UCD SCIENCE!!

BlandKitten · 11-10-2010 5:41pm

We don't get a midterm for Semester 1, only Semester 2.
Bam!

Killer Pigeon · 11-10-2010 9:52pm

Epic Lulz!! the results for the first Class Test in Introduction to Quantum Mechanics came back today. The mean grade of the class was 18/100. We were also allowed to use our notes in the test too, which made it even more of an epic fail. The worst test I've sat in my life.

Anybody in 3rd or 4th years (or graduates) know the secret to getting a good grade in QM (other than not having David Coker)?

Killer Pigeon · 14-10-2010 5:48pm

bump!

BlandKitten · 14-10-2010 7:02pm

So almost the end of week 5, meaning mid-terms are just around the corner.

Thankfully, 2nd year Computer Science doesn't seem to have many at all :pac:

Killer Pigeon · 15-10-2010 7:19pm

BlandKitten wrote: »

:pac:

*Waves fist from Library*

BlandKitten · 15-10-2010 11:54pm

I think I've been in the library twice. Once during orientation, and a second time because I tagged along while a friend had to print something.

The majority of my work involves sitting at home in front of a screen pressing buttons... Awesome!

bigred100 · 16-10-2010 12:49pm

BlandKitten wrote: »

I think I've been in the library twice. Once during orientation, and a second time because I tagged along while a friend had to print something.

The majority of my work involves sitting at home in front of a screen pressing buttons... Awesome!

Woooooo

Ruski · 19-10-2010 8:46pm

So the first proper Numbers and Functions test is on Friday. I'm kind of uneasy about it, but I hear it's the same paper every year. Anyone that has taken it in first year have any advice (other than looking over notes)?

**Timbuk2** · 19-10-2010 9:52pm

Ruski wrote: »

So the first proper Numbers and Functions test is on Friday. I'm kind of uneasy about it, but I hear it's the same paper every year. Anyone that has taken it in first year have any advice (other than looking over notes)?

Ditto! I'm very nervous about it! Average grade last year was 38.1%. Not good at all!

The lecturer is really good, so I don't know why I find it so tough!

unknown13 · 19-10-2010 10:12pm

Ruski wrote: »

So the first proper Numbers and Functions test is on Friday. I'm kind of uneasy about it, but I hear it's the same paper every year. Anyone that has taken it in first year have any advice (other than looking over notes)?

And isn't the first big Science night out on Thursday night.

**Timbuk2** · 19-10-2010 10:17pm

unknown13 wrote: »

And isn't the first big Science night out on Thursday night.

Yep! The class reps talked to us at the start of class about it.

When they left, the lecturer casually said "What you do on Thursday night is your choice. I'm just going to write this on the board" and in big letters he writes: Friday... Test 1.

He also put up 'dead' links for Test 1 and Test 1 Solutions (i.e. they don't lead anywhere yet). I wonder if they are uploaded on the server - \frantically trawls through files!!

Ruski · 19-10-2010 10:24pm

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Yep! The class reps talked to us at the start of class about it.

When they left, the lecturer casually said "What you do on Thursday night is your choice. I'm just going to write this on the board" and in big letters he writes: Friday... Test 1.

He also put up 'dead' links for Test 1 and Test 1 Solutions (i.e. they don't lead anywhere yet). I wonder if they are uploaded on the server - \frantically trawls through files!!

http://maths.ucd.ie/~osburn/10040mid.pdf
This may be of some relevance. I think it's last year's midterm.

**Timbuk2** · 19-10-2010 10:30pm

That's interesting! It's last years, probably, and he wouldn't use the same exam again, but it's nice to have a guideline. That looks tough enough, but he was right when he said he doesn't deviate much from the examples he does in class.

The bonus questions are.. odd!

Ruski · 19-10-2010 10:41pm

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

That's interesting! It's last years, probably, and he wouldn't use the same exam again, but it's nice to have a guideline. That looks tough enough, but he was right when he said he doesn't deviate much from the examples he does in class.

The bonus questions are.. odd!

I heard from many sources that midterm exams are exactly the same every year. The only ones which are slightly different are final exams. Also the questions are exactly the same as those which were on Exercise sets, just need to memorise how to define and prove things like the Division Algorithm.

I think the superbonus questions relate to what he writes on the test sheet of paper in Thursday lectures with the projector. Did you notice them?

**Timbuk2** · 19-10-2010 10:46pm

Ruski wrote: »

I think the superbonus questions relate to what he writes on the test sheet of paper in Thursday lectures with the projector. Did you notice them?

Really? I've noticed him writing strange things on it, but usually it's just things like 'Last time' or something and then he takes away the sheet. I'm going to pay a lot of attention on Thursday to what he writes!!

Ruski · 19-10-2010 10:55pm

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Really? I've noticed him writing strange things on it, but usually it's just things like 'Last time' or something and then he takes away the sheet. I'm going to pay a lot of attention on Thursday to what he writes!!

It's like a piece of paper that he writes on before starting the lecture for the projector to focus in on. I only remember "Maggie's Farm" and "SEE". There was another word up but I can't remember it for my life. I can't remember last week's either.

Killer Pigeon · 19-10-2010 10:56pm

Hey,

To every doing Intro to QM, you mightn't be seeing Coker for some time. How do I know this? Well if he acts the same as he has done before in other universities than you might expect this. My source? A wonderful little website called ratemyprofessors.com

http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=67990

Take note of the following comment and see if it fits the pattern:

Professor Coker is an awful teacher. He is so hyper and all over the place that it becomes very difficult to understand exactly what he's talking about. Material is not presented in an efficient manner, and the problems he writes on the board are nothing like those of the exams. He was absent 6 weeks of the semester and a TF had to take over.

Hmmmmm, interesting.

Cathald04 · 23-10-2010 2:28pm

I am hoping to do this course next year buy i am a bit confused about the subjects i choose for first year. How many do i choose? How many hours a week is this course?? How is it general ?? Also what way does the entrance scholorship work?? How many points do i need to get it?

Thanks in advance

Killer Pigeon · 23-10-2010 2:53pm

Cathald04 wrote: »

I am hoping to do this course next year buy i am a bit confused about the subjects i choose for first year. How many do i choose? How many hours a week is this course?? How is it general ?? Also what way does the entrance scholorship work?? How many points do i need to get it?

Thanks in advance

You choose two subjects in first year, so for example Genetics and Biochemistry, etc. Generally speaking you should have between 22 and 28 hours in first year but it depends on what subjects you take. For the entrance scholarship I think you need greater than 520 points but that would probably change from year to year, especially given the recent points rise in Science Omnibus. I don't think you need to fill out an application form or anything for that. There's also sports scholarships but I'd say there's an application process for that.
http://www.ucd.ie/t4cms/entschol.pdf
http://www.ucd.ie/sport/scholarships/

SmashingPilot · 23-10-2010 4:01pm

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

Hey,

To every doing Intro to QM, you mightn't be seeing Coker for some time. How do I know this? Well if he acts the same as he has done before in other universities than you might expect this. My source? A wonderful little website called ratemyprofessors.com

http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=67990

Take note of the following comment and see if it fits the pattern:

Hmmmmm, interesting.

Oh dear! I have him for the second half of semester PHYC30010 (Thermodynamics & Statistical Physics). Maybe I'll have him for the 6 weeks where he doesn't go missing.

On another note, I feel special in third year. Got a keycard to access the Physics building outside of hours. Unfortunately that means I've no excuse not to be in there studying.

Blatter · 23-10-2010 4:17pm

Anyone know what day the intro to Chemistry test is on next week?

Killer Pigeon · 23-10-2010 4:48pm

SmashingPilot wrote: »

On another note, I feel special in third year. Got a keycard to access the Physics building outside of hours. Unfortunately that means I've no excuse not to be in there studying.

Wha? Do all 3rd years in Physics get that? I suppose it's for all the lab work.

SmashingPilot · 23-10-2010 5:07pm

Well its not quite full access. You get access until 10pm everyday. So its handy for weekends if you want a place to study.
Its available for 3rd and 4th year Physics students, just gotta pay a small deposit but not sure if other schools offer it??
My card basically just gives me access to Physics building and across to the Hub.

Cathald04 · 26-10-2010 7:25pm

If i do this course is it possible to do chemistry , physics and computer science in first year.

Joneser · 26-10-2010 9:26pm

Yes I don't see why not, although you would have to pick computer science modules as electives probably. If you want to finish with a computer science degree at the end of your course, you need to enter through the denominated entry route. As for chemistry and physics you should be able to have them as joint majors, but I'm a comp sci student so a general science student will probably prove me wrong soon :P

Ruski · 26-10-2010 9:38pm

Joneser wrote: »

Yes I don't see why not, although you would have to pick computer science modules as electives probably. If you want to finish with a computer science degree at the end of your course, you need to enter through the denominated entry route. As for chemistry and physics you should be able to have them as joint majors, but I'm a comp sci student so a general science student will probably prove me wrong soon :P

It's still possible to choose Computer Science modules through the general degree as options. Like you can chose Introduction to Programming as an option, as well as some other ones. Going into a Computer Science degree through Omnibus, however, is not possible.

unknown13 · 26-10-2010 9:40pm

Don't think so, one of the professor's came into to our school and told us they stopped that.

Ruski · 26-10-2010 10:10pm

unknown13 wrote: »

Don't think so, one of the professor's came into to our school and told us they stopped that.

You can still choose Computer Science modules as options, but only introductory ones because programming is kind of needed for mathematical sciences.

Killer Pigeon · 26-10-2010 10:33pm

Cathald04 wrote: »

If i do this course is it possible to do chemistry , physics and computer science in first year.

To be clear, you can do physics, chemistry and computer science modules in first year but you can only specialise in chemistry, physics (or related degree programmes) is second year onwards. To specialise in computer science alone you have to put denominated computer science on your CAO. The same is true the other way around if you take denominated computer science. You can take physics, chemistry and computer science modules in first year computer science but you can only specialise in computer science in second year onward.

Fad · 26-10-2010 11:29pm

Last year was the last year you could take CS through general science, it led me to the fúcking redundant and head wrecking combination of Chemistry and Computer Science......

UCD SCIENCE!!

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