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UCD SCIENCE OR TCD SCIENCE?

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    #32
    Bajingo
    Registered Users Posts: 889 ✭✭✭Bajingo


    ya-ba-da-ba-doo wrote: »
    im kind of getting the feeling i might chose the tcd course.. still have 2 months to decide but i think i miht go for it.

    if i am to pick it i will probably choose

    M.METHODS, BIO 101, BIO 102, CHEM 101, CHEM 102 and FOUNDATION PHYSICS



    would any current students be able to give a bitta advice cause im not doin chem in LC but am thinking of taking the two modules on.. is this too big of a task?



    im willing to work hard for it and all but it could be just that bit too difficult..

    If you're willing to work hard for it then your sorted really as long as you do the work..there will be plenty of help for you out there from your lecturers, mentors(that will be me next year:D so i'll be around to give you a hand) and also there are plenty of other students offering 1 to 1 lessons if you want them I know ive already said this in my previous post..but all the same...

    Id say most of the first years doing chemistry now in first year didnt do it for the leaving and ye they find it tough but the ones that care get it done..dont skip over a course because one aspect of it is a bit daunting! The labs are actually good laugh especially compared to the bio ones...

    I know this is a biased(my first biased statement you'll find) but as someone else already said I think the average employer will look at a TCD degree better than UCD one..
    But that shouldnt be your only reason going to TCD..its also the best craic around!!


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    #33
    Prof.Badass
    Registered Users Posts: 2,931 ✭✭✭Prof.Badass


    fillmore jive wrote: »
    Yet you obviously believed that statement, otherwise you wouldn't have bothered posting it up here for everyone to see? Absolute bollox, check how accurate it is before you bother posting, because all the OP wants is honest, unbiased opinions about your experiences with TCD science so that he/she can make the best chocie for college. Posting stuff like that isn't going to help, even if you think it's supposedly true just because you 'heard' it.

    You're talking out your hole.

    Posting stuff like that is a massive help. It was clear i wasn't sure, so someone would need to clarify the issue (or the op would need to research it themselves), but if i didn't make my post the whole issue of online lecture notes could have easily been overlooked.

    As it turns out someone (you) did clarify the issue, and it turns out UCD do have online lecture notes. So no need to worry.

    However if it had have turned out that ucd indeed doesn't have online lecture notes, then that should have been a massive plus for trinity in the OP's decision making process.

    I wasn't being biased at all, i was just trying to help. If you look at my post you'll see the vast majority of it is about the negative aspects of tcd science.


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    #34
    Hamiltonion
    Registered Users Posts: 416 ✭✭Hamiltonion


    Congratulations! Good choice of courses, if you do 1st yr bio and chem you can drop chem in 2nd year when it gets v v tough and still do most options in 3rd year. Chem 101 and 102 are quite difficult, esp 102 if you've never done it before. Its possible but be prepared to put in twice as much work as you do for every other subject. Beware foundation physics, friends doing it seem to get a lot of time consuming projects at the minute and in the run up to exams this is no help


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    #35
    red_card82
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭red_card82


    Hey,

    So i was the same as you, had to choose between UCD and TCD and choose TCD in the end and am very happy with it - stayed on after my degree and am just finishing up my PhD now.
    First and foremost, LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION - its second to none, you will take it for granted so much after a while but its so handy.
    The courses are great, they were more bio based i found when i was choosing as opposed to math based in UCD, which is a reason i chose TCD in the end.
    Also, its a BA from TCD because Science used to be an 'art', the only other universities in the world that do that are Oxford and Cambridge, so hardly shabby. All the new science subjects (outside of Natural Sciences) like Med Chem are BSc's.
    Chemistry in first year is a b**ch if u hadn't done it for LC, i had and did well in the LC and STILL failed but that was more because i drank that yr away - lol.
    All in all, i think TCD, although not that much better, still is better than UCD wrt reputation, location, courses and probably level of staff, ie prof's and lecturers.

    Good luck with your choice.


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    #36
    Hamiltonion
    Registered Users Posts: 416 ✭✭Hamiltonion


    Redcard, What option did you pick in 3rd year and what grade had you to get in 2nd to get it? Also has anyone gone on from TCD for a masters/phd in Oxbridge?


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    #37
    piby
    Closed Accounts Posts: 539 ✭✭✭piby


    I'm generalising quite a bit and this is based on what I was told when I was doing the LC

    UCD science is slightly more industry leaning

    TCD is more natural science based (obviously it's the name of the course!)

    I'm in TCD so I'm biased but just look at both prospectuses, they both offer some different specialities etc.


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    #38
    Colli_Flower86
    Registered Users Posts: 63 ✭✭Colli_Flower86


    IMHO UCD lets you specialise much more quickly than TCD. It seems that you have already chosen to persue Biology, so I reckon, in terms of choice, UCD might be better suited to you. If you do decide to go with Trinity I'd stay steer clear of Chemistry if you haven't done it before.

    Posting here is bound to get you a biased opinion though as most of us have only studied Science in Trinity...


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    #39
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 25,856 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    Hamiltonion wrote: »
    Also has anyone gone on from TCD for a masters/phd in Oxbridge?

    An awful lot of them. Getting into a masters in Oxbridge is not all that difficult, getting into a PhD is a little bit more tricky. There is a steady stream of science students from Trinity (and an admittedly slightly smaller stream from UCD) into Oxbridge every year. I know people in Cambridge at the moment from TCD, UCD, NUIG and UCC. It doesn't so much matter where you go as how well you do while you are there.


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    #40
    Woden
    Registered Users Posts: 6,560 ✭✭✭Woden


    I did science in UCD graduated a few years back joint chemistry/experimental physics.

    I cannot comment on TCD but my feeling of UCD was that the chemistry was done well particularly in the organic chemistry area.

    The physics department was nice and very friendly but I found the labs rather poor and did not enjoy the format of them in 3/4th year.

    On the point of having to do maths with physics it is not always true I was able to obtain an exemption from maths in 2nd year and continue to take maths physics instead.


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    #41
    pisslips
    Closed Accounts Posts: 833 ✭✭✭pisslips


    Hamiltonion wrote: »
    SP *biased* Well I wouldnt say its biased, as i mentioned I've friends there and one recently finished and their outlook is grim.
    Like UCD have better medicine and Physics programs, but in regards general science, esp biological sciences, and the arts, Trinity are streets ahead. And many people effectively waste many years doing irrelevent or substandard courses, I'm just trying to inform the kid that in employers eyes and in regards further education (masters etc) TCD is the better option

    I'm not sure about this, I only know of one person who did a Bsc. in UCD. He got a first in Chemistry and basically had a choice of where he wanted to do a Phd, he eventually went to the South of France.It's obviously not that worthless like.

    I also know a guy who did engineering in UCD who came to Trinity afterwards and had a Phd by the age of 23.

    And I've heard of a guy doing compuational maths Phd in Stanford from UCD.

    They can't really be that **** in fairness.


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    #42
    ya-ba-da-ba-doo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 884 ✭✭✭ya-ba-da-ba-doo


    yeah i really dont think either courses are shiit but i think ill just stick tcd down ahead of it anyway... if i dont get it, not to worry. ill be happy with either course. :-D


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    #43
    pisslips
    Closed Accounts Posts: 833 ✭✭✭pisslips


    Thats exactly what I did to be honest.

    I jsut decided,''Not enough information, choose by elimination, left with three choices, randomly pick one''

    It's impossible for an pre-undergrad to know which general science, which maths or which theoretical physics course is best. the guy/girl isn't even gonna know what linear algebra is.


    Anyway's this year I found out that trinity have this thing called schols, if I'd known that in 6th year I would have gone to Trinity but it was still the right decision based on the information available to me at the time.To choose randomly that is.


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    #44
    cajl2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10 ✭cajl2


    vinylmesh wrote: »
    No, I'm not.

    I did hear that ucd don't have online lecture notes. Now, obviously that information was wrong, but the fact that i heard it isn't wrong.

    I was sceptical over the accuracy of this information and that is why i said "i heard ucd don't have online lecture notes" rather than "ucd don't have online lecture notes". This removes personal resposibility for the information and allows room for correction without calling anyone wrong.

    That's the most petty retort I've ever heard... you're at *university* now.


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    #45
    spudz21
    Closed Accounts Posts: 216 ✭✭spudz21


    Just to add to all the other posts, I did Chemistry in 1st yr Science having never done it for the LC, it was sooo tough!!I ended up failing it, think I got 36% or something but ended up passing by compensation...phew:D
    Just expect to put in loads of time and effort into it and if you dont understand, ask someone who does!!Dont just leave out studying sections like I did:p

    On another point...one of my neighbours is asking for advice about the course as they have it down on their CAO, Chemistry wasn't divided up for choice when I did the course?!So Im assuming that Chem 101 and 102 are Inorganic and organic chemistry or something along those lines??


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    #46
    a.j2020
    Registered Users Posts: 17 ✭a.j2020


    Hey...I also have Science in TCD down as first choice and I have a bit of a dilemma.

    I'm not exactly sure whether I wanna specialise in Genetics or Physics...i know a bit of a BIG diference..lol... But the problem is to do Physics I need to do maths(20 credits) and physics(another 20 credits) which leaves me with only 20 which isnt enough to fill my pre-requisite for Genetics which is Chemistry 101+102 and biology 101.

    So...i was wondering one of two things...
    1. Is it possible to take 10 credits extra as that'll allow me to have both the options open or
    2. Is it possible to do physics by doing foundation physics? and now the 20 credits physics?...

    If you were to ask me to choose 1 now id be leaning towards genetcis 60-40 but I know things change in Uni.

    Cheers!!


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    #47
    graviton
    Registered Users Posts: 6 ✭graviton


    I'm 1st year in TCD doing chem 101 + 102, bio 101 + 102, geology and maths methods.
    Chemistry is v difficult and I'v done it before, friends who have'nt are having a v tough time. Also full maths is not for the fainthearted, methods is more than manageable.
    In regards the college the departments are poorly organised by times and like everywhere else the college is more interested in the comfort of its postgrads. However the course is well taught and v interesting with a great array of options in 3rd year.
    In regards UCD a science degree from there is'nt worth the paper is printed on. Have better physics facilities but a poor standard of teacing and UCD science is treated like UCD arts. a dumping ground. Not wanting to sound anti UCD but as I'v many friends doing science there thats what Ive heard and seen. At the end of the day if 2 people have a 1st class honours science degree from UCD and Trinity the employer will pickk trinity. Ucd award a Bsc and TCD a BA but Trinities masters program is shorter making up for this afaik. Any quesions bout the course or the college feel free to PM me"



    Out of a matter of interest what major are you doing now? The UCD science degree has much better facilities for all science, as well as physics UCD has better facilities for biology, chem, biochem etc... at the end of the day it depends on the person, your post grad interview is based on how much you know all round, how dedicated you are and how much extra material you know... it makes no difference where you get your undergrad.

    And by the way Hamiltonion, do you know why the science building in tcd is called the Hamilton? The Hamiltonian is a quantum mechanical operator...shows how much trinity's taught you doesn't it


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    #48
    ya-ba-da-ba-doo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 884 ✭✭✭ya-ba-da-ba-doo


    graviton wrote: »
    I'm 1st year in TCD doing chem 101 + 102, bio 101 + 102, geology and maths methods.
    Chemistry is v difficult and I'v done it before, friends who have'nt are having a v tough time. Also full maths is not for the fainthearted, methods is more than manageable.
    In regards the college the departments are poorly organised by times and like everywhere else the college is more interested in the comfort of its postgrads. However the course is well taught and v interesting with a great array of options in 3rd year.
    In regards UCD a science degree from there is'nt worth the paper is printed on. Have better physics facilities but a poor standard of teacing and UCD science is treated like UCD arts. a dumping ground. Not wanting to sound anti UCD but as I'v many friends doing science there thats what Ive heard and seen. At the end of the day if 2 people have a 1st class honours science degree from UCD and Trinity the employer will pickk trinity. Ucd award a Bsc and TCD a BA but Trinities masters program is shorter making up for this afaik. Any quesions bout the course or the college feel free to PM me"



    Out of a matter of interest what major are you doing now? The UCD science degree has much better facilities for all science, as well as physics UCD has better facilities for biology, chem, biochem etc... at the end of the day it depends on the person, your post grad interview is based on how much you know all round, how dedicated you are and how much extra material you know... it makes no difference where you get your undergrad.

    And by the way Hamiltonion, do you know why the science building in tcd is called the Hamilton? The Hamiltonian is a quantum mechanical operator...shows how much trinity's taught you doesn't it


    And trinity students wonder why they have a snobby reputation? :rolleyes:


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    #49
    dan719
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,597 ✭✭✭dan719


    graviton wrote: »


    And by the way Hamiltonion, do you know why the science building in tcd is called the Hamilton? The Hamiltonian is a quantum mechanical operator...shows how much trinity's taught you doesn't it

    And there was me thinking it was named after WR Hamilton.....Ireland's most famous mathematician who discovered/invented (depending on your particular flavour of philosophy of mathematics) hamiltonian algebra. He's a pretty well known guy tbh.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Rowan_Hamilton

    He was also included in a book (the exact name escapes me now) about nine famous Irish people who "probably" had asperger's syndrome. Dev was in it too IIRC. Glad to see my wiki edit is still there after all these years too.:D


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    #50
    brownacid
    Registered Users Posts: 484 ✭✭brownacid


    graviton wrote: »

    And by the way Hamiltonion, do you know why the science building in tcd is called the Hamilton? The Hamiltonian is a quantum mechanical operator...shows how much trinity's taught you doesn't it



    I find it interesting that you know about the hamiltonian operator which ws discovered by hamilton and you didn't realise that instead of naming a building after a maths function they may have named the building after a brilliant mathematician who gave his life to trinity?


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