Engineering in TCD

dermo1990

I'm currently in 6th year and am somewhat undecided between doing engineering in TCD or UCD. Can anyone tell me about the quality of the Trinity engineering department.

copacetic

you should be worried about what branch of engineering you are interested in more than what college. Trinity don't have the variety that ucd has.

Jonathan

Civil dept is woeful.

mathew

dermo1990 wrote: »

I'm currently in 6th year and am somewhat undecided between doing engineering in TCD or UCD. Can anyone tell me about the quality of the Trinity engineering department.

Do you have any idea what field you want to go in to??

Then agian, I really wanted to do elec when I was in 6th year. Now, after a year and a half, I'm heart set on Mech and dont have much interest in elec at all.

I believe the course is changing next year. Something to do with getting the professional accreditation after graduating, so make sure you look in to what both universities offer with regard to that.

As was said, Civil departement isnt the most organised. But its still the majority choice, so it cant be too bad.

Electronic and Mechanical departements are very well organised and very good.

You also get the option of doing Computer Engineering which is in with the CS departement, or a mix of Elec and Computers.

I did a week long summer thing in UCD and I was very impressed with their Engineering departement. Very well equiped and the staff I dealt with seemed really nice.

Ultimatly chose Trinity for a few reasons:
1. Two years of general (which may be changing next year as I said)
2. Location of Trinity, even though UCD is closer to me, being in the city is really cool
3. Atmosphere and size of the campus. Trinity all seemed closer together and more friendly than the sprawling UCD campus.
4. I was more impressed with what I saw at the Trinity Open day compared to the UCD one.

Over all, I think the quality of the degree balances out. As for the Engineering departement in Trinity, for the most part, Its well run and they provide a great course. Ive loved every minute.

dermo1990

Yea, I'm kinda swayed more toward electronic or computer eng. Had the same feeling about trinity. I didn't find the UCD open day that organised

Jonathan

Then go to Trinity or Maynooth.


Comp Eng isn't offered in UCD.

CJTobin

Although UCD offers computer science through either an arts route or a science route. You can take omnibus science, for instance, before specialising in computer science for your degree, or you can choose to specialise in computer science going in the door, meaning that you're guaranteed a place on the computer science degree course while others from omnibus science are competing for their place.

Jonathan

CJTobin wrote: »

Although UCD offers computer science through either an arts route or a science route. You can take omnibus science, for instance, before specialising in computer science for your degree, or you can choose to specialise in computer science going in the door, meaning that you're guaranteed a place on the computer science degree course while others from omnibus science are competing for their place.

Computer Science != Computer Engineering

mathew

Its not Computer Engineering tho.. You come out with a CS degree, not an Engineering degree.
Theres a fair bit more you learn by going the engineering route. Especially in the general years.

Peleus

ye, i was sorta in your position last year. I chose Trinity basically because i thought the college is alot better. UCD is literally up the road from me and would be really handy but the campus is way to big for my liking and I just thought Trinity looked nicer.

Both the colleges are great and the courses in both are grand (UCD's engineering is better from what i've heard) but if i had to choose again I'd still choose Trinity. The course is interesting and fun, the facilities in Trinity are great, and it's in town.

If I was in your position I'd just choose which ever college you'd prefer to go to. Worked out great for me! good luck in the leaving!

Jonathan

Peleus wrote: »

ye, i was sorta in your position last year. I chose Trinity basically because i thought the college is alot better. UCD is literally up the road from me and would be really handy but the campus is way to big for my liking and I just thought Trinity looked nicer.

Both the colleges are great and the courses in both are grand (UCD's engineering is better from what i've heard) but if i had to choose again I'd still choose Trinity. The course is interesting and fun, the facilities in Trinity are great, and it's in town.

If I was in your position I'd just choose which ever college you'd prefer to go to. Worked out great for me! good luck in the leaving!

Yea but all depends on what you hope to do.

What do you hope to do?

Peleus

jmccrohan wrote: »

Yea but all depends on what you hope to do.

What do you hope to do?

I dunno, probably Civil. I like all types but Civil and structural is the only one I can see myself liking a job in. Why?

copacetic

mathew wrote: »

Its not Computer Engineering tho.. You come out with a CS degree, not an Engineering degree.
Theres a fair bit more you learn by going the engineering route. Especially in the general years.

'computer' engineering is not the way to go imo. Why limit your options so much? Electronic is basically the same thing with a little more general applications.

'computer' eng rules you out of a lot of jobs and doesn't really help you get any that electronic wouldn't. Someone hiring a hardware designer will much prefer a electronic eng than a 'computer' eng imo.

On the other hand if you are hell bent on an specific career around IT you would be better in CS anyway.

devinejay

I posted here last year with the same queries!

I'm from Maynooth but I kept well clear because;
a) It's very specific, electrical/electronic engineering and that's it
b) the small town thing was getting to me and needed a change in scenery/pace.

So I chose Trinity for basically the opposite of the above reasons;
a) Two years of general engineering, it has it's draw backs but you'd better put up with them until you find something you really like!
b)Trinity is a great campus with a nice feel to it and it's right in the center of town. Also the train is really handy for me.

From what I remember from last year UCD probably does have a better engineering dept, but it just wasn't an option for me travel/accommodation wise. They're very interested in becoming compliant with the international qualification standards which is important to undergrads in a country in economic downturn! There was a course last year which was called Engineering Science which I think was in this vein improving the accreditation of graduates. It was a 3 year Bsc with a 2 years MEng stuck on at the end, it might be worth looking into although I'm not sure if it's as great as it first sounds (or did sound to me anyway) so be wary. I think they're even in the process of designing a one year post-grad course to bring us lowly BAI accredited engineers up to speed with the europeans with their 5 years courses so you never know, I might see you there in a few years!

Good luck making your decision anyway!

TheAmateur

mathew wrote: »

You come out with a CS degree, not an Engineering degree.

That's interesting. What if you do computer and electronic engineering?

Boston

copacetic wrote: »

'computer' engineering is not the way to go imo. Why limit your options so much? Electronic is basically the same thing with a little more general applications.

'computer' eng rules you out of a lot of jobs and doesn't really help you get any that electronic wouldn't. Someone hiring a hardware designer will much prefer a electronic eng than a 'computer' eng imo.

On the other hand if you are hell bent on an specific career around IT you would be better in CS anyway.

JETLAG is kicking my ass but,

'Computer engineering' could mean anything and you're simply wrong to make the kind of statements you're making without knowing what the course entails. You're talking about a hardware designer, but even within hardware design there are several levels, jobs where you sit around feckin' about with capacitors and resistors are long gone however jobs where you write Verilog or VHDL code and still very much present.

TheAmateur

TheAmateur wrote: »

That's interesting. What if you do computer and electronic engineering?

I think he means by the content of the course; if you do engineering in Trinity you get a BA and a BAI. CS get a BA (Mod).

copacetic

Boston wrote: »

JETLAG is kicking my ass but,

'Computer engineering' could mean anything and you're simply wrong to make the kind of statements you're making without knowing what the course entails. You're talking about a hardware designer, but even within hardware design there are several levels, jobs where you sit around feckin' about with capacitors and resistors are long gone however jobs where you write Verilog or VHDL code and still very much present.

Why do you say I don't know what the course entails Boston? I know exactly what it entails. I gave my opinion having studied in both colleges and worked for many years in both the jobs you describe.

Hardware engineering isn't 'long gone' although it's not a massive market in Ireland and Firmware engineers are of course in demand in some areas also (writing verilog or vhdl is very seldom described as a HW engineer postion, unless you are also designing the boards). However for either one when people advertise they are expecting electronic engineers to apply.

If you disagree why not say why instead of implying I don't know what I am talking about when you appear to only have a very tenous understanding of whats involved in the job.

Boston

What Job, you're talking about a course. Electronic engineers call someone whose down at the RTL a hardware designer. Computer engineers call someone at that level a circuit/IC/ Analog IC/ design designer and refer to anyone using LSTs as a hardware designer. You're using so many terms as if they have hard and fast meanings set in stone, which is deeply confusing.

Additionally, a computer engineering student in trinity could (depending on the options) have nearly the exact same qualification as an electronic engineer. In fact the only subjects they wouldn't do would be advanced theoretical which would make no difference to a persons ability to get an industry job. Telling someone to do Elec over comp makes little sense.

Finally, the last reason I though and still think you're not right is that the IC / hardware design courses have been dropped due to low demand for graduates with these skills. Students now only have the option to cover basic IC design in trinity and all C/CD/D stream students do it. In fact the course venturing in FPGA design in a computer engineering course.

mathew

just stumbled upon this.. nice little breakdown..

http://compsci.ca/blog/6-degrees-of-computer-science/

timmywex

Whats the BA that engineering students get?!

Or am i reading it wrong in that engineering students get a BA and a Beng(BAI)?!

TheAmateur

timmywex wrote: »

Whats the BA that engineering students get?!

Or am i reading it wrong in that engineering students get a BA and a Beng(BAI)?!

I think that's the maths one. We get a level 7 maths one too afaik.

Boston

Beng? I think only DCU give out those.
BA is for maths. afaik.

The BA is just an ordinary BA. No mention of maths anywhere on my degree. And BAI is translated from latin as Bachelor of Arts in Engineering. So as boston said it's not a BEng.

mathew

You can 'upgrade' it to an MA after a certain number of years woking IIRC, theres a small fee i believe..

Jonathan

mathew wrote: »

You can 'upgrade' it to an MAI after a certain number of years woking IIRC, theres a small fee i believe..

fyp.

http://www.tcd.ie/Graduate_Studies/prospectivestudents/courses/taught/coursepg.php?course_id=127

MA upgrade is separate to the MAI upgrade, but you can do both.

mathew

Dónal wrote: »

MA upgrade is separate to the MAI upgrade, but you can do both.

is there something about having to do it before any other postgrad to get it for free (apart from whatever that admin fee is) ?

The MA? You 'apparently' have to work for 3 years I think in that field before you are eligible for it, but if you were to get it and then apply for a postgrad you wouldn't be eligible for financial support (grants, tax relief on fees) on a real Masters.

'Apparently' is because I suspect that if you worked in a completely unrelated job after graduating they'd still give it to you.

AnneElizabeth

Hi, I know this thread is like a year and a half old, but I have some questions on Computer Engineering and was hoping someone could help me out:

I'm in 6th year and am interested in computers. I've been thinking for awhile that I'll do the Computer Science degree, but then I thought employers would think it's better to have a "Computer Engineering" degree as opposed to "Computer Science". Engineer just sounds better, more intelligent and more prestigious. Also, I know I shouldn't take points into account but the Computer Science degree is only around 350 points and I'm hoping to get over 500 and I feel it's a bit of a waste.

My only problems with the Engineering degree are:
- I was reading on the Trinity website that it's changed to 5 years now to get an Engineering Degree? Is that for all aspects of Engineering or just some of them? If so it would mean an extra year compared to CS. And then if I wanted a Master's.. How long would it take?
- I don't do Physics or Applied Maths so I'm afraid I wouldn't be able for general engineering.
- I do Technology and find Electronics a bit hard to understand as well.
- I'm worried I wouldn't be taught as much detail in Computer Engineering because there's less time to cover it compared to CS.


Sorry for the long post :P

tabouli

The points for CS are the way they are because the last person who got in got around 350. AFAIK the course has around 60 places but rarely fills up... so technically if you get your C3 in honours Maths you'll probably get in. That's why the points are so low, not because it's an easy course or the people doing it aren't particularly smart (quite the opposite!). Pick something you think you'll like, and if you're interested in computers straight off then I think the two years of civil/mech etc might be boring or irrelevant to you. Don't make your decision based on whether or not your points will go to 'waste'.

brownacid

The 5 year degree incorporates a masters into the programme as Engineers Ireland from next year will not allow graduates without a masters t be chartered.

Jonathan

brownacid wrote: »

The 5 year degree incorporates a masters into the programme as Engineers Ireland from next year will not allow graduates without a masters t be chartered.

If you do not have a masters, you can still become chartered by completing additional CPD.

gearoidof

This is a tl;dr, sorry in advance

AnneElizabeth wrote: »

I've been thinking for awhile that I'll do the Computer Science degree, but then I thought employers would think it's better to have a "Computer Engineering" degree as opposed to "Computer Science". Engineer just sounds better, more intelligent and more prestigious.
Also, I know I shouldn't take points into account but the Computer Science degree is only around 350 points and I'm hoping to get over 500 and I feel it's a bit of a waste.

University isn't just about getting a good job, you're always better off doing what interests you. And on the points thing, CS is 350 because the course didn't fill. Of more interest is the average points of students enrolled, which is at 430 for CS and 480 for engineering. In CS, I think, people who go in thinking it's an easy course because it's only 350 points get a nasty surprise.

AnneElizabeth wrote: »

My only problems with the Engineering degree are:
- I was reading on the Trinity website that it's changed to 5 years now to get an Engineering Degree? Is that for all aspects of Engineering or just some of them? If so it would mean an extra year compared to CS. And then if I wanted a Master's.. How long would it take?

What acually has happened is that to become a CPD engineer, you have to do a Masters. So basically TCD engineering have incorporated this, and strongly encourage students to do a 1 year masters immediately afer graduating.

AnneElizabeth wrote: »

- I don't do Physics or Applied Maths so I'm afraid I wouldn't be able for general engineering.
- I do Technology and find Electronics a bit hard to understand as well.

In 1st and 2nd year, Engineers do an omnibus course. 10% of the course is CS and electrical, 20% mechanical and civil, %20 maths, and 20% "engineering stuff". (These are very rough figures). If you don't like electronics, and you don't like physics, are you sure you want to do Engineering?
That said, Physics isn't a prerequisite for Engineering. The main thing is to be good at maths, and they teach Physics and Chemistry in 1st year. People who haven't done Phys/Chem in the LC will find those courses difficult, but that just means putting a bit more work into them.

AnneElizabeth wrote: »

- I'm worried I wouldn't be taught as much detail in Computer Engineering because there's less time to cover it compared to CS.

Engineers don't get taught as much detail as CS. But we have a broader education, which means that we can use experience from other fields to solve problems!

AnneElizabeth

Thanks! I do Honors Maths and Chemistry, I always liked Chemistry a bit more than Physics and was limited with my options, that's why I didn't pick Physics. My brother is very good at it though so I regret not doing it..

gearoidof wrote: »

University isn't just about getting a good job, you're always better off doing what interests you. And on the points thing, CS is 350 because the course didn't fill. Of more interest is the average points of students enrolled, which is at 430 for CS and 480 for engineering. In CS, I think, people who go in thinking it's an easy course because it's only 350 points get a nasty surprise.

I don't expect it to be easy, but at the same time, you get a title with doing an Engineering Degree.. Like you're officially an Engineer. Are there any other bonuses of doing an Engineering Degree over a CS Degree?

Engineers don't get taught as much detail as CS. But we have a broader education, which means that we can use experience from other fields to solve problems!

That's good if I decide I don't like computers (I don't actually know too much about programming). But bad if I do really like it and hate the other stuff.

So how long would it take me in total to complete the Engineering Degree?
I assume CS is 4 Years, and then can you can do a 1 year Masters?

gearoidof

Engineering and CS are both 4 year courses.

However, Engineers are strongly encouraged to do a 1 masters straight after graduating, as Engineers without masters are under qualified these days.

On getting an engineering title, consider that if you don't like it, you won't work as hard at it. So is a 2.1. Engineer better than a 1st CS?

Anyway, if you're not sure if you'd like to do CS, then you have a bit of a get out clause in Engineering.

AnneElizabeth

Thanks for all the help. I'm still unsure of which I'll pick. I was planning on doing a Master's in CS, if it's possible(?), so the courses are the same length then, least that's one less thing to worry about.

Jonathan

AnneElizabeth wrote: »

Thanks for all the help. I'm still unsure of which I'll pick. I was planning on doing a Master's in CS, if it's possible(?), so the courses are the same length then, least that's one less thing to worry about.

Out of interest, what do you think computer engineering involves? Many people get a shock when the enter because it is totally different to what they believed it to be.

AnneElizabeth

Jonathan wrote: »

Out of interest, what do you think computer engineering involves? Many people get a shock when the enter because it is totally different to what they believed it to be.

Haha this is where I will make a fool of myself. Anyone want to explain properly?
I've read through everything on Qualifax in the TCD and UCD Computer Science, as well as read about it on Career Directions, been to a course on basic introduction in computer science, done a Mock Interview on CS, and I still don't fully know :P

The basics is learning Programming and Languages I think? Which involves Maths and Algorithms, I know you do Maths classes in CS.
Then there's smaller things like Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (not sure if they're the same thing xD), Virtual, Hardware stuff and maybe some stuff on Holograms and Graphics? And there's other stuff but I can't think of any.


Is that basically it or am I way off?


EDIT: Just realized you said Computer ENGINEERING, Not Computer Science. Haven't looked up much on Computer Engineering. I assume it's more hardware based but pretty much the same thing..? Care to fill me in? xD

awja

I'm in 6th year and am interested in computers. I've been thinking for awhile that I'll do the Computer Science degree, but then I thought employers would think it's better to have a "Computer Engineering" degree as opposed to "Computer Science". Engineer just sounds better, more intelligent and more prestigious.

Hahahah. Ahem! As someone nearly finished their CS degree, I feel obliged to reply to this. You actually have it backwards! While not dissing Engies (they just have a different focus than us) CS is leagues beyond CEng. In CS you'll be learning lots of different programming languages, building computers from the ground up (From actually putting resistors on circuit boards to writing the operating system for your computer), and taking maths and algorithms classes. In third year you get to pick two of your classes yourself, and in fourth year you get to pick three. On the employment front, I've been employed several times in the CS industry before even leaving college, so that speaks for itself. If you just want a job doing hardware stuff, then Ceng. might be better, but if you want a software job, you just won't know enough for the majority of places. It's really not about what "sounds good". Employers in the field know what different degrees are like and will hire people accordingly. If you actually look at the list of courses accredited by the IEI, you'll see that CS in Trinity is one of them! This means that after your CS degree you're also an accredited engineer.

Also, I know I shouldn't take points into account but the Computer Science degree is only around 350 points and I'm hoping to get over 500 and I feel it's a bit of a waste.

This is actually very weird. I can assure you that CS is not for people who manage to scrape the 350 points, unless they were just lazy or happen to be geniuses. It's a hard course, with a big failure rate.

My only problems with the Engineering degree are:
- I was reading on the Trinity website that it's changed to 5 years now to get an Engineering Degree? Is that for all aspects of Engineering or just some of them? If so it would mean an extra year compared to CS. And then if I wanted a Master's.. How long would it take?
- I don't do Physics or Applied Maths so I'm afraid I wouldn't be able for general engineering.

You won't be able to escape physics in any degree like this, I'm afraid. Even pure CS has a physics course in first year, you need to know it to understand how computers work. Don't worry, it's not terrible!

- I do Technology and find Electronics a bit hard to understand as well.
- I'm worried I wouldn't be taught as much detail in Computer Engineering because there's less time to cover it compared to CS.

I wouldn't worry about finding electronics hard to understand. Everybody finds electronics the hardest thing initially. However, in first year in Trinity CS you'll have one of the best introductory hardware courses in the country, IMHO, and after that it usually just "clicks" for most people.

Sorry for the massive post! Any questions to ask a CS student?

AnneElizabeth

awja wrote: »

Hahahah. Ahem! As someone nearly finished their CS degree, I feel obliged to reply to this. You actually have it backwards! While not dissing Engies (they just have a different focus than us) CS is leagues beyond CEng. In CS you'll be learning lots of different programming languages, building computers from the ground up (From actually putting resistors on circuit boards to writing the operating system for your computer), and taking maths and algorithms classes. In third year you get to pick two of your classes yourself, and in fourth year you get to pick three. On the employment front, I've been employed several times in the CS industry before even leaving college, so that speaks for itself. If you just want a job doing hardware stuff, then Ceng. might be better, but if you want a software job, you just won't know enough for the majority of places. It's really not about what "sounds good". Employers in the field know what different degrees are like and will hire people accordingly. If you actually look at the list of courses accredited by the IEI, you'll see that CS in Trinity is one of them! This means that after your CS degree you're also an accredited engineer.

This is actually very weird. I can assure you that CS is not for people who manage to scrape the 350 points, unless they were just lazy or happen to be geniuses. It's a hard course, with a big failure rate.

You won't be able to escape physics in any degree like this, I'm afraid. Even pure CS has a physics course in first year, you need to know it to understand how computers work. Don't worry, it's not terrible!

I wouldn't worry about finding electronics hard to understand. Everybody finds electronics the hardest thing initially. However, in first year in Trinity CS you'll have one of the best introductory hardware courses in the country, IMHO, and after that it usually just "clicks" for most people.

Sorry for the massive post! Any questions to ask a CS student?

Thanks that was really really helpful!!

Still worried about the Physics though, I don't want to try and take it up for 6th Year though cause I have enough work with 7 other subjects.

Oh and seeing as there's a high drop-out rate, what are the reasons for the drop-outs? Like would it be people like me, who didn't do the right LC subjects and can't pick it up who drop out?
I don't think I'd drop out, but you've kinda scared me, I don't know if I'll be able for it now :pac:

Any suggestions for stuff I should do/learn before I start the course?

awja

Oh, sorry, looks like I made a mess of explaining the physics thing! When I said you wouldn't be able to escape physics, I meant you won't be able to escape being taught it! There's a physics class in first year CS that'll bring you up to speed. Just from my own experience, I'd say at least half of my year haven't done physics for the LC. If a LC class is really important for a course, it'll be a requirement, and the only CS requirement is a C3 or better in higher level maths. If you do physics for the LC you definitely have a slight advantage, but the only physics you need for CS is electrical physics. If you're a really motivated student, you could read up on basic electrical physics the summer before college. I think it's only one question on the LC paper :P

With regard to dropping out, I don't think I know anyone who dropped out because they hadn't done the right combo for the Leaving. As long as you have higher level maths you're pretty well sorted. There seem to be a good few people with no idea at all of what'll be going on in the course, and they get a bit spooked by the learning curve.

If you really want to be well prepared, you could read this or any similar books you can find. Basically though, if you know what programming is, you'll have the jump on about half your class :P

The first year CS course does a decent job of introducing people to the field, and even parts of second year are still introductory, so I wouldn't worry about not being able to handle it until you try it out. Worst case, you can probably switch into an Engineering course, I know some people who've switched into CS from Engineering and vice versa too.

Something to think about if you're more mathematically oriented, and something I didn't know until I was well past halfway through my degree is that if you do Maths in Trinity, you're allowed to choose CS subjects as your options in third and fourth year, which is cool.

AnneElizabeth

awja wrote: »

Oh, sorry, looks like I made a mess of explaining the physics thing! When I said you wouldn't be able to escape physics, I meant you won't be able to escape being taught it! There's a physics class in first year CS that'll bring you up to speed. Just from my own experience, I'd say at least half of my year haven't done physics for the LC. If a LC class is really important for a course, it'll be a requirement, and the only CS requirement is a C3 or better in higher level maths. If you do physics for the LC you definitely have a slight advantage, but the only physics you need for CS is electrical physics. If you're a really motivated student, you could read up on basic electrical physics the summer before college. I think it's only one question on the LC paper :P

With regard to dropping out, I don't think I know anyone who dropped out because they hadn't done the right combo for the Leaving. As long as you have higher level maths you're pretty well sorted. There seem to be a good few people with no idea at all of what'll be going on in the course, and they get a bit spooked by the learning curve.

If you really want to be well prepared, you could read this or any similar books you can find. Basically though, if you know what programming is, you'll have the jump on about half your class :P

The first year CS course does a decent job of introducing people to the field, and even parts of second year are still introductory, so I wouldn't worry about not being able to handle it until you try it out. Worst case, you can probably switch into an Engineering course, I know some people who've switched into CS from Engineering and vice versa too.

Something to think about if you're more mathematically oriented, and something I didn't know until I was well past halfway through my degree is that if you do Maths in Trinity, you're allowed to choose CS subjects as your options in third and fourth year, which is cool.

Thanks Yeah I plan to read up about the Physics over summer (I hope). There are some small watered-down aspects of Physics in Technology I think, so at least I have something. So is there no other aspects of Physics in CS besides Electrical?

I still don't get how people dropped out though, because surely they'd have looked into it a little bit? What's the big shock they get? Like everyone who does it has done HL maths, so they're far from idiots..

With regards maths, I was always good at maths and enjoyed it, but I'm finding LC Honours Maths a bit difficult (not so bad that I'd need to go to Pass) but at the same time, I don't think I'd be able for a Maths degree, especially seeing as I only do maths and no other maths-orientated subjects like Physics or Applied Maths. Thanks for the info though.

awja

To be honest, LC maths does a terrible job of preparing you for any seriously mathematical course. In particular, different branches of logic are a massive component of CS/Maths that's just ignored on the Leaving Cert. I wouldn't say it's more difficult than LC maths, but it is quite different, and that throws some people off. In first year in Engineering or CS, there's usually a class where you just go back over leaving cert stuff relearning it properly

AnneElizabeth

Thanks again ^^
I have another question: For CS: PC or Mac? I've always had PC's but I wonder if I'd need a better machine seeing as my whole course is centred around computers.
(I won't be buying until next summer if I do need a new one, the laptop I have at the moment is pretty decent though).

Groinshot

AnneElizabeth wrote: »

Thanks again ^^
I have another question: For CS: PC or Mac? I've always had PC's but I wonder if I'd need a better machine seeing as my whole course is centred around computers.
(I won't be buying until next summer if I do need a new one, the laptop I have at the moment is pretty decent though).

doesn't matter, it's preference really. macs have a nice text editor (smultron) but so do PC's (newest version of wordpad is lubly)
you won't need anything more powerful than what you use to surf the net on, and if youi do, there's computers in college with the software you need on it.

kthnxbai

If you do CD/D stream in TCD you'll get a free lappy...

We got 13" macbook pros...

You don't need to worry at all about getting a powerful machine...You don't even really need one as you don't do a whole lot of coding or any substantial CStype projects ... well, not till you get to third year anywhoo...

I'm just headed into 4th year computer engineering and I'd really recommend it...

Sure, we cover a little less than the CS guys, but we actually shared a couple classes.. and imo, the broader knowledge you get from engineering is better... you're taught better skills... like, once you know how to code you can always learn a new language or new algorithms...

@awja

there's really not that huge of a difference between the CEng and CS... we build comps from the ground up putting resistors on the board too y'know... and we did it in 5 weeks as opposed to your 12....

I'd say eng would have a harder maths course... now maybe I'm wrong... but it's just that even in third year, the different engie streams share maths, so you'll be doing some stuff not entirely relevant to computers but it's not that bad...

I know a couple lads in CS and from what I've seen, they seem to have a higher work load... but less hours in lectures...

As for doing a CS masters, so long as you get good results, they'll take a engie as quick as a CS... at least this is what I tell myself as I'm hoping to get one myself...

AnneElizabeth

kthnxbai wrote: »

If you do CD/D stream in TCD you'll get a free lappy...

We got 13" macbook pros...

You don't need to worry at all about getting a powerful machine...You don't even really need one as you don't do a whole lot of coding or any substantial CStype projects ... well, not till you get to third year anywhoo...

I'm just headed into 4th year computer engineering and I'd really recommend it...

Sure, we cover a little less than the CS guys, but we actually shared a couple classes.. and imo, the broader knowledge you get from engineering is better... you're taught better skills... like, once you know how to code you can always learn a new language or new algorithms...

What's CD/D stream? I want a free Macbook!

...Ah just when I had decided on CS someone recommends Engineering again :pac: This is so confusing! But don't you really need Physics for Engineering?

Nietzschean

your LC courses really don't matter for computers all that much. Hons maths is about all that you really need, mostly from an aptitude POV than any course content.

You could always of course do mathematics, way more career options at the end than either comp eng or comp sci


At the end of the day in my experience if you want to get a good job in computer's developing software of any sort do CS. I know good comp eng's, but generally CS people have an easier ride into good jobs than they do.

While as pointed out once you know the skills to learn languages and algorithms in computers you can pick up any really, CS is directed preparation at this. And doing a masters isn't nearly as required for a decent job as comp eng. (Having an awesome final year project can be emensely important though, along with doing internships in your summers instead of being a bum)

Nietzschean

Groinshot wrote: »

doesn't matter, it's preference really. macs have a nice text editor (smultron) but so do PC's (newest version of wordpad is lubly)

For the record, the new version of wordpad is an abomination, if you want to use a plain text editor on windows the 3rd party free Notepad++, TextPad or Sublime are much much better.


H/w in a laptop won't matter a lot, not that you'd be doing serious dev early in a degree but for any serious level of C++ programming the nicest IDE has to be visual studio 2008 (2010 is still kinda pants slow) + visual assist which is obviously windows only.

kthnxbai

AnneElizabeth wrote: »

What's CD/D stream? I want a free Macbook!

...Ah just when I had decided on CS someone recommends Engineering again :pac: This is so confusing! But don't you really need Physics for Engineering?

CD is a mix of computer engineering and electronic engineering... so you get to choose certain subjects.. so if you find you're better at elec, you can lean towards that..
D is straight computer engineering... we have a tiiiiny class... we don't get a choice in subjects... We do some of the same subjects as the CS guys in 3rd and 4th year...
you pick your engineering stream at the end of second year... there's also A - civil - and B - mech



eh, I dunno... like, 1st year courses pretty much cover everything you need...

Lots of people don't have physics... it'd be a help alright, but if you're mathematically minded, it shouldn't be a problem...

Honestly, I prefer engineering... I would say we do a LOT more maths... well at least more varied, and from what I can see, we do electronics from a different perspective... but engineering gives you more options... and I don't mean just in the course... but when you've got your degree, you can do more with it... I know that I thought I would've wanted to do electronic when i was just going into 1st year, and I bloody hate the stuff... When you're actually studying it, it's a lot different to what's in the course descriptions

If you really want to do engineering, not having physics shouldn't be a problem... you're obviously a smart girl if you're aiming over the 500 mark...
The physics that we do it not all that complicated at all

It depends why you think you'd prefer CS over Engineering?

As regards final year projects, I get to pick from the same ones as the CS guys, so I don't think that really matters...