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Biomedical Science Application
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01-03-2012 9:19pm#1
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Hey ,
I'm currently studying Biomedical Science at DIT and I'm in first year.
We have approx. 6 mature students in the course.
The course is really interesting and considering you're a Pharmacy Technician you'll already have knowledge of the biology and chemistry which is very helpful.
Most people entering the course usually only have one science subject , but some like myself had two , so I know it's a real advantage to have two.
The chemistry in first year is really just LC stuff , which some extras in terms of organic chemistry gets a bit more in detail , but thats mostly it.
Hope all goes well in biomed , great degree, a lot of work but it's worth it in the end
any questions PM me
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Yea I'm planning on going into first year, I think I'd get lost if I applied for advanced entry. Best of luck Vick back with your application! Yea I'm really looking forward to it. It's the best degree of all the sciences that I have researched and sounds like a great college too. Hopefully my application is successful...won't know til June though
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Ok 3rd year is over, well hopefully! Here is the run down.We began our 25 week hospital placement last September composed of 5 week rotations in each of the 5 main laboratory disciplines. These are:
- Haematology.
- Clinical Chemistry.
- Histology & Cellular pathology.
- Microbiology.
- Transfusion Science.
On the last Friday of each rotation we returned to college for a theory test based on the discipline we had completed. The tests were computer generated MCQ's and short note questions. We also completed a case study for each rotation.
We returned to college in March where we had a viva voce oral exam based on our experience. We then began a fast paced 6 week semester composed of three modules for which we had labs and lectures.
- Biological basis of disease (BBOD).
- Molecular Immunology.
- Methods in Biochemistry.
BBOD was whirl wind tour of disease delivered by a part time lecturer and GP. I found her interesting and it was good for us to get a more clinical view on disease rather than the lab based one we are used too.
Molecular Immunology was great. It is delivered by two very passionate lecturers who love to go through all the history of immunology and also update us on all the latest studies and findings.
We are extremely disappointed with methods in biochemistry. The lecture delivery was awful, the lab was a farce and some of the topics in my opinion we not the most important of topics for a 6 week module directly before 4th year. With our feedback hopefully it will be reviewed and improved.
Lecture topics in it were:
Centrifugation (more suited to 1st year, we had 79 slides on this rubbish)
Immuno / affinity technology.
Mass Spectrometry.
Proteomics.
Microarray tecnoloogy.
Electrophoresis techniques.
Chromatography methods.
Ok 4th year, to answer your question simply no you cannot major in just transfusion anymore. Major's and minors no longer exist and we are going to be the first year to test out the new stream system.
Here is a link for an organisation chart of the 3rd year streams and other module topics.
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/555341_3591374821833_1197251467_3514437_908165936_n.jpg
It is quite self explanatory but basically everyone takes a number of core modules. We then select our streams and our subjects within our stream. If you choose stream 3 for example you have to do Haematology & Transfusion 1, Haematology 2, Transfusion 2 and either Clinical Chemistry or Cellular Pathology. So you really would be specialised in Haem and Trans but will also be well able to work in the other lab area you choose.
We are being told 2 main reasons as too why the streams have been developed.
1: The feedback from the academy and industry is that they require more multi-disciplinary students and that is why they are doing this.
2: The year was costing too much and this is a cost cutting measure.
After you sit your finals in January you then do a research project and submit a thesis based on it. DIT have partnerships with many EU colleges and so you can go on ERASMUS for your project. I'm going to Stockholm in Sweden to do it.
Hope that helps. If you have any more questions let me know.
Hey, I'm just done first year(yey ^_^) and I really feel that biochemistry isn't taught well at all. We had a module in the second semester called Structural Biochemistry and it was ridiculous. We were told our labs would back up the lectures, but it was completely the opposite.
I think it was just down to a bad lecturer( no names mentioned).
Any helpful tips for second year? 0 -
paul4green wrote: »Hey, I'm just done first year(yey ^_^) and I really feel that biochemistry isn't taught well at all. We had a module in the second semester called Structural Biochemistry and it was ridiculous. We were told our labs would back up the lectures, but it was completely the opposite.
I think it was just down to a bad lecturer( no names mentioned).
Any helpful tips for second year?
Our first year Bio wasn't too bad I have to say but I really wasn't happy with second year Bio. It was the same lecturer as we had this year and the individual is a disaster. I would imagine this is the same person as you had.
Biochem labs throughout the course in my opinion have been an absolute joke. In semester 1 of second year we had 2, three hour lab sessions on a Monday (yes thats 6 hours of Bio labs). I never knew what was going on. I ran to Karma each week after them for some alcoholic relief.
Advise for second year, god all I can say is study, study, study. It's intense, particularly semester 1 in our case, we had 7 modules. I believe this years second years had a better timetable but we had micro labs until 8 pm and others until 6 & 7pm. One lecturer said to us that they really didn't envy us being in second year.
It's not all doom and gloom though, second year is very interesting and much more so than 1st year. It's much more directed towards the end degree and you get a good introduction to all the main lab disciplines. Although Bio might not be great Clin Chem is pretty interesting and taught quite well.
There is just a lot in second year and the main module I would advise you to focus on is Micro. It really is big and Paddy's CA is rough and always has been. Stay on top of his stuff and it will make life much easier, biostats will require a lot of work if you are not a maths head. You will learn far more from a book and even from the khan academy videos than you will in the lectures. When I cracked this module I was really happy. Also I suggest keeping a good attendance, even if there are lectures or tutorials which are rubbish you need those lecturers on your side at the exam progression boards. Good attendance could mean the difference between getting a pass or a fail. I'm sure you wont need to worry about that though.
If you have any questions throughout the year about the modules or exams feel free to PM me.
Get geared up for a busy year and best of luck,
Mad al0 -
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Our first year Bio wasn't too bad I have to say but I really wasn't happy with second year Bio. It was the same lecturer as we had this year and the individual is a disaster. I would imagine this is the same person as you had.
Biochem labs throughout the course in my opinion have been an absolute joke. In semester 1 of second year we had 2, three hour lab sessions on a Monday (yes thats 6 hours of Bio labs). I never knew what was going on. I ran to Karma each week after them for some alcoholic relief.
Advise for second year, god all I can say is study, study, study. It's intense, particularly semester 1 in our case, we had 7 modules. I believe this years second years had a better timetable but we had micro labs until 8 pm and others until 6 & 7pm. One lecturer said to us that they really didn't envy us being in second year.
It's not all doom and gloom though, second year is very interesting and much more so than 1st year. It's much more directed towards the end degree and you get a good introduction to all the main lab disciplines. Although Bio might not be great Clin Chem is pretty interesting and taught quite well.
There is just a lot in second year and the main module I would advise you to focus on is Micro. It really is big and Paddy's CA is rough and always has been. Stay on top of his stuff and it will make life much easier, biostats will require a lot of work if you are not a maths head. You will learn far more from a book and even from the khan academy videos than you will in the lectures. When I cracked this module I was really happy. Also I suggest keeping a good attendance, even if there are lectures or tutorials which are rubbish you need those lecturers on your side at the exam progression boards. Good attendance could mean the difference between getting a pass or a fail. I'm sure you wont need to worry about that though.
If you have any questions throughout the year about the modules or exams feel free to PM me.
Get geared up for a busy year and best of luck,
Mad al
Yeah it SeeM's(hint hint) that it's ridiculously taught. But that's the only subject which I don't like so far. I absolutely love micro, it's soooo interesting for me!! Celine is a great lecturer and always has the craic in her labs too :P
I plan on really hitting the books early in second year because I've heard and seen it's intensity. By seen I mean the second years are never out of the library lol. Maths is tough for me so hopefully it doesn't hold me back and I'll really work on it this year to make sure I pass.
Appreciate all this info! gunna help me keep on top of my game!!
Thanks dude,
Paul4green 0 -
Dont listen to Mad al young biomeds he'll only lead you astray
Paul4Green i know of who you speak its not the same person as Al was mentioning, i'd definitely agree with you regards the mixed lectures and practicals for that biochem module ultimately all that you learned in it and most 1st year serves as a general platform or building blocks for more in second year and onwards, you will reach a point when the stuff you learned in that module is basic common knowledge to you and you'll laugh to yourself when you think of the time you spent learning it.
I have to say though i've found and im sure Al would agree with me that in Biomed there are no wasted modules they are all pretty integral and important for building on each other. A specific reference to your example paul is that biochem module, one thing that you wont ever shake off that id say you did loads of and you never want to here of again is spectrophotometry but like it or not, it and all that goes with it is massively important in the years to come, depending on the area spectrophotometric techniques may account for 50% of your work or 100% of your work in certain disciplinesI plan on really hitting the books early in second year because I've heard and seen it's intensity
Ha we all say that it never happens though
Second year is by far the toughest and you'll find as we did that many who loved the banter and laugh in micro of first year grew to despise it after second year it was the main cause of a lot of hair pulling and not a few fails in our year, but you never know your liking may carry you through i myself have chosen micro for my final year
Maths in 2nd year is basically statistics and is taught in a certain way by a certain baldy beardy lecturer He'll just throw examples at you each class and the only way to learn it is just go to the classes get the examples and do them again and again ad infinatum
But really we shouldnt be discussing such serious things now these are worries for september and onwards, Right now enjoy your summer!!! and best of luck with results
Ronan0 -
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Dont listen to Mad al young biomeds he'll only lead you astray
Paul4Green i know of who you speak its not the same person as Al was mentioning, i'd definitely agree with you regards the mixed lectures and practicals for that biochem module ultimately all that you learned in it and most 1st year serves as a general platform or building blocks for more in second year and onwards, you will reach a point when the stuff you learned in that module is basic common knowledge to you and you'll laugh to yourself when you think of the time you spent learning it.
I have to say though i've found and im sure Al would agree with me that in Biomed there are no wasted modules they are all pretty integral and important for building on each other. A specific reference to your example paul is that biochem module, one thing that you wont ever shake off that id say you did loads of and you never want to here of again is spectrophotometry but like it or not, it and all that goes with it is massively important in the years to come, depending on the area spectrophotometric techniques may account for 50% of your work or 100% of your work in certain disciplines
Ha we all say that it never happens though
Second year is by far the toughest and you'll find as we did that many who loved the banter and laugh in micro of first year grew to despise it after second year it was the main cause of a lot of hair pulling and not a few fails in our year, but you never know your liking may carry you through i myself have chosen micro for my final year
Maths in 2nd year is basically statistics and is taught in a certain way by a certain baldy beardy lecturer He'll just throw examples at you each class and the only way to learn it is just go to the classes get the examples and do them again and again ad infinatum
But really we shouldnt be discussing such serious things now these are worries for september and onwards, Right now enjoy your summer!!! and best of luck with results
Ronan
Careful now Ronan!0 -
@Boakes I too had an interview when i first applied to biomed though it was 3 years ago now and the people who interviewed me probably wont be the ones interviewing you, you needn't worry much if mine was anything to go on, it was very informal with questions mainly about yourself, why you're interested in biomed, your understanding of the area of work and what it entails when you finish etc So you should be fine And Helen is very nice too! 0
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Would anyone heading into 4th Year in September be able to help me out with these 2 questions:
In the new 4th year, when do you sit all your written exams? Are they all sat in January or are they divided up between January and the end of February like they were in 2011/2012? If they're all sat together that means you have 6 big exams at the one time
How did you find the layout of the new 3rd year? Is the hospital placement rushed sinced it's been squeezed into a shorter time period?
Cheers in advance.0 -
@ Suzanner You sit six exams in January, its not as bad as it sounds really, semester 1 of second year consists of six modules and we sat six exams in January for it so we've experienced it
Regards hospital placement i think thats a very subjective thing, Some may say they thought it rushed some may think it sufficent. Time certainly plays tricks on you though, it is after all only 5 weeks per discipline some seem to fly by and others drag on it all depends on the work you get to do,level of involvment enjoyment of the particular areas and even the hospital your in. One thing is guaranteed and that is your first rotation will probably seem the longest because its your first, novel experience and so on, Some even fall pray to first rotation syndrome where ultimately after going through each rotation your first still ends up your favourite
Hope this helps 0 -
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Heya Zanifer leaving cert Bio and Chemistry will be great and leave you on equal footing with other 1st years or better specifically the Chem when i was in 1st year i had done lc chem but id say about 80% of the class hadnt and 1st year chemistry was a big struggal for the majority of them, Areas to concentrate on in bio and chem would be, All the human bio;Cell stuff, mitosis, DNA, tissues, muscles and some Microbiology if you have it, Chemistry majority of Atomic related stuff ions and bonding especially and particularly Organic chemistry.
One book you are suggested to buy for physiology is "Martinis fundamentals of anatomy and Physiology", Its a fantastic book but unnecessary to buy it (we all made the mistake of buying it straight away) The notes for that module are ripped almost word for word from it but its ideal at explaining stuff at a greater length, the notes you get should be sufficient and if you need to flick through it theres 5-6 copies in the library, hell you could photocopy the relevent pages if you wish haha. My suggestion regarding buying books and it can go for second years as well is to not bother, the expense doesn't usually justify the amount of use you end up getting out of it the ideal position is to reach 3rd or 4th year and you'll have an idea of the kind of books you want to buy generally those with greater information than you need that you can "grow into" for lack of a better expression first and second year books are a waste mainly because they are limited with just the introductory stuff. (tho saying that ive still got my first year books but i just like the look of them and having them hah weird i know)
As regards difficulty chemistry again was prob the most difficult for my year generally because the majority entering only had biology just know the lc topics i mentioned above and you'll be flying. Maths too is difficult but based on the easier higher level stuff from lc such as Geometry of the line, Differentiation and integration, you have to pass it but you wont use it or come across it again.
CA usually consists of Multiple choice Questionnaires (MCQ's) and sometimes short notes, most in first year scoff when they hear Multiple choice and think theyll be a doddle but they are made to be very very obscure in the way they are asked , you have to read them closely so as not to get caught you have to know the material very well to get decent grades in them, added to this they are always negatively marked too so a wrong answer gets you minus 1 or minus 2 or whatever , you'll be lucky because people coming from the lc will have to beat themselves to stop themselves from guessing the old lc addage of "just write something down" or "just choose any answer 1 in 5 chance etc" will absolutely ruin you with the accumulation of minus marks people have been known to get minus grades :eek
There are very few group projects you will probably have to do a group presentation on a specific topic everyone in the class has to do but other than that not much that i can remember.
Hope this helps and feel free to Pm those hundred other questions to myself or Alan (mad_al) 0 -
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Ronan,
Thank you so much for all that useful info and for such a quick reply, i really appreciate it! I'll definitely be pm-ing you with some more questions
Just out of interest, what do other people make of this new Diploma course? I can't understand why they would introduce something like this when the market is already saturated with graduates and there aren't enough jobs for people who have done the full 4 year degree....or am i missing something?!0 -
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Ronan,
Thank you so much for all that useful info and for such a quick reply, i really appreciate it! I'll definitely be pm-ing you with some more questions
Just out of interest, what do other people make of this new Diploma course? I can't understand why they would introduce something like this when the market is already saturated with graduates and there aren't enough jobs for people who have done the full 4 year degree....or am i missing something?!
Yes Zanifer I'm afraid you are missing something. It's called money! The school of biological sciences is quite strapped for cash and this is their method of raising finance. They are not to bothered about the job market despite what they say.
Also in relation to your previous post, congratulations. You should just go and enjoy your summer. You will have lots of time to study in September and if you put in the work then you will be fine. Best of luck with it.0 -
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