Any sneaky ways into computer applications?

Incompetent

It's unlikely I'll get the points if they rise like they're predicted to. I was wondering if there was a course (plc?) to get into computer applications? I know there is for DIT, but DCU would be my preference.

leemurta

Sorry to completely not answer your question here but why are the points predicted to rise? I have CA as my top choice and am a bit worried about whether or not I'll get it.

Incompetent

Huge demand. Applications for computer science in some colleges went up 40-50% this year. As well as that bonus points for honors maths will bring up the average

No there's no plc route into CA in dcu unfortunetly, I have it down on my cao too , How much do you think the points could rise?

Incompetent

Leilani Wrong Link wrote: »

No there's no plc route into CA in dcu unfortunetly, I have it down on my cao too , How much do you think the points could rise?

I'm just guessing but I'd say they'll go up 50/60 points.

psugrue

considering this course aswell myself, got 405 points so im hoping it wont rise past that. still going between this and enterprise in computing....all the coding in this course might be difficult i dunno, maths is grand but not too sure about all the coding, i think i'd find it intersting but dunno if id be good at it

Clondalphian

Think of it as a blessing in disguise if you don't get in to CA.Horrible course

Clondalphian

Clondalphian wrote: »

Think of it as a blessing in disguise if you don't get in to CA.Horrible course

Do you mean bad in comparison to similar courses or just bad in general?

Clondalphian

Leilani Wrong Link wrote: »

Do you mean bad in comparison to similar courses or just bad in general?

From my own personal experience the course was extremely tough.Alot(too much in my opinion) was asked in a short period of time for a first year student to learn.Also felt the Maths module had no relevance to computer apps

Useful.Idiot

I'm in 3rd year CA now and I think its a great course. First year isn't tough at all if you put the work in. The maths may not be hugely relevant to the rest of the course material but it improves your logical thinking and would be very beneficial if you decided to specialise in certain areas of computing such as computer graphics or robotics. Just my opinion!

I'd be very surprised if the points went up by 50/60 this year as there has been huge demand for Computer Applications every year for a while now, and the points have only went up by 40 in the past 4 years. Usually around 50% of people who get the course are gone by 2nd year though.

polkabunny

There is no PLC route into Computer Applications. If push comes to shove, and you really want the course but don't have the points, you can either repeat the Leaving Cert or wait until you're a mature student. Neither of those are paticularly attractive

Clondalphian wrote: »

From my own personal experience the course was extremely tough.Alot(too much in my opinion) was asked in a short period of time for a first year student to learn.Also felt the Maths module had no relevance to computer apps

I've just finished first year, and I must say I have to disagree with you. You learn a lot in the course, yes, but as long as you keep pace with it I see no reason why you wouldn't succeed. Most important of all are the labs and tutorials, these can either be marked, or may allow lecturers to be more lenient on you if you aren't doing well and have put in the effort by attending.
The Maths module was not totally irrelevant. It probably the subject the most students struggle with in the course. It brings you to slightly above higher level, and allows you to exercise logical thinking and problem solving, all fantastic benefits considering what the course is.

If you are considering Enterprise Computing, do take a close look at the course. CA is a fine course, and EC seems like nice course, but there are a few fundamental differences - CA do Java in 1st and 2nd year, EC do bash scripting (GNU/Linux) in 1st year, EC to intro to IT Hardware - things like that.

Hope to see ye in DCU next year

psugrue

polkabunny wrote: »

There is no PLC route into Computer Applications. If push comes to shove, and you really want the course but don't have the points, you can either repeat the Leaving Cert or wait until you're a mature student. Neither of those are paticularly attractive



I've just finished first year, and I must say I have to disagree with you. You learn a lot in the course, yes, but as long as you keep pace with it I see no reason why you wouldn't succeed. Most important of all are the labs and tutorials, these can either be marked, or may allow lecturers to be more lenient on you if you aren't doing well and have put in the effort by attending.
The Maths module was not totally irrelevant. It probably the subject the most students struggle with in the course. It brings you to slightly above higher level, and allows you to exercise logical thinking and problem solving, all fantastic benefits considering what the course is.

If you are considering Enterprise Computing, do take a close look at the course. CA is a fine course, and EC seems like nice course, but there are a few fundamental differences - CA do Java in 1st and 2nd year, EC do bash scripting (GNU/Linux) in 1st year, EC to intro to IT Hardware - things like that.

Hope to see ye in DCU next year

im gonna guess that the java in first and second year for CA is quite difficult? please tell me that im wrong!!

Useful.Idiot

psugrue wrote: »

im gonna guess that the java in first and second year for CA is quite difficult? please tell me that im wrong!!

How you ever worked with Java before? You get taught how to program in it from scratch so you start off with very simple programs and then gradually work your way up. I found first year Java very easy, second year is a bit more of a step up.

As far as I know Java is used all the way through to final year, other languages such as C, C++ and Haskell are touched upon in certain modules too.

psugrue

Useful.Idiot wrote: »

How you ever worked with Java before? You get taught how to program in it from scratch so you start off with very simple programs and then gradually work your way up. I found first year Java very easy, second year is a bit more of a step up.

There was also a bit of C++ and Haskell in 2nd year.

never worked with Java before but have worked with C++, i enjoyed C++ but hated my lecturer at the time so was sorta self taught.

Useful.Idiot

psugrue wrote: »

never worked with Java before but have worked with C++, i enjoyed C++ but hated my lecturer at the time so was sorta self taught.

you should be fine then! Java is a lot more straightforward and simple to work with compared to C++ imo!

polkabunny

psugrue wrote: »

im gonna guess that the java in first and second year for CA is quite difficult? please tell me that im wrong!!

You're taught from the basics up, so it isn't that bad. There's also a Programming Helpdesk available to all computing students, and many of the lecturers are quite approachable.
You also cover some C++ in second year... By having done some programming before, you definitely have an advantage - one of the hardest parts of programming is the mindset of programming, if you get me! :P

H2G2

This may be a controversial viewpoint and I do not mean to insult anyone...

If someone doesn't get sufficient points for a course and points are a [basic] indicator of ability, then does it not follow that if you don't get the points you don't have the ability to complete the course? Or at least it is a predictor of ability to complete the degree.

Now I am well aware of the flaws of the LC CAO points system and I know may lower points achievers over the years who have gone on to get excellent degrees, but as a general point if you don't get the required points, or even just scrape into a degree, then surely you should contemplate if you are doing the right thing in the long run. After all its about graduating in 4 years time with a good degree and not all about just getting in the door.

Really hope I didn't insult anyone.

BTW, I do not believe CAO points for CA or EC will rise more than 10 or so. Unlikely to be a massive jump.

Incompetent

H2G2 wrote: »

This may be a controversial viewpoint and I do not mean to insult anyone...

If someone doesn't get sufficient points for a course and points are a [basic] indicator of ability, then does it not follow that if you don't get the points you don't have the ability to complete the course? Or at least it is a predictor of ability to complete the degree.

Now I am well aware of the flaws of the LC CAO points system and I know may lower points achievers over the years who have gone on to get excellent degrees, but as a general point if you don't get the required points, or even just scrape into a degree, then surely you should contemplate if you are doing the right thing in the long run. After all its about graduating in 4 years time with a good degree and not all about just getting in the door.

Really hope I didn't insult anyone.

BTW, I do not believe CAO points for CA or EC will rise more than 10 or so. Unlikely to be a massive jump.

I disagree. I had to do useless, irrelevant subjects for the past two years to have a shot at doing what I want to do. I love mathsy, logical subjects which is what one needs, but had to do languages and rote learning to try and get the points. This is where I fell down, and it demotivated me.

Also the course went up way more than 10 points last year. This year there's bonus points for maths (bringing up the average) and an increase in applications to computer science courses. I truly fail to see how the points will increase by less than they did last year

28064212

H2G2 wrote: »

If someone doesn't get sufficient points for a course and points are a [basic] indicator of ability, then does it not follow that if you don't get the points you don't have the ability to complete the course? Or at least it is a predictor of ability to complete the degree.

The required points for a course is a very simple calculation. There are only two variables. Number of applications for a course (X) and number of places available (Y). If Y is greater than X, all applicants are offered places. If X is greater than Y, the top Y points scorers are offered places.

And that's it. Points required have no bearing on the difficulty of the course. The fact that Medicine in Trinity has higher points than Accounting in AIT reflects only supply and demand, nothing to do with the objective difficulty of the course

Liquid_Origin

polkabunny wrote: »

You're taught from the basics up, so it isn't that bad. There's also a Programming Helpdesk available to all computing students, and many of the lecturers are quite approachable.
You also cover some C++ in second year... By having done some programming before, you definitely have an advantage - one of the hardest parts of programming is the mindset of programming, if you get me! :P

Polka speaks the truth. It can be a tough course, but really you're taught everything you need to know to get by. I wasn't sure about programming myself at first, but I've grown to love it over the two semesters.

Also hi Terry!

H2G2

28064212 wrote: »

The required points for a course is a very simple calculation.... snip... supply and demand, nothing to do with the objective difficulty of the course

I agree on one level it is just a simple mathematical calculation but in reality CAO points are a indicator [not a great one I grant you, but an indicator nonetheless] of academic ability. Computer Applications has a policy for many years now of not letting points drop below 300 and have taken substantially less students into the course than places available in order to ensure this. Why? Simple... the link between low-points scoring applicants and degree success only!

It was this point that was at the heart of my comment earlier in this thread. Which basically is: If someone doesn't get sufficient points for the CA course, then probably [probably mark you] it follows that they don't have the ability to complete the course and therefore shouldn't be looking for a backdoor into it.

Incompetent

H2G2 wrote: »

If someone doesn't get sufficient points for the CA course, then probably [probably mark you] it follows that they don't have the ability to complete the course and therefore shouldn't be looking for a backdoor into it.

Not true in my case

polkabunny

Liquid_Origin wrote: »

Also hi Terry!

o/

Incompetent wrote: »

H2G2 wrote: »

If someone doesn't get sufficient points for the CA course, then probably [probably mark you] it follows that they don't have the ability to complete the course and therefore shouldn't be looking for a backdoor into it.

Not true in my case

I've found that people who got nearly 100 points lower than I did in the Leaving Cert are doing much better than I am... People who scraped the 340 points required getting 2:1's in first year while I'm repeating my exams.
It's different in college to school, very much so. You aren't limited to subjects you dislike, you're (ideally) doing something you love and want to learn from. Doing something you enjoy is much easier to succeed at than a group of subjects you may hate passionately.

Isaac702

H2G2 wrote: »

If someone doesn't get sufficient points for a course and points are a [basic] indicator of ability, then does it not follow that if you don't get the points you don't have the ability to complete the course?

Points requirements give zero indication of how well someone will do in a certain course. It simply shows the lowest number of points a student which was accepted received

I have known students that just about got past the entry requirements or have repeated to get into CA and have excelled in the course.
Likewise I know students that by their CAO points would be expected to do quite well but have dropped out within the first year.

(Something that is not unique to CA but still is worth mentioning.)

Personally I think this is more of a problem with researching what a course is about before applying. I am going to final year in September and every year i have been in the course I have heard first year students which are amazed that the course includes Maths and Programming.

Those that drop out within the first year are usually those who did not put enough research into the course.Anyone that is posting on this board or others are already ahead of the game and should do quite well if they think the course if for them.