Science Degree (TCD/UCD/DCU)

k88

Interested in studying science next year if I get my points hopefully, would love to specialise in something like Genetics/Neuroscience/Microbiology (Definitely biology based!) and I know I will need to do Chemistry for these subjects too, I haven't done Chemistry for my LC, just Biology and I'm worried I'm going to find it really difficult next year. Has anyone got any experience on this? I like studying and stuff but I'm scared a lot of people will be way ahead having done Chem for leaving cert.
Thanks!

Troxck

Everyone on this thread is either doing their LC or have just finished. We won't be able to advise you on what to do etc.

You're better off going into the individual threads for each of those colleges and asking current students there!

k88

My bad! Did that, sorry

knowwhos

All I've heard from people is that it doesn't matter. They have to teach starting from 0, firstly because there are people who didn't do it for the LC, and secondly because the LC course isn't comprehensive enough and generally doesn't give a good understanding in chemistry itself. More like a memory test

EoghanIRL

knowwhos wrote: »

All I've heard from people is that it doesn't matter. They have to teach starting from 0, firstly because there are people who didn't do it for the LC, and secondly because the LC course isn't comprehensive enough and generally doesn't give a good understanding in chemistry itself. More like a memory test

In some courses they don't start from the start. Afaik pharmacy , dent and med don't.. You do some of the 2nd and 3rd year biochem modules in first and second year of college.

Other courses like biochem etc cover the lc science subjects in the first semester of 1st year. At least this is what I can gather from people I know doing biochem and other similar courses.
Spoke to some people who didn't have some of the science subjects when they started college and they said it was manageable.

knowwhos

EoghanIRL wrote: »

In some courses they don't start from the start. Afaik pharmacy , dent and med don't.. You do some of the 2nd and 3rd year biochem modules in first and second year of college.

Other courses like biochem etc cover the lc science subjects in the first semester of 1st year. At least this is what I can gather from people I know doing biochem and other similar courses.
Spoke to some people who didn't have some of the science subjects when they started college and they said it was manageable.

Unrelated to this thread but do you know if you can get into pharma through science? Maybe a slightly longer route? How about biochem? Points for those 2 are quite high

k88

knowwhos wrote: »

All I've heard from people is that it doesn't matter. They have to teach starting from 0, firstly because there are people who didn't do it for the LC, and secondly because the LC course isn't comprehensive enough and generally doesn't give a good understanding in chemistry itself. More like a memory test

thanks!

nerd95

k88 wrote: »

Interested in studying science next year if I get my points hopefully, would love to specialise in something like Genetics/Neuroscience/Microbiology (Definitely biology based!) and I know I will need to do Chemistry for these subjects too, I haven't done Chemistry for my LC, just Biology and I'm worried I'm going to find it really difficult next year. Has anyone got any experience on this? I like studying and stuff but I'm scared a lot of people will be way ahead having done Chem for leaving cert.
Thanks!

I’ve just finished 1st year in UCD science and I didn’t do chemistry for the LC either. Basically, they have an intro to chemistry module in semester 1 for all those students who didn’t do it for the LC or who didn’t achieve a minimum of a C3 in LC chemistry. In this module you go through all the basics such as definitions and you build your way up. It is good because everyone is more or less in the same boat and it was actually quite a fun module. Then, in semester 2, you have to do an organic chemistry module but it isn’t too difficult at all. I have friends who got A's in chemistry for the LC and we got the same grade in this module! In 2nd year there is only one other chemistry module if you continue down the biology route which is precisely what I am doing now. For general science in UCD you can cover yourself for multiple biology based subjects in 2nd year and you don’t have to decide on one degree option until 3rd year. In fact, in 2nd year, you would be able to cover yourself for Genetics, Neuroscience and Microbiology and still be able to cover yourself for 2 or 3 more subjects depending on the modules you choose. I know some people who are taking 5 or 6 biology based subjects for this coming academic year!

k88

nerd95 wrote: »

I’ve just finished 1st year in UCD science and I didn’t do chemistry for the LC either. Basically, they have an intro to chemistry module in semester 1 for all those students who didn’t do it for the LC or who didn’t achieve a minimum of a C3 in LC chemistry. In this module you go through all the basics such as definitions and you build your way up. It is good because everyone is more or less in the same boat and it was actually quite a fun module. Then, in semester 2, you have to do an organic chemistry module but it isn’t too difficult at all. I have friends who got A's in chemistry for the LC and we got the same grade in this module! In 2nd year there is only one other chemistry module if you continue down the biology route which is precisely what I am doing now. For general science in UCD you can cover yourself for multiple biology based subjects in 2nd year and you don’t have to decide on one degree option until 3rd year. In fact, in 2nd year, you would be able to cover yourself for Genetics, Neuroscience and Microbiology and still be able to cover yourself for 2 or 3 more subjects depending on the modules you choose. I know some people who are taking 5 or 6 biology based subjects for this coming academic year!

Ah okay, that's a big relief! Thanks so much for the reply Can I ask how you find UCD as a college and was making friends easy? I live 5 hours from Dublin so it'll be a big move and the size of the campus is a little intimidating!

nerd95

k88 wrote: »

Ah okay, that's a big relief! Thanks so much for the reply Can I ask how you find UCD as a college and was making friends easy? I live 5 hours from Dublin so it'll be a big move and the size of the campus is a little intimidating!

I absolutely love UCD! I come from a small town about 2 and a half hours away but I didn’t find UCD intimidating at all- I guess it was a nice change and I actually really like the student life on campus. There are events almost every week- we even had a petting farm, bouncy castle and sumo suits towards the end of semester 2 which was great fun!! I will admit that there are a lot of students in the lectures (sometimes 400) but then you have tutorials and labs too with only 10-15 people in them which is nice! The lecturers themselves are so nice and they can be quite funny too! The campus does seem huge but I only use three of the buildings- the science building (which is amazing), the library and the sports centre (which is also amazing). In fact, I haven’t clue what some of the buildings are because I have never been inside them!! The staff are also very helpful- for instance, if you are struggling at a module, you can arrange to meet the lecturer in their office and they will help you. Your tutors and lab demonstrators are also there to help should you ever need it.

Making friends was very easy thanks to the peer mentor system. Basically, during orientation week you are put into random groups of 6-8 students from your course and you have a mentor who is in 2nd or 3rd year. It is a great way to get to know people because you do lots of activities together. For example, during my orientation week, my peer mentor group did trampoling, rock climbing, frisbee and some went bowling too. Your peer mentor also gives you a tour of the campus and gives you general advice which is good. I stayed on-campus for the year so UCD residences also organised activities for first years living on campus during orientation week so that you can get to know others e.g outdoor cinema, quizzes etc. Also, it is quite easy to make friends in the lectures, tutorials and labs. People generally start chatting to you while they wait for the lecture to begin. You also have a lab partner for certain modules. In addition, if you join societies you’ll get to know lots of people! Hope this helps and if you have any other queries feel free to ask- I’m more than happy to help