Studying Engineering!

augmented reality

Hoping to probably end up doing mechanical engineering but will probably do a common engineering programme for the first year to get an idea of them all. But I can't decide between ucd and tcd...

Anyone have any reasons to choose one over the other???

Niamh54

Help! Im interested in studying engineering but the more i research the more i feel like im going to be completly lost in the course . What does the course entail? what subjects would you recomned studying for leaving cert to make engineering easier?

viadd

If you do maths, applied maths and physics for your leaving you should be in pretty good shape when you start

Laserhead

Technical Drawing (or whatever it's being called these days) would also be very useful, I'd find a friend who does it and get them to show you a few exercises. Physics and Maths are the most important though.

Disregard a lot of what the prospectus tells you and look in the Current Student section of the TCD website, it'll show you what's involved in each module. Here's the programme for first year.

Speak to people doing the course if you know anyone, get a few of their exercise or assignment sheets if you can.

gearoidof

You don't need technical drawing for engineering.

There's a course in it in 1st year, and people with no experience or ability at technical drawing still passed without too much bother. I never used it after 1st year. As long as you're good at maths and physics (and you work a bit), you're fine, really.

Jonathan

gearoidof wrote: »

You don't need technical drawing for engineering.

Agreed. Chemistry would be more beneficial if you were looking for a third optional subject, but you should be fine with maths and physics (and applied maths).

goingnowhere

Chemistry, Physics and Maths are what you need to survive

A good B or A grade in Maths is essential to survival as nearly every course has a heavy maths content. Matrices, calculus feature heavily

Chemistry will really help when you end up in the lab as you will be comfortable with the equipment and tools and experimental good practice

Technical drawing could be handy but given a choice chemistry is a better option

augmented reality

I'm currently in sixth year and am doing one science subject (physics).
Would I struggle with the chemistry content, especially in the two years common? Would be hoping to do mechanical after the two years.
Has anyone on here done the tcd engineering course with no LC chemistry?

Do tcd engineering graduates have any problems getting work? Would they fare better than ucd engineers?
Do many tcd engineering students get any work experience like ucd does?

Thanks in advance!

habadasher

I have heard that employers value a UCD engineering degree over a Trinity one but I'm not sure if that's true of all disciplines.
If you're sure you want to do mechanical then doing two years of general in Trinity will probably just feel tedious and somewhat counterproductive. At least with UCD omnibus entry, you only have one year of general so you have more time to learn whatever discipline you choose.

gearoidof

I'll take a stab at this, but I warn you i'm biased in favour of electronic/computer.

Chemistry content is limited to 1 module in 1st year. It's just the organic component of the leaving cert course, it's not really that hard, as long as you put the work in. 70% of people going into eng have never touched chemistry before either.
I got 30% in chemistry in 1st year, didn't affect me at all, haven't used a bit of the course since.

On comparing with UCD, it's my impression that the 2 colleges are quite similar if not better in Electronic, computer and mechanical, but that Trinity's Civil section is worse by a good bit.

And there are work experience opportunities over the summer holidays.

Gileadi

gearoidof wrote: »

On comparing with UCD, it's my impression that the 2 colleges are quite similar if not better in Electronic, computer and mechanical, but that Trinity's Civil section is worse by a good bit.

And there are work experience opportunities over the summer holidays.

I wouldn't agree with this, I completed the civil engineering course recently and am still doing a post grad in the department. Many of my friends were in the same course in UCD so I can give a comparison, you'll find that the topics covered do vary but I would say they are on an even footing in the end. This is verified by the numbers of our classes that are in full time employment are very similar.

I think universities that offer work experience in the civil field are struggling to find the places these days and are beginning to offer extra academic modules to fill this requirement in future.

enda1

I did the mech course in TCD and in my graduation year, almost everyone I knew got employed as a mech engineer (if they wanted to be that is).

Chemistry is not at all a requirement for the LC. It will make chemistry easier though in the early stages.

TCD and UCD are similar. Choose the one which is most convenient, or if all is equal, choose TCD for its nice campus and the fact its in town so is just way better in that respect.

Jonathan

I've merged two very similar threads.

AnneElizabeth

What about having Chemistry but not Physics?
I'm good at Maths and Chemistry and seeing as Physics isn't a requirement, I should be able for the course, right..? I like the sound of Engineering but is it too hard if you have not done Physics?

Jonathan

AnneElizabeth wrote: »

What about having Chemistry but not Physics?
I'm good at Maths and Chemistry and seeing as Physics isn't a requirement, I should be able for the course, right..? I like the sound of Engineering but is it too hard if you have not done Physics?

It isn't required, but it makes things a lot easier.
Everything is thought from basics so you should be fine, but you must be prepared to put the extra catch up hours into physics when others are in the Pav.

Groinshot

I did physics for leaving cert and didn't find it much help... still did okay in the end. Chemistry was god awful though I thought. Didn't do drawing and I flew it (for someone who can't draw a straight line with a ruler) Mechanics is okay too... Experimental methods is a bit annoying, and electronics can get the better of you if you don't keep on top of it..