Engineering eh?

Ruined_Silver

Hey, I'm in sixth year and considering doing the subject. I like math and TD but don't do physics. I know there's a lot of physics involved in the subject but can you get by without doing it for the LC?? Are there many in each year who didn't do it for the LC, are they miles behind those who did??
Thanks.

'Course you can get by. Besides, it's usually Chemistry that has the large fail rate, not Physics.

mathew

Youll be grand without physics.. They go over all the basics which are pretty intuitive.. you may have to do a bit more work than those who have Physics, but once you are good at maths you'll be fine..
As Myth sais, Chemistry tends to be the more difficult subject..

Ruined_Silver

I unfortunately don't do chemistry either.. lol ..from looking through the forums I can see that engineering students have 30+ hours a week and I'm guessing that my lack of experience with physics and chemistry could mean that I'd have zero free time through college.. Hmmm.. Not really looking like engineering is going get much preference on my CAO!

mathew

I didnt do Chemistry either.. and many of my friends didnt have either subject..
It takes a bit more work, but its not that bad..

I didnt have a clue what was going on in Chemistry at all but still managed 55% in the exam.
As with pretty much everything, pay attention in lectures and go to tutorials and you should be fine..
If you really do need extra work, itll be the only work youll have to do.. aside from the lab reports.. of which there is only one a week.
Youll see a lot of people moaning about them here.. but theyre the only 'assignments' we have. Youd get it done in an hour or two..

Engineering is by no means an easy course hours wise tho.. compared to law who are in for 8 hours a week.
It is pretty much 9-5 monday to friday.
It means you get to know your class very well tho. My year is a great bunch of people. I really really enjoy spending 30+ hours a week with them all.. learning something I really love learning about.
It is difficult, but because I enjoy it its not like work.. I enjoy solving the problems.
Yes some of the lab reports are tedious and annoying, but in the big scheme of things there not that bad.

If you are interested in Engineering, enjoy Maths and applying it to the real world, then you'll enjoy engineering, and the work wont seem too much like work.

Mark200

They put on a week of just Chemistry the week before you start your course for those who haven't done Chemistry before. I'm not sure what it's like though, I just know because I know two people who did it.

Ruined_Silver

Ruined_Silver wrote: »

I unfortunately don't do chemistry either.. lol ..from looking through the forums I can see that engineering students have 30+ hours a week and I'm guessing that my lack of experience with physics and chemistry could mean that I'd have zero free time through college.. Hmmm.. Not really looking like engineering is going get much preference on my CAO!

Well, if you want an easy ride you should just do nothing! Don't go to college. Every course you do will have challenges, and will require you to work hard (most of the time). You most definitely can have an active social life even with Engineering being very long hours. You're expected to know a bit but with work you'll get through.

Jonathan

Mark200 wrote: »

They put on a week of just Chemistry the week before you start your course for those who haven't done Chemistry before. I'm not sure what it's like though, I just know because I know two people who did it.

Don't bother.. Just a money maker for the chemistry dept.

Ruined_Silver

Myth wrote: »

Well, if you want an easy ride you should just do nothing! Don't go to college. Every course you do will have challenges, and will require you to work hard (most of the time). You most definitely can have an active social life even with Engineering being very long hours. You're expected to know a bit but with work you'll get through.

I'm not looking for an easy ride, I'm just thinking that this course might not be so suited to someone who didn't do chemistry & physics for the LC. But who knows, I'm most likely wrong! lol

Anyone here do engineering without these LC subjects? How do you get on??

godtabh

jmccrohan wrote: »

Don't bother.. Just a money maker for the chemistry dept.

I thought it was free?

mathew

nope... €50...

LiamD

Engineering looks like a really interesting course, we share some lectures with them and I find them grand. There's just as much emphasis on maths and some on computer science too. Huge class means a good mix of people unlike some smaller courses (like mine). Most engineers I know don't spend their whole week in the library!

Jonathan

Ruined_Silver wrote: »

I'm not looking for an easy ride, I'm just thinking that this course might not be so suited to someone who didn't do chemistry & physics for the LC. But who knows, I'm most likely wrong! lol

Anyone here do engineering without these LC subjects? How do you get on??

Chemistry is not really that important. You do an introductory course in 1st but then only touch on the relevant parts in subsequent years.

Physics would probably be the most useful subject. A grounding in statics, dynamics, optics, electronics etc, is going to stand to you most.

Tech drawing is not that important. It is only one small section in first year, and very easy to do well in. I got a first in it, having never done tech graph before.

Are you doing applied maths?

godtabh

mathew wrote: »

nope... €50...

I think it was for me

Mark200

kearnsr wrote: »

I thought it was free?

Yeah I thought it was free too...oh well..

Brian

jmccrohan wrote: »

Tech drawing is not that important. It is only one small section in first year, and very easy to do well in. I got a first in it, having never done tech graph before.

You're so pleased with yourself about that, aren't you =P

mathew wrote: »

I didnt have a clue what was going on in Chemistry at all but still managed 55% in the exam.

Looks like I'll be getting 55% percent then.

Jonathan

Baza210 wrote: »

You're so pleased with yourself about that, aren't you =P

Not really... Just trying to get the point across that it is easy..

uprooted shane

50e for me any ways!

TheAmateur

jmccrohan wrote: »

I got a first in it, having never done tech graph before.

Did you use a book or something to do that? Any tips? I've never done tech graph before either, and I'm finding it kinda difficult.

Jonathan

TheAmateur wrote: »

Did you use a book or something to do that? Any tips? I've never done tech graph before either, and I'm finding it kinda difficult.

Put a bit of effort into the easter (could have been christmas. I cant remember) drawing, autocad, matlab and pspice assignments.
They are handy marks.

I wouldn't get too bogged down in trying to understand all the perspectives, vanishing points etc. After all, you are an engineer, not an architect.

Know the difference between and know how to draw 1st and 3rd angle and isometric drawings.

Too much emphasis is put on vanishing points etc in those tuesday drawing assignments.. They aren't that important. Have a look at the past papers and have a look for yourself.

mathew

No books at all..
Youll pick it up much better when Gareth O'Donnell takes over (if you can concentrate)
Go over Bidishas stuff a few times...
Have a look at the tutorials too. Try just sketching to see what you should get...
The more you practice the better you get at it.
If you can see in your mind what is should look like before you draw it you should do fine.. Main way to be able to do that is practice....

TheAmateur

Thanks for that. One more thing, dya know if we can use ICT hut 2 outside the tutorial times for 1e8 to do that assignment joke? Or is there anywhere else on campus that has Autocad?

Jonathan

TheAmateur wrote: »

Thanks for that. One more thing, dya know if we can use ICT hut 2 outside the tutorial times for 1e8 to do that assignment joke? Or is there anywhere else on campus that has Autocad?

Nope. 1st year accounts are timelocked. You might be able to use it if there is another 1st year tutorial on at the same time.

There is a CAD lab in the red brick civil building but I dont thing you have access there either..

Get a class rep to complain..

EDIT: Actually dont.. I quite like the labs when they are quiet.

Brian

Eh, download AutoCAD and do it at home. That's what I plan to do.

mathew

Ye.. its the easiest thing to do..
Its here if you need it: http://students6.autodesk.com/?lbon=1