CS - What will I need

Mark200

Ok, at an extremely high risk of putting a curse on my CAO, what would I need for Computer Science if I got the course?

In other words, what will I bring in every day?

I want to know everything. Pens, A4 pads? Will I need a laptop? I've been on the train a few times early in the morning and I didn't see many college goers with laptops and stuff.

Mark200

Mark200 wrote: »

Ok, at an extremely high risk of putting a curse on my CAO, what would I need for Computer Science if I got the course?

In other words, what will I bring in every day?

I want to know everything. Pens, A4 pads? Will I need a laptop? I've been on the train a few times early in the morning and I didn't see many college goers with laptops and stuff.

A suit. It is Trinity.

Pet

Note that "social skills" will not appear anywhere on the list of things you'll need for CS.

JC 2K3

A hangover.

Otherwise you're not enjoying yourself enough.


And seriously, pen and paper should be all you need. I'd strongly discourage a laptop - leads to not paying attention.

Black boots, black hair, a black jacket (preferably down to your knees and matrix-y), black t-shirt, black trousers...

Jonathan

Myth wrote: »

Black boots, black hair, a black jacket (preferably down to your knees and matrix-y), black t-shirt, black trousers...

lmao

Be nice :P

tolosenc

JC 2K3 wrote: »

I'd strongly discourage a laptop - leads to not paying attention.

+1

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI

A laptop is useful for CS, just don't use it in lectures, that road will only lead to not paying attention. Unless you have the discipline to only use it for taking notes and doing relevant stuff in class. In which case it's a useful thing to have around. But I'd say in my class, about 80% of the time a laptop is open in a lecture it's there as an impediment to learning rather than something to make it easier.

But it's great to be able to always have a computer ready for development when you need it, especially when the LG12 (Computer Science Computer Laboratory) is full of people on bebo, and the keyboards are coated in chicken fillet grease.

Also, you will not need social skills. Or many. As long as you're somewhere between Aspergic Kernel Hacker and Solitary Moss-Covered Stone in terms of social ability you'll fit in CS like a glove.

bright

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI wrote: »

especially when the LG12 is full of people on bebo, and the keyboards are coated in chicken fillet grease.

One of those moments where I laughed because I read something that was true. Comedy.

Mark200

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI wrote: »

Also, you will not need social skills. Or many. As long as you're somewhere between Aspergic Kernel Hacker and Solitary Moss-Covered Stone in terms of social ability you'll fit in CS like a glove.

I was hoping there'd be a few who could keep me entertained. But are they really all that boring?


Anyways, thanks for all the help everyone. If I get in I guess I'll just bring pen and paper for the first week or so and judge myself, I just didn't want to walk in with pen and paper on my first day to see everyone with their laptops out or vice versa

Jonathan

Mark200 wrote: »

I was hoping there'd be a few who could keep me entertained. But are they really all that boring?


Anyways, thanks for all the help everyone. If I get in I guess I'll just bring pen and paper for the first week or so and judge myself, I just didn't want to walk in with pen and paper on my first day to see everyone with their laptops out or vice versa

Have you thought about doing Engineering (tr032) and specialising in computer engineering?

Mark200

jmccrohan wrote: »

Have you thought about doing Engineering (tr032) and specialising in computer engineering?

Too late now!
haha

The points are too high anyway which is why I didn't put it down

Mark200

Mark200 wrote: »

I was hoping there'd be a few who could keep me entertained. But are they really all that boring?


Anyways, thanks for all the help everyone. If I get in I guess I'll just bring pen and paper for the first week or so and judge myself, I just didn't want to walk in with pen and paper on my first day to see everyone with their laptops out or vice versa

If you don't find compiling Linux kernerls and designing distributed systems ''the shit, then maybe CS isn't for you?

However, I am not a CS student so I could be wrong!

Jonathan

Mark200 wrote: »

Too late now!
haha

The points are too high anyway which is why I didn't put it down

What ever you do, dont just do CS because it is a low points course in TCD.

JC 2K3

^+1

Mark200

jmccrohan wrote: »

What ever you do, dont just do CS because it is a low points course in TCD.

Nah that's definitely not why I'm doing it. I just never considered engineering because it's high points....I don't know if I would have chosen engineering instead or not, I just never gave it serious thought.

Flamed Diving

Never, ever, ever bring a laptop to lectures. Dont fool yourself into thinking that you will take better notes with it, because you wont.

Randomness

bright wrote: »

One of those moments where I laughed because I read something that was true. Comedy.

....One of those moments where I laughed because I read something that was ewww. - Chicken fillet sticky ewww.

Also emmm CS - woo hoo computers? I would advise pencil and paper - premier doodle materials, although knowing my lack of computer knowledge there is probably a super duper doodle-esque programme on computers called MentalImageTransferPortal 2000 X or some fancy name like that. I'd call it DOODLE-X.

JC 2K3

Oh and your English - Binary dictionary, don't forget that.

Epic Tissue

Flamed Diving wrote: »

Never, ever, ever bring a laptop to lectures. Dont fool yourself into thinking that you will take better notes with it, because you wont.

So true

ilovemybrick

Flamed Diving wrote: »

Never, ever, ever bring a laptop to lectures. Dont fool yourself into thinking that you will take better notes with it, because you wont.

Never ever install stumble upon on it either.

Mark200

Ok I just accepted TR033 like...18 minutes ago



Another question, I still have my scientific calculator from the LC....will I have any use for it?

Epic Tissue

Yeah you will

Jonathan

Mark200 wrote: »

Another question, I still have my scientific calculator from the LC....will I have any use for it?

Yea, there is a whole module on how to write stuff for calculators.
You write it in 55318008 code.;)

Boston

Jesus lads, theres quiet abit of piss taking on this thread. Yes a scentific calculator will be handy. Especially for conversion between base systems. Though, as always, best not to become over dependent on such things. When programming in assembly for example you'd want to have a solid understanding of hex and binary.

Mslug

CS is a pretty good course, and theres usually a good mix of different people in it.

But if you really wanna make sure you meet as many people as possible and are talkitive join some socities.

G_Foster

Hey Mark, I've accepted TR033 for this year too, and I don't think I'm quite as... Anti-social as most of the replies on this thread seem to make CS students out to be
Thanks for starting the thread anywho, provided me with some useful info (Pen, paper, calculator, no laptop!)

What are you doing for accommodation? Applied for Trinity Hall or?

Either way I guess I'll see you in October

PurpleFistMixer

When I was considering putting maths as my first choice, I initially went, "Oh god, think of the supernerds who'd apply for THAT course"... then I realised I was the sort of person who'd apply for that course.

So you're probably not going to be terribly alone, there'll be others like you.

Then again, it is CS. : p

Boston

Every once in a while there's a normal one. Usually he's either gay or French.

Jonathan

Boston wrote: »

Every once in a while there's a normal one. Usually he's either gay or French.

242 got banned for a comment no worse than this.

Boston

242? If you have a problem with a post, theres a report post button. The difference between my post and his is that a) his was directed at someone b) it was condescending and abrasive towards a new user/student c) Theres nothing wrong with my post, some of the 'most normal' CS students I've met have been gay/bi or French (crash_000).

Mark200

G_Foster wrote: »

Hey Mark, I've accepted TR033 for this year too, and I don't think I'm quite as... Anti-social as most of the replies on this thread seem to make CS students out to be
Thanks for starting the thread anywho, provided me with some useful info (Pen, paper, calculator, no laptop!)

What are you doing for accommodation? Applied for Trinity Hall or?

Either way I guess I'll see you in October

No accommodation for me! I live within a 20 minute walk of a DART station, so I'll just be getting the train every morning.

But yeah, see you there

Boston wrote: »

Every once in a while there's a normal one. Usually he's either gay or French.

Well I'm not gay or French haha, I duno if I'd be considered normal....but I don't think I'm abnormal....if that makes sense

karlr42

Hehe, it seems that in UCD it is part of the course that one is required to have a laptop for CS! link.
As regards the level of homosexuality/Gaul-ness in CS, I think it must have skipped our year(incoming SFs)- we're all pathetically normal!

JackKelly

I think everyone in our year has a laptop (going into 4th year - Hi Mark!) so I'd advise getting one - as someone said though, don't bring it into lectures, you won't do anything.
That said (and I don't want to play devils advocate) but after first year you're not going to learn much in the lectures anyway. I've found that 80/90% of the material covered in class can be quicker learned in the library. CS is quite unique in that most of material you are covering is both well documented and factual.
I started college doing Maths, where you had to attend all the lectures to have any hope in understanding the material. It's not the case in a lot of the CS courses. You can just go up to the library and spend less time covering more.
That excludes first year to be fair, as you spend most the time learning the skill of programming, which is very difficult without guidance.

Boston

Yet CS has/had a huge failure rate! Its true what you say about most of the material being easier to learn on your own, infact you will mostly likely have to learn it on your own unless you're one of the few people capable of picking things up just from lectures. That said you need to have an at least an idea of what you should be learning and where the course is at so never completely drop going to a course. Even in final year where time was very tight with projects and most of the learning was from notes, I still attended at least half my lectures (CD Stream engineering).

Also, as any CS graduate will tell you, its the silk set you teach yourself outside of your course which will get you a job once you graduate. Think of the course as only giving you a gentle push in loads of different directions, it up to you to follow it up.

newestUser

For what it's worth, I don't think the people in CS are half as weird and anti-social as some on this thread are making out. I did a PhD in Trinity and had to supervise labs, tutorials, take notes for students, etc. so I've sat in on my share of CS lectures.

There's not many women compared to other courses, there is that stupid trenchcoat-mafia thing going on, but most of the people seem pretty normal.

Just be aware that you'll be conscious of the absence of self-anointed cool people wearing abercrombie in your course, and it'll seem depressingly sexless and un-glamorous compared to the courses up in the arts block with all the beautiful people.

Very few people going into CS would have the skill level required to do mad kernel level hacking, and I suspect one or two highly prominent oddballs are colouring peoples perceptions.

I also don't think a laptop is necessary for lectures, no-one seems to use them for taking notes they're all playing games. I know a few lecturers who now insist on students turning off their laptops when lectures begin.

So OP, to summarise, what you need are:

Pen
Pad
And that's about it

and don't forget to join some clubs and socs so you don't forget what a woman looks like. :P

Peslo

Mark200 wrote: »

I was hoping there'd be a few who could keep me entertained. But are they really all that boring?


Anyways, thanks for all the help everyone. If I get in I guess I'll just bring pen and paper for the first week or so and judge myself, I just didn't want to walk in with pen and paper on my first day to see everyone with their laptops out or vice versa

PHEEEW!!!!!!!!!!

I'm doin CS, and was likewise a bit, um, "iffy" that the course is full of GEEKS!!!
Without trying to sound like a totally puddin bender, I look forward to meetin some normal fun-lovin criminals there, so see ya whenever we start!!!

P.S. When do we start?? Did you get any contact from Trinity yet? I haven't.

Boston

Puddin bender?

Peslo

Boston wrote: »

Puddin bender?

Gay.

A common slang term for homosexuality, used by those who have advanced-basic to moderate social skills and above.:D

Boston

I suspected as much. Don't worry there is a small social grouping within each year that you'll right fit into.

Peslo

YAY!

Has anybody heard from trinity yet?? about registration or orientation?

Mark200

newestUser wrote: »

Just be aware that you'll be conscious of the absence of self-anointed cool people wearing abercrombie in your course,

I'm glad to hear that

newestUser wrote: »

and don't forget to join some clubs and socs so you don't forget what a woman looks like. :P

ahaha thanks I'll keep that in mind

Peslo wrote: »

PHEEEW!!!!!!!!!!

I'm doin CS, and was likewise a bit, um, "iffy" that the course is full of GEEKS!!!
Without trying to sound like a totally puddin bender, I look forward to meetin some normal fun-lovin criminals there, so see ya whenever we start!!!

P.S. When do we start?? Did you get any contact from Trinity yet? I haven't.

Nope none yet, but it's on the tcd website that the orientation week starts on the 1st October

http://www.tcd.ie/orientation/
So see ya then

LenovoUser

Peslo wrote: »

Gay.

A common slang term for homosexuality, used by those who have advanced-basic to moderate social skills and above.:D

Cris, it is hardly normal to commence a conversation with people you don't know, for the first time , starting in your first sentence with a slang word about homosexuals being in a place you have never been or seen, Trinity CS , and referring thus to fellow students before you have ever even met them, much less even heard from a single one of them :-)

It was mad of you to refer to Trinity Hall as " Paedophile Paradise " though you were never there, don't even know where the place is , or anything at all about Trinity Hall, of which one of your most respected lecturers, Brendan Tangney,:D is Warden, and of which your tutor, Dr. Arthur Hughes was Deputy warden for four years- and you expect people to plead against your ban ?

For god's sake, man, you're a loose cannon on deck :-)

My advice, please take it, is to become as invisible as you possibly can for as long as you can, and knuckle down and spend the next three months solidly working for your exams.

Cheers,
Michael.

PurpleFistMixer

LenovoUser; if you are insistent on going through threads which are months old just to make a personal message to one of the posters, I strongly advise that you do it in the form of PM.

Mark200

LenovoUser wrote: »

Cris, it is hardly normal to commence a conversation with people you don't know, for the first time , starting in your first sentence with a slang word about homosexuals being in a place you have never been or seen, Trinity CS , and referring thus to fellow students before you have ever even met them, much less even heard from a single one of them :-)

He was referring to himself, not to other people.

jason&arthur

u'll need alot of patience

like 7 of them

sock puppet

Mark200 wrote: »

He was referring to himself, not to other people.

Sp how are you finding the course so far? I've put down MSISS as my no1 but I'm still considering the change of mind in May.

Mark200

sock puppet wrote: »

Sp how are you finding the course so far? I've put down MSISS as my no1 but I'm still considering the change of mind in May.

It depends what you're into I guess. I think the course is pretty good so far, although before I started it I thought I'd prefer all the hardware stuff more than the software...but it turned out to be the complete opposite. I can't stand any of the digital logic or electrotechnology stuff, but I like the programming and the maths isn't too bad either.

To be honest though, if I was to choose a course to do now I would probably pick the business and computing one instead. It's a new course starting this year, and just having a look at it....it includes all the good parts of computer science (the parts I like) and does business too which I liked in school.

I have a friend in MSISS and I don't think he likes it at all. But as I said, it just depends on what you're into.

johnl

Mark200 wrote: »

Ok, at an extremely high risk of putting a curse on my CAO, what would I need for Computer Science if I got the course?

In other words, what will I bring in every day?

I want to know everything. Pens, A4 pads? Will I need a laptop? I've been on the train a few times early in the morning and I didn't see many college goers with laptops and stuff.

You'll need to put up with guys like this in your class:
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.druid/msg/ecea635b0ef8f4aa

mathew

johnl wrote: »

You'll need to put up with guys like this in your class:
---

careful now.... going by the trend of the closing of other thread you'd prob be best advised to get rid of that link....

Mark200

johnl wrote: »

You'll need to put up with guys like this in your class:
--

Yeah and not to forget, if you choose to come to trinity you'll have to put up with guys like this:

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/member.php?u=9263