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Trinity First Year Science. Pleeeez help.

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  • 18-10-2009 3:46pm
    #1
    SaganScience
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10 ✭


    I really can't decide between Trinity and UCD Science.

    Which is better genuinely??

    In Trinity can you study Physics, Chemistry and Biology in First year in order to keep all your options open?????


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    #2
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 25,323 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    SaganScience wrote: »
    In Trinity can you study Physics, Chemistry and Biology in First year in order to keep all your options open?????

    I don't think so. You have to take some form of maths. As regards which is better, it depends on precisely what you want to end up doing - they're both decent programs.


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    #3
    Fringe
    Registered Users Posts: 1,082 ✭✭✭Fringe


    This has all the combinations.

    http://www.tcd.ie/Science/undergraduate/jf/


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    #4
    Craguls
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,986 ✭✭✭Craguls


    I started this year myself. Feel free to PM me if you've any questions


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    #5
    Fad
    Registered Users Posts: 7,231 ✭✭✭Fad


    UCD is a bit more flexible in your degree options (You can do Computer Science, Mathematical Science and Statistics through Science Omnibus) and you can do joint majors too.


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    #6
    Craguls
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,986 ✭✭✭Craguls


    Fad wrote: »
    UCD is a bit more flexible in your degree options (You can do Computer Science, Mathematical Science and Statistics through Science Omnibus) and you can do joint majors too.

    Actually yeah that is one thing I'd definitely say about UCD.

    Most people in Trinity seem to have an idea of what they'd generally already like; usually meaning you get Physics and Chemistry people or Biology and Chemistry people.

    Aside from that both are good courses. UCD also does direct entry if you'd rather pick what you're studying right away as opposed to waiting two years and competing academically in Trinity.


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    #7
    FluffyCat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 340 ✭✭FluffyCat


    DCU has an excellent science program. I did analytical science there. You choose to major in Chemistry or Biology in the third year. Also there is a 6 month work placement which Im not sure the oher colleges have. After working for a few years I kept hearing how employers wants DCU grads due to the work placement.
    Thats just my thought!
    Good Luck deciding


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    #8
    KiLLeR CoUCh
    Registered Users Posts: 121 ✭✭KiLLeR CoUCh


    From what I can gather it's now possible to pick whatever modules you want in first year, and whatever you want in second year regardless of what modules you've completed previously. However nobody in their right mind is going to pick a mad combination of everything, as you could in theory leave yourself with nothing in third year that you're able to do. There's also no combination of subjects you can choose that will leave every option open to you in third year, but why would you want to? If you're mad into say, biology chemistry and maths there's no sense in picking up geology along the way just for the craic.


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    #9
    AlanSparrowhawk
    Closed Accounts Posts: 485 ✭✭AlanSparrowhawk


    Seems to be 2 people that enter Science/Engineer courses. Those that know exactly what specialisation they want (I want to be a Chemist! I want to be Chemical Engineer!) or those that really don't know at all. So they try and keep all options open.

    The UCD course is the most varied and open. You really do courses from across a broad spectrum of science as the previous poster said (and even one module in something completely outside of science). While this is very good from a personal development and growth perspective it's not always good for your specialisation. I'd much rather be a Neuroscientist with a shed load of chemisty and biochemistry behind me than a Neuroscientist with a bit of chemistry, biochemistry, a bit of pyschology, a bit of Computer science. Though that's just my opinion.

    The colleges are actually kinda different in non-academic ways also. It's bit of a cliché at this stage, but there is some truth to it. A lot of people doing Science in UCD are doing it because they liked Science in school and they wanted to go to college. These are people that kinda very content to get by with doing as little as possible. The very ambitious and dedicated are in the minority in UCD science (in my opinion). On the other hand, there are a lot of messers in TCD science compared to Medicine or Pharmacy but on the whole the majority of people (Especially the girls) are really aiming to get 2.1+ grades etc.

    Sorry for waffling.


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    #10
    Fad
    Registered Users Posts: 7,231 ✭✭✭Fad


    AlanSparrowhawk wrote: »
    Seems to be 2 people that enter Science/Engineer courses. Those that know exactly what specialisation they want (I want to be a Chemist! I want to be Chemical Engineer!) or those that really don't know at all. So they try and keep all options open.

    The UCD course is the most varied and open. You really do courses from across a broad spectrum of science as the previous poster said (and even one module in something completely outside of science). While this is very good from a personal development and growth perspective it's not always good for your specialisation. I'd much rather be a Neuroscientist with a shed load of chemisty and biochemistry behind me than a Neuroscientist with a bit of chemistry, biochemistry, a bit of pyschology, a bit of Computer science. Though that's just my opinion.

    Well a chemical engineer should probably be doing chemical engineering....... :)

    In UCD you start specialising after first year (If you want to), for Neuroscience, the first year is general, but after that it's head first into chem/biochem/physiology, it's only as general as you make it. It is NOT a system without its problems (I am at the butt end of an issue with the CompSci department at the minute) but it works fairly well. Both of the systems have their pluses and minuses.

    And to mention, out of program electives are optional, I dont have any this year, doing all science courses.


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    #11
    SaganScience
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10 ✭SaganScience


    AlanSparrowhawk wrote: »
    A lot of people doing Science in UCD are doing it because they liked Science in school and they wanted to go to college. These are people that kinda very content to get by with doing as little as possible. The very ambitious and dedicated are in the minority in UCD science (in my opinion). On the other hand, there are a lot of messers in TCD science compared to Medicine or Pharmacy but on the whole the majority of people (Especially the girls) are really aiming to get 2.1+ grades etc.

    It's interesting that you say that cos my sister is in 2nd year studying a high points course in UCD and she is in some lectures with omnibus science students and ag scientists and she has told me that in first year there used to be alot of trouble in the lectures with some of the people from these courses causing havoc and the Dean even came to one of the lectures to see what was going on and some lecturer refused to teach another day.
    I'm all up for a bit of craic but I want to take my degree seriously and that would drive me mad.
    Hopefully with the big jump in points for UCD science this year there will be less messers!


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    #12
    Fad
    Registered Users Posts: 7,231 ✭✭✭Fad


    SaganScience wrote: »
    It's interesting that you say that cos my sister is in 2nd year studying a high points course in UCD and she is in some lectures with omnibus science students and ag scientists and she has told me that in first year there used to be alot of trouble in the lectures with some of the people from these courses causing havoc and the Dean even came to one of the lectures to see what was going on and some lecturer refused to teach another day.
    I'm all up for a bit of craic but I want to take my degree seriously and that would drive me mad.
    Hopefully with the big jump in points for UCD science this year there will be less messers!


    I have never heard of that, there's a bit of talking in my calculus lecture but that's as far as it goes.

    But it's probably because of the points rocketing this year.


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