Any First Years for Multimedia? - Mature and/or Leaving Students

Doctorate Denied

Hey guys,

I'll be taking Multimedia in DCU as a mature student in September, I'm just wondering if anyone else is in the same boat as me and would like to get in touch and maybe chat about the course or even meet up during orientation if you're up for it. I'm a bit shy so I'm nervous about talking to people and finding my way around for the first few days! I know a good few people enter Multimedia as mature students so I can't be the only one!

This actually goes for everyone though, mature student or not, if you're interested in getting in touch and maybe having someone to chat to for the first day or two. I expect to make friends eventually, I'm just looking for a bit of moral support really, and for anyone else who could do with the same!

Feel free to PM me on here!
Good luck to everyone starting this year!

sarahguitar92

Hi, I'm also going into first year Multimedia. I'm not a mature student, but I did take a year out after my Leaving Cert. I'm kind of relieved to hear that there's someone on my course who is a bit shy like myself! I could definitely do with having someone to talk to during orientation week.

Noodleworm

I just finished my final year in Multimedia.
they've been changing little thing in the course since I was in first year but I'm open to PMs if you have any general questions.

py2006

I heard shocking stories about this course on the Masters! I was going to apply myself.

Doctorate Denied

Thanks for the replies guys, I appreciate it. It's not that long since I was in college so I remember what it's like getting settled, I thought it would be nice to find/give support!

And thanks for replying Noodleworm, it'd be great to have a chat about the course as a whole and get some idea of where it's headed! I was told in my interview that I should expect a few changes because they're restructuring some of the Social Science based courses, but I suppose I'll get a clearer idea of that as time goes on!

duuuaaaane

Hey guys, I'm starting this course as a Mature also... any word on start date yet or am I just looking in the wrong places?

Need to start looking for somewhere to live!

Doctorate Denied

From what I can see, though I might be wrong so I'm open to correction, our orientation begins on Wednesday the 19th. I think orientation begins the week of Monday 17th, but I think we're not due in until the Wednesday. Did you receive the little booklet with the timetables for all of the courses in your welcome pack? It's a fold out thing.

sarahguitar92

Have any of you guys registered yet? I don't see the Sound Production or Digital Video modules, or have they made some changes to the names? I see there's one called Digital Storytelling...

Doctorate Denied

I tried to register earlier today but nothing came up for me. I'll give it a look now.

Looks like I've encountered my first problem. A few of the sections are coming up for me on the registration pages, contact details and so on, but under Subject Selection I get this;
No subjects are currently loaded for registration, either you have completed your registration or no qualification registration has taken place.

I haven't completed registration, I don't know what the problem is.

Shiny495

I registered without any trouble.

Hmm. They seem to have changed a few of the modules around a bit. Still, at any rate it's nice to have the final proof that I'm doing this course.

Doctorate Denied

Could just be because I'm a mature student or I could just be the unlucky one. There's always one and it's always me! :P I've sent the fees office an e-mail so hopefully I'll have it sorted soon!

What changes are you guys seeing that you didn't expect?

duuuaaaane

Do we have a choice in Modules for 1st year? Never gave me the option to chose and says its now completed...?

Doctorate Denied

uwwedoogie wrote: »

Do we have a choice in Modules for 1st year? Never gave me the option to chose and says its now completed...?

Looks like we're in the same boat doogie! It's possible it's just an issue with mature students, try sending the fees office (fees@dcu.ie) an e-mail with your student number and such just in case, hopefully we'll be sorted soon.

monnelly1

hiya , I'm starting multimedia too and I was just curious to what type of laptop have people gotten or are getting for the course ?

Doctorate Denied

I don't think a laptop will be required for the course, but if you're going to get one it might be a good idea to wait and see what others are getting, or if you really even need one, before you go ahead a get one. I'm not even sure that I'll get one yet, it depends on how things go.

So of those of you who have registered, does this look like what you have?

Programme Details
Description: BSc in Multimedia
Mode of Study: FULL-TIME
Academic Period: YEAR LONG
Year: LEVEL ONE (FIRST YEAR)
Module Details
CM107 Introduction to Social Studies
CM122 Photography and Design 1
CM131 Multimedia Studies
CM132 Digital Storytelling
CM142 Authoring
CM143 Designing Websites
CM144 Writing for Media
CM152 Psychology, Media and Creativity

I sent an e-mail to fees (who replied within minutes at 11pm so fair play! ) and I think they automatically registered me or something.
Does this look like what you guys have or am I missing anything?

Shiny495

Doctorate Denied wrote: »

So of those of you who have registered, does this look like what you have?

Programme Details
Description: BSc in Multimedia
Mode of Study: FULL-TIME
Academic Period: YEAR LONG
Year: LEVEL ONE (FIRST YEAR)
Module Details
CM107 Introduction to Social Studies
CM122 Photography and Design 1
CM131 Multimedia Studies
CM132 Digital Storytelling
CM142 Authoring
CM143 Designing Websites
CM144 Writing for Media
CM152 Psychology, Media and Creativity

Yes, that's exactly what showing up for me.

Doctorate Denied

Perfect thanks, it seemed like there were too few modules showing up but I suppose it has to do with the changes they're making to the course at the moment. If everyone else has the same thing I'm happy though! :P

sarahguitar92

That's what I've got too. Relieved it's not just me, so I obviously didn't make a mess of it! I've just logged into my portal and seen the timetable, Sound Production 1 is coming up.

I think we'll be doing a lot of stuff on Macs, but as far as I'm aware it's not a requirement to actually get one.

And all our modules this year are core. We get to choose some next year.

Shiny495

Just got my first look at the timetable today. Looks good at a glance. Not long to go now.

Is it just me or is there nothing on Fridays?

duuuaaaane

I've done the Multimedia course before in a different college and there, all work was done on Mac's, it's not vital to have one but it helps. I switched to Mac's 7 years ago and haven't looked back since. Best out there.

duuuaaaane

Anybody know the date classes start yet?

Doctorate Denied

Shiny495 wrote: »

Is it just me or is there nothing on Fridays?

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

sarahguitar92

Nope, nothing on Fridays. Lovely! I hope it stays that way, because the timetables could change between now and then.

Classes start on Monday 24th.

Smithwicks Man

How do you view the timetable for DCU courses?

Doctorate Denied

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

How do you view the timetable for DCU courses?

If you log into the "My Portal" section, linked at the top of the DCU website you're taken your own personal page. Somewhere in the middle there's a box with links to your timetable.

Smithwicks Man

Doctorate Denied wrote: »

If you log into the "My Portal" section, linked at the top of the DCU website you're taken your own personal page. Somewhere in the middle there's a box with links to your timetable.

Sorted it out actually, cheers anyway. Do we have 19 hours a week for Multimedia yeah?

sarahguitar92

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

Sorted it out actually, cheers anyway. Do we have 19 hours a week for Multimedia yeah?

I counted less than that. It looks like we're split into two groups for certain things, so the timetable gives the same lecture twice in a day in some cases, one for each group.

Smithwicks Man

sarahguitar92 wrote: »

I counted less than that. It looks like we're split into two groups for certain things, so the timetable gives the same lecture twice in a day in some cases, one for each group.

So is it like the lectures are for everyone and then we each have 1 seminar a day? That would make it 15 hours, which is grand!

ChristinaIndigo

First year Communications, not Multimedia, but apparently these two courses and Journalism mix a lot, so, hi guys

Noodleworm

sarahguitar92 wrote: »

I counted less than that. It looks like we're split into two groups for certain things, so the timetable gives the same lecture twice in a day in some cases, one for each group.

thats right, they usually spilt the class alphabetically by last name. So you may get to know one half the class better in the seminars where you get to talk and work together. For the first few assignments lecturers tend to put you in groups until you know people to choose who you work with. If one class suits you more than another you can sometimes ask a lecturer if you can switch time providing they have room.

Theres not too many class hours but you need that free time for assignments , so don't go getting a job filling all the time your not in class. your classmates will rely on you to be available once in a while for assignments. In 2nd and 3rd year I only had about 12 hours a week but was still very busy.

sarahguitar92

Noodleworm wrote: »

thats right, they usually spilt the class alphabetically by last name. So you may get to know one half the class better in the seminars where you get to talk and work together. For the first few assignments lecturers tend to put you in groups until you know people to choose who you work with. If one class suits you more than another you can sometimes ask a lecturer if you can switch time providing they have room.

Theres not too many class hours but you need that free time for assignments , so don't go getting a job filling all the time your not in class. your classmates will rely on you to be available once in a while for assignments. In 2nd and 3rd year I only had about 12 hours a week but was still very busy.

Thanks for the advice! I figured we would need to spend a lot of free time on assignments. Just wondering if there are ever any problems with devoting enough time to societies? I was planning on playing football and also getting involved with the radio station, which I think would be very handy for practising the skills we learn on the course anyway.

Noodleworm

If you join a ton of societies, you won't fit them all in, I think most people pick about one society that they really like, and go to others occasionally, but most will overlap at some point, but at least you get variety. For example most courses have Wednesday afternoons off after 2, prime time for most societies to run things.

MPS run the radio station, there always crying out for people to handle tech as it seems everybody wants to be a presenter, but no one will hold a boom mic when needed. I think its better organised now but when I was in first year I was being called up constantly to hold cameras and mics. I think multimedia doesn't need as much training with things as communications and such. You will get shown how mix desks/marrantz/cameras work during the course.

sarahguitar92

Just saw the timetable has been updated. Anyone know what Digital Storytelling will involve, seeing as there doesn't seem to be individual modules for sound and video now?

Shiny495

No idea. Looks like we'll have to wait until Semester 2 to find out.

So it's Wednesday that we get off now it seems. And we're being divided into three groups instead of two. Can somebody explain Thursday to me though? It seems that if you're in group 3, you have a lecture and a seminar at the same time. How does that work?

Noodleworm

Hmm, looking at the timetable I found, I think its the right one?
http://www.dcu.ie/timetables/feed.php3?prog=MMA&per=1&week1=1&week2=12&hour=1-20&template=student

it looks like thats subject to change. I'm only counting 11 hours, if you look out seminars labelled "group 1/2/3" you'll only be in one one of those., the class is split up to fit you all.
Theres been problems finding a sound lecturer since the brilliant lecturer I had in 1st year Dr Tom Lawrence, died last year

Declan Tuite, who does authoring on there is absolutely lovely, though a bit overworked I think, he teaches a lot of subjects. Course really needs more lecturers

Zeppelin67

Does anyone know what happened to the sound production and digital video modules? The sound production module was one of the main reasons I choose this course!

sarahguitar92

Zeppelin67 wrote: »

Does anyone know what happened to the sound production and digital video modules? The sound production module was one of the main reasons I choose this course!

Same here, I want to specialise in sound production after first year. I've been wondering the same thing, but there's a new module called Digital Storytelling, so I have a feeling sound and video might be part of that.

Zeppelin67

I'm just hoping that's what they've done. I've emailed a few different people trying to find out but nothing back so far.

sarahguitar92

Let me know if you do hear anything back, it would be good to find out before we start.

slasher_65

Hey guys, just jumping in for a second - I'm a final year Multimedia student, as well as the deputy station manager at DCUfm. I saw Noodleworm mention us earlier. We'd love for you to join us!

Since I'm so involved with DCUfm and MPS, I have very little time for other societies. I'm chairperson of a small society called TEASOC, but that is it.

I think that most people working and hiring in the media business will tell you that students who are active within the student media are better hires than those who aren't. If you are interested in radio, not joining DCUfm is a HUGE mistake, as all those who you will be competing with will have. Same goes for DCUtv, The College View, and the various other student media outlets.

If you have any questions about student media in DCU, particularly DCUtv or DCUfm, feel free to message me about it and I'll help out as much as I can!

Back to multimedia though - it is a brilliant course, but really is what you make of it. D a lot of ex curricular things, if you have time. Learn extra programming languages, video/audio editing suites and so on. You need to be a jack of most trades, in the scary media job market, especially if like me you want to work freelance.

sarahguitar92

slasher_65 wrote: »

Hey guys, just jumping in for a second - I'm a final year Multimedia student, as well as the deputy station manager at DCUfm. I saw Noodleworm mention us earlier. We'd love for you to join us!

Since I'm so involved with DCUfm and MPS, I have very little time for other societies. I'm chairperson of a small society called TEASOC, but that is it.

I think that most people working and hiring in the media business will tell you that students who are active within the student media are better hires than those who aren't. If you are interested in radio, not joining DCUfm is a HUGE mistake, as all those who you will be competing with will have. Same goes for DCUtv, The College View, and the various other student media outlets.

If you have any questions about student media in DCU, particularly DCUtv or DCUfm, feel free to message me about it and I'll help out as much as I can!

Back to multimedia though - it is a brilliant course, but really is what you make of it. D a lot of ex curricular things, if you have time. Learn extra programming languages, video/audio editing suites and so on. You need to be a jack of most trades, in the scary media job market, especially if like me you want to work freelance.

MPS will definitely be the first society I'll look for! I really want to get as much experience as possible as I'm planning on going into radio production anyway.

Doctorate Denied

That's some excellent advice Slasher. Thank you and thank everyone who has contributed to the thread so far, it's really reassuring to see so much help and advice being offered. Looks like DCU has a fantastic student body!

Just a quick little side note, I haven't been back to the thread a much as I'd like to because I've been having some issues with my application, grants, etc. After all this I'm not even sure if I'll be able to go ahead and take up my place, keep your fingers crossed. But by all means, whatever happens, keep this thread going and make the most of it!

Zeppelin67

sarahguitar92 wrote: »

Let me know if you do hear anything back, it would be good to find out before we start.

I must have rang 20 people over the past few days and I still haven't got a definite answer about sound production. Apparently the person I have to speak to is the head of the course, Dr Miriam Judge. I've emailed her about it and one of the lecturers has sent her an urgent email but from past experiences with her I'm not expecting a reply within the next week.

This pretty much answers my question though. Its the breakdown of subjects the full course and there's no sound production module. There's a small bit covered in the digital storytelling but no sound desks or protools from what I can see. I suppose we'll have to gain experience in it elsewhere.

http://www.dcu.ie/registry/module_contents.php?function=4&programme=MMA

HiThereImRonan

I'm another first year for multimedia. Straight from leaving cert. Should be good fun ^_^

Zeppelin67

Ya it should be can't wait to get there and join all the great clubs and socs, especially music soc! Is everyone here living on campus? I'm just down the road in Iveragh estate.

sarahguitar92

Zeppelin67 wrote: »

Ya it should be can't wait to get there and join all the great clubs and socs, especially music soc! Is everyone here living on campus? I'm just down the road in Iveragh estate.

I'm on campus, staying in Larkfield. Anyone else staying there?

Zeppelin67

sarahguitar92 wrote: »

I'm on campus, staying in Larkfield. Anyone else staying there?

Are you moving up tomorrow?

sarahguitar92

Zeppelin67 wrote: »

Are you moving up tomorrow?

Yep. You?

Zeppelin67

Yep i am, i might be in the student bar later.

Shiny495

So does anyone who's doing multimedia want to meet up during orientation? I'd like to get to know some people as early as I can.

Zeppelin67

Shiny495 wrote: »

So does anyone who's doing multimedia want to meet up during orientation? I'd like to get to know some people as early as I can.

I'm definitely up for arranging something - Would be great to meet people this week - I'm up from tonight so whenever people are free we should sort something out?