UCD SCIENCE!!

Killer Pigeon

Hmm, this is new, never head of this BBB thing before, only realised now that the course code has changed from DN008 to DN200, lol.

OK, so if I'm not mistaken (this may have changed since previous years). You choose up to three subjects during first year. So let's say physics, biochemistry and neuroscience. You will be able to specialise in any of these chosen subjects in the coming years depending on the demand for the subject and how much work you put in.

Near the end of first year, you'll all be given a talk by the Dean of Science about your future options. Then you'll be handed out a preference form. You will be allocated to two subjects in order of preference, depending on the demand for the subjects and the GPA (grade point average) you achieve. Subjects that are in high demand (such as Neuroscience or Physiology) will have a higher GPA cut-off, so you'll need to work harder. The main thing is is that you'll be given the opportunity to "sample" various subjects and then you can choose which subjects you want to continue with in order of preference.

Near the end of second year, it's the same deal. You fill out a preference form and depending on grades/preference you get allocated to one subject to continue on with in third and fourth year. If you want to, you can go for a duel major (say you want a BSc in Physics & Chemistry, or Physics & Maths, etc..) with permission from relevant schools. There are only a certain amount of subjects you can do a duel major in.

Again this could have changed as, as far as I am aware, science omnibus has been reorganised over the last year. Make sure, however, that you're registered for all the core modules that are required into order to progress in a given subject. This is very important. If you're having trouble with registration contact the science programme office (science@ucd.ie). If you're still confused about registration during orientation week, your peer mentor can help you with your registration or you can call into an Assisted Registration Lab.

**Timbuk2**

Registration for continuing students is tomorrow morning, Wednesday 24th August.

Is there any need to do this early? Seeing as we aren't picking electives yet, I'm not sure why people rush to do this?

Also, do we need to have paid our €2158 before we can register? I seriously hope not! :eek:

Killer Pigeon

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Registration for continuing students is tomorrow morning, Wednesday 24th August.

Is there any need to do this early? Seeing as we aren't picking electives yet, I'm not sure why people rush to do this?

Also, do we need to have paid our €2158 before we can register? I seriously hope not! :eek:

As far as I'm aware you don't need to pay before registration. If you've any outstanding fees you'll have a hold on your account and you won't be able to access exam results later on. You don't need to pay it all in one go though, you can pay half in semester 1 and the second half in semester 2 without there being a hold placed on your account.

**Timbuk2**

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

As far as I'm aware you don't need to pay before registration. If you've any outstanding fees you'll have a hold on your account and you won't be able to access exam results later on. You don't need to pay it all in one go though, you can pay half in semester 1 and the second half in semester 2 without there being a hold placed on your account.

Ah that's good news, thanks! So is the only thing we have to do tomorrow morning is to register to Option Modules? (you don't need to register to core modules I take it!).

I'm doing Actuarial + Financial if it makes any difference!

Killer Pigeon

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Ah that's good news, thanks! So is the only thing we have to do tomorrow morning is to register to Option Modules? (you don't need to register to core modules I take it!).

I'm doing Actuarial + Financial if it makes any difference!

Yep, just option modules. You'll have all your core modules pre-registered for you. The same goes for those doing denominated science courses.

steddyeddy

According to an article on the metro the points for science have gone up this year. Any truth in that?

Killer Pigeon

steddyeddy wrote: »

According to an article on the metro the points for science have gone up this year. Any truth in that?

Yeah, 455 apparently.

steddyeddy

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

Yeah, 455 apparently.

wooooooo (the only response I could think of)

parker kent

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Is there any need to do this early? Seeing as we aren't picking electives yet, I'm not sure why people rush to do this

I think you have that backwards, there's no reason to rush elective registration as they are all provisional until they are confirmed (i.e the day when registration closes for 24 hours). Whereas options are first come, first served.

Conor108

2 of my options I think will be fine, the other I imagine is competitive

BlandKitten

Well, although registration isn't up just yet, you can see your core module lecture times on your calender right now.

Killer Pigeon

Just saw my timetable with my core modules on it. Are we expected to like live in the labs or something? - lol

Conor108

My labs aren't on it yet it seems.

Raphael

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

Just saw my timetable with my core modules on it. Are we expected to like live in the labs or something? - lol

3rd year Physics, right? If so, then yes. Yes you are. Don't plan to see anything outside of a lab for the next few months.

Killer Pigeon

Conor108 wrote: »

My labs aren't on it yet it seems.

In 3rd year Physics people have 20 credits of modules throughout the whole year that are specifically dedicated to labs (Advanced Labs I). That's probably why they appear on mine.

**Timbuk2**

When do tutorials and labs appear on the timetable? All I can see is the lectures, and I've definitely registered to everything that I should have so far!

Conor108

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

When do tutorials and labs appear on the timetable? All I can see is the lectures, and I've definitely registered to everything that I should have so far!

Did you try skipping ahead a bit? Since labs and tutorials probably aren't in the first few weeks.

Think I've worked up the courage to look at my timetable now, here goes...

EDIT: Not too bad, my labs/tutorials aren't there either so maybe it is a few days

steddyeddy

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

In 3rd year Physics people have 20 credits of modules throughout the whole year that are specifically dedicated to labs (Advanced Labs I). That's probably why they appear on mine.

What are the physics labs like?

BlandKitten

As far as I can remember, you can register your labs/tutorials when electives opens up.

Killer Pigeon

steddyeddy wrote: »

What are the physics labs like?

In second year they were horrible. All the equipment was like over 20 years old and faulty. The computers we had to use in the labs were like Windows 3.0/3.1/95 (seriously, we had to like use a floppy disk to start programmes). Not one week went by where I hadn't a problem with the data I retrieved and then you had to try and make sense of it all. They were nightmarish, to be honest. I hope they get better in 3rd year.

Conor108

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

In second year they were horrible. All the equipment was like over 20 years old and faulty. The computers we had to use in the labs were like Windows 3.0/3.1/95 (seriously, we had to like use a floppy disk to start programmes). Not one week went by where I hadn't a problem with the data I retrieved and then you had to try and make sense of it all. They were nightmarish, to be honest. I hope they get better in 3rd year.

Oh joy this year will be fun:rolleyes:

Killer Pigeon

Conor108 wrote: »

Oh joy this year will be fun:rolleyes:

I actually woke up in cold sweats one night after I had a nightmare about Gamma-Ray absorption data gone horribly wrong. Mind you the material itself isn't hard to understand or anything, if you did Frontiers of Physics you should be able for it, but oh dear god, trying to get it to work in practice is a nightmare. But they can be interesting sometimes - like this one time we had to work with weapons grade plutonium encased in a giant wax cylinder.

Raphael

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

In second year they were horrible. All the equipment was like over 20 years old and faulty. The computers we had to use in the labs were like Windows 3.0/3.1/95 (seriously, we had to like use a floppy disk to start programmes). Not one week went by where I hadn't a problem with the data I retrieved and then you had to try and make sense of it all. They were nightmarish, to be honest. I hope they get better in 3rd year.

You're in luck, 3rd year labs are great. 8 experiments over the course of the whole year, and you're more or less left to your own devices. Come in when you want, but just make sure you have 4 done by the end of semester 1. Equipment is a little out of date still, but it's more reliable.

In general:
1st year Physics labs: Boring, but easy
2nd year labs: Hellish, disproportionately overworked
3/4th year labs: As above, they feel like proper science.

Conor108

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

I actually woke up in cold sweats one night after I had a nightmare about Gamma-Ray absorption data gone horribly wrong. Mind you the material itself isn't hard to understand or anything, if you did Frontiers of Physics you should be able for it, but oh dear god, trying to get it to work in practice is a nightmare. But they can be interesting sometimes - like this one time we had to work with weapons grade plutonium encased in a giant wax cylinder.

ugh the only appealing sounding bit is the weapons grade plutonium

EmacB

Im going into first year now but its looking like im going to miss the first week of lectures (12th to the 16th). I was just wondering would that really be a big deal? Would i miss much?

Fad

EmacB wrote: »

Im going into first year now but its looking like im going to miss the first week of lectures (12th to the 16th). I was just wondering would that really be a big deal? Would i miss much?

You'll basically miss lecturers telling you what they're going to be doing for the semester in that class and the info on what you need to get and stuff.

Make friends with someone reliable looking during orientation week?

If you can get out of missing the first week, get out of it...

Emzer92

Hi all,

I'm about to start first year science and I've registered for all of my modules (I hope!!). The only thing is that there aren't any time slots allocated for practicals/labs on my timetable. Yes, the subjects I'm taking have practicals/labs, and I'm registered for them. . . . . . They just aren't coming up on my timetable!!:eek:

What's the deal?

**Timbuk2**

That's normal for the Science department. You will be automatically registered to them in the next few weeks, usually in the first week of lectures. Remember, your timetable might look more horrible after they are added, especially if your particular branch of science has a lot of labs (some of which can be 3 hours long).

I'm not sure about labs, but tutorials usually don't take place in the first two weeks, so you won't be missing anything by not having those on the timetable!

Killer Pigeon

Emzer92 wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm about to start first year science and I've registered for all of my modules (I hope!!). The only thing is that there aren't any time slots allocated for practicals/labs on my timetable. Yes, the subjects I'm taking have practicals/labs, and I'm registered for them. . . . . . They just aren't coming up on my timetable!!:eek:

What's the deal?

That's normal. Allocation of labs/tutorials hasn't happened yet.

Fad

The lack of labs is a pain in the arse because it'll probably interfere with electives....