Analytical Science

school_sux

Hey anybody on here doing analytical science? If so would you be able to tell me how you find the course.. what are the hours like? Aot of lab work? Would I struggle having never done physics and just having ordinary level maths, but I do love chemistry.
Thanks

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school_sux wrote: »

Hey anybody on here doing analytical science? If so would you be able to tell me how you find the course.. what are the hours like? Aot of lab work? Would I struggle having never done physics and just having ordinary level maths, but I do love chemistry.
Thanks

I'm in first year, which is common so someone else will have to tell you about later years.

Physics: Most people tend to hate it, though it's not THAT difficult, just boring (I like it however). I know this is a cliche but you just have to work at it really. It's started from a beginners level and built from there. Van Kampen is the lecturer we had fr the first twelve weeks. He goes fairly fast but is a good lecturer. Eilis McLoughlin is second and a decent enough lecturer, though I found these six weeks the most boring. The girl we have now is doing Electronics and she is a great lecturer. She writes out the maths for us so it's easy to follow.
For the first part of the module we had 3 CA's that went towards our CA worth 20%. This system was very unpopular so for this term we use Mastering Physics, meaning earning the full 20% is easier although you do tend to learn more using this. I dunno what systems will be used next year.

Maths: As I do CES, I get to choose what science to do next year. I'm leaning towards Physics so work a bit at Maths. It's fairly easy-ish (I also did Pass). Again a bit of work is required but it isn't too difficult. The lecturer we had for Semester 1 is terrible, but what she covers isn't very hard. It's pretty much just all differentiation. I personally studied for the CA's (you do 2 one in week 6 and one in week 12) using YouTube videos and Google. Her notes aren't great and she explains it using more maths which complicates things.

The semester 2 lecturer (cant remember her name) is simply brilliant. She is probably the best lecturer we have. She breaks everything down and simplifies it so everything is easy to follow. It is all explained well. Imo she makes Maths fun, she is also bit nuts!! Approach Maths with an open mind and it should be fine, it's not too difficult.

With Maths you do 4 CA's over the 2 semester as the module is a year long one (as opposed to Physics Chem and Bio which are split into 2 modules each).

Chemistry: Our first lecturer was Conor Long. He's a great lecturer though I found what he taught to be hard to understand, probably because I focused mainly on Physics during the first six weeks. He did things like Molecular Orbitals and stuff. I didn't do Chemistry in school so I was a bit lost.
Odilla Finlayson is the lecturer for the second six weeks of semester 1. She covers Physical Chemistry which is pretty much all based around the gas laws. This has been my favorite part of Chemistry so far, and is the reason I passed the exams in January! it's not too difficult, at least compared to Conor Long's part.

The Chem we are doing now deals with Titrations, acid dissociation constants etc. it's not too hard. The labs for this part fit in with the lectures fairly well meaning it's a bit easier. The lecturer, well some ppl don't seem to like him. I think he's grand though and a good lecturer.

Talking to some people who did Chemistry, they say that having done it for the Leaving Cert hasn't helped all that much as it's a bit different. I don't know though as I didn't do it so maybe some one else can clear that up.

The CA with Chemistry is done through Mastering Chemistry. I have found the MC's this term have been a lot harder than last terms ones so maybe this part is a bit harder than last terms.

Biology:The lecturer in the first term was DREADFUL. She does labs aswell and is pretty sound, just a terrible lecturer. It's easy enough though, especially if you did Bio for the LC. I did my LC a few years ago but I still remebered the odd thing. The first term lectures are very laborious and are very easy to skip if I'm honest (and what you actually learn by going to them is very debatable!). I did a year and a bit in a different Uni before switching courses and going DCU. The Bio test in January was genuinely the first test I have ever crammed the night before for. I came out with 48% and only answered 7 of 10 questions so guess that shows how easy it is.

Semester 2 so far has really bored me, I used to like Bio but since coming here have hated Bio (which is down to me not the Bio faculty or anything). We are currently doing Genetics. There is LOADS to know, a lot of information. The lecturer is quite good but lectures are very tiring as there is a lot to take in. I originally wanted to do Biotech but got CES in the CAO offers, and am delighted as I really hate Bio now and much prefer Chem and Physics.

The CA in term one was done through Mastering Biology, and Semester 2 the exam is worth 100% which is a bit strange tbh.

Chem Lab: These are grand enough. It isn't too hard (though some are harder then others) and are my favorite Lab. They are run by Pat O'Malley who is sound enough. They are strict enough about being on time though and take by far the most effort. You have to a pre-lab which can sometimes take up to 40 mins to do and a post lab where you are looking at an hour probably, on average anyway.

You have to one lab report in the first semester and two in the second. We have done 2 of these so far and both times have taken me about 3hr 30mins, so they take ages! If you do Chemistry in year 2, you have to do these after every lab afaik, though I don't know how long they usually take it wouldn't surprise me if they took a similar amount of time.

Bio Labs: Really easy, really boring imo. They are run once every two weeks which is a god send as couldn't see myself doing these every week. Not a lot of work goes into them.

Physics: These can be boring sometimes, and usually are. They are good laugh though and are very laid back. Fun enough I guess. Again not a lot of work involved before or after.

Interdisciplinary Science: You only do this semester 2. IT.IS.****E. Biggest ****ing waste of time, and it takes up a good bit of it too. Could really do without it tbh. You have to do reports and stuff, for example on home Brewing (maybe sounds interesting, trust me it's not). You get put into teams of four and have to do the projects together. it's really ****.

Too sum up, Pass maths shouldn't be a huge problem and you should be fine with Physics with a bit of effort.

Anyway I think that covers most of first year any questions just ask.