General Question thread for people thinking of going to DKIT

Atomic Pineapple · 23-08-2010 2:00pm

LovexxLife wrote: »

thanks!
aww dkit mustn't be too bad then if you wanna go back!

Its great, I thoroughly enjoyed my 4 years there from the social aspect to the hard but rewarding work towards the end.

Keep us up to date on how you find it and how your getting on.

flyswatter · 23-08-2010 4:05pm

Starting Computing in DKIT in September. Can't wait!

Atomic Pineapple · 23-08-2010 4:36pm

flyswatter wrote: »

Starting Computing in DKIT in September. Can't wait!

Good choice

Thats what I done and look at me now!

EDIT: Have you any ideas which strand you'll prefer?

LovexxLife · 23-08-2010 5:16pm

So when do you normally get stuff from the college?
and whens like registration and when do 1st yrs start?

Atomic Pineapple · 23-08-2010 8:06pm

LovexxLife wrote: »

So when do you normally get stuff from the college?
and whens like registration and when do 1st yrs start?

8th 9th and 10th of September is registration for 1st years who accept the 1st round CAO offers.

Which day will depend on your course, you will get a letter from DKIT either this week or early next week with details of day, time and room to register in. (Its normally in the nursing building)

And you will start college then at some stage the week after usually.

PollyLouM · 23-08-2010 10:38pm

Any advice for a son offered physical activity in DKIT and 2 year course in Carlow? Make your mind up time!! Will degreee course in DKIT allow him to get into physiotherapy, think that's the ultimate destination.

SaucyB · 23-08-2010 11:44pm

Accepted film and video in dundalk today:) can't wait to start and see the new media building aswel:)

Atomic Pineapple · 24-08-2010 10:13am

PollyLouM wrote: »

Any advice for a son offered physical activity in DKIT and 2 year course in Carlow? Make your mind up time!! Will degreee course in DKIT allow him to get into physiotherapy, think that's the ultimate destination.

Hi Polly,

The DKIT website lists the career options from that course as:

Career Options

* Physical Activity Co-ordinator Offices within the Health Service Executive
* GP Practices (GP exercise referral scheme)
* Corporate Health and Fitness
* Leisure Facilities
* Sports Clubs
* Community Groups
* Active Retirement Groups

I understand the GP Practices (GP exercise referral scheme) to include physiotherapy but I cant be 100% sure.

The course info is here:

http://ww2.dkit.ie/schools_and_departments/nmha/nursing_midwifery_health_studies/courses/dk880

And you have a contact at the bottom of the page there for questions, if needed.

SaucyB wrote: »

Accepted film and video in dundalk today:) can't wait to start and see the new media building aswel:)

Congratulations, yeh all through my time there the building was going to be ready for us next year but I never got to see it, let me know what its like!

cc87 · 24-08-2010 1:15pm

PollyLouM wrote: »

Any advice for a son offered physical activity in DKIT and 2 year course in Carlow? Make your mind up time!! Will degreee course in DKIT allow him to get into physiotherapy, think that's the ultimate destination.

The course in DKIT will allow him to go on and do a masters in physio, but at the moment onlys some universities in england will accept it, liverpool being the main one i think.

The course in carlow will allow him to go into physio at degree level but again i think only colleges in england will accept it.

PollyLouM · 24-08-2010 3:31pm

Thanks for all the comments. We know the 2 yr course in Carlow will allow him entry to UK physio courses, we just don't know how many years he has to put in, we know for a fact he can go to Keele. We're just wondering would the 4 yr degree course in DK be of more benefit to him, but are beginning to realise the answer is no, not for physio. The info on the course from the DKIT website regarding what career he might have after completion of the course doesn't inspire him. He's more interested in sports injury, than working with retirement groups and managing a leisure club, both of which appear as career choices on the website. The entry points for DKIT were 385 and for CWIT were 405, so I'm wondering if the 2yr course in Carlow is better?

cc87 · 24-08-2010 4:24pm

AFAIK, even if he does the 2 year course in carlow, he will still have to start the physio course from first year.

If he wants to do physio, carlow is the better option. But he should be aware that throughout the physio course he won't have much time working with sports injuries. He won't be able to specialise along those lines until he is fully qualified. In fact, most of his hands on experience in terms of placement will probably come from working with elderly patients in hospitals.

KeithM89_old · 24-08-2010 11:08pm

Quick question, if i have 2 repeats, do i need to pass both to continue??

Atomic Pineapple · 24-08-2010 11:33pm

KeithM89 wrote: »

Quick question, if i have 2 repeats, do i need to pass both to continue??

It depends on your other results, you can score between 35-40 percent in one subject as long as your above a certain amount in your other subjects

KeithM89_old · 24-08-2010 11:38pm

Cool - and if i get below 35 in one and have the rest passed i just carry it and have to resit the exam?

moons657 · 25-08-2010 1:02am

Im starting in DKIT this september as well in electrical engineering.going back as a mature student.kind of dreading the parking situation up there.i went there a couple of years ago while doing my apprenticeship and it was grand cause ya didnt need to pay for parking.might have to organise staying up there or something:P
anyone doing the electrical engineering course??

Atomic Pineapple · 25-08-2010 9:49am

KeithM89 wrote: »

Cool - and if i get below 35 in one and have the rest passed i just carry it and have to resit the exam?

I think you can carry 1 subject yes and re sit the exam at a latter date.

moons657 wrote: »

Im starting in DKIT this september as well in electrical engineering.going back as a mature student.kind of dreading the parking situation up there.i went there a couple of years ago while doing my apprenticeship and it was grand cause ya didnt need to pay for parking.might have to organise staying up there or something:P
anyone doing the electrical engineering course??

One of my best mates does that course but he is a fully qualified sparky too, he found the first yer relatively easy and found the extra dimension that the engineering aspect brought to be really interesting.

As for the parking, I've been told if your there for 8:45 you should be ok but its a pain if your not in early some days.

cc87 · 25-08-2010 1:35pm

I'd say better get in round 8 30 this year with the 1000 or so new students

Atomic Pineapple · 25-08-2010 1:56pm

cc87 wrote: »

I'd say better get in round 8 30 this year with the 1000 or so new students

Good point!

Is there actually an extra 1000 students going to be in DKIT though?

CAO figures are only up 3000 across every college in the country so I cant see DKIT taking 1000 of that, there could be a huge amount of mature students who took places through interviews rather than the CAO though.

moons657 · 25-08-2010 2:45pm

draffodx wrote: »

I think you can carry 1 subject yes and re sit the exam at a latter date.

One of my best mates does that course but he is a fully qualified sparky too, he found the first yer relatively easy and found the extra dimension that the engineering aspect brought to be really interesting.

As for the parking, I've been told if your there for 8:45 you should be ok but its a pain if your not in early some days.

yea Im a qualified sparks too...yea one of my mates just finished his first year doing the course and said its very good too.I cant wait.looking forward to learning more about the thoery side of things.
yea I will prob leave early to get parking.haha.dont wanna be clamped...:P

moons657 · 25-08-2010 2:53pm

oh whats the story on registering and paying of fee's??how much do the fee's be??:rolleyes:

Atomic Pineapple · 25-08-2010 4:14pm

moons657 wrote: »

oh whats the story on registering and paying of fee's??how much do the fee's be??:rolleyes:

Did you apply through CAO?

You'll get your registration pack this week or next week with Info on when you register.

Fee's go up every year and I think it was around €1500 last year, now thats just a guess from a figure thats in my head.

You pay in a bank by giro that comes in the registration pack

moons657 · 25-08-2010 5:00pm

draffodx wrote: »

Did you apply through CAO?

You'll get your registration pack this week or next week with Info on when you register.

Fee's go up every year and I think it was around €1500 last year, now thats just a guess from a figure thats in my head.

You pay in a bank by giro that comes in the registration pack

ah right!!!cool.must try find 1500 by then so:Pno i didnt apply through cao.i done the interview.why?does that make a difference to when you register?:)

SaucyB · 25-08-2010 5:06pm

im awaiting my acceptance for my grant whichc i should get considering i got one for a plc last year, i know if your accepted for the grant they pay your student fee so i just wanted to know do i have to pay the registration fee myself and then i get it back laster in the year or what because i dont have 1500 euro:( :O

moons657 · 25-08-2010 5:09pm

SaucyB wrote: »

im awaiting my acceptance for my grant whichc i should get considering i got one for a plc last year, i know if your accepted for the grant they pay your student fee so i just wanted to know do i have to pay the registration fee myself and then i get it back laster in the year or what because i dont have 1500 euro:( :O

your in the same boat as me.im hoping i get it now but i heard that sometimes they take months to come through...:eek:

Atomic Pineapple · 25-08-2010 5:37pm

SaucyB wrote: »

im awaiting my acceptance for my grant whichc i should get considering i got one for a plc last year, i know if your accepted for the grant they pay your student fee so i just wanted to know do i have to pay the registration fee myself and then i get it back laster in the year or what because i dont have 1500 euro:( :O

moons657 wrote: »

your in the same boat as me.im hoping i get it now but i heard that sometimes they take months to come through...:eek:

Yes if you haven't got your grant in time you will have to pay the fee and you will then get it back when you get your grant.

I have heard some people not getting them until the second semester!

SaucyB · 26-08-2010 11:26am

I'm not happy at all. Got my grant this morning. 1300 for the year. Thats a joke I pay 100 a month of a loan i had to get last year beause my grant was late coming in. So i get bou 120-130 a month from this grant which leaves me wit 20-30 euro to get through a month?? and i can't seem to get work anywhere.

College doesn't look to appealing now since i cant afford to live if i go to it!

Atomic Pineapple · 26-08-2010 11:35am

SaucyB wrote: »

I'm not happy at all. Got my grant this morning. 1300 for the year. Thats a joke I pay 100 a month of a loan i had to get last year beause my grant was late coming in. So i get bou 120-130 a month from this grant which leaves me wit 20-30 euro to get through a month?? and i can't seem to get work anywhere.

College doesn't look to appealing now since i cant afford to live if i go to it!

Are you sure thats for the year?

They usually give you the grant for the first semester and then you get approved for the other half if your still in college for the second semester

MonkeyTennis · 26-08-2010 11:38am

SaucyB wrote: »

I'm not happy at all. Got my grant this morning. 1300 for the year. Thats a joke I pay 100 a month of a loan i had to get last year beause my grant was late coming in. So i get bou 120-130 a month from this grant which leaves me wit 20-30 euro to get through a month?? and i can't seem to get work anywhere.

College doesn't look to appealing now since i cant afford to live if i go to it!

talk to the SU about hardship fund

http://www.studentfinance.ie/pca7235.html

SaucyB · 26-08-2010 11:49am

Il check the hardship fund out now thanks. yes thats for the year i phoned my local vec and they told me. Il check student finance to see if i can find anything.

flyswatter · 26-08-2010 4:05pm

draffodx wrote: »

Good choice

Thats what I done and look at me now!

EDIT: Have you any ideas which strand you'll prefer?

I'd really like to give the Software Development strand a go. However, I have a notion that it's going to be difficult!

From reading this thread I see you picked that option. Is the SD very mathsy? Maths wouldn't be my strong point!

I believe the job prospects in the IT sector are decent at the moment. Can you shed any light on the software development sector?

I'm interested in music technology so I'd like to be able to do some DSP programming, building software synths and effects, that sort of thing. That's why the software development appeals.

Atomic Pineapple · 26-08-2010 6:40pm

flyswatter wrote: »

I'd really like to give the Software Development strand a go. However, I have a notion that it's going to be difficult!

From reading this thread I see you picked that option. Is the SD very mathsy? Maths wouldn't be my strong point!

I believe the job prospects in the IT sector are decent at the moment. Can you shed any light on the software development sector?

I'm interested in music technology so I'd like to be able to do some DSP programming, building software synths and effects, that sort of thing. That's why the software development appeals.

No I wouldn'y say it is very heavily maths based, you do have maths modules in there but they are relatively easy with a lot of it being refresher stuff from secondary school.

The only module I found hard with regards to the maths side of things would be computer graphics in 4th year but that was it and I would not be great at maths either.

I'll get back to you with regards the industry later, just going for some pints

ANXIOUS · 26-08-2010 7:31pm

SaucyB wrote: »

I'm not happy at all. Got my grant this morning. 1300 for the year. Thats a joke I pay 100 a month of a loan i had to get last year beause my grant was late coming in. So i get bou 120-130 a month from this grant which leaves me wit 20-30 euro to get through a month?? and i can't seem to get work anywhere.

College doesn't look to appealing now since i cant afford to live if i go to it!

Did you get a grant last year? Also seen earlier on mothercare are looking for someone in the marshes part time.

Atomic Pineapple · 27-08-2010 9:46am

draffodx wrote: »

I'll get back to you with regards the industry later, just going for some pints

The industry at the minute does seem pretty healthy although wages have dropped a good bit across the board.

It also depends on what area you want to get into, the consultation, support side of things seems to have gone to the dogs with many people with years of experience unable to find a job.

But the programming, development side of things seems to be holding up.

Having said that getting your foot in the door to start wait can be tough at the minute and it was for me, the best advice is to keep doing your owning personal projects along the way so you have stuff to show at interviews and if possible keep up to date with new and upcoming technologies and show an interest in them.

On the music technology side of things there wasn't anything involving that in the course when I done it but what you learn would easily allow you to do a personal project like that either outside the scope of the course or for your 4th year project if you plan on going that far.

flyswatter · 27-08-2010 1:40pm

draffodx wrote: »

The industry at the minute does seem pretty healthy although wages have dropped a good bit across the board.

It also depends on what area you want to get into, the consultation, support side of things seems to have gone to the dogs with many people with years of experience unable to find a job.

But the programming, development side of things seems to be holding up.

Having said that getting your foot in the door to start wait can be tough at the minute and it was for me, the best advice is to keep doing your owning personal projects along the way so you have stuff to show at interviews and if possible keep up to date with new and upcoming technologies and show an interest in them.

On the music technology side of things there wasn't anything involving that in the course when I done it but what you learn would easily allow you to do a personal project like that either outside the scope of the course or for your 4th year project if you plan on going that far.

Thanks for the info. Do you have any idea what the general wage structure for IT is at the moment?

As for the music technology, I believe there is a Masters on it in DKIT so that could be of interest.

I see how getting your foot in the door could be a problem. Most of the jobs I've seen offered required 3-4 years experience!

Atomic Pineapple · 27-08-2010 2:00pm

flyswatter wrote: »

Thanks for the info. Do you have any idea what the general wage structure for IT is at the moment?

As for the music technology, I believe there is a Masters on it in DKIT so that could be of interest.

I see how getting your foot in the door could be a problem. Most of the jobs I've seen offered required 3-4 years experience!

The average graduate wage is about €25k in Dublin these days a little less in other parts of the country. I cant comment on non graduate wages as I'm only working 9 months and I'm still on my graduate wage.

Also it depends on what type of company you end up in, I'm in a small independent Irish software house, so my wage is a little lower and I've no benefits but I am getting much more hands on experience in the deep end than the training and mickey mouse programming a graduate would be doing in say IBM for the first 6 months or so.

Most jobs advertised are advertised with higher requirements than the actual job requires, I found applying for positions advertised as 1 - 2 or 2+ years experience still got me interviews even though I only had college experience.

flyswatter · 27-08-2010 2:07pm

draffodx wrote: »

The average graduate wage is about €25k in Dublin these days a little less in other parts of the country. I cant comment on non graduate wages as I'm only working 9 months and I'm still on my graduate wage.

Also it depends on what type of company you end up in, I'm in a small independent Irish software house, so my wage is a little lower and I've no benefits but I am getting much more hands on experience in the deep end than the training and mickey mouse programming a graduate would be doing in say IBM for the first 6 months or so.

Most jobs advertised are advertised with higher requirements than the actual job requires, I found applying for positions advertised as 1 - 2 or 2+ years experience still got me interviews even though I only had college experience.

Thanks. I'd imagine the top companies would be paying the best wages but only if you're a Senior Software Developer?

Would a Masters/PHD be of benefit in securing a job in the current climate or is a degree enough in most cases?

Atomic Pineapple · 27-08-2010 2:12pm

flyswatter wrote: »

Thanks. I'd imagine the top companies would be paying the best wages but only if you're a Senior Software Developer?

Would a Masters/PHD be of benefit in securing a job in the current climate or is a degree enough in most cases?

A lot of people told me experience is more important than a masters in the IT industry and it seems to ring true for most cases, however if you want to specialise in something specific a masters seems to be a minimum.

flyswatter · 27-08-2010 3:49pm

draffodx wrote: »

A lot of people told me experience is more important than a masters in the IT industry and it seems to ring true for most cases, however if you want to specialise in something specific a masters seems to be a minimum.

Thanks draffodx. Anything else I should know about the course or the college from your experience?

SaucyB · 27-08-2010 3:55pm

Yes i got a grant last year but i was travelling to dublin so thats why they told me it was more. Ive applied to st vincent de pauls, and partnership in dundalk to see if they can help out but if they can't i dont know what I'l do. I might have to give up my spot. Ive applied for loads of jobs but some of them need times and i wont know times till i get my timetable. Aww just a bad time, can't believe this grant.

KoKane · 17-09-2010 1:41pm

Hey whats the craic, I've applied and I'm accepted in Dundalk IT doing Computing and Software development...
On the day I asked about the tour (we're in the new refurbished PJ Carrol building or something). I went over there and there was noone doing any tours

I also asked about what class I'm in and timetables and was told to check out the website with them.

I had a look and its all very good and well but I dont know what class I'm in and I cant find it anywhere and wasnt told.

Never asked specificly either when I was up there, which is my bad anyway but I had to head off.

KoKane · 17-09-2010 2:02pm

This is the list for what I assume is my course (since throughout the past 6 months, the letters I have been getting keep changing the name of it, adding or removing words)

5 groups for it?

No idea what one I'm in.

Atomic Pineapple · 17-09-2010 2:06pm

Ask at the reception of the computing area, it will be posted up on a wall board somewhere there as well as to which group your in.

KoKane · 17-09-2010 2:25pm

Thanks but how can I find out from home? Phone them I take it. Dont happen to know a name or number off hand?

Atomic Pineapple · 17-09-2010 2:36pm

KoKane wrote: »

Thanks but how can I find out from home? Phone them I take it. Dont happen to know a name or number off hand?

http://ww2.dkit.ie/schools_and_departments/imcm

042 9370280

Zil2011 · 11-08-2011 12:35pm

Hi, I know this thread is a year old, but I was just looking for some advice if you can help? My son will be 17 next May, doing Leaving Cert in June 2012. He was hoping to do games programming in college (now whether this is a genuine interest or a hope that he is going to be sitting on the ps3 all day, I'm not too sure!) Anyway, he has been looking up courses and reckons Carlow is the best option. We live in Louth and DKIT would be much more convenient and more affordable. Can anyone tell me if it is the same course or if it would benefit him in anyway? He is doing ordinary level maths and I've tried to explain to him that as far as I know there is a lot of maths involved in studying computers at college. Any and all advice is much appreciated.

Atomic Pineapple · 11-08-2011 12:57pm

Zil2011 wrote: »

Hi, I know this thread is a year old, but I was just looking for some advice if you can help? My son will be 17 next May, doing Leaving Cert in June 2012. He was hoping to do games programming in college (now whether this is a genuine interest or a hope that he is going to be sitting on the ps3 all day, I'm not too sure!) Anyway, he has been looking up courses and reckons Carlow is the best option. We live in Louth and DKIT would be much more convenient and more affordable. Can anyone tell me if it is the same course or if it would benefit him in anyway? He is doing ordinary level maths and I've tried to explain to him that as far as I know there is a lot of maths involved in studying computers at college. Any and all advice is much appreciated.

The differences in the courses would be minimal I'd imagine, the course in DKIT is pretty full on and is meant to be one of the toughest courses in the college. It covers all aspects of game design, testing and programming.

As you'd expect with game engines etc... math's plays a big part in the course and is of a very high level. Calculating light, shadows, angles of views etc.. requires a good Mathematical brain, thats not to say that doing ordinary level math's in the leaving means your son wont be able for it.

Very little time is spent actually playing games in any of these course's.

What is attracting your son to Carlow over DKIT may I ask?

Zil2011 · 11-08-2011 2:57pm

Draffodx - thank you for your swift reply!

He says there is a difference in being a games programmer to being a games developer. He reckons Programming is what he would like to do and that the course in dkit is more development motivated? Now, he is only figuring this out by what he can find out on the internet, the career guidance teacher at his school is in my opinion less than useless - she was there when I was at the school and was bad then! I've tried looking it up and the course subjects look similar to me, so I thought I'd ask on here to see if ye had any recommendations/advice.

I don't really understand all the ins and outs with the games, so I've asked him what kind of a job he would expect to get with this college course and he reckons he could get a job with the likes of EA Game developments or the like of that?

Atomic Pineapple · 11-08-2011 3:33pm

Ha, Ardee Community school by any chance?

Most career guidance teachers are useless anyway. I think the course in DKIT may be more broad, taking in various aspects of the games development world including business type subjects whereas the one in Carlow may be focused on actual programming only.

I'd view the broader scope as a more positive aspect as it widens the range of jobs when a degree is awarded rather than narrow it like a focused course.

That said it sounds like your son will have done more research than me and may just know what he wants.

Zil2011 · 11-08-2011 3:56pm

You got it in one Draffodx! Although I believe they have a new career guidance teacher in September - fingers crossed!

I agree the broader scope would be a better aspect, giving him more options in the future. As I say, he is young doing the Leaving and it is only this last few months he has expressed an interest in doing games programming, so lets hope its not a phase!

Now, to convince him of this! lol!

Thanks for the advice and help on this.

Slashman X · 15-08-2011 2:44pm

Hey Zil, 2 of my housemates are going into their 4th year of Games Programming and I'm doing a course which is very closely linked to theirs (same modules, lectures etc). So if you have any more specific questions, I'd be happy to answer them for you.

General Question thread for people thinking of going to DKIT

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