UCD Science

oconnell122

Science youths,

So I got 540 in LC this week, and hoping that the points don't go crazy come Monday I should be starting Science in UCD this September.
Just wondering what the difficulty level for this course is?
I want to study more the chemistry side of things but also would like to take some biology modules.
I got B1s in both subjects but am more of an A standard student in Biology. Also might get chemistry rechecked as I felt the exam went super well.

Is science at university level much more difficult than the leaving cert?
I am prepared to work, just want to have an idea what I'm in for.

agent graves

if you enjoy the subject and work at it it shouldn't find it difficult but there will always be aspect of the subjects you will find hard.
college learning is different to secondary,, your not spoon fed what you need to learn and your not hunted down to pass in assignments, if your late for labs and that they wont let you in.. etc
college is only as difficult as ya make it..

oconnell122

Ok cool.
Also what are the hours like? I read that the days can sometimes be from 9 to 5?

teotihuacan

First year science is very forgiving in that at the start it assumes you know (almost) nothing about the subject area. A lot of your first semester modules will be introductory courses which act as both a refresher for those who are familiar with the subject and a starting block for those who might be learning it for the first time. Eg, an introductory chemistry module i did started off with basics like types of bonds, the basic theory of chemistry, the periodic table and stuff like that which i was familiar with from the LC but then once that is covered you will start to make ground into newer stuff.

So don't worry, its not like you'll go in and be immersed in sh1t you've never seen before immediately. First year is handy. I ended up doing Theoretical Physics having not even done Physics for Leaving Cert and i love it, going into 4th year now. Mad craic altogether :pac:

oconnell122

teotihuacan wrote: »

First year science is very forgiving in that at the start it assumes you know (almost) nothing about the subject area. A lot of your first semester modules will be introductory courses which act as both a refresher for those who are familiar with the subject and a starting block for those who might be learning it for the first time. Eg, an introductory chemistry module i did started off with basics like types of bonds, the basic theory of chemistry, the periodic table and stuff like that which i was familiar with from the LC but then once that is covered you will start to make ground into newer stuff.

So don't worry, its not like you'll go in and be immersed in sh1t you've never seen before immediately. First year is handy. I ended up doing Theoretical Physics having not even done Physics for Leaving Cert and i love it, going into 4th year now. Mad craic altogether :pac:

Oh that's great so I can give physics a go even though I didn't do it for the LC?

teotihuacan

oconnell122 wrote: »

Oh that's great so I can give physics a go even though I didn't do it for the LC?

yeah of course! I definitely recommend trying out a few different subjects in first semester and see what you like. You cant really make any 'bad' decisions in first year since your real choices aren't made until the very of end of 2nd year, so first year is really just for making your mind up and sampling the different areas, so dont worry about messing up prospective degree paths this early, it all falls into place in 2nd year!

emily_303

oconnell122 wrote: »

Science youths,

So I got 540 in LC this week, and hoping that the points don't go crazy come Monday I should be starting Science in UCD this September.
Just wondering what the difficulty level for this course is?
I want to study more the chemistry side of things but also would like to take some biology modules.
I got B1s in both subjects but am more of an A standard student in Biology. Also might get chemistry rechecked as I felt the exam went super well.

Is science at university level much more difficult than the leaving cert?
I am prepared to work, just want to have an idea what I'm in for.

I also got 540 and am heading into science, hopefully anyway. I put in no preference but think I'll probably lean more towards the biology end of things, slightly afraid I won't be able for it tho

DaisyFay

1st year biology is not difficult at all, especially in the first semester. Its literally a case of go to all the lectures/practicals, and you'll be fine. There's a lot of marks for continuous assessment as well so that helps. You will have a chance to try chemistry and physics also, so if you're not sure of what to choose, you'll be well able to make an informed decision for 2nd and 3rd year

oconnell122

I think the most important question here is, do we get one of those gorge lab coats in first year?

oconnell122

emily_303 wrote: »

I also got 540 and am heading into science, hopefully anyway. I put in no preference but think I'll probably lean more towards the biology end of things, slightly afraid I won't be able for it tho

Fingers crossed the cao is kind to us on Monday so.

teotihuacan

oconnell122 wrote: »

I think the most important question here is, do we get one of those gorge lab coats in first year?

If by 'get' you mean 'purchase for €30'....then yes

emily_303

Sorted for lab coats, sister did medicine so she has loads, anyway forget about the lab coats, it's all about the goggles. 35 points would be a huge jump for a course, we should be fine.

emily_303

DaisyFay wrote: »

1st year biology is not difficult at all, especially in the first semester. Its literally a case of go to all the lectures/practicals, and you'll be fine. There's a lot of marks for continuous assessment as well so that helps. You will have a chance to try chemistry and physics also, so if you're not sure of what to choose, you'll be well able to make an informed decision for 2nd and 3rd year

I think neuroscience would be fascinating or maybe genetics?

Dadadum

I got 505 and I'm ****ting a brick.

oconnell122

Dadadum wrote: »

I got 505 and I'm ****ting a brick.

Well it only went up 5 points last year so maybe it'll stay the same good luck to ya anyway

aine92

emily_303 wrote: »

I think neuroscience would be fascinating or maybe genetics?

I did neuro if anyone has any questions..!

D3MAND

aine92 wrote: »

I did neuro if anyone has any questions..!

What are the hours like per week? What did you do after the course if you mind my asking.

aine92

D3MAND wrote: »

What are the hours like per week? What did you do after the course if you mind my asking.

Hours are very heavy for the first 3 years, I went in denominated (straight into neuro not general science) so it might be different now because you stream in but science is always heavy hours, 6-9 hours of labs a week and probably at least 20 hours of lectures.

At the minute I'm working in a cancer research centre but I've been offered a neuro job recently also. There's a huge amount of competition, huge, but in my class there's a couple doing PhDs, a couple doing MSc but most of my class won't stay in science nevermind neuro!

Anyways you haven't started yet so don't worry about jobs :-)

phoebo

aine92 wrote: »

Hours are very heavy for the first 3 years, I went in denominated (straight into neuro not general science) so it might be different now because you stream in but science is always heavy hours, 6-9 hours of labs a week and probably at least 20 hours of lectures.

At the minute I'm working in a cancer research centre but I've been offered a neuro job recently also. There's a huge amount of competition, huge, but in my class there's a couple doing PhDs, a couple doing MSc but most of my class won't stay in science nevermind neuro!

Anyways you haven't started yet so don't worry about jobs :-)

If you don't mind me asking, what sort of jobs to people typically go into after studying neuroscience? Like if i ended up really enjoying neuroscience what would my career options be?

aine92

phoebo wrote: »

If you don't mind me asking, what sort of jobs to people typically go into after studying neuroscience? Like if i ended up really enjoying neuroscience what would my career options be?

Ehh if I'm being honest, very limited, but this is the case for almost every science degree with the exception of chemistry or maths.

I'm moving into a job in electrophysiology sales, and I'm the only person in my class to get a science job. There's 1 gone into grad med, about 4 or 5 doing masters, 3 gone into PhDs and the rest are taking a couple of years off to sort themselves out. Your head tends to be fairly fried by summer of 4th year so a lot of people are taking time out.

steddyeddy

If you like biology or chemistry then biochemistry is for you. It's fantastic for jobs and a biochemist can enter pharmacology. genetics, nuerochemistry or microbiology after their degree. It's the basis of everything.