Engineering- what's it like?

augmented reality

Just looking for advice from anyone doing engineering.
What's the course like? Do people doing the course enjoy it, do many drop out?
Are the lecturers good in the engineering section?
Would you recommend TCD 100%?

Thanks!

TheAmateur

Hi there,
I'm just finishing 3rd year in the Computer/Electronic engineering stream. The first thing I would ask someone considering engineering in Trinity is: Do you already know what area of engineering you would like to go into? Or even, which areas you know you won't go into? The first two years of the course are common, i.e. you'll do some computer engineering, some electronic, some civil and some mechanical. Personally, even though I hadn't a clue which area I wanted to go into in the beginning, after the first year, I was set on Computer/Electronic. So the next year was a bit frustrating, as I was still doing subjects I had no interest in. Other colleges provide one year of common study to make up your mind. In hindsight, I would have preferred this. So it's something to think about.
Also keep in mind that the course is now 5 years in length, and you emerge with a Masters. I still haven't heard for sure whether the final masters year is covered under the free fees scheme, but I doubt it. You can leave after four years with an honours BAI, but you'll need a Masters if you want to become chartered. With this said, I think other engineering courses are also switching to 5 years default to accommodate this new criteria, so this will probably be a common situation soon if not already.

Groinshot

augmented reality wrote: »

Just looking for advice from anyone doing engineering.
What's the course like? Do people doing the course enjoy it, do many drop out?
Are the lecturers good in the engineering section?
Would you recommend TCD 100%?

Thanks!

bear in mind the other poster was only talking about trinity. I'm in second year, and of course I'm gonna recommend TCD!
Drop out rate is massive though, along with the number of people repeating first years. I'm pretty sure over half our year had to repeat at least one exam..

ajjmk

Im just coming to the end of first year, & I have to say that I really enjoyed the year! Yes, it was an awful lot of hard work (still is tbh, Im currently on a break from cramming for my end of year exams) but it very interesting, & a lot of fun. The hours in the first semester are very long, 9-5 or 9-6 almost every day, but in the second semester you have a lot more free time. Writing up lab reports can be an awful pain in the arse, but the labs themselves are very interesting & you learn a wide variety of stuff. Also, the end of year group project of making a mangonel was sooo much fun!
In comparison to doing Engineering in other colleges, from what Ive heard, Trinity place a bit more emphasis on theory rather than practical, which can be taken as a good or bad point, depending on the person in question!
As for the people in the course, from my experience, I found that the vast majority were very down to earth, and easy to get on with. I wouldnt have enjoyed first year half as much if my peers wernt so sound!