Biological and chemical science?

LC2010HIS

Hey guys,
Ok so alot of you know me from wanting arts. Well results are out and I got 400 ( :D ) Anywho, I put biochem before Arts and biochem is 375 so I stand a chance.

Just writing to ask about the difficulty? I did biology this year - B3 . But thats the only science I did. Also, I only did Maths OL last yr.

Also, whats the workload like ?
The labwork ?

etc etc as much info as possible from a student POV? Thanks guys.:)

BCMP

I got in with 400 last year, should be fine unless it jumps alot!

I had only biology under my belt when I went in, and did OL maths too, did fine. Physics and Chemistry will be tough to pick up fast, but steady work will have you sorted!

Workload is grand, easy year in 1st year, lab report a week, takes an hour or two to do them!

You start at 9 every morning, EVERY MORNING, go to these lectures, because about half of the year won't, you'll be above the rest, and you're competing with everyone for your choice place in 2nd year, so this is a good thing

Labwork is good fun, demonstrators are awesome, you'll make your best friends during labs! Do pay attention though, as continuous assessments become ten times easier if you know what you did in labs!

Maths will be deceiving, don't stop going to lectures because you start doing the number line (no joke) because it'll get tough fast, and you'll fall behind, keep up with it, it's the only subject your notes will not be online for!

Chemistry, absolutely awesome, the profs really make an effort to make it interesting, great laugh in labs also! Tough considering you have not done chemistry, but like myself you'll manage if you attend lectures and just tip away at study now and then.

Physics will be tough, very tough, I know some people that did higher level physics for the LC and failed continuous assessments, but it's purely because they didn't study, you just can't get by without studying!

Biology will be grand, a fair bit of it is like revision of the LC, however most topics go a tiny bit more in depth, so even just listening in lectures will have you sorted for this Your final module in biology will be the one that snags everyone though, Biochemistry and Microbiology, by far the most interesting labs, but the toughest material to learn, especially biochemistry, study study study!

Attending the lectures is quite honestly, half the battle!

Overall I'd say the course is harder than people give it credit for, because of the low-ish points, people think it'll be fine, but you really need to pay attention and work!

Oh and Biochem has the best people, absolutely spectacular, you'll enjoy yourself immensely

Let me know if there's anything else!

Aoi

Biochem is a piece of cake, keep on top of it though. If you have difficulty in maths I'll help you out Being good at maths has it's advantages xD no joke, I will help you out if you need it.

LC2010HIS

Sounds really good Thanks for the info.

I originally wanted to go into the medical field (nursing first choice) but obv, not enough points for UCC. Can I access medical fields through Biochem?

I know Im a little ahead of myself, just curious though:)

BCMP

LC2010HIS wrote: »

Sounds really good Thanks for the info.

I originally wanted to go into the medical field (nursing first choice) but obv, not enough points for UCC. Can I access medical fields through Biochem?

I know Im a little ahead of myself, just curious though:)

Yea I believe you can, I know a lad going for neuroscience and physiology from biochem for 2nd year, and he reckons he'll eventually end up going into medicine from it! Now I don't know exactly, but it would make sense that having the degree in something slightly similar would make access to medicine a bit easier.

LC2010HIS

BCMP wrote: »

Yea I believe you can, I know a lad going for neuroscience and physiology from biochem for 2nd year, and he reckons he'll eventually end up going into medicine from it! Now I don't know exactly, but it would make sense that having the degree in something slightly similar would make access to medicine a bit easier.

Exactly what I'd be interested in. Medicine or pharmacy. Just had to know its possible.
So, when the time comes, 2nd year, do we get advised on the career path and which areas will get us there?

Aoi

LC2010HIS wrote: »

Exactly what I'd be interested in. Medicine or pharmacy. Just had to know its possible.
So, when the time comes, 2nd year, do we get advised on the career path and which areas will get us there?

My friend's sister did physiology before doing pharmacy. My other friend's GP did biochemistry before doing graduate med. IMO it's better to do graduate medicine, you've gotten all the partying and going out every night out of your system, you're used to college and you have a lot more background than LC chemistry.

BCMP

You won't be advised specifically that this or that could lead to medicine, but everyone you'll meet from the faculty are very helpful, you'll have all their e-mails from the start of the year, and they constantly show up in lectures to let you know you can see them at any time!
So it'll be easy to just pop in and ask for advice, or even to just email and ask, either way you won't have a problem getting the info you need

That all said, you will be advised on career path, however they'll be very specific, telling you what past students went on to, and how they got there, it'll all be very random, but just ask and you shall receive

LC2010HIS

Cool stuff.

Whats the story/prices of books/lab gear then?

BCMP

You don't need to get any books, the library has plenty you can take out, use to study in there, etc, your notes are all you need for 1st year, and they're online!
Instead, buy a huge a4 pad for each of the 4 subjects and just write down what seems important in lectures!

Lab gear, I think it was about 12 euro per subject for a lab manual, and then about 25 euros for a lab coat and goggles! They sell those in the shop on campus anyway so they're quite cheap

Aoi

LC2010HIS wrote: »

Cool stuff.

Whats the story/prices of books/lab gear then?

Approximate prices:
Lab manuals: €26 in total have to buy separately, get them on the first day of labs.
Labcoat & goggles: €25 (if you wear glasses make sure the goggles fit over them, quite a lot of people forgot about that)
Books can range from €50-€80 for new or you can ask around for second hand ones. (I have maths physics & bio I'd be willing to sell, they're earlier editions but have almost all the same material, I did fine with them). Although you'd probably manage without them. I used mine for reference moslty, not actually studying out of.

LC2010HIS

Sorry if im stating the obvious again but..:rolleyes:

So, Year 1 is basically the same for everyone.

But, provided I work for Biochemistry, is that the only "subject/module" I do for the next 3 years?

Bit confused

BCMP

LC2010HIS wrote: »

Sorry if im stating the obvious again but..:rolleyes:

So, Year 1 is basically the same for everyone.

But, provided I work for Biochemistry, is that the only "subject/module" I do for the next 3 years?

Bit confused

You can either go down the chemistry route or the biology route. If you choose the chemistry route, you'll either be doing Chemistry of Pharmaceutical Compounds, Forensic Chemistry, or Straight Chemistry for the 3 years. But if you choose the biology route you mix and match modules, like, Zoology, biochemistry, microbiology, ecology, neuroscience, physiology/anatomy, etc. You choose 4 of those for 2nd year, and choose one to keep on for 3rd and 4th year.

Can be confusing, but I hope that helps!

Aoi

LC2010HIS wrote: »

Sorry if im stating the obvious again but..:rolleyes:

So, Year 1 is basically the same for everyone.

But, provided I work for Biochemistry, is that the only "subject/module" I do for the next 3 years?

Bit confused

You do 1st year of biological & chemical sciences. At the end of 1st year you choose whether to do chemistry, chemistry with forensics, chemistry of pharmaceutical compounds, education, or biological sciences.

To do biochemistry you choose biological sciences. You have to choose 11 modules but each different degree requires a different combination of modules. You're told to choose modules which will give you a choice of 3-4 different degree streams.

At the end of second year/start of third year you choose which degree course you want to do, and focus on that.

Have I helped you or confused you even more?

LC2010HIS

No, I get it now.. I think.

Please tell me as a fresher, they explain modules etc :D

Bloody Nipples

My advice is don't have preconceptions about what degree you're going to specialise in. I worked in the biochemistry dept. in UCC for my TY work experience and as I enjoyed biology and chemistry at LC, thought I'd do my degree in it so I did CK402.

However, I found chemistry in first year very dense (though I got a B2 in my leaving) and didn't do as well as I did in my biology modules. In 2nd year to specialise in biochemistry I'd have to have taken 2 chemistry modules which I really didn't want to, so I took modules which would allow me to do microbiology, EPB, physiology or neuroscience, eventually picking micro which I am so glad I did (though I spent some time considering physiology and EPB too).

So the moral of the story is, you won't be making your mind up on exactly what you're going to do until the start of 2nd year when deciding to go bio or chemistry and until the start of 3rd year if you go the biology route.

BCMP

LC2010HIS wrote: »

No, I get it now.. I think.

Please tell me as a fresher, they explain modules etc :D

You'll be fine, everything gets explained!

flo8s967qjh0nd

CK402 is a case of starting as broad as possible and then narrowing down your choices as you go along. For the biological options - zoology, plant science, microbiology, etc., you'll choose a few of these to concentrate on in 2nd year and then finally choose to stick with one of these for 3rd and 4th year.

No need to do decide too early. 1st year helps you to get a feel for what your options are. Decide what you like and are interested in and then focus on that in later years. Enjoy it!

LC2010HIS

Can anyone tell me how many places are in this course? (eg arts in 1,000 something?)

Bloody Nipples

300-400 I think.

baby fingers breen

Hey i've just done my physics repeat exam n i was wonderin if it were possible to go through to 2nd yr if I fail it? coz u cant do netin wit physics from now on. N i heard abot compensation ting as well. is dat rite?
I hope dat all makes sense.

confusticated

baby fingers breen wrote: »

Hey i've just done my physics repeat exam n i was wonderin if it were possible to go through to 2nd yr if I fail it? coz u cant do netin wit physics from now on. N i heard abot compensation ting as well. is dat rite?
I hope dat all makes sense.

Afaik compensation only works if you get above a certain percentage (like you can't use compensation if you only get 10%) but I'm not sure what that is because it doesn't apply to my course, and I'm not sure if it holds for repeats. Probably best to email your physics lecturer.

Also if you fail the repeat and can't use compensation you can't go straight to second year - like in Arts you only continue with 2 subjects in 2nd year but you have to pass all 4 you sit in first year regardless. Ask your lecturer anyway though. Hopefully you passed the repeat though!

Aoi

baby fingers breen wrote: »

Hey i've just done my physics repeat exam n i was wonderin if it were possible to go through to 2nd yr if I fail it? coz u cant do netin wit physics from now on. N i heard abot compensation ting as well. is dat rite?
I hope dat all makes sense.

Compensation only works the first exam, you need 30% in the failed module, you can only fail 1 and you need above 50 or 60% in the rest of the modules.
You can't use compensation for repeats because you get a pass/fail result.

Bubbly2

Anybody here doing this course already and if so, what does it entail, wanted Speech and Language but didn't get the points, this is my 2nd choice and really not sure about it... thanks

Aoi

Bubbly2 wrote: »

Anybody here doing this course already and if so, what does it entail, wanted Speech and Language but didn't get the points, this is my 2nd choice and really not sure about it... thanks

Physics, Chemistry, Maths, and four different biology modules. You can do several types of chemistry, or biology degrees such as: physiology, anatomy, neuroscience, biochemistry, microbiology, ecology, environmental plant biotechnology, and a few more I think. It's a nice course, 12 hours a week for lectures and 2-3 practicals a week. A good few people use it as a foundation and do graduate medicine, or go into something related to it. Most of the biology is stuff that you touched on in LC but in more depth. The physics doesn't go beyond the LC. Chemistry is a lot more in-depth than LC but half the final mark, is obtained from continuous assessment (ca), and you know how much you got from ca before you go into the exam.

Gru

baby fingers breen wrote: »

Hey i've just done my physics repeat exam n i was wonderin if it were possible to go through to 2nd yr if I fail it? coz u cant do netin wit physics from now on. N i heard abot compensation ting as well. is dat rite?
I hope dat all makes sense.

Because physics is a 15 credit module, you won't be able to pass by compensation. You need to pass a minimum of 50 credits for the year and then you must obtain at least 30% in any remaining modules to get a pass by compensation.

So unless you have passed your exam then you won't be getting into second year so far as I know. You might need to contact the college for clarification.

Aoi

Gru wrote: »

Because physics is a 15 credit module, you won't be able to pass by compensation. You need to pass a minimum of 50 credits for the year and then you must obtain at least 30% in any remaining modules to get a pass by compensation.

So unless you have passed your exam then you won't be getting into second year so far as I know. You might need to contact the college for clarification.

You can pass physics by compensation. The minimum no of credits you must pass is 45. I know people who have passed by compensation. For compensation to come into play you need 30% plus an average (not sure what it is) in the rest of the modules.

Kensworld

What I really liked about going the Biological route was that I got to do interesting subjects that I other wise would never had studied.

I've ended up doing a PhD in Microbiology but by far and away the most interesting modules I did in undergrad were the zoology modules (Evolution and Animal form and function) in 2nd year. They were brilliant and since they didn't count towards getting in to Microbiology I could enjoy studying them without worrying about getting high marks

conorod

Could anyone who has done first year of the course tell me what the maths in 1st year is like? I'm starting in September, not too bad at maths but it was never my strong point - got a B1 in OL - and I can see I'll have to do a maths & applied maths module in 1st year, and a biostatistics module in 2nd.

Aoi

conorod wrote: »

Could anyone who has done first year of the course tell me what the maths in 1st year is like? I'm starting in September, not too bad at maths but it was never my strong point - got a B1 in OL - and I can see I'll have to do a maths & applied maths module in 1st year, and a biostatistics module in 2nd.

You can look up your module description here MA1003

Standard is a bit harder than OL maths but wouldn't quite be HL, but doesn't have the same volume of material as the LC.

If you see applied maths and are thinking leaving cert material, relax, it's more biological and graph related, and if I recall correctly it isn't very heavily weighted, marks wise, in the exam. I think differentiation & integration are included in the applied maths section of the course.

If you got a B1 in maths, you should be ok, just go to lectures. You will start off with the basics (the number line being lesson 1), but you progress onto more advanced material quite fast. There are quite a lot of tutorials, so if you get lost there are a lot of times you can choose to suit yourself. Doing well isn't that hard, a friend of mine would have gotten a C in OL and got 80%+ in the final grade.

Kensworld

I did HL for the leaving and I stopped going to lectures after a while since the first lecture was something like explaining what a positive number is. I thought I'd breeze through and pass no bother. What I didn't realise was that some of the material covered in the module is to be found on the OL course and not the HL course so when it came to exam time I had never heard of some of the things that came up. I passed grand but it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. Like with every other module in college, go to the lectures, pay attention and you'll get on fine

Aoi

That last post reminds me of that time I decided to go to maths, and remembered none of it, but took down perfectly legible notes, copmpletely opposite to normal. It scared me a lot. "Did I go to Maths recently?" "You went yesterday, AND you took notes" =/