Multimedia Applications Development

Media999

Hi

Im hoping to return to college this year to study Multimedia Applications Development.

What im looking for is as much info as possible on the course.

1 schedule. Half days, days off etc...

2 Im not really the artistic type as such my main passion would be designing and coding web sites. Is this the right course for me?

3 Why the huge dropout rate? What reasons to people give for dropping out? This is my last chance really and dont want to become a statistic

If theres anything else i need to be made aware of please let me know

MitchKoobski

Currently in semester two of second year.

1. Asking what the half days and days off are like is a bad start. Two semesters per year, timetable changes every semester and even then there could be small changes at anytime. Most of the time its full 9 - 4 or 9 - 5 days, bar a half day every friday.
2. WAAAYYY more focused on coding than being artisit. Any sort of artistic flair would only show itself in the Graphic design class for a semester and maybe some photoshop.
3. Dropout rate, imo, is because many people go into the course blind, thinking its going to be all about photoshop and making flash videos. Theres a good bit of maths involved in first year and that scared off a lot of people.

For whats its worth, out of the 72 random students who started with me, we're down to 46 or 47 regular students.

Media999

Sounds good so far. Reason im asking about the schedule is ive a child and job to juggle so need to plan well in advance.

Ive 2 years of engineering behind me in WIT so im assuming the maths there would be more advanced. Can someone confirm this?

Also what would be the more difficult subjects in media?

johnnykilo

Hi, I'm in 4th year Multimedia at the moment.

1. Yeah as Mitch said, the timetable changes every semster, but you generally have about 25 hours a week in college (give or take). It's just luck how they're spaced out. Sometimes you can get lucky, for example in 4th year we have Fridays off.

2. If you want to do programming, I'd recommend one of the other courses. I, like you am more of a programmer and I regret not doing one of the other courses now. You have 6 subjects each semester and on average 2 of them will be art based. Even the IT the course do a bit of Photoshop / Illustrator / Flash as far as I know.

3. Again as Mitch said, I think the high dropout rate is due to people thinking it's mostly an arts course...it's not. It's basically two-thirds IT and one-third design / graphic design. I think since the economy went to ****, the dropout rate has gotten less, probably due to the fact that there's more mature students and that people stick it out a lot more because they don't have the time or money to go do something else. There was 60 in our class in first year in 2007, there's 9 now (5 originals left).

Also your previous experience with engineering will help you. I did Electronics before as well, and found the maths handy. It's all Matrices and the stuff you would have already covered.

Generally most people find maths, programming, database, networks and security the toughest (all the technical subjects basically). If you're like me however you'll find the more artistic subjects tough. You might think they'll be easy, but there's a lot to them and generally they are 100% continuous assessment, which means they take up a good bit of your time.

Media999

Cheers for the help

The choice is really between this and I.T.

Plan was to move to I.T in the 4th year as i was thinking there would be a better chance of a job that way

When you say you regret not doing a programming course what course are you referring to? Are you talking about I.T?

johnnykilo

Yeah, I think I should have done IT instead. There's also CSD (Commercial Software Development) which is basically all programming, but you'd probably want to be familiar with programming going in even though it doesn't explicitly say so, whereas IT is programming, networks, database, security etc..kind of a general overview of IT.

I was thinking of doing the same to be honest: changing to IT for 4th year. The courses are pretty similar (in fact we share some classes with the IT group in 2nd and 3rd years), but you'll be under enough pressure in 4th year keeping up with the subjects you're used to instead of having to learn new one (or catch up in certain areas of others)...which is why I didn't change.

I can see how you might be drawn to Multimedia if you like designing and coding websites, but unfortunately there's no money in this any more. The more technologies you can get familiar with the better, which is why IT may be more suited. Plus if you don't like the arts subjects i'd stay clear of Multimedia...there's nothing more soul destroying than stuff like Traditional Graphic Design in 2nd year (which is basically LC art again) especially if you have no interest in it.

As for jobs, it's much of a muchness really. Some people say Multimedia if better as it's more broad, therefore more opportunities. Other people say there's more jobs in IT and that they'll generally look for people in the IT degree because of this. To be honest it depends on you yourself. You're required to go on Work Placement in 3rd year and I managed to get a paid programming job in a large multinational whereas I don't think anyone in IT managed to do the same that year even though they'd generally be more suited to that area.

Plus at the end of the day, this is going to be your career, so choose a field you're going to enjoy working in, rather than one you don't just because there happens to be jobs available in that area. There are actually a lot of IT / Multimedia jobs available at the moment, so there's plenty of choice.

MitchKoobski

If you're that into web design I'd suggest maybe a year or two of Multimedia and then jumping into second year of IT. My cousin took this route when he decided Multimedia wasnt for him. Completing even the first three semesters of Multimedia will give you at least 3 different class types to do with web design and coding.

That being said, myself and johnnykilo are current students of the level 7 Multimedia. The course became a level 8 at the start of this year and the structure and layout has changed a bit, but i couldnt say to what degreee. You might get more of an insight asking some first year students of the course.

brian plank

real men do software systems development, FACT.

if your interested in web development, its also done in SSD. most of the other classes are shared with either IT or multimedia.

Adyx

I haven't done the Multimedia course but I have done Mechanical Engineering and Commercial Computing and IT Support. If you did ok in the maths in engineering you should be fine. You could probably expect more on binary, octal hex numbers etc.

Media999

brian plank wrote: »

real men do software systems development, FACT.

if your interested in web development, its also done in SSD. most of the other classes are shared with either IT or multimedia.

That what i just noticed. To be honest SSD is now looking better than the other courses. Whats the maths like in SSD?

Also whats the course like? You dont sound regretful for choosing it anyway

edit - Also what is stream choice in a few of the semesters. It doesnt give any choices. What choices do you have?

brian plank

Media999 wrote: »

That what i just noticed. To be honest SSD is now looking better than the other courses. Whats the maths like in SSD?

Also whats the course like? You dont sound regretful for choosing it anyway

edit - Also what is stream choice in a few of the semesters. It doesnt give any choices. What choices do you have?

i dont know what the stream choices are, im only first year. the maths so far have been matrices, financial maths (easy) and logic. its not too bad.

johnnykilo

The stream choices used to be listed in the WIT prospectus (and might still be so it's worth checking), and I assumed on the WIT website, but I just checked the website there and it doesn't give any details of what they are.

I know with the recruitment ban on staff until 2014, that the college are really struggling to offer any choice of streams the last 2 years over a variety of courses. For example in the 2nd semester of Multimedia Year 4, we should have a choice of 6 modules, but instead the college only had the lecturer resources to offer 2 modules which we had to accept.

I also know one of the guys in 4th year SSD (there's only 2 in SSD this year). He had changed from Multimedia at the start of the year, and the college were actually going to insist that the SSD lads picked their modules for semester 2 from the other related courses i.e. IT and Multimedia, due to the college not having the budget to justify running modules for just two students. As far as I know the 2 lads fought and they now have half their proper modules and have to pick the rest from other courses.

Anyway long story short, the recruitment ban is in all 3rd level institutions and I can't speak for the rest of the colleges but the situation in WIT at the moment as regards stream choices is "You get what you're given". It might have improved by the time you get to 4th level Media999. Let's hope so!

3hn2givr7mx1sc

Sorry to drag this up!
But was just wondering if you need a portfolio of any kind to do this?
Hoping to do it next year, but if a portfolio is needed it'd be a right kick in the sack!
Website seems to be down so I can't check it on that.

johnnykilo

No portfolio needed, just apply through the CAO. They assume that you have no previous experience using Photoshop or Java or anything, so everything is thought from scratch.

3hn2givr7mx1sc

Ah that's perfect so! Cheers.

rolo454

After reading this i'm swaying towards IT or SSD.
IT seems interesting because it's all the aspects of computing while SSD is just programming.
I think I can live without the art.

johnnykilo

The IT course has a couple of Multimedia modules (or at least it used to) in the first year or two anyway, so you'll still get a taste of Multimedia.

rolo454

Ya, I put IT down as my first choice and SSD number 2 and MAD number 3.
I like the everything about computing not just programming so I.T. suits me down to the ground.

JohnMc1

I applied for the Multimedia course for next year. Is the Math really that intensive? Math has always been my Achilles heel in school. Btw. When is the interview for this Course usually start?

MitchKoobski

Theres three maths classes, and the last is the hardest. It is however a gradual progression in difficulty. Get the hang of it early on and you're sorted.

No interview for it at all.

JohnMc1

MitchKoobski wrote: »

Theres three maths classes, and the last is the hardest. It is however a gradual progression in difficulty. Get the hang of it early on and you're sorted.

No interview for it at all.

Thanks Mitch. I wasn't sure since it seems like they make every Mature student sit an interview.

MitchKoobski

JohnMc1 wrote: »

Thanks Mitch. I wasn't sure since it seems like they make every Mature student sit an interview.

Yeah I've heard that before. Can't say 100% for sure, but the mature students that were in my year just applied. Althought in fairness we did start with 72 in the course so they probably let everyone in.

brian plank

JohnMc1 wrote: »

I applied for the Multimedia course for next year. Is the Math really that intensive? Math has always been my Achilles heel in school. Btw. When is the interview for this Course usually start?

JohnMc1

MitchKoobski wrote: »

Yeah I've heard that before. Can't say 100% for sure, but the mature students that were in my year just applied. Althought in fairness we did start with 72 in the course so they probably let everyone in.

Thanks again Mitch. Atleast I may have a shot at getting the course.

@brian plank. In the States we refer to it as Math or Mathematics. Only here have I ever heard it referred to as Maths.

brian plank

JohnMc1 wrote: »

@brian plank. In the States we refer to it as Math or Mathematics. Only here have I ever heard it referred to as Maths.

its acceptable if you're american. apology accepted.

JohnMc1

brian plank wrote: »

its acceptable if you're american. apology accepted.

Actually I should be accepting your apology.

JohnMc1

MitchKoobski wrote: »

Yeah I've heard that before. Can't say 100% for sure, but the mature students that were in my year just applied. Althought in fairness we did start with 72 in the course so they probably let everyone in.

Hey Mitch. I called WIT this past Friday. They told me there is now Interview for the Course. She told me around the 1st week of March they'll be receiving our documents from CAO and on the 2nd week of March they'll be sending us a Mature Supplemental Application form.

I'm glad I don't have to sit an interview. The last time I sat one for WIT I was waiting for about 4 hours.

Media999

JohnMc1 wrote: »

Hey Mitch. I called WIT this past Friday. They told me there is now Interview for the Course. She told me around the 1st week of March they'll be receiving our documents from CAO and on the 2nd week of March they'll be sending us a Mature Supplemental Application form.

I'm glad I don't have to sit an interview. The last time I sat one for WIT I was waiting for about 4 hours.

no or now?

JohnMc1

Media999 wrote: »

JohnMc1 wrote: »

Hey Mitch. I called WIT this past Friday. They told me there is now Interview for the Course. She told me around the 1st week of March they'll be receiving our documents from CAO and on the 2nd week of March they'll be sending us a Mature Supplemental Application form.

I'm glad I don't have to sit an interview. The last time I sat one for WIT I was waiting for about 4 hours.

no or now?

No interview. Just a Mature Supplemental form.

waterford mma

Best of luck with the application John. I was worried about Maths when I started the forensics course but it's been fine. Practice makes perfect.

JohnMc1

waterford mma wrote: »

Best of luck with the application John. I was worried about Maths when I started the forensics course but it's been fine. Practice makes perfect.

Thanks Waterford MMA. Math has always been my Achilles heel in school. I'll just be making judicious use of the tutors if I get accepted.

JohnMc1

I got my Mature Student Supplemental Application Form today. Anyone else get theirs yet?

Bomshika

This post has been deleted.

JohnMc1

Bomshika wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Glad to hear it.

I got my Fee status form this morning. Hopefully that's a good sign.

CyberWaste

Looking forward to coming back to this course in september after taking a year out!

callaway92

CyberWaste wrote: »

Looking forward to coming back to this course in september after taking a year out!

Did you do first year in the 2010/2011 year??

CyberWaste

callaway92 wrote: »

Did you do first year in the 2010/2011 year??

yeah man, what about you?

callaway92

CyberWaste wrote: »

yeah man, what about you?

So did I, ha.

Prob know you.

ahhh haha.

Just checked your soundcloud there. Yes I know you haha

CyberWaste

callaway92 wrote: »

So did I, ha.

Prob know you.

ahhh haha.

Just checked your soundcloud there. Yes I know you haha

You going into 3rd year this september then?

and whats your name ? :pac:

callaway92

CyberWaste wrote: »

You going into 3rd year this september then?

and whats your name ? :pac:

Nah, didn't go back after first year!

David K

CyberWaste

callaway92 wrote: »

Nah, didn't go back after first year!

David K

Oh yeah, pretty sure I know who you are :pac:

pliauskiux

I've put down Multimedia applications development, I.T. and SSD for my level 6/7 choices on cao, I got my LC results the other day, have plenty of points to get into any of these 3 courses and since I didnt get any offers yet I need to make up my mind and need some help from the people that went through the same process.

I'm mainly focusing on web designing/development, 3d modelling, maybe game development (even though was told not to because I did ordinary level maths) and things like that.

I'm quite good at maths, it was my favourite subject throughout my life because it was just easy enough for me since I can memorise things quickly and think critically, got b2 in ordinary level, could have got more (was a lazy **** throughout the LC, never studied nor did any homework) if not the project maths part which I'm not great at since English isn't my first language and tends to slow me down on the writing part while I like the proper maths (2+2=3) part.

I haven't done art for like 6 years, didn't do it in JC nor in LC because I took over more important subjects. After all, I know and am well able to use photoshop, solidworks and autodesk 3ds max. I have designed number of websites myself, have learned everything by myself/watching online tuts. I dont have a great imagination and tend to struggle through designing part all the time, but at the end of the day, I still get what I'm going for.

I got into web development like 5 years ago and know html, css, some sort of php and know how to use mysql databases, a bit of jquery/javascript, tried learning c++ but wasn't into it too much.

I've about a week left and still don't know which course to be going for, I need some help as some people may direct me the proper way comparing to the skills I've outlined above.

Thanks in advance guys.

johnnykilo

pliauskiux wrote: »

I've put down Multimedia applications development, I.T. and SSD for my level 6/7 choices on cao, I got my LC results the other day, have plenty of points to get into any of these 3 courses and since I didnt get any offers yet I need to make up my mind and need some help from the people that went through the same process.

I'm mainly focusing on web designing/development, 3d modelling, maybe game development (even though was told not to because I did ordinary level maths) and things like that.

I'm quite good at maths, it was my favourite subject throughout my life because it was just easy enough for me since I can memorise things quickly and think critically, got b2 in ordinary level, could have got more (was a lazy **** throughout the LC, never studied nor did any homework) if not the project maths part which I'm not great at since English isn't my first language and tends to slow me down on the writing part while I like the proper maths (2+2=3) part.

I haven't done art for like 6 years, didn't do it in JC nor in LC because I took over more important subjects. After all, I know and am well able to use photoshop, solidworks and autodesk 3ds max. I have designed number of websites myself, have learned everything by myself/watching online tuts. I dont have a great imagination and tend to struggle through designing part all the time, but at the end of the day, I still get what I'm going for.

I got into web development like 5 years ago and know html, css, some sort of php and know how to use mysql databases, a bit of jquery/javascript, tried learning c++ but wasn't into it too much.

I've about a week left and still don't know which course to be going for, I need some help as some people may direct me the proper way comparing to the skills I've outlined above.

Thanks in advance guys.

I've done the MM course and I know a bit about the other 2 courses so I'll do my best to help. It's a bit of a tricky one to be honest, of the 3 courses you mentioned Multimedia would be the one most suited to getting into the area of web designing/development, 3d modelling, maybe game development. However with the skills that you listed that you already, I don't think you'd learn an awful lot in the MM course to be honest.

The SSD course is mostly all programming from what I understand and the IT course is a more general/theory overview of IT; i.e. you'd be jack of all trades master of none, a general IT worker in an organisation.

Did you look at the Entertainment Systems (Games Development Stream) course at all? With your skills and the area that you're looking to get into I think that would be much more suitable for you. It's a level 8 course however, that's the only thing and I guess it's too late to add it now.

I know sometime it was possible in WIT to register for one course and then change to another course after a week or two. Don't quote me on that though as things might well have changed. But from the information you have provided I think Entertainment Systems would be the one to go for.

pliauskiux

johnnykilo wrote: »

I've done the MM course and I know a bit about the other 2 courses so I'll do my best to help. It's a bit of a tricky one to be honest, of the 3 courses you mentioned Multimedia would be the one most suited to getting into the area of web designing/development, 3d modelling, maybe game development. However with the skills that you listed that you already, I don't think you'd learn an awful lot in the MM course to be honest.

The SSD course is mostly all programming from what I understand and the IT course is a more general/theory overview of IT; i.e. you'd be jack of all trades master of none, a general IT worker in an organisation.

Did you look at the Entertainment Systems (Games Development Stream) course at all? With your skills and the area that you're looking to get into I think that would be much more suitable for you. It's a level 8 course however, that's the only thing and I guess it's too late to add it now.

I know sometime it was possible in WIT to register for one course and then change to another course after a week or two. Don't quote me on that though as things might well have changed. But from the information you have provided I think Entertainment Systems would be the one to go for.

thanks for the response. i have listed entertainment systems in my level 8 courses as well but was told my maths is too low when i was asking about it on the open day. besides ive only 300 points in my lc, dont think that will be enough.

besides i dont really care about the skills i would be getting since i can get them online by myself, the thing i need is a degree in a career i like doing.

johnnykilo

pliauskiux wrote: »

thanks for the response. i have listed entertainment systems in my level 8 courses as well but was told my maths is too low when i was asking about it on the open day. besides ive only 300 points in my lc, dont think that will be enough.

besides i dont really care about the skills i would be getting since i can get them online by myself, the thing i need is a degree in a career i like doing.

These are the requirements for Entertainment Systems on the WIT website:

LEAVING CERT:
2 subjects: HC3 or better
4 subjects: OD3 or better
REQUIRED SUBJECTS:
English/Irish: OD3/HD3
Mathematics: OB3/HD3
PREVIOUS POINTS
2010 -280
2011 - 290

I was worried about my maths before going to do MM, as I had done Electronics before (which is all maths) and ended up dropping out so I was a bit wary about doing another technical/maths type of course again, but the maths in the computing classes are fine once you go into the class and as you said yourself you like maths so I'd say you'd be fine.

If all you want is a degree in an area you'd like then by all means go with the MM, but I think you may find it boring. I mean first year when I was doing it was basically Photoshop, basic HTML and beginners Java. Second year was Flash, more Java (but still pretty basic) although I believe they do Javascript and JQuery in Second year now instead. From what you've described it seems you know all these things already, whereas the Entertainment course is a lot more challenging with regards to programming and it has specific modules relating to games etc...

I'm not trying to put you off MM, but if I had my time again I'd do another course, there's a lot of wishy-washy design stuff which seemed to be more about using up hours than teaching you anything practical. I would much rather have been working on my programming skills instead of doing photography or basic music skills etc..

Best of luck with whatever you decide anyway.

pliauskiux

johnnykilo wrote: »

These are the requirements for Entertainment Systems on the WIT website:

LEAVING CERT:
2 subjects: HC3 or better
4 subjects: OD3 or better
REQUIRED SUBJECTS:
English/Irish: OD3/HD3
Mathematics: OB3/HD3
PREVIOUS POINTS
2010 -280
2011 - 290

I was worried about my maths before going to do MM, as I had done Electronics before (which is all maths) and ended up dropping out so I was a bit wary about doing another technical/maths type of course again, but the maths in the computing classes are fine once you go into the class and as you said yourself you like maths so I'd say you'd be fine.

If all you want is a degree in an area you'd like then by all means go with the MM, but I think you may find it boring. I mean first year when I was doing it was basically Photoshop, basic HTML and beginners Java. Second year was Flash, more Java (but still pretty basic) although I believe they do Javascript and JQuery in Second year now instead. From what you've described it seems you know all these things already, whereas the Entertainment course is a lot more challenging with regards to programming and it has specific modules relating to games etc...

I'm not trying to put you off MM, but if I had my time again I'd do another course, there's a lot of wishy-washy design stuff which seemed to be more about using up hours than teaching you anything practical. I would much rather have been working on my programming skills instead of doing photography or basic music skills etc..

Best of luck with whatever you decide anyway.

I've all the requirements, but the points, I've 300, if they raise them once again over 300 there's nothing I could do about entertainment systems. Besides if the first year would be quite boring for me in mm, I would have chance of building up my portfolio.

As on the open day in WIT I was asking about both of these courses, I was told to take multimedia even though I wanted to go to gaming development course, he said my maths level was too low for ES. Won't my maths level be too low? I'm sure they use like all higher level maths in ES, don't they?

Few more days to be offered a place in the college, will see which suits me best then.

johnnykilo

pliauskiux wrote: »

I've all the requirements, but the points, I've 300, if they raise them once again over 300 there's nothing I could do about entertainment systems. Besides if the first year would be quite boring for me in mm, I would have chance of building up my portfolio.

As on the open day in WIT I was asking about both of these courses, I was told to take multimedia even though I wanted to go to gaming development course, he said my maths level was too low for ES. Won't my maths level be too low? I'm sure they use like all higher level maths in ES, don't they?

Few more days to be offered a place in the college, will see which suits me best then.

All the subjects in WIT are thought from scratch i.e. no prior knowledge is needed (although obviously it would be better if you had done Honours maths), as long as you go into the Maths classes and do the work I don't think you will have a problem.

solarith

I'm a 4th year EntSys, a guy in my class who dropped out of secondary school after his Junior Cert in 1980 passed the maths subjects. Absolutely no exaggeration. The maths can be difficult if you don't push yourself, but if you attend every lecture and do every assignment you'll fly it. Same goes for all programming, attend everything!

Media999

5.5k views! Popular course.

Hope you all got good news from CAO. Good luck.

pliauskiux

Chose the multimedia course, let's just hope it will suit me

solarith

pliauskiux wrote: »

Chose the multimedia course, let's just hope it will suit me

I know a few doing it, good course too! A tip to anyone doing these courses - EntSys, Multimedia, Applied Computing, you'll learn the most and the coolest things when your lecturers give you a programming assignment and says there's 30% for adding that bit extra which is not on the course, just a bit of your own flavour. Add something cool!