Communications students

jennZ

hahah, yes actually, what's the ration btw girls & boys. In my last 5 years, I had only 4 girls in the class (I was doing computer science, duh!) so I am kind of curious now.

Aaaah congrats to everyone, I am so excited I think I won't be able to sleep tonight! Again!

Daysha

Phlann wrote: »

2. Comms has ridiculous numbers of hot chicks.

Well that's me sold! :pac:

Really cool to see so many of us future commers here already. How many 1st years are there altogether?

goodgodholmes

jennZ wrote: »

hahah, yes actually, what's the ration btw girls & boys. In my last 5 years, I had only 4 girls in the class (I was doing computer science, duh!) so I am kind of curious now.

Aaaah congrats to everyone, I am so excited I think I won't be able to sleep tonight! Again!

Ridiculously high proportion of girls. I'm only one year ahead and I believe we have 10 guys out of 80 students. I believe there were about 12 guys in the year ahead of me. Generally it's around that number.

If you're looking to score, you'll be looking to clubs&socs!

goodgodholmes

deise59 wrote: »

Well that's me sold! :pac:

Really cool to see so many of us future commers here already. How many 1st years are there altogether?

There were 80 in my class. (just finished 1st year) but you're combined with Journalism and Multimedia for the vast majority of first year lectures.

jennZ

just 10?!?!? oh great, now I'll be on the other side but well, as you said clubs&socs are always available

No wonder there are a lot of hot chicks if there are 70 of them!

Daysha

Damn, I'm getting excited now

And while I'm at it, what did you think was the best module over the year, and whats the best thing in general about the course?

giveliberty

And is it true we will have bugger all exams to do?

Diarmsquid

Another CS1 here!

I'm so psyched. I always kinda though when I was reading the prospectus and all that the course sounded a bit to good to be true, but everyone here seems to be mad about it.

So psyched.

giveliberty

Diarmsquid wrote: »

Another CS1 here!

I'm so psyched. I always kinda though when I was reading the prospectus and all that the course sounded a bit to good to be true, but everyone here seems to be mad about it.

So psyched.

Its very cool that we can at least get to know people before walking in the door of the first class through this.

Daysha

lol, I can just imagine a little boardsie clique forming out of this!

goodgodholmes

giveliberty wrote: »

And is it true we will have bugger all exams to do?

Yup, it's all continuous assessment. There are no exams in the first semester so you literally have 2 months off for Christmas

There's only one exam in the second semester, in Media History, and they give you the exam paper weeks in advance!!!

goodgodholmes

Diarmsquid wrote: »

Another CS1 here!

I'm so psyched. I always kinda though when I was reading the prospectus and all that the course sounded a bit to good to be true, but everyone here seems to be mad about it.

So psyched.

Diarmsquid, I'm going into 2nd year and I can tell you for a fact that it's as good as it sounds! OK you get the odd dud module, like Communication Theory, but it's generally amazing! There's 13 lecture hours a week in first year, Fridays off... sweet.

cristobal

Communications blows. seriously. I'm a 3rd year and its a waste of your time. I honest to god haven't learned anything I didn't already know.

And no, 2nd and 3rd year doesn't get more practical work. its pretty much the same the whole way through. Prepare to be surrounded by idiots too. "whats abu ghraib? a curry?"...

giveliberty

goodgodholmes wrote: »

Yup, it's all continuous assessment. There are no exams in the first semester so you literally have 2 months off for Christmas

There's only one exam in the second semester, in Media History, and they give you the exam paper weeks in advance!!!

That kinda feels wrong....LOL....but I'm sure I'll get over it.

Quick question:

How essential is a laptop on this course? Mac or PC???

goodgodholmes

giveliberty wrote: »

That kinda feels wrong....LOL....but I'm sure I'll get over it.

Quick question:

How essential is a laptop on this course? Mac or PC???

Not very. I got through first year without one fine, but I bought one for second year cos it's convenient to have your own editing suite so you're not restricted to the labs in college for your production work.

And if you're getting one, get a Mac. PCs are crap for CS stuff.

giveliberty

when you say editing software are you talking about design, video or sound? I already have CS3 on my laptop but have been thinking of buying a new one

goodgodholmes

giveliberty wrote: »

when you say editing software are you talking about design, video or sound? I already have CS3 on my laptop but have been thinking of buying a new one

Depends on your specialty. Photoshop is generally used mostly by students who specialise in imaging, whereas stuff like Dreamweaver and Illustrator is usually only used by Multimedia students.

I'm hoping to specialise in Video in second year, so I have Final Cut Pro on my Mac. I think Audio specialists use ProTools.

You shouldn't splash out on these programs in first year, but it might be a good idea to consider them for your specialty when you get to 2nd year.

giveliberty

goodgodholmes wrote: »

Depends on your specialty. Photoshop is generally used mostly by students who specialise in imaging, whereas stuff like Dreamweaver and Illustrator is usually only used by Multimedia students.

I'm hoping to specialise in Video in second year, so I have Final Cut Pro on my Mac. I think Audio specialists use ProTools.

You shouldn't splash out on these programs in first year, but it might be a good idea to consider them for your specialty when you get to 2nd year.

Much appreciated. What's the story with course specific societies on campus? Are there any you'd reccommend?

goodgodholmes

giveliberty wrote: »

Much appreciated. What's the story with course specific societies on campus? Are there any you'd reccommend?

One society is a haven for CS, Journalism and MMA students, and other students who aren't in the Communications school... and that would be the Media Production Society (known as MPS). It's great to get involved in, has it's own radio station (where you can try your hand at presenting live campus radio!). A lot of MPS members would be involved in other societies as well, making videos for them etc. MPS collaborates with other societies a good bit. MPS is a CS student's dream, it's a chance to put what you're learning into practice without the pressure of getting it right, like there is in class. MPS is kind of the only course-specific one.

On another note, I totally recommend Drama. I spent most of my year this year involved in Drama-related stuff, it really is the most fun thing to do with a day ever! You make millions of friends through rehearsals for shows etc.

CS students are in a lucky position. The course is light on hours, and the lecturers say that it's vital that, for work in the media industry, you are well aware of what's going on in the world etc. They say that getting involved in clubs and socs makes you a better rounded student, and consequently, more prepared employee. For this reason, CS, JR and MMA students have a light course load to free up time for clubs and socs activity, which I would definitely recommend you do. In Orientation and Fresher's Week, you're going to hear no end of people telling yo to get involved in Clubs and Socs, and it's for a reason! It's important you really get involved, no matter what clubs or socs you join, not just pay the 4 euro on Clubs & Socs day and then never do anything about it. Joing, and really getting involved in Clubs & Socs in college may be the best thing you ever do!

I'll shut up now.

rugbug86

Were MPS not inactive last year with the exception of the ear-drum-bursting radio station?

giveliberty

keep talking goodgodholmes!!!! Back in my first stint in college in 2000 soca were important glad to see things haven't changed!!!

Journalism is already an interest of mine as I'm already published in nationals, regionals and periodicles but I would like to try radio.

What's the story with work experience in yr 3? Does DCU sort it or do you have to source it yourself???

rugbug86

If you're into Journalism, you can join the College View team - it's an entirely student run monthly newspaper. Also, Campus is a weekly SU publication and they always look for help.

giveliberty

rugbug86 wrote: »

If you're into Journalism, you can join the College View team - it's an entirely student run monthly newspaper. Also, Campus is a weekly SU publication and they always look for help.

Well that might be an idea but I'm doing the course more for the theory and postgrad opportunities

jennZ

goodgodholmes wrote: »

One society is a haven for CS, Journalism and MMA students, and other students who aren't in the Communications school... and that would be the Media Production Society (known as MPS). It's great to get involved in, has it's own radio station (where you can try your hand at presenting live campus radio!). A lot of MPS members would be involved in other societies as well, making videos for them etc. MPS collaborates with other societies a good bit. MPS is a CS student's dream, it's a chance to put what you're learning into practice without the pressure of getting it right, like there is in class. MPS is kind of the only course-specific one.

On another note, I totally recommend Drama. I spent most of my year this year involved in Drama-related stuff, it really is the most fun thing to do with a day ever! You make millions of friends through rehearsals for shows etc.

CS students are in a lucky position. The course is light on hours, and the lecturers say that it's vital that, for work in the media industry, you are well aware of what's going on in the world etc. They say that getting involved in clubs and socs makes you a better rounded student, and consequently, more prepared employee. For this reason, CS, JR and MMA students have a light course load to free up time for clubs and socs activity, which I would definitely recommend you do. In Orientation and Fresher's Week, you're going to hear no end of people telling yo to get involved in Clubs and Socs, and it's for a reason! It's important you really get involved, no matter what clubs or socs you join, not just pay the 4 euro on Clubs & Socs day and then never do anything about it. Joing, and really getting involved in Clubs & Socs in college may be the best thing you ever do!

I'll shut up now.

I'm also interested in the Drama society. I did Drama while I was studying in Germany and it was great... Shakespeare in German lol!
Oh, that's another thing I wanted to ask - how can I continue studying German at DCU - are there any extra-courses or sth???
I can already imagine my Fridays :rolleyes:

goodgodholmes

jennZ wrote: »

I'm also interested in the Drama society. I did Drama while I was studying in Germany and it was great... Shakespeare in German lol!
Oh, that's another thing I wanted to ask - how can I continue studying German at DCU - are there any extra-courses or sth???
I can already imagine my Fridays :rolleyes:

Starting in my year, they've just added the option to study a language as an optional module in second year. I'm not 100% sure about German, but I know for a fact you can choose from French and Spanish... I'm about 80% sure German's an option too.

jennZ

ooh. i'm a bit relieved now thank you!
and one last question (I hope). How much did you roughly spend on books for the course???

Shell08

deise59 wrote: »

Well that's me sold! :pac:

Really cool to see so many of us future commers here already. How many 1st years are there altogether?

Another first year here.....I was a bit nervous about dcu because im a country girl from limerick but the course sounds amazing...cannot wait now!

goodgodholmes

jennZ wrote: »

ooh. i'm a bit relieved now thank you!
and one last question (I hope). How much did you roughly spend on books for the course???

Not a cent. All the course required books are in the DCU library, and there's loads of them. There's often a bit of a scramble for the best ones around assignment time, but you'll always find something. You don't need to buy a single book, the library catalogue is gold!

jennZ

Shell08 wrote: »

Another first year here.....I was a bit nervous about dcu because im a country girl from limerick but the course sounds amazing...cannot wait now!

yep, i'm 1st year as well and i am coming from the other side of the continent... Bulgaria Aaaah i can't wait, one month to go!
i thought of applying to the uni at limerick btw. At the end i decided i want to be in Dublin though.

Shell08

jennZ wrote: »

yep, i'm 1st year as well and i am coming from the other side of the continent... Bulgaria Aaaah i can't wait, one month to go!
i thought of applying to the uni at limerick btw. At the end i decided i want to be in Dublin though.

Ok you win...bulgaria..wow...loads of my friends are relocating to limerick this year..i decided to be different...communications was the only course that really interested me!...have you accomodation sorted?...at this present moment i'm homeless:D