NUIG Zoology

steel_spine

I'm currently back in uni as a mature student doing Marine Science at NUIG, mainly because I wanted to do marine zoology and this course had a good reputation.
However, I've heard a number of disconcerting things about the dept that is making me think I may have made a mistake. I'd be grateful if anyone else can confirm/deny these things.

Mainly the worst thing I've heard is that the dept feels they are too small and there's not enough work for people to be doing research/staying on for postgrads etc, so they actively don't want students. Obviously they need SOME students, but they don't want many, and that's why the fail rate is so high - much higher than any other subject. Apparently it's not much better trying to get from 2nd into 3rd year either - people sitting the exam without a hope of being passed no matter how well they do.

It IS true that they've been the least encouraging dept altogether from any subject - none of the 'this is what next year will be like' 'this is what you do in labs' 'this is the kind of thing you could go on to do' that all the other subjects are eager to give you. Zoology pretty much told us all at the start of the year they have a 70% fail rate and that was that - they didn't even bother having anyone sat at the dept table for 2nd yr advisory sessions, and I hung around for a good while waiting.

There's also the fact that none of the people I've spoken to (with the exception of Fiona Kavanagh) were especially pleasant or encouraging either - and the woman doing labs was terrifying!
So is there anyone lovely in NUIG Zoology dept? Is there any hope? Someone here must have made it through to 3rd year surely?

KittyeeTrix

steel_spine wrote: »

I'm currently back in uni as a mature student doing Marine Science at NUIG, mainly because I wanted to do marine zoology and this course had a good reputation.
However, I've heard a number of disconcerting things about the dept that is making me think I may have made a mistake. I'd be grateful if anyone else can confirm/deny these things.

Mainly the worst thing I've heard is that the dept feels they are too small and there's not enough work for people to be doing research/staying on for postgrads etc, so they actively don't want students. Obviously they need SOME students, but they don't want many, and that's why the fail rate is so high - much higher than any other subject. Apparently it's not much better trying to get from 2nd into 3rd year either - people sitting the exam without a hope of being passed no matter how well they do.

It IS true that they've been the least encouraging dept altogether from any subject - none of the 'this is what next year will be like' 'this is what you do in labs' 'this is the kind of thing you could go on to do' that all the other subjects are eager to give you. Zoology pretty much told us all at the start of the year they have a 70% fail rate and that was that - they didn't even bother having anyone sat at the dept table for 2nd yr advisory sessions, and I hung around for a good while waiting.

There's also the fact that none of the people I've spoken to (with the exception of Fiona Kavanagh) were especially pleasant or encouraging either - and the woman doing labs was terrifying!
So is there anyone lovely in NUIG Zoology dept? Is there any hope? Someone here must have made it through to 3rd year surely?

Zoology is a very difficult subject in 2nd year because of the sheer amount of subject matter and also the terminology of the phyla involved.
I myself found it quite difficult this year (2nd year) due to the vast amount of phylum to remember.
It requires a serious study input from early on in Sem 1 but it is totally passable!!!! I myself got high marks in Sem 1 and hope to do the same in Sem 2
Colin Lawton warned us at the beginning of the year that it is a difficult subject and it would require regular lecture attendance but in fairness only about 30% of the class turned up every day!!!!!
In the labs each week we had an multiple choice assesment which meant knowing what had been covered the week in lectures but most students hadn't attended the lectures so were lost in the assesment....

Essentially it is a tough subject but is very doable if the work is put in!!
The lecturers for the most part are very approachable and many have responded to emails I have sent in regarding exam questions with the utmost clarity on their part.

I'm doing Microbiology as well this year and the fail rate in this was about 70% as well, not because of the lecturers but because the students just haven't turned up and done what is needed...

ps. I too am a mature student who works part time and has 4 kids. If I can pass the zoology course there is no reason why anyone else can't..
Seriously, it's not that bad if ya do the work as you go along:)

I hope that helps with your decision to do Zoology

steel_spine

That's great to hear, it was all getting a bit doom and gloom everything I was hearing about Zoology.
It's nice to hear the lecturers get more approachable, I know some of the hard-asses from other subjects soften up once you've made it to 2nd year and 'proved yourself' a bit.

Really wish they'd be a bit more encouraging though - we were literally told nothing about 2nd year, careers etc - just how high the fail rate was and that's it.

Exam is tomorrow for Zoo & Micro
I know the two micro questions I'm gonna do but don't have a lot of notes etc to work with
Zoo I'm just praying I get questions on Diversity, Nutrition, Excretion or maybe Ecology. Havn't had time to pack the other subjects sufficiently into my head

KittyeeTrix

steel_spine wrote: »

That's great to hear, it was all getting a bit doom and gloom everything I was hearing about Zoology.
It's nice to hear the lecturers get more approachable, I know some of the hard-asses from other subjects soften up once you've made it to 2nd year and 'proved yourself' a bit.

Really wish they'd be a bit more encouraging though - we were literally told nothing about 2nd year, careers etc - just how high the fail rate was and that's it.

Exam is tomorrow for Zoo & Micro
I know the two micro questions I'm gonna do but don't have a lot of notes etc to work with
Zoo I'm just praying I get questions on Diversity, Nutrition, Excretion or maybe Ecology. Havn't had time to pack the other subjects sufficiently into my head

Glad I could ease your worries a little......
You will be grand tomorrow so don't worry.
I definitely found 2nd year easier because of the splitting of the year into 2 halves. Much harder in 1st year when everything has to be covered at the end!!!:)

steel_spine

If the excretory system comes up I will be a happy person, I can draw beautiful diagrams of that -
Been trying to learn immunology by osmosis - listening to lectures etc while I study other things, but I don't think it's working lol.

Finishing up drawing body plans for diversity now (trying to memorize diagrams as I'm more of a visual person), then I'm gonna try make headway with Micro before last-minute Ecology cramming, since I fairly neglected microbiology in favour of zoo revision.

KittyeeTrix

Well, best of luck with it steel spine, post tomorrow with an update on how it went.;)
I'm getting stuck into Botany today myself!!!

steel_spine

Well Biology 1 went surprisingly well, pretty much got my dream questions on Zoology, Aoife's Micro question was exactly what she hinted it'd be, so only my last Micro question was a bit of waffley bull**** . I'll actually be surprised if I don't pass this one (unlike Calculus/Algebra, which was a fecking disaster)

Now I've a week to recommence cramming for EOS and a chest infection to boot :mad:

KittyeeTrix

steel_spine wrote: »

Well Biology 1 went surprisingly well, pretty much got my dream questions on Zoology, Aoife's Micro question was exactly what she hinted it'd be, so only my last Micro question was a bit of waffley bull**** . I'll actually be surprised if I don't pass this one (unlike Calculus/Algebra, which was a fecking disaster)

Now I've a week to recommence cramming for EOS and a chest infection to boot :mad:

Good man/woman......

Was immunology up today and if so what Q's were asked?

Aoife is fairly sound the way she helps out with the question tips...
I'm feeling crap as well, fecking hayfever and a rotten tootache:(

On a bright note, I came 3rd in my class of about 140 for my Zoology Sem 2 lab assesments!! WooHoo..Still chance for the overall A in it..

See, I told ya it wasn't that bad;)

steel_spine

Immunology didn't come up at all. Colin's q was on invertebrate phyla (exactly the same q he put in the mocks they made up), one on osmoregulation, one on motor neurons and a piss-easy ecology question.

DunnoWho

Hi guys, i'm in 5th year and trying to make the decision between Marine Biology in GMIT and Zoology in NUIG. Would anyone reccomend the course/s or have any useful advice? Thanks!

mary90

I did zoology for two years in NUIG. It has changed slightly since I did it but I really enjoyed the topics covered and the labs the were part of the course. There is an open day in the college this weekend (I think). It would be a good chance to come in and talk to people in science departments. Try and get your hands on a schedule for it early so that you can make some of the talks on the science courses on offer!

greensocks13

I'm a current 4th year zoology student. I'm quite happy with the dept. and would recommend the subject to anyone with an interest. Dont worry about the fail rate, if you attend labs and lectures you'l have no problems!

DunnoWho

Thanks a lot for the advice, it really helps! probably a stupid question but i cant find my NUIG book thingy anywhere, what are the minimum entry requirements for the course? do you need 2 science subjects?

greensocks13

is this for a post grad? or 4th year zoology. nuig doesnt actually have a denominated undergraduate zoology course, you have to go through undenominated.