Theoretical physics or biomedical engineering??? PLS HELP

vladsirenko

I'm in 6th year and the CAO choices are stressing me more than the leaving cert itself.
It's extremely difficult to chose a single course and I really need advice...

I love maths and physics, but dont like labs and experiments, so TP looks appealling!

But bioengineering is extremely tempting as advances in this field will actually help people...it has a cause to work for etc. (Also I do biology and enjoy the subject). Nuerosensory looks pretty amazing!

But if I do engineering, I'll be missing out on lots of modern physics (like particle physics) which really interest me.

Is there any sort of compromise available in TCD, (like maybe doing TP then a pHD in something close to bioengineering, i dont know if thats possible)

THE CHOICE IS DRIVING ME NUTS, any help or insights are appreciated!

stealinhorses

Do realise that you do a lot of labs and experiments when you're in TP, at least in the first 2 years

vladsirenko

I do. I think its 3 hours per week or something, still a lot less than general science. I dont mind as long as the rest of the course is really interesting. Wtb engineering, no experiments as far as I know right?

stealinhorses

http://www.tcd.ie/Engineering/undergraduate/baiyear1/


In first year engineering you do similar physics labs and experiments to TPs/Science students, and another set of chemistry labs similar to those done in JF Science.

There is also another module dedicated to experimental design, it's all on the website.

Fringe

It's definitely possible to do TP and then do a PhD in another subject. Someone in my class is now doing a PhD in mathematical neuroscience. I also know of others who are doing or will be doing PhDs in mathematical biology. There also used to be a lecturer in TCD who completed a PhD in mathematical physics but decided to switch to mathematical neuroscience during his career. I think that doing TP won't limit your options.

bscm

vladsirenko wrote: »

I do. I think its 3 hours per week or something, still a lot less than general science. I dont mind as long as the rest of the course is really interesting. Wtb engineering, no experiments as far as I know right?

First two years of General Science have only 3-4 hours of labs per week also (3 in 1st Year and 4 I think in 2nd Year).

vladsirenko

All right, thanks for that! I think I'm leaning towards TP at the moment... if mathematical neuroscience is as awesome as it sounds...

But please do share share more feedback on the courses (Engineering, TP, anything relevant)

what you enjoy/dont enjoy etc. Its really helpful to get info from people doing the courses, helps me make up my mind!
Thanks!

Mr Pseudonym

I know of so many people who had initially intended to do a postgrad, but who soon gave up that idea - after four years of study, you're ready to get out there, and it's probably very difficult to stay on for another few years when many of your friends are leaving and getting work. Another one is Schols: everyone intends to go for Schols!

Therefore, I think you should ensure that you would be happy with the course you chose if you ended up not studying any further.

In Freshman Science, there is a three-hour lab every week in each of Phys and Chem - i.e only twice as much as TP.

I did a year of Science - stuff I didn't like: Science-end of Trinity is pretty unappealing; labs aren't much more than following a list of not particularly clear instructions; first-semester Chem is basically a repeat of LC Chem (soo boring!).

Lawliet

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

labs aren't much more than following a list of not particularly clear instructions

And as I final year science student I can tell you that that never changes.

earwax_man

You can only do biomedical through general engineering, you specialise for third and fourth year. A lot of my mates who are contemplating biomedical are doing mechanical first and then maybe a post grad in biomedical. TP is interesting, but in terms of employment (imo) I'd go for engineering. It's also general so you can make your mind up properly at a later time. I started off wanting to do civil, I'm now going to specialise in Computer and Electronic engineering come September

vladsirenko

Hmmm. (I'm probably wrong in saying this but...) the type of immediate job that you'd get after a bachelors in biomedical doesn't seem too thrilling. it might be something like taking care of equipment in a hospital...

computer and electronic engineering seems a lot more promising, but im more passionate about biology. (but who knows how ill feel in 2 years!)

Also the chem/phys in engineering would be applied chem/phys. Applied sections of science tend to be the least interesting in my opinion...+i'd still have to do a lot of labs for both phys and chem...

GodlikeRed

vladsirenko wrote: »

Hmmm. (I'm probably wrong in saying this but...) the type of immediate job that you'd get after a bachelors in biomedical doesn't seem too thrilling. it might be something like taking care of equipment in a hospital...

Correct, you're wrong.
Its also called bioengineering and not biomedical engineering. The idea being you apply engineering knowledge to biology (i.e approximate biological structures/functions as engineering ones).

The chem/physic labs in JF engineering are rubbish. Its an exercise in learning how to conduct experiments and write reports.

If you do a TP undergrad and get a good grade you'll have all the necessary self-learning/problem solving skills to take on any MA/PhD.

Justin1982

Why not consider doing Maths in TCD? You can do all the mathematical physics courses and scrap all the experimental physics courses and lab work. In fact in maths you can do more theoretical physics courses. For example, I remember in 3rd and 4th year, tps did something like 4 mathematical physics courses from choice of 5 in maths department. So you missed one course basically. But the maths students could do all 5 of them if they wanted to.

vladsirenko

You've got a good point there.

I didn't know you could do so much physics as part of the maths course.

I did initially consider maths, but then decided that physics or biology would be more interesting because they actually describe how everything functions, and I wanted to learn about real processes. I though maths on its own might be a bit dry... but now I'm definitely considering it again, thanks for that info.

Can you specialize in an area of physics in 3/4th year? Do you do any physics topics in the first two years?

Justin1982

I should note that the theoretical physics courses given in the maths department are extremely theoretical/mathematical. Most of the time they fail completely to stop and give any worded or philosophical or physical explanation of all the maths and equations which I found annoying. But its definitely a top notch course/degree.

I think Theoretical Physics is a much more balanced course though for anyone who wants to understand physics and probably a lot tougher than just doing the maths degree.

But if you wanted, do consider that doing a general science degree in Trinity is a really good option also. First year or two you can do mixture of biology/physics courses along with some maths courses which are at a less mathematically advanced level than the maths courses in a maths degree. I dont mean to say they are less useful. Sometimes when you do maths courses through a science degree they drop out a lot of the really advanced crap that isnt necessarily that useful for scientists that use maths in their career. That I can assure you is a positive a lot of the time. Just looking at what you seem to be interested in I'd recommend the science degree. You'd be surprised how useful it will be in your second and third year to have the flexibility of choice thats offered by a science degree.

stealinhorses

Yeah, I second the opinion above. You sound like someone who is interested in science in general. Doing open entry will give you two years to find a more defined interest while not closing any doors. There's no point in committing to something now, when you don't have to, and then regretting it later on.

At the same time, keep in mind that TP/Maths naturally delves much deeper into the mathematical side of things, to a level that is only ever probed slightly in maths for scientists. However, the freedom of choice in Science seems like something that would really suit someone who's undecided like yourself, but knows his general area of interest.

If you meet the CAO requirements, you can also move into Nanoscience at the end of second year, if there are places, but you need to have done all of chem and phys in the first two years.

vladsirenko

Alright, thanks for all that!

but I think TP is the way I'm gonna go, as I think that I do want to 'delve deeper into the mathematical side of things'. Also I know that it's pretty much impossible to move into a specialized course like TP, but it is possible to move into a more general area from a specialized course(I emailed trinity and asked about this).

I figure that I'm gonna have to choose between the biological and mathematical/physical side of things sooner or later, so might as well make the painful decision now without having to do 2 years of labs and whatnot beforehand. (Although biomedical engineering could potentially accommodate both...)

(So I'm still not fully decided, but anyway.) Cheers for all that help and advice!