Freshers: Post your questions about UCC here!

December

Thought I'd say hello .o/

I'm Em, going to be studying arts - English, History, Latin and Psychology.

I was wondering if anyone knew about Black Ash park and ride? I heard rumors about students being able to use it. Is it free for students and does it actually go past the college? Hopefully it does, but for the life of me I can't find any info about it relating to students from either the council website or UCC. -.-

I'm going to be commuting from about 30mins away and if I don't get to Denneheys park and ride, or Pouladuff, in time before it fills up I need a backup plan!

Knifey Spoony

tammyme wrote: »

Anyone know where the West Gate Building is? i figure it being in the west wing might just be a tad too obvious!:D

The Western Gate Building, or WGB is on the western road, off the main campus, so no where near the west wing. It is the new computer science building. Here's a map of where it is, but it doesn't show the main campus:
http://www.ucc.ie/en/VisitorstoUCC/Transportmapsandparking/Maps/West-Campus-Map.pdf

This is the main campus, so try and join them up and you'll find your way down there no problem:
http://www.ucc.ie/en/VisitorstoUCC/Transportmapsandparking/Maps/Main-Campus-Map.pdf

captainspeckle

cork*girl wrote: »

What is English for 1st year like? I liked most of the English course for the Leaving Cert.. but I only got a C2.. The other subjects I am thinking about keeping on are Geography, History and Politics.. I am thinking about doing secondary teaching after so teaching subjects would be handy :P

Any other suggestions on a fourth subjects?!

I wouldn't take any notice of what result you got in the leaving cert to be honest. English in University is very different from school. I never did History in my leaving cert but I am still taking at as a degree subject and love it! So it really doesn't matter. English is probably one of the most popular subjects so if you want to get a spot in the subject you would definitely have to put in down as your number one or two subject, I would seriously suggest putting it as number one because over the last few years class sizes have been huge! (not trying to scare you off it or anything!) If you think that you will like English I would suggest putting it down and then you can see after a few weeks whether you like it or not. If not its usually pretty easy to switch classes anyway's, provided that they aren't already full.

IHeartChemistry wrote: »

Whyy?

A long weekend, without any cleaners, at the busiest time of the year in the library = pure disgusting!!!

lolgeela wrote: »

hi,just wondering if psychology through arts is fierce popular ,,would u have to put it down as your first choice subject like?

When I was back in first year (2008) I think I put it down as number 3 and I still got it. It depends hugely on supply and demand. What other subjects are you thinking of applying for?

lolgeela

i was thinking of studying psychology,english,history and maybe sociology :rolleyes:

captainspeckle

lolgeela wrote: »

i was thinking of studying psychology,english,history and maybe sociology :rolleyes:

They are the same subjects I did in first year!

Well If you really want to do English and History I would put then number one and two, in that order. Psychology three and Sociology at four. That's the order I put my choices down and I got them, but that was two years ago so the demand for different subjects might have changed so don't quote me if you dont get the choices you want! :P

You sure about Sociology?? I personally hated it and I know most of my class did, but it entirely depends on what your interests are.

Serbitar

IHeartChemistry wrote: »

Happy out

Yeah, I know what you mean. Had my heart set on Environmental/Earth for about 2 years now, somehow got it.

lolgeela

You sure about Sociology?? I personally hated it and I know most of my class did, but it entirely depends on what your interests are.[/QUOTE]

yeah no ones seems to like sociology so im kinda torn,what was the major problem with it ?
would you be busy in first year doing arts? does it depend on your subjects how many hours you do?
sorry now for all the questions!

rebel girl 15

KnifeWRENCH wrote: »

The only advice I can give to anyone doing Arts is to stay clear of Sociology. I know a good few people who did it and they all hated it. So don't pick Sociology as a filler subject; only do it if you want it as part of your degree.

Also, I'm pretty sure English, Geography and History are the three most popular subjects so you may not get all three (though I'm open to correction on this.) English is definitely the most popular though, so make sure you stick that down as your No. 1 prefrence; otherwise you're not likely to get it.

I think the way it works is that your top two are definite, and you may or may not get the other two choices you wanted.

captainspeckle

lolgeela wrote: »

yeah no ones seems to like sociology so im kinda torn,what was the major problem with it ?
would you be busy in first year doing arts? does it depend on your subjects how many hours you do?
sorry now for all the questions!

You are grand!! that why we are here to answer these questions!

Hours wise, Not too demanding at all. I think in first year I had 16 hours or something like that maybe one or two more or less per week depending on whether I had tutorials on that particular week or not. The amount of hours you have is entirely dependant on what subjects you take. I suggest you take a look at the timetable but I know it will just completely confuse you like it confused me! Here is a copy of the timetable from the History department, its last years but I doubt it will change a whole pile.
http://www.ucc.ie/en/history/Undergraduate/FirstYear/timetable/

Sorry I cant get you one for the other subjects because there websites are all pretty crappy if you ask me! you can check out this timetable http://timetable.ucc.ie:8010/reporting/individual?objectclass=programme+of+study&idtype=id&identifier=BA1%0D%0A&t=programme+of+study+individual&days=1-7&weeks=5-16;20-31&periods=1-20&template=programme+of+study+individual

This is the first Arts timetable overall so you will have to look through it carefully to find the classes relevant to you.

Also this may be handy for you to know when looking at it.

SC= Sociology
EN= English
HI= History
AP= Psychology

so for example you will be enrolled in SC1001 if you do sociology and you will be in EN1001 for English and HI1001 for History. Psychology is different though as you are amalgamated with the applied psychology people but again, that will all be explained during orientation.

As for Sociology, I think the main problem I had with it was the fact that there seemed to be no flow between the topics that we covered. I felt it was very vague and wasn't pitched at an introductory level. We would discuss topics and key sociologists but we were never given any background or foundations or even a quick run through what a topic or idea meant, we were thrown into the deep end without being informed of the very basic fundamentals of Sociology. I think overall it was just a badly designed course that was very fragmented and it was also in my opinion very badly taught also. I think if the course was better taught and constructed and the basics were explained in depth before moving on to more advanced topics, I believe that I would have enjoyed the course much more! This is all my opinion though, I am sure many people would argue with me on this.

December

I found this Arts timetable a little easier to follow for now. Of course later on we'll need the other to find out rooms etc.

http://www.ucc.ie/en/CollegesandDepartments/ArtsCelticStudiesandSocialSciences/InformationforCurrentStudents/Timetables/Arts-I-Timetable-2010.pdf

lolgeela

thanks a million,you've been a great help:D

captainspeckle

December wrote: »

I found this Arts timetable a little easier to follow for now. Of course later on we'll need the other to find out rooms etc.

http://www.ucc.ie/en/CollegesandDepartments/ArtsCelticStudiesandSocialSciences/InformationforCurrentStudents/Timetables/Arts-I-Timetable-2010.pdf

Ah yes! much easier! The other one is nuts! The one for second and third year joint honours are absolutely horrendous as well!

Kersmash

Anyone know what hours are for CS in first year? I hear it's pretty intensive, long days etc.

NicoleL88

Kersmash wrote: »

Anyone know what hours are for CS in first year? I hear it's pretty intensive, long days etc.

http://timetable.ucc.ie:8010/reporting/individual?objectclass=programme+of+study&idtype=id&identifier=BSCSF1%0D%0A&t=programme+of+study+individual&days=1-5&weeks=5-16;20-31&periods=1-20&template=programme+of+study+individual

Above is the (somewhat complicated) timetable. Be sure to have the codes of the modules you're interested in doing at the ready so as to find them, make a rough timetable, and not freak out at the mess of modules you're looking at there!

Parsley

Kersmash wrote: »

Anyone know what hours are for CS in first year? I hear it's pretty intensive, long days etc.

as i remember, it ain't too bad. depends on the option you choose. I didn't find it too intense.

Ricky91t

Kersmash wrote: »

Anyone know what hours are for CS in first year? I hear it's pretty intensive, long days etc.

If you're not a morning person CS is pretty decent in first year, I do remember the hours were slightly less than some other courses and more than others but I can't remember exactly what they are, Most lectures( bar mondays ) were usually after 11am so pretty nice.

I think you've heard wrong, Days aren't too long depending on the elective module you pick.

Actually, found my timetable on my google dos, should give you an idea.

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0Bw2yldPKaIR7MDIyYTE1NTQtODUwNS00Mzc1LWE1OTYtYWFhZGQ2MjE1N2Mz&sort=name&layout=list&num=50

CS1106 was only up till end of 1st Semester! But the Friday CS1106 was replaced by another module!

Kersmash

That doesn't look so bad at all really! I just can't wait to get started tbh

Ricky91t

Oh and for you and any CS Dudes and girls(although probably not that many) There's a big computer science thread here, Which I started about this time last year which might be helpful

ReacherCreature

IHeartChemistry wrote: »

Lovely Bulmers capital

Yes, more specifically Clonmel.

IHeartChemistry wrote: »

Whyy?

The John Murphy thing? Just no, keep away from it.

lolgeela wrote: »

hi,just wondering if psychology through arts is fierce popular ,,would u have to put it down as your first choice subject like?

I rather doubt you'll need to put it down number 1. 2 or 3 may suffice. Of course if you want it 100% put it down 1.

pbowenroe

Could anyone that did German with arts tell me how well you need to be able to speak it going into first year?

I got a B2 in HL German but I'm not sure if I should do the beginners course or not.

Crosswalk

pbowenroe wrote: »

Could anyone that did German with arts tell me how well you need to be able to speak it going into first year?

I got a B2 in HL German but I'm not sure if I should do the beginners course or not.

I don't think they'll leave you do Beginners German if you passed it in the Leaving Cert. I got a C2 and asked could I drop back to Beginners and I wasn't allowed to.

pbowenroe

Crosswalk wrote: »

I don't think they'll leave you do Beginners German if you passed it in the Leaving Cert. I got a C2 and asked could I drop back to Beginners and I wasn't allowed to.

How did you find the course?

Crosswalk

pbowenroe wrote: »

How did you find the course?

I thought it was ok. I hadn't studied German for about two years but it was easy to get back into again. It's a bit more work than other Arts subjects but it's manageable once you don't miss classes. For the first semester you revise everything you did in secondary school. In the second semester you move on to stuff you may not have learned in secondary school (especially grammar-wise).

The focus is mainly on grammar and oral/written stuff. The majority of your marks will come from that module. The German literature module isn't that important but you still have to pass it.

lolgeela

whats the politics with arts like ?

itsallaboutheL

lolgeela wrote: »

whats the politics with arts like ?

Handy

ReacherCreature

lolgeela wrote: »

whats the politics with arts like ?

Pretty good. It's a very interesting subject, it's comprised of Irish & World politics and Political Philosophy. All three are good but I liked Irish politics more.

Content is relevant, staff are grand, course work managable and exams were no bother.

Are you looking to keep it on into 2nd/3rd year?

lolgeela

yeah i was considering doing politics because i hope to get in to journalism after arts,,im kinda stuck on my 4 subjects for 1st year,english, psychology and after im not sure:eek:

ReacherCreature

lolgeela wrote: »

yeah i was considering doing politics because i hope to get in to journalism after arts,,im kinda stuck on my 4 subjects for 1st year,english, psychology and after im not sure:eek:

Do you have a definite idea of what subjects you want to keep on?

If so, although I'm against the idea, you can pick two 'filler' subjects. Doing this you can do enough study, pass the exams and dispose of them.

NicoleL88

lolgeela: I reccomend Folklore and Computer Science for the last two

Folklore is so easy its impossible not to pass. Computer Science is interesting and good craic.

captainspeckle

NicoleL88 wrote: »

lolgeela: I reccomend Folklore and Computer Science for the last two

Folklore is so easy its impossible not to pass. Computer Science is interesting and good craic.

+1 on the Folklore! I knew a few people who did it just to fill a gap really and they were delighted! Its very straight forward by all account and not that difficult.