retention of students. They come and they teach and if you want to learn thats up to you

Will

...
*walks away*

BlackWizard

I guess it comes down to how you like to learn then. I don't like the teaching method "Lecturing". Seems to me it's the easy way out. I prefer the Charlie Daly or Mark Rountree methods of teaching, especially when it comes down to many of the subjects we in IS are taught. A lot of them really need to be practiced or experienced in some ways to really understand them.

So I still think many of IS don't respect some of our lecturers teaching abilities. I think if they were as good as you say they are, then a lot of the class would turn up for their lectures. But I think we all respect 99% of them for their academic sides.

I guess I just have a high standards and expect more from what is one of the best computer courses in Ireland.

Im surprised you think boring teaching is good. I think that is why we could never agree on this topic If you get sent on training in work, I doubt you will be "bored".

There's a picture of your perfect class in this article Gav. Ultimate learning, Gav style

starky

opinionated wrote: »

Right, decided to stick it out with the course...

Glad to see you are going to stick it out. I finished CAIS in 2006. There were lots of Ups and downs. In general I really liked the course, and even though I did IS I am working for a leading software development company (despite people in SE telling me I would never program for a living) in a job I really like, working with some very talented people, learning a lot and earning very good money considering I am only out of college 1.5 years. I agree the course has is problems, and it’s not 100% perfect, but is any course ever going to be? I think you have to try your best to avoid lecturers that you are not happy with, and when this is not possible you just have to take the rough with the smooth. It is all worth it in the end, and if you engage the course and take an active interest in learning technologies you will be taking a skill, almost like a modern day trade into the world after CA. Not every one can do the Jobs CA people end up doing, as such the pay and rewards can be very good!
Don’t judge the course too much on 1st year, the main thing to do in first year is learn object oriented programming, as most things in the technology world stem from this. If you ever want my opinion on any modules PM or post and I will give you an honest answer as best I can.

Good luck with the old exams :-)