American New to TCD

Brunhein

Hey Guys,
I was recently made a conditional offer in TR071 Science. I visited Dublin and I think I'm going to accept the offer (I should fulfill the conditions of my offer relatively easily). I was just wondering how hard the course was, what students do for fun in Dublin, and if current science students enjoy their course. I also want to specialize in Biology so if any third years are in one of those courses their input would be much appreciated.
Thanks so much in advance guys!
Brunhein

brownacid

Students get drunk in dublin, a lot, but it is great fun. If thats not your cup of tea well then Im all out of ideas

gearoidof

Heya,
Trinity College has a lot of clubs and societies, I'm sure you can find one which suits your interests.
I don't study science myself, so I can't help in that regard, sorry.

The course isn't that hard though, from what I hear from my science friends

Brunhein

brownacid wrote: »

Students get drunk in dublin, a lot, but it is great fun. If thats not your cup of tea well then Im all out of ideas

I'm from New Orleans, that is very much so my cup of tea

brownacid

well then pick a spot in the pav and make some friends, i eally hope you like the taste of cheap beer, actually it doesn matter you'll soon love it and even begin tio crave the taste of a warm can of bavaria on a sunny smay afternoon when you should be doin far moe productive stuff

GlasnevinRed

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055048147&page=5

That link is from a while back. Top post on the page is mine. I'm second year now. Still loving it.

Useful link below.
Will post more when I've more time. Going to get pissed now.:P

http://www.tcd.ie/Science/undergraduate/

Brunhein

GlasnevinRed wrote: »

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055048147&page=5

That link is from a while back. Top post on the page is mine. I'm second year now. Still loving it.

Useful link below.
Will post more when I've more time. Going to get pissed now.:P

http://www.tcd.ie/Science/undergraduate/

thanks man

amacachi

Not wishing to downplay it but if you have any kind of background in the subjects you're doing then the first semester at least is a breeze. So far at least. :pac:

Fringe

Not in science, (TP) but I know a few people doing it and one of the class reps. They had a pub crawl last week so there's definitely plenty of fun. There's loads of people you'll get to know as well. They seem to be having a lot more events than us TPs.... Regards to picking biology, after second year you get to pick and they allocate based on how well you do in your exams.

I just started TR0071 in october, its pretty good. Its a really big course, and other courses do some of the same modules so the lectures are really big (461 people in my bio lectures I think). Took me a couple of weeks to settle in, but now that I have I'm loving it. So far for me the actual work itself is pretty straightforward.

There's a society for everything, so no matter what you're into you'll find something. There's a list of the societies on the TCD website as far as I know, or on an adjoining one anyway. As well as the societies, there's been a few nights out organised by the class reps (which I havent been to but have heard were good). So as far as what to do for fun you'll have a couple of different choices on any given night out.
There's also a facebook page for the JF TR0071 course, and one for the SFs aswell I think, so check it out.

Brunhein

Thank for the responses guys. I had a few other questions. How often do ya'll go out during the week? How is Trinity Hall?

Dante

Brunhein wrote: »

Thank for the responses guys. I had a few other questions. How often do ya'll go out during the week? How is Trinity Hall?

The lads in my course would go out on average twice a week, normally midweek for a few drinks in the pav then on Thursday or Friday we normally go to a club or two.
As for the halls, I don't actually stay there but I've been there once or twice and the banter is always great! I have a few mates staying there who love it aswell.

The Walsho

If you are female : Hi, how ya doing dollface? Some premium Irish meat here, making a gently flirtatious offer to show you around all the beautiful sights in Trinity, Dublin, and my bedroom.

If you are male : Stay away from our wimmins.

El Siglo

OP if you're looking for accommodation, there is one thing I would suggest: research it! Halls might seem like good accommodation for an international student new to Dublin, but it's really, really expensive. Research the usual student accommodation areas (e.g. Rathmines, Ranelagh etc...) because it'll be worth it.

Brunhein

Do students go home on the weekends?

amacachi

Brunhein wrote: »

Do students go home on the weekends?

Quite a lot seem to, especially the ones in earlier years. I'm commuting from over 50 miles away so I'm just basing it on what I hear around. Really can't imagine I'd be going home at the weekend given the choice. :pac:

electrogrimey

The Walsho wrote: »

If you are female : Hi, how ya doing dollface? Some premium Irish meat here, making a gently flirtatious offer to show you around all the beautiful sights in Trinity, Dublin, and my bedroom.

If you are male : Stay away from our wimmins.

How did this go unnoticed?

Brunhein

amacachi wrote: »

Quite a lot seem to, especially the ones in earlier years. I'm commuting from over 50 miles away so I'm just basing it on what I hear around. Really can't imagine I'd be going home at the weekend given the choice. :pac:

Yea I'm from about 6000 miles away so obviously i can't commute. I was just wondering whether there are people at the college on weekends (going out and whatnot).

Jammyc

Im in first science.

Course is really interesting so far, Biology-wise. Chemistry not so much. But I think thats because of the fact that I havent done chem before and am struggling.

Details of all the Bio notes and lectures for the first year are here! http://www.tcd.ie/Biology_Teaching_Centre

Im fairly sure with these you dont need local access to get em, so it'll give you a good looksee at what youll be doing next year.

Edit: Whoops you do need local access. But the modules in first year are:

1. Molecular and cellular basis of life
2. Genetics
3. Biology of Microorganisms
4. Developmental Biology
5. Animal Diversity
6. Plant Form & Function
7. Ecology

Also a 3 hour lab session each week.

amacachi

Brunhein wrote: »

Yea I'm from about 6000 miles away so obviously i can't commute. I was just wondering whether there are people at the college on weekends (going out and whatnot).

I wasn't suggesting you'd commute, just that I'm not around on the weekends anyway, and that from talking to people who are living in Dublin for college a lot do seem to go home for the weekend.

Brunhein

amacachi wrote: »

I wasn't suggesting you'd commute, just that I'm not around on the weekends anyway, and that from talking to people who are living in Dublin for college a lot do seem to go home for the weekend.

Haha i know Amacachi, I was basically just wondering if there is alot going on at the college on weekends or whether its dead from all the people leaving.

Sammi503

I'm a 3rd year science student from America Here's what I've taken away from the past 2 1/2 years:

1.) 1st year lectures are HUGE, but you'll inevitably make a good group of friends
2.) 1st and 2nd year lectures will suck. Stick it out though 'cause you get to specialize in 3rd year.
3.) Biology isn't an option for a specialty, but there are tons of others. (I'm doing Micro).
4.) 2nd year is competitive as hell (towards the end) so study hard and try to do well so you don't end up with Botany or something like that.
5.) Inevitably the college will screw you over regarding fees, registration, or something equally as important. It's run by Rhesus monkeys, they can't help it.
6.) Every Irish student either commutes or goes home at the weekend so it can get lonely. Make really good friends with a few and they'll let you go home with them
7.) Register with immigration as soon as possible. They don't like you to be late...or to be missing bits and pieces.
8.) Drinking is fantastic, but you can get away with just going out and drinking Red Bulls and being really hyper.
9.) Dublin is really really really absurdly expensive, be aware of this.
10.) You won't get campus until 4th year (probably), so if you apply to Trinity Hall, make sure you do NOT put standard accom. That'll put you in Cunningham which is essentially the 1970's ghetto. It's ****e.

Brunhein

Sammi503 wrote: »

I'm a 3rd year science student from America Here's what I've taken away from the past 2 1/2 years:

1.) 1st year lectures are HUGE, but you'll inevitably make a good group of friends
2.) 1st and 2nd year lectures will suck. Stick it out though 'cause you get to specialize in 3rd year.
3.) Biology isn't an option for a specialty, but there are tons of others. (I'm doing Micro).
4.) 2nd year is competitive as hell (towards the end) so study hard and try to do well so you don't end up with Botany or something like that.
5.) Inevitably the college will screw you over regarding fees, registration, or something equally as important. It's run by Rhesus monkeys, they can't help it.
6.) Every Irish student either commutes or goes home at the weekend so it can get lonely. Make really good friends with a few and they'll let you go home with them
7.) Register with immigration as soon as possible. They don't like you to be late...or to be missing bits and pieces.
8.) Drinking is fantastic, but you can get away with just going out and drinking Red Bulls and being really hyper.
9.) Dublin is really really really absurdly expensive, be aware of this.
10.) You won't get campus until 4th year (probably), so if you apply to Trinity Hall, make sure you do NOT put standard accom. That'll put you in Cunningham which is essentially the 1970's ghetto. It's ****e.

Thanks Sammi! How hard is it to get into molecular medicine (Science Specialty)?

The Walsho

electrogrimey wrote: »

How did this go unnoticed?

I was a bit surprised myself.

Craguls

Brunhein wrote: »

Thanks Sammi! How hard is it to get into molecular medicine (Science Specialty)?

From what we're told (I'm a 1st year) you needed at 1st (70%+) to get in this year as it was the most competitive speciality. Although whatever's the most popular tends to vary each year.

Sammi503

You probably won't need a 1st to be honest...this is the 3rd year they've offered MolMed so it's still fairly popular. To be honest it really depends what people in your year are thinking. I know Neuro is always popular, as is Biochem with Immunology. MolMed was fairly popular, but people DID get in with a high 2.2 so...It honestly just depends what everyone in your class is thinking. I know Physio wasn't popular with the now 4th years, but it was really really popular with the 3rd years...my advice is aim for a 1st, so you can have your pick of specialties!

Brunhein

Sammi,
you came from an american system, how hard is it for Americans to get first?

Sammi503

A 1st is hard for anyone...I don't think it's really any harder coming from an American system than from an Irish one (though I don't envy them having to take the Leaving Cert!)...you really just need to do the readings and study. I'm not sure what you're doing/plan to do, but I did AP Bio, Chem, Calc, French, English, and US History and for my courses in college I've done Bio, Chem, Geography, Geology, and Maths Methods and they were all ridiculously easy....2nd year was a bit more difficult with Bio1, Bio2, and Geology but as long as you study you'll be grand. They've changed it all this year so I'm not sure what sort of subject combinations you'll be able to do. I know a lot of people were failing Chem and Bio1 so they've made it easier...