Science: Physics

93duffy93

Im strongly considering doing a general science degree in trinity next year and I was just thinking about potential subject choices within that degree.

I really like the idea of choosing physics as one of my subjects but am apprehensive as Im not doing it at Leaving Cert.

I was just wondering if its managable to take up in college, or will I find it very difficult?

Notron

I am in SF physics...! I would say you will find it quite diffcult in some areas like the Mechanics course you do first in 1st year....but there are more difficult subjects to pick up like Chemistry assumes a lot more leaving cert knowledge.... I find anyway! But I wouldnt be totally put off!

KiLLeR CoUCh

I'm unsure how to answer this one tbh, I'm in SS now and did physics for the LC.... Last time I checked the prospectus (which was about three years ago now :P) I remember it mentioning that you didn't need leaving cert physics to take it up as a subject for science. What I found when I got in there was a number of lecturers expected you to have leaving cert physics regardless, I heard the words "you'll have done this already for leaving cert" quite a lot. they don't have the same system as chemistry where you can take a crash course before lectures actually begin.

I guess it all depends on what you actually want to do with it. If you have just a passing interest in physics and really want to focus on one of the other science subjects then I'd take foundation physics, it's a single semester course taken in JF.

If you want to take the full year long physics course, then if you don't have physics I'd say you'll need a strong higher level maths grade behind you. It's also be worth checking out some simple things like partial differentiation and how to interperate graphs before you begin, it'll save you a bit of confusion in the long run.

Also be aware, I think I might be a bit out of date on this one, I'm sure somebody in JF or SF can correct me, but I think they still insist on a student taking Maths along with Physics (that's the full maths course now, not maths methods). That means you don't have too much wiggle room if you think you might change your mind later on as you're only taking one other subject (or two in the case of geog/geol).

In short, I think physics is a great course, but don't jump in with two feet first unless you're planning on sticking with it for the long term.

93duffy93

Thanks for both posts, great advice!

I was also wondering whether you choose your subjects before you go into 1st year? Or there is some sort of trial period where you try each subject before you decide?

amacachi

93duffy93 wrote: »

Thanks for both posts, great advice!

I was also wondering whether you choose your subjects before you go into 1st year? Or there is some sort of trial period where you try each subject before you decide?

You choose your subjects during freshers' week. I missed the day that was happening but it was easy to sort it out. You can switch subjects at any time, probably best to do so in the first week or two of lectures if you're going to do it at all.

93duffy93

ok thanks i'll bare that in mind