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Engineering: Specialising in 2nd Yr

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  • 03-04-2012 7:16pm
    #1
    93duffy93
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭


    hey,

    just at the end of 1st Engineering and am at the point where I have to choose what I want to specialise in next year. thinking of doing Elec / Bio-med. Any1 have any advice they want to share on these? Reasons to do it or reasons not to? work load, hours and social scene? Anything would be greatly appreciated.

    thanks in advance:)


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    #2
    Muir
    Registered Users Posts: 948 ✭✭✭Muir


    I'm in 3rd year Elec currently. Can you do Bio-Med? I thought you do Elec/Mech & can then do Bio-Med as a Masters, maybe I'm wrong though.

    Engineering does generally have more hours than Arts for example, because we have labs. I think that applies to all Engineering disciplines though.

    You'll still have at least one module every semester with all the Engineers, and class parties & Engineering events are for all the people in Engineering, so socially it's the same no matter which you choose.

    So other than that, go with what subjects you've enjoyed most so far & what you'd hope to do after.


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    #3
    ironclaw
    Registered Users Posts: 8,004 ✭✭✭ironclaw


    I'm the same as Muir. Do what you want to do. Unlike school you are pretty much deciding your future. Don't do French because it's easier than German sort of thing ;)

    Engineering is a tough road. But rewarding all the same. Your lucky in that if you do 2nd year and don't like it, you can make some adjustments to other disciplines. Your far more set in stone come third year. Also remember you can graduate at the end of 3rd year if you wish with a BSc. You don't have to do your Masters in UCD. In fact I know of at least 3 in my year that arn't.

    As regards work load, you'll do at least 4 times more hours than any other course. Free time is a luxury.


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    #4
    pljudge321
    Registered Users Posts: 1,129 ✭✭✭pljudge321


    ironclaw wrote: »
    As regards work load, you'll do at least 4 times more hours than any other course. Free time is a luxury.

    That may be stretching the truth just a tad.


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    #5
    ironclaw
    Registered Users Posts: 8,004 ✭✭✭ironclaw


    pljudge321 wrote: »
    ironclaw wrote: »
    As regards work load, you'll do at least 4 times more hours than any other course. Free time is a luxury.

    That may be stretching the truth just a tad.

    Strongly disagree. Combing lectures, assignments and self learning, it's far more intense than most courses.


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    #6
    pljudge321
    Registered Users Posts: 1,129 ✭✭✭pljudge321


    ironclaw wrote: »
    Strongly disagree. Combing lectures, assignments and self learning, it's far more intense than most courses.

    You're changing the bar there, its no more intense than many of the science courses and probably less so than architecture and all of the medical/veterinary courses.


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    #7
    bnt
    Registered Users Posts: 13,011 ✭✭✭✭bnt


    If there's a prize for insane hours, I have to give it to Architecture students too: the lights at in the studios at Richview are on at some distinctly anti-social hours. No thanks!

    Back on topic: what I would say to the OP is not to try too hard to guess what will be happening in industry. Bio-Med is booming at the moment, and e.g. Boston Scientific are taking on graduates, but will that still be true in three years' time? Neither is it worth comparing hours etc. An hour doing something you hate lasts far longer than an hour doing something you love. If you're in to your subject, the time flies by.

    Death has this much to be said for it:
    You don’t have to get out of bed for it.
    Wherever you happen to be
    They bring it to you—free.

    — Kingsley Amis



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    #8
    RMD
    Registered Users Posts: 2,662 ✭✭✭RMD


    ironclaw wrote: »
    Strongly disagree. Combing lectures, assignments and self learning, it's far more intense than most courses.

    I'd also give it to architecture. Most of my friends are in for 40 hour weeks.


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    #9
    NeuroCat
    Registered Users Posts: 162 ✭✭NeuroCat


    ironclaw wrote: »
    Strongly disagree. Combing lectures, assignments and self learning, it's far more intense than most courses.

    I'd have to give it to Medicine. All the med students I know have no lives at all.


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    #10
    pljudge321
    Registered Users Posts: 1,129 ✭✭✭pljudge321


    Slightly back on topic. How is the new course structured? Are all the old BE programmes still there or are some of them going exclusively to the 3+2 model.


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    #11
    ironclaw
    Registered Users Posts: 8,004 ✭✭✭ironclaw


    I wasn't trying to say Engineering is the most workload intensive, just trying to say its one of the most intensive. Sorry for the confusion.
    How is the new course structured? Are all the old BE programmes still there or are some of them going exclusively to the 3+2 model.

    Basically they are moving towards the existing European model of 3 + 2. The BE is still there but as far as I'm aware it will be phased out. It seems to be a UK and Irish thing anyway. Worldwide, the standard is 5 years now.

    You now need a Masters to be chartered. After 3 years you have a BSc Eng, after the following 2 years you have an ME. You can graduate after 3 years if you wish, or stay on for the following 2.


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