NUIM SUMMER MATHS COURSE.

dougiex06

Hi,

I've applied to get into science in NUIM as a mature student. I've completed the interview and got on quite well in it. I heard back the other day via email and I was told that I've been accepted but only of the basis that I partake and successfully complete what theyre calling a "summer maths course". It's obviously because my maths grade at LC level wasnt the best and they just want to see if im capable of learning it still.

It's 2 week thing running from the 16th july to the 26th july with an exam falling on the 26th. Presumably if I pass I'm guaranteed a place!

I was just wondering has anybody else been asked to do this or has anybody done it over the past few years?..I've no idea what to expect.

I've checked what the maths modules are for first year and I'm just looking at studying the basics of them, good idea or a bad idea????

Panic.

gorugeen

Howdy Dougie,
I've just finished first year compter science and software engineering at NUIM. I did the maths course last summer. It's great for brushing up on the basics and it gives a good heads up on what will be expected of you in first year. It's fairly relaxed and run by Dr. Ciaran mac an Bhaird. He's brilliant and super helpful.
It's split between lecture time and math lab. You do a topic with the tutor and then in the lab there are loads of online resourses and excercises you can do at your own pace. A tutor is present in the lab for any questions.
Topics done are trig, algebra, surds, inequalities, powers, logs......The test was passed by nearly everybody.
There are also guest lectures in chemistry(not to be missed, it's seriously entertaining), biology, maths, physics. There's a tour of the Russell library aswell. The newest book in there is 150 years old. We got to look at books that were 500 years old!!!! It's amazing.
As for science in first year, brush up of differential calculus and linear algebra (matrices) for first semester and integral calc and stats for sem 2. My advice would be this....work at it from day 1 and go to the extra tuition available for free(check out the maths centre on the NUIM website).
The other subjects are varied. Experimental physics is handy enough as 30% comes from lab work and class tests. Mathematical physics is not for ya if you are not very comfortable with maths. Biology is meant to be really interesting but with **** loads of learning stuff off. All I know about chemistry is the first year lab lecturer is meant to be a right wagon.
If you are interested in an easy subject to pass the introduction to computer systems is a breeze.Up to 50% from continous assesment, one lecture and one lab a week and only a summer exam.
Sorry for waffling on
Best of luck

TheBody

Hi op,

As "gorugeen" said, the course covers the basics of maths. Students often struggle with things like the rules of fractions and indices etc. It's nothing to be afraid of. I encourage you to engage with it as best you can. It's really useful.

dougiex06

Thank you both for your answers. Really helpful. Did either oh you HAVE to do this course or was it both done by choice. I've been told by the college that I will only accepted if i complete this course which presumably means I have to pass the exam at the end of it which is fine. I was wondering though, are there places for everyone who passes this exam or will I be competing against other peoples scores, for example if i get 60% and the person beside me gets 70% do they get preference or are we all pretty much accepted on the basis we can show that we still have the ability to learn maths?

Cheers guys

gorugeen

I didn't have to do it but most of the class did have to. All I know is that all those that passed got their places. If you mail the college they will tell ya.

mrcurious

a friend of mine did this course and is also a mature...two weeks is not enough time to learn maths in any detail..the best approach in my opinion (iv been pretty successful in maths so far) is to do tons and tons of example problems to make sure you pass the exam...the real learning of maths will come in september and with the help of the maths support center....this two week course is in my opinion the easiest way into the science degree but it has the drawback that you dont have enough time to learn the maths in detail...i took part in the science cert last year and we went as far as integration which is the lc higher level stuff..my friend who i mentioned before failed the exam in the maths 2 week course but now is much better prepared for starting his degree than any of his classmates from the 2 week course were when they started their degree..

practice, practice, practice...and you cant fail maths in my opinion!