DIT or NUI Maynooth?

lilyomara

I'm filling out my cao and wondering where is better to go to? DIT or NUIM? i want to do biomedical science and i like the course in DIT but I prefer maynooth as a college. Any advice please?

denver62002

:cool:depends on what you are looking for at the end. If you want a good university or just a cert.:cool:


http://www.topuniversities.com/institution/dublin-institute-technology

http://www.topuniversities.com/institution/national-university-ireland-maynooth

squishykins

Having been a student in both, I can say both are brilliant in their own way.
The pros of DIT would be that it's in the city centre, so all the nightlife you can hope for. This is also good from a transport point of view, everywhere has transport links to Dublin, whereas you'd generally have to get a connecting link to Maynooth depending on where you're coming from. Generally you're in one campus the whole time so there's a lot less walking than there would be in Maynooth (it takes around 10-15 mins to walk from top to bottom of Maynooth campus, but I'm lazy :P), and it also means that you recognise most people around your campus, which I like anyway
The cons of DIT I guess are that it's split up, so not so much of a college feel, and also that means the SU is split between all the campuses which can cause a lot of hassle. Apparently this is changing in like 2015 but we'll have to wait and see!
Pros of Maynooth are the college atmosphere, pretty good nightlife, lovely lecture halls and the SU is the most savage place ever Also 24hr tesco and mcdonalds, though it's a 15 min walk from the college :P
Cons would be that it's a small town, so if you need anything you usually have to travel to Dublin. Renting can be a pain as it's mostly (old fashioned) houses rather than apartments, unless you're on campus (River are the nicest apartments but also the most isolating if you're in any way shy, and Village is where the party is always at :P Rye is just ****, but the nearest to the lecture halls).

I loved Maynooth while I was there but I personally found it very difficult to settle in as it was very impersonal with the lecturers, whereas you get to know the ones in DIT more. It really is personal preference, this is just what I got from both places, so make sure you go to both colleges and check them out before deciding!

Dingle_berry

lilyomara wrote: »

I'm filling out my cao and wondering where is better to go to? DIT or NUIM? i want to do biomedical science and i like the course in DIT but I prefer maynooth as a college. Any advice please?

Biomedical Science to work in health care or as a general biology degree to work in pharmaceuticals/med instruments/research area? Because if its to work in health care (as a med lab scientist/biomedical scientist) the course in NUIM won't qualify you for it. Only UCC+CIT and DIT have courses that qualify you to work as a med lab scientist in health care.

lilyomara

thanks very much for everyone's input I'm not quite sure what i want to do after but I'm aware of the MedLab qualification after the DIT Course, which i know would give me more options but i went to both open days and was very impressed by the whole college feel in maynooth. I am wondering would i be at much more of a disadvantage afterwards if i chose the biolog. and biomed. science course in maynooth..? I wasn't a big fan of the whole 'city is the campus' feel in DIT.. How did other people find this?

Dingle_berry

lilyomara wrote: »

thanks very much for everyone's input I'm not quite sure what i want to do after but I'm aware of the MedLab qualification after the DIT Course, which i know would give me more options but i went to both open days and was very impressed by the whole college feel in maynooth. I am wondering would i be at much more of a disadvantage afterwards if i chose the biolog. and biomed. science course in maynooth..? I wasn't a big fan of the whole 'city is the campus' feel in DIT.. How did other people find this?

Well the roles of Med Lab scientists has to change now or the government will make profession almost disappear. Also there are currently very few jobs available with 60+ graduates a year. However doing a "true" biomedical science degree can make you a desirable phd student in fields like cancer biology.
I've no idea what subjects are taught in the maynooth course but the only maynooth science geaduates I've met were either teachers or had switched professions. The campus may look better and have a better atmosphere but how do you put that on your C.V?

If you just want to study science and get a degree in it, it doesn't mater which one you choose. What matters is getting a good mark in the degree. ITs are traditionally more like secondary school where they take attendance, have small class sizes and give you lots and lots and lots of info to study as well as lots of practical experience (which isn't lost on employers). Universities are traditionally more academic with larger classes where topics are discussed and you're expected to do a lot of reading around the topics. I personally would have done better in an IT but went to an NUI and made up for my lack of practical experience through summer jobs that I was lucky to get.

lukemeany

Hi, I'm a 6th year student living in Carlow and was thinking about going to either NUIM or DIT to study Product Design. I was just hoping somebody in the course could help me out and give me some information on their own experiences on the course and their opinions on the courses as a whole. thank you.

squishykins

lukemeany wrote: »

Hi, I'm a 6th year student living in Carlow and was thinking about going to either NUIM or DIT to study Product Design. I was just hoping somebody in the course could help me out and give me some information on their own experiences on the course and their opinions on the courses as a whole. thank you.

My boyfriend is doing it, and he says the DIT course is more design and engineering based, whereas the Maynooth course is more about marketing. That's all I know really

paul4green

Dingle_berry wrote: »

Well the roles of Med Lab scientists has to change now or the government will make profession almost disappear. Also there are currently very few jobs available with 60+ graduates a year. However doing a "true" biomedical science degree can make you a desirable phd student in fields like cancer biology.

I call BS on this to be honest. Has to change? Are Medical Scientists doing something wrong??? please elaborate.

I know DIT BMS class of 2012 had 38 graduates[ not 60+], 5 have gone onto Ph.D. 2 moved to the Uk and the rest [31] are all employed in Ireland.

I think you should get your information correct first!