which college and why

Jonathan

ucd

errlloyd wrote: »

While you wait for results my exams haven't quite finished yet.

My cousin is doing a marketing course in DCU (I think, either that or Design) I know she's in student accommodation and ****ing loving it, and she's not the toughest girl :P

I would find it rather amusing if you didn't get enough points to go to TCD after all this talk..

errlloyd

ucd

She's got a Phd in law... If she choked and died I'd be ****ed...

As for points, I almost certainly won't!! But I won't eat my words when I go somewhere else, (however I will chew on them slightly). It's kinda like me sitting here, I am happy to say either Cambridge or Harvard is probably overall the best Uni in the world, I am never ever going there.

I just kinda got sick of people trying to deny that there wasn't a clear difference between universities. I have no particular allegiance to it (as I said, my entire fam went to UCD).

I am going to continue putting anything that could cause flame in spoilers..

ALincoln

errlloyd wrote: »

Oh gimme a break like, people call naming stuff inventing it all the time

Alright guys I'll stop making arguments for Trinity. Even if you won't accept that its the best Irish law 3rd level degree going, there isn't a better one. Not one of you has made a case for any other university in Ireland for Law, and the reason why, there simply isn't one.

My degree is BCL Clinical in UCC. Why is this better/ as good as a traditional course (ie the one offered by TCD)? Because it's progressive. American universities (eg Harvard) and their English counterparts look not only for academic qualifications, but also practical experience (this is relevant when applying for a masters). Additionally, in the legal community, there is an oversupply of solicitors and barristers. Employers look for people who can adapt to circumstances in reality as well as in their theoretical context in a textbook.

So there is a fairly cogent case for a degree outside of Trinity.

WolfForager

ul

Be jesus, only 5 people for DIT? My chances are looking good (H)

errlloyd

ucd

ALincoln wrote: »

My degree is BCL Clinical in UCC. Why is this better/ as good as a traditional course (ie the one offered by TCD)? Because it's progressive. American universities (eg Harvard) and their English counterparts look not only for academic qualifications, but also practical experience (this is relevant when applying for a masters). Additionally, in the legal community, there is an oversupply of solicitors and barristers. Employers look for people who can adapt to circumstances in reality as well as in their theoretical context in a textbook.

So there is a fairly cogent case for a degree outside of Trinity.

It looks pretty good alright. First year of a new course though, which is grand but it's really hard to say. Truth is work experience is very valuable, but you will get that in Kings Inn anyway.

I hope it goes well for you.

stylee

dit

DaaaaaaaaaaN wrote: »

1. TCD - Business and Computing
2. DCU - Enterprise Computing

same except the other way around:p

Claypigeon

local institute dkit, sligo, cork and the like

I think people are letting themselves insisting that they'll come out less educated based on the course; they can't be that incredibly different and it's not like what you do within college time is all you have, you'd want to be doing your own bit rather than saying "I'm going to X therefore I will undoubtedly come out better prepared for Y than anyone in Z doing the same no matter what they do".

ya-ba-da-ba-doo

dcu

It'll be either ucd, trinity, dcu or dit for me. Really dont mind which one but i wish i knew now so i could look at a few houses!

errlloyd

ucd

ya-ba-da-ba-doo wrote: »

It'll be either ucd, trinity, dcu or dit for me. Really dont mind which one but i wish i knew now so i could look at a few houses!

Don't worry mate, at the rate our property market is collapsing you'll be able to buy an entire ****ing street for 50 quid when the results come out

internetaddict

galway

OneArt wrote: »

Is the Ballymun area really as bad as people make it out to be? Only thing I'm afraid of next year is the risk of my little newbie self getting my head kicked in...

Dcu is in a really nice area, the campus is really nice.I went to school down the road from it. You won't get your head kicked in if you don't do anything stupid like hunt out drug dealers and aggravate them or whatever but that goes for anywhere in Dublin

Col Man

ucd

I either get into Trinity, or I don't go to University....

I don't mean that in a "I hate everywhere else so much I'll just refuse to go elsewhere!". What I mean is that I literally only put down trinners courses on my CAO.

Only two as well....

Good times.

Anyway, Trinity is, almost certainly, Ireland's best University.

And higher points in the LC generally means higher IQ.

Col Man

ucd

Oh sorry, reasons.

Location? Far too good. Not only is it the easiest for me to get to, it's also in the middle of the city centre, good times. Unlimited Cinema card is gonna get a lot of use over the next four years.

Maths department is fairly solid. I know a few of the staff, good people.

Has a connection with Cambridge for 1-year masters degree thing for maths. Always a positive.

And it has that cool stone ground thing going on? I mean come on people! Cool stone ground thing is better looking than any part of the entire campus of UCD will ever be. Cool stone ground thing is my life.

Sexy arches anyone? Good times.

A lot of my friends are going to Trinity.

Post-Grad options are better in Trinity (in my opinion....don't shoot me...), and going to Trinity for undergrad makes it a little easier to continue there for post-grad.

If I find maths to be ****, Trinity seems an easier University to switch course in than others (from what I hear...hold your triggers...). And my back-up courses are better in Trinity (in my opinion).

And because a lot of cricket is played there by people who simply cannot play the game. Fun fun.

randylonghorn

Col Man wrote: »

If I find maths to be ****, Trinity seems an easier University to switch course in than others (from what I hear...hold your triggers...)

I've heard that too, honestly can't say whether it's accurate or not though.

Col Man wrote: »

...hold your triggers ...

You give THIS advice to THIS agegroup at THIS hour of night?!!

ZOMG!! :facepalm:

Col Man wrote: »

And because a lot of cricket is played there ...

:facepalm:^2

Claypigeon

local institute dkit, sligo, cork and the like

I only looked at the notification E-mail about the message but did someone post that higher points in the LC = higher IQ

HAHAHAHAHAHA

whadabouchasir

local institute dkit, sligo, cork and the like

NUIG-because that's where it's at.

errlloyd

ucd

Col Man wrote: »

And higher points in the LC generally means higher IQ.

Nah its cool, he said generally, so it's right.

ya-ba-da-ba-doo

dcu

Col man, only putting down two courses on your cao is pretty stupid. You could miss out on a course by a lil bit and could have got a good course somewhere else which is alot better than repeatin imo!

Claypigeon

local institute dkit, sligo, cork and the like

errlloyd wrote: »

Nah its cool, he said generally, so it's right.

I suppose so.

MIM-104

Col Man wrote: »

And higher points in the LC generally means higher IQ.

Not true the lc is very limited ive met plenty of 500+ people who are ****ing idiots but get high scores because the are good of recalling learned info.

I scored 325 in the leaving but my IQ is tested to be 151

WolfForager

ul

My IQ is somewhere around 130-135 yet i'm pretty sure i didn't break the 400 mark...

Dumbledore

ucd

I know Col Man personally and he is a 600 pointer so not to worry. Colman you do like 9 higher level subjects? You better be in early tomorrow to help me with music!

orangetictac

I know that the top 5 point scorers in my school are definititely in the top 10 highest IQs in my year.

He/She used the word generally and i definitely agree.
I am also aware of people who got say 540points who arent as smart as 400pointers

internetaddict

galway

MIM-104 wrote: »

Not true the lc is very limited ive met plenty of 500+ people who are ****ing idiots but get high scores because the are good of recalling learned info.

I scored 325 in the leaving but my IQ is tested to be 151

I agree, a lot people who get 500+ either memorised the most work or worked their butts off! There are plenty of people who excell in one or two subjects and that are naturally intelligent but when it comes to others they just aren't interested and therefore don't do as well.

Dumbledore

ucd

internetaddict wrote: »

I agree, a lot people who get 500+ either memorised the most work or worked their butts off! There are plenty of people who excell in one or two subjects and that are naturally intelligent but when it comes to others they just aren't interested and therefore don't do as well.

Story of my life. The leaving Cert really is just a measure of how hard you work. Anyone in theory could get 600, some of us just choose to do the bare minimum instead. It does make me feel bad though when I see somebody work really hard and get a B and me not even open a book and pull it off anyway but that's life, people are good at different things.

WolfForager

ul

I love maths, i could study it all day, however for the LC i couldn't, i had to split my time therefore i'm not going to get the A i COULD have gotten. Instead i'm gonna get a C or B and C's in everything else! All these other subjects which i hate with a passion ie. english.

So that's why i'm doing engineering, as i love maths i will be able to study it all the time, not be thinking of ****ty excuses to get out of it like i do with every other subject. Therefore i should excel over the next 5 years! *fingers crossed*

ya-ba-da-ba-doo

dcu

Yeah the leaving is really just a measure of how hard you work. It helps alot if you have an interest in the subjects you do and yes, it helps if your really smart!

WolfForager

ul

Take honours maths as an example, as they generally are the creme de la creme of the leaving cert. Most of them have no idea what they are doing, they just apply the rules they know to find the answer. One day i asked the lads if they know what they were doing when they intergrated something, they said "finding the area under the curve", then i asked them, "yes, but how are you doing that?", at which stage they looked at me blankly and went back to studying.

The LC is not a measurement of intelligence, as has been said it is purely a test of your will power to work.

orangetictac

WolfForager wrote: »

The LC is not a measurement of intelligence, as has been said it is purely a test of your will power to work.

No.
Cant generalise. I know people who didnt do a tap and got 500+ and others who worked asses off and were happy with their 300.

Anyways...IQ is flawed and "intelligence" is hard to define

xOxSinéadxOx

galway

orangetictac wrote: »

No.
Cant generalise. I know people who didnt do a tap and got 500+ and others who worked asses off and were happy with their 300.

Anyways...IQ is flawed and "intelligence" is hard to define

I think you'll agree though that IQ is a greater test of intelligence than the leaving cert :rolleyes:

cocoa

WolfForager wrote: »

Take honours maths as an example, as they generally are the creme de la creme of the leaving cert. Most of them have no idea what they are doing, they just apply the rules they know to find the answer. One day i asked the lads if they know what they were doing when they intergrated something, they said "finding the area under the curve", then i asked them, "yes, but how are you doing that?", at which stage they looked at me blankly and went back to studying.

The LC is not a measurement of intelligence, as has been said it is purely a test of your will power to work.

ermmm... Having an in-depth understanding of calculus' inner workings isn't necessary for anything except a pure maths course... I'm assuming the answer you were looking for something along the lines of 'differentiating in reverse' or 'summation where the interval tends to zero' or, if you really want to piss of someone who thinks they're being fancy 'adding'... But it's really not necessary to know... It's fine if you're interested but correct application is about ten times more important than theory.

WolfForager

ul

Actually i was looking for "finding the the sum of the area(s) of an infinite amount of line sements beneath the curve" or along that somewhere.

I probably went a bit of course with that example.. hmm..

electrogrimey

ucd

Yeah but generally, the more intelligent people will do better in the leaving...like an intelligent person who doesn't work will naturally do better than an average person who doesn't work. But yea, it is more about memory and work than smarts...
College-wise, Trinity hands down, because a degree from Trinity is worth more than a degree from any other college in Ireland. You're going to find it a lot easier to get a job with a 1st in your degree from Trinity than a 1st from UCD etc.

WolfForager

ul

electrogrimey wrote: »

You're going to find it a lot easier to get a job with a 1st in your degree from Trinity than a 1st from UCD etc.

Depends what course/what the job is :eek:

cocoa

electrogrimey wrote: »

Yeah but generally, the more intelligent people will do better in the leaving...like an intelligent person who doesn't work will naturally do better than an average person who doesn't work. But yea, it is more about memory and work than smarts...
College-wise, Trinity hands down, because a degree from Trinity is worth more than a degree from any other college in Ireland. You're going to find it a lot easier to get a job with a 1st in your degree from Trinity than a 1st from UCD etc.

wow, you have a lot to learn about the world... While easier may be true of certain employers, in a certain profession, a lot easier is far from the truth and it's far from being across the board...

Col Man

ucd

Lol like I'm not saying the LC is indeed a perfect representative mark of anyone's intelligence, it's just a good guideline.

And people, pointing out little personal examples isn't really disproving anything. We all know the genius who got 330, and the idiot with 540, just like we all know the guy who watches TV all day, only eats rashers and cream but could beat anyone we know in a marathon, blah blah blah. No one is trying to claim that the leaving cert goes anywhere near being a direct marker of intelligence, but generally it's easier to do better if you're smarter. Take chemistry. Yes, if you learned off every single part of the textbook you'd do pretty well. But it is easier to remember things when you understand what's going on, or just blindly learning?

And in physics, maybe you've forgotten the formula for fundamental frequency. But then you start to think, surely the pitch gets lower with a longer string, and higher with a tighter one? That sort of thing could really help in formulae recall for example.

Anyway, yes putting only two courses on my CAO is probably not the best move ever, but I'll probably throw a few extra on before the deadline.

Lol and to that lad who facepalmed as he quoted me saying "cricket is played in trinity", you forgot to quote the rest of it "...by people who simply cannot play". At least square root that facepalm^2... Lol I don't especially like the game, it was more a joke about how poor the cricketers in Trinners (and their opposition) are... Sorry if any of you have ever played there while I was there....

tazbars

local institute dkit, sligo, cork and the like

is this thread not bout what colleges everyone going to rather than trying to define intelligence??

Col Man

ucd

Well... ha....


The thing is some people's argument for Trinity was that smarter people go there, hence why it's a better Uni blah blah blah. Then others were all like "you dude how do you know smarter people go there?", then the first dude was like "cos they got higher points on average". So the reason it's being argued is that it's the basis of an argument for "why" trinity college. Not my argument exactly, but I felt like joining in. Sorry

snazzy

maynooth

UL

For one, it's where I wish to go for my course

2: I love the location and the vibe of the city

3: I really like the campus

4: Heard great things about the social life!

I would have voted UCC second because it is the most beautiful campus in Ireland, ideally located!

Walsh

dit

NCI, because I can roll out of bed into the door!

errlloyd

ucd

Hm, If Col_Man doesn't get his first choice I'll eat my leg... Lol I think its just there isn't much to divide colleges on in this country, so sometimes the reasons can be pretty weedy, but reasons nonetheless (I LOVE THAT WORD)

SligoBrewer

ucd

I have Trinity down as the first 8 choices on my CAO, so I feel like I'm in for an errloyd-esque mauling now. However, I would like to share my reasons with you.

Level 8 Course Choices:
1. TR264 English Literature/Modern Irish
2. TR509 Modern Irish/Philosophy
3. TR015 Philosophy, Political Science, Economics and Sociology
4. TR014 Philosophy and Political Science
5. TR020 Law and Political Science
6. TR512 Modern Irish/Sociology
7. TR005 Philosophy
8. TR022 Early and Modern Irish
9. MH101 Arts
10. GY101 Arts

That is my CAO. Mainly all mixtures of Philosophy, Irish and Politics-ish type courses. UCD isn't on my CAO as I hated the place on open day. From the accomodation, to the ambience, the dismissive people of the lecturers that I spoke to. Also I can't do Philosophy and Irish there.
I like Maynooth, it's a nice university in a nice town and the journey is a half hour less than going to Dublin.
Galway is Galway, aka, Sligomór. I wouldn't mind it, but I can't do Philosophy and Irish in the Arts course.
Limerick and Cork are next near impossible to get to from Sligo.

Which brings me to TCD. I went there for a week in TY for the a little Physics taster thing and loved it there. I liked the location (at the time I could just cross the road from Pearse Station and go in to the college there) and there seemed to be a fantastic rapport between the students, and the lecturers there. Then last year, three friends of mine got into TCD, and whenever I've been up with them, I've stayed in Halls, gone out etc. and I just love the
feel of the place. The accomodation in Halls is fantastic, ten times better than what I saw in UCD. It's close knit, small and there's a great mix of students and events there. I could bull**** and say, "Well you know Berkely went to Trinity and that was the deciding factor" but it wasn't. Trinity is a University like all others, not above all others. It has a great history and reputation, but that matters almost minimally.
For me, I have mates there already. It's easily accessible, which is a major plus for me as for first year, all I have to do is get the LUAS to college from Halls and the train to Dublin from Sligo. The ambience and the community feel are fantastic, it doesn't feel like a massive institution like UCD felt. If I wasnted to do something very specific, I'd have no qualms in going to DCU for Optometry or to UCD for something else, but as after my four years undergradding i will have just an Arts Degree, I will pick a university where I know I'll enjoy my four years.

errlloyd

ucd

I kinda did that Trinity, Trinity, Trinity... Ucd then Arts thing aswell. Banter.

cocoa

SligoBrewer wrote: »

I have Trinity down as the first 8 choices on my CAO, so I feel like I'm in for an errloyd-esque mauling now.

not at all, the only problem I or as far as I can tell, anyone else had with errloyd was his reasoning for his choice. I know I (and hopefully no one else) had no intention of attacking him personally, Trinity is a fine college and I wish him all the best. I see nothing wrong with your reasoning for choosing Trinity to be honest and I'm sure you'll enjoy your time there

errlloyd

ucd

cocoa wrote: »

not at all, the only problem I or as far as I can tell, anyone else had with errloyd was his reasoning for his choice. I know I (and hopefully no one else) had no intention of attacking him personally, Trinity is a fine college and I wish him all the best. I see nothing wrong with your reasoning for choosing Trinity to be honest and I'm sure you'll enjoy your time there

I gave plenty of legit reasons too (ideal commute, location, nice campus and friends), just some questionable ones like rankings and things which caused the fight.

SligoBrewer

ucd

errlloyd wrote: »

I kinda did that Trinity, Trinity, Trinity... Ucd then Arts thing aswell. Banter.

And that's where the similarity your reasoning and mine ends to be frank.

errlloyd

ucd

SligoBrewer wrote: »

And that's where the similarity your reasoning and mine ends to be frank.

No as I said before, I listed all the same reasons as you, just further ones which caused issues.

Dante

ucd

stylee wrote: »

same except the other way around:p

Haha you're like the fourth person here to say that...its gonna be like a course of boardsies!

I probably won't get my A in happy maths so looks like we'll both be in Enterprise Computing! :pac::pac:

Oh the excitement................!:cool:

electrogrimey

ucd

SligoBrewer wrote: »

Trinity is a University like all others, not above all others. It has a great history and reputation, but that matters almost minimally.

I would tend to disagree...It seems a lot of people think that they have to go to college, (I'm not saying this in relation to you) and so they pick whatever college seems the most fun, or the easiest to go to. In reality, you really don't have to go to college, if you want to just have fun then get an easy job and go out all the time...You go to college so that afterwards you will be able to get a better job. The more prestigious a degree you get, the better a job you get. (I am generalising here, but it is true). As for course choices, I think the college is more important than the course. Obviously this is different for science, arts or medicine etc, but with an arts degree, it doesn't really matter what arts course it is, (unless you want some really specific career), all that matters is that you do well in it, and get a good degree. So, you should do whatever subjects you are good at/interest you in the best college you can get into. That's my outlook on it at any rate...

Skally-wag

ucc

st pats: cause it has the course I want!!
was in trinity this year.. course didn't go well really. can't wait to start again with a small friendly college:)

PRS

ucd

It's amusing to discover how narrow-minded and naive this year's batch of leaving cert students are!

I'm a Trinity Engineering student and although I do appreciate the history, the architecture, the atmosphere and the central location of the campus, I would never deny that DIT has a better Engineering School. I would've gone to UCD if their attitude to me on open day hadn't been "We don't care if you come here or not, because half of South Dublin will come to Belfield anyway." I would've gone to DIT if they had a student accommodation complex for students of different concentrations, cultures and nationalities to mix, like Trinity Hall.

Yes, it is heartening to be regarded as the 49th Best University in the world by the THES rankings... but any realistic Trinity Student will know that these rankings are rather inaccurate. We really shouldn't be within the top 50. A surprise is that no one in this thread cared to mention that UCD jumped from 177 to 108 this year, mainly due to their increased emphasis on research in recent years. This actually emphasises a previous person's point of the THES rankings being of little significance to undergrads like myself. Besides, I plan to do my Masters in Imperial.

The reality of the matter that a First Class Honour from any Irish University is a worthy achievement. We're a small country, with only 7 universities in the South, 2 of which are in the THES top 200 (28.6%). The UK has 109 Universities, only 30 of which are in the THES top 200 (27.5%). Furthermore, the US has 63 Universities in the top 200. By the way, the US has THOUSANDS of universities, so do the Maths.

So Mr. errlloyd... if indeed you do get into Trinity, and are considering bragging about how intelligent you are after scoring high in the glorified memory test that is the leaving cert, remember that unless you achieve Foundation Scholarship in Law, you are no better off than any other Law student in this country.