Computing in DIT

Oscar2603

Sorry to start the 1,000th thread on these two courses, but just wanting to hear what people think of the course and entry methods into the course.

Sitting the LC this year (mocks in 3 weeks haha), and 228 is my first choice personally. The new point system as well has everyone up in the air so in case I don't get the points if it stays 450 or goes up even higher, I'm wondering about PLC or another way in.

Is it tough to get in on a PLC? And is it possible that I could do 211-1 and then move into 228-2 the following year? Or is there other ways to possibly get in. My CG teacher is hard to get a hold of and there's not much about backdoor entries online other than word of mouth on this haha. I prefer the modules in 228 which is the reason for this.

What's the course like now as well, lots of threads are kind of old and wondering what's new or old, is the maths hard (getting a D/C average in HL at the moment but going to stick it out for June), etc.

Thanks

Hollister11

NCI fwiw

BrianG23

I got a B in ord level maths. Doing a masters in Electronics now. College and school are a different world. In that working and college are a different world also.

The difference is, if you want to do good in college, you better force yourself to do the work. If you are managing a C in leaving cert you will be fine maths wise just make sure you don't fall behind and equally know how to cram. Some people say cramming isn't good enough, I say, cramming alongside regular learning gives the best exam results.

Whats more important is learning in the ins and outs of a computer and what programming is really doing.

If you want a backdoor into college level 8's, there really isn't one most of the time.

Best route - Get any level 8 remotely related to the job you want in the future. Teach yourself what employers want as courses tend not to. The employer won't care about the name of your degree in the end, just the level (7/8) and then what you know.

Hollister11

You can do two years of computer science in cholaiste dhulaigh (PLC) and get put into year 2 of computer science in DIT.

Oscar2603

Cheers thanks for the advice guys.

Oscar2603

Also, just wondering is it possible to move from 211 to 228 after Year 1 or something like that.

Thanks

BrianG23

Oscar2603 wrote: »

Also, just wondering is it possible to move from 211 to 228 after Year 1 or something like that.

Thanks

You should contact DIT and ask. I don't understand this 211 course, it sounds like an Lvl 7 but is 4 years.

Example -> I did Lvl 7 electronics

After 3 years and Appropriate grades - You can enter Networking lvl 8 year 3 OR electrical lvl 8 year 3. Totaling in 5 years of study for the level 8. DT211 doesn't seem to follow that and ends in the 4 years.

You can't really change in DIT after 1 year. As far as i'm aware.

In my opinion DT211 is not worth it. If you're really set on DT 228, get grinds asap! Start them for maths. What other subjects are you doing?

Oscar2603

Started maths grinds today actually :P

Other than the main 3 (OL Irish too), physics, DCG, Construction and Business.

I'll drop an email to DIT and see what they say.

Cheers

BrianG23

Okay thats great! Hows your physics? To be safe...learn maths the right way over the next few months, learn the whys not the do this because the book said so etc. Other than that its about scraping together the rest of the marks. Try apply for Computer science courses in all major unis then have the 211 below them on the CAO. Have you thought about taking applied math? Why you ask? You are doing maths, physics and construction. Pretty much...applied maths is so similar to physics/maths that you'll be learning all 3 at once. They all help each other along. If you become excellent at maths via grinds the other two won't be much of a push. That'll be 325 potential points all getting pushed along by grinds.

I know it sound hard, but if you really want the course you want, just do it. Its only a few months of hard work. Not to mention getting a solid foundation on maths now will really help you in the long run. It can be done, I went from a D ord level physics from the leaving Mocks to a C higher level by leaving cert.

Not sure if I should recommend this even...but I FAILED ordinary Irish. I did not focus or care for it. Only 6 subjects count towards CAO. Make those 6 count! In my opinion.

On the final note, I got 270 points, did a level 7 in DIT, got a lucky internship in Intel and am now doing a masters part time, starting a software engineering job next week full time. So if you don't get the DT 228, i'm telling you...in the future...its not important! Its the skills you gain in your course that are important, being...the ability to self learn, ask good questions, push yourself in an interview...and have an interest in your topic.

In future, as you're aiming for comp science, I guarantee you it can be mostly self taught, as I have mostly learned web development, multiple programming langauages, phone apps, data analytics etc etc on my own. Thats where it really counts when sitting in an interview and in a job. What sets you apart from other graduates?

Oscar2603

Yeah I was doing HL Irish in the JC, and I got a C, but I knew it's my weakest subject so that's kind of in the back of my mind, and it'll never count in the CAO unless I really screw up one other subject. Physics is okay, hopeful that a C is possible in the Mocks.

Thanks for the advice, I know it's just under 5 months until the real thing, but it's starting to build up hype and stress haha

monpog13

Hey thought i'd lend some of my knowledge from both DITS computer science courses,

The main difference between 211 and 228 is the networking and hardware aspect in 211. you get CISCO certified in a range of different CISCO courses, you do things like robotics and in 1st year you build a pc and learn all about hardware of PCs. Networking gives you great insight into command line programming, servers (4th year), switches/routers 1st & 2nd year.

The course has changed its name to Computer Science (Infrastructure) because after 2nd year the course sort of merge, they both offer 6-8month internships in 3rd year, and 3rd and 4th year share all optional modules or streams which are modules that you will specialise your studies in. in 228 you choose a stream and 211 you take 4 compulsory modules for final year and 4 optional modules and also the dreaded final year project.
- oh another thing mobile and web development are major modules too 211 has alot more modules in web dev and both course have the one android development module in 3rd year.

so the courses are similar and you can get the same jobs in terms of software development and software engineering but 211 offers jobs in networking so dealing with implementing a network in a company, maintaining that network etc but if you would rather bypass all of that and think you will be a programmer then 228 is your one for you.

another note both courses offer design and software development modules so designing interfaces and platforms for all types of people and then also the processes used in the workplace for development example waterfall model etc
so both courses offer alot

in terms of moving between courses its happened before with in one year 3 guys moving from 211 to 228 and they had to have high grades from first year i.e an overall 1st and a pretty good reason to move which i dont know the ins and outs of but the department are good with handling student issues and are always there to help to be fair.

Maths - 1st and 2nd year very much related to applying it to computer science applications like in security/cryptography such as knowing about primes, gcds in the forms of algorithms - euclidean algorithm for one
the maths is easy if you go to class, stay on top of it and if stuck using the maths centre as a resource.
in terms of using the maths outside of maths class its mainly used in specialised module sin 3rd/4th year such as using predicates/logic in the Artificial Intelligence module and Euclidean in Advanced Security.

hope that wasn't too rambly.
source - currently in 4th year 211 but have a lot of classes with 228 also!
let me know if yo have an specific questions etc on the modules and courses and lecturers!

trevorcooke16

Quick question what is the timetable like how many contact hours and is it a full 5 day week? Thanks.

monpog13

Yes full 5 day week for 1st-3rd year.
Hours are around 30 hours in first and second year including lectures, tutorials and labs and about 20-25 in 3rd year (labs and lectures) and around 18 contact hours in 4th year with the final year project alone being 16 hours (non contact hours)

you can expect to have a 3 hour day and then a 9-6 hour day the next. it varies alot depending on modules, groups. gaps have gotten better over the years, used to be 4 hour gaps. timetables for 1st and 2nd year show no gaps longer than 2 hours. its very full on the first two years as the labs would be longer and more lectures designated for introductory modules compared with 3rd and 4th yer specialising modules.

Retrovertigo

My girlfriend moved to year 2 of DT228 after doing 2 years in a PLC course only last year (2016). However be advised that unless your PLC course is extremely good you're going to seriously struggle starting from year 2 in DT228 and would be much better advised to start from year 1.

Of my gf's PLC class 5 moved to year 2, and 4 of them dropped out after a few months. She luckily transferred to year 1 after 5 weeks of being lost and is doing pretty well now. The work they do is pretty hardcore for a new learner and i'm speaking from experience as someone who is graduating this Saturday from DIT

I did the evening DT249 (same-ish) course and I struggled to help her with her 2nd year work. Any questions just give me a shout!

DKinger107

Hi, i'm currently doing the Colaiste dhulaigh 2 year plc course computer science which has a link with DIT. I'm just wondering what plc course your girlfriend did and how many distinctions she got, if you don't mind me asking. I'm currently on route for 8 distinctions in first year and i have been told that it is possible to get onto DT228 with a level 5 if you get good results (7 or 8 distinctions). Its specified on the website that they do take level 5 with the fetac code of the course i'm doing. Was wondering if you know if anyone from your girlfriends course that got onto DT228 after first year and with how many distinctions and what were the results like for the 5 people from her course that got onto it in 2nd year. Thanks. Ohh and obviously id be trying to get into first year if i'm going from a level 5 not 2nd year which I know you can do from a level 6.