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Why the engineering courses so low points in DCU comparing to other colleges???

  • 29-06-2009 04:27PM
    #1
    sammyoyo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1 ✭


    Jus trying to figure out what to put down on my CAO and wondering why Dcu engineering courses are all so low points comparing to other colleges.Wanted to do biomed engineering nd its 300 points in Dcu and 420 in cork????


Comments

  • #2
    Mickswizard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 60 ✭✭Mickswizard


    sammyoyo wrote: »
    Jus trying to figure out what to put down on my CAO and wondering why Dcu engineering courses are all so low points comparing to other colleges.Wanted to do biomed engineering nd its 300 points in Dcu and 420 in cork????

    Perhaps the citizens of the people's republic have not realised that their are no engineering jobs left in Ireland for gradutes (I got that info from a final year engineering student in DCU). Or else they realise that a university without a bar is not a university at all. Ah, I hope you get your comeuppance Von Pronzynski.


  • #3
    Shiny
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,259 ✭✭✭Shiny


    Cork has a much larger catchment area than DCU and is only really competing
    with UL for places.

    The majority of the pharmaceuticals industry is located in Cork hence getting
    a qualification there seems more obvious as it would be appreciated by the
    local industry.

    When I went for engineering in DCU for my undergrad the points dropped to
    around 300 that year. The average in UCD, Trinity, UL was in excess of 400.

    Still have no regrets choosing it, have no job either though...:rolleyes:


  • #4
    cocoa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,269 ✭✭✭cocoa


    points are low because the course has less popularity than it has places, simple...

    Jobs exist, you just might have to travel. I just finished second year and I got a summer research internship.


  • #5
    Mickswizard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 60 ✭✭Mickswizard


    cocoa wrote: »
    points are low because the course has less popularity than it has places, simple...

    Thats a tautology, not an explanation. It's like answering "Why did Susan Boyle lose BGT" with "because she didn't get enough votes".


  • #6
    cocoa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,269 ✭✭✭cocoa


    Mickswizard wrote: »
    Thats a tautology, not an explanation. It's like answering "Why did Susan Boyle lose BGT" with "because she didn't get enough votes".

    Well, considering the question didn't ask about the popularity and there's often misconceptions about points = quality, it seemed worth mentioning.


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  • #7
    random.stranger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 442 ✭✭random.stranger


    It's crazy to be guided by points for a course. If I was researching it, I would be looking at the numbers of graduates that couldn't find employment after graduating (I know these figures were available a few years ago). Low points don't mean low standards, you'll still have to meet a high standard of maths before your points will be taken into consideration.


  • #8
    Shaneod21
    Closed Accounts Posts: 77 ✭✭Shaneod21


    Its all about the demand....so not many people want to do that course in dcu because there are more reputable alternative courses elsewhere!


  • #9
    cocoa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,269 ✭✭✭cocoa


    Shaneod21 wrote: »
    Its all about the demand....so not many people want to do that course in dcu because there are more reputable alternative courses elsewhere!

    yep, because 18 years olds stressing over exams and their future and with no experience in college are the best equipped in the world to assess the quality and reputation of courses...


  • #10
    random.stranger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 442 ✭✭random.stranger


    Shaneod21 wrote: »
    Its all about the demand....so not many people want to do that course in dcu because there are more reputable alternative courses elsewhere!
    So, basically your saying: the points are low because the points are low?


  • #11
    AndyWhite
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 156 ✭✭AndyWhite


    Its purely down to the name. DCU has to compete with the likes of Trinity and UCD which everyone in Ireland knows about. DCU is a much newer college. Its not as established as the others, and therefore cant rely on its name to bring applicants.
    I did loads of checking up on the various engineering courses because i wanted to choose between Trinity, UCD and DCU. I talked to graduates from the courses, people doing them at the moment and engineering employers (including one of the main guys in the ESB).
    I ended up choosing DCU as my first choice. The course is more modern and up to date. There is more practical work involved (its pretty much a accepted fact that people with engineering minds learn far more from practical than they do from theory) and also, DCU has the bonus of INTRA which the others dont. One thing that the majority of employers want to see along with your degree is experience.
    Thats a few reasons why im headin to DCU next year!


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  • #12
    scheisskopf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭scheisskopf


    As other people have already mentioned — notoriety, popularity and positions of colleges on the map are much larger factors in determining points than the quality of the courses provided.

    D.I.T.'s faculty of engineering is arguably the best in the country — it's in highest regard by Irish employers in the engineering industry not only because of it's numerous well structured courses, but also because of the practical element, work experience and the experience that students get working in teams throughout — Engineers never work alone. Points for the engineering courses in D.I.T. remain low despite. It's only when you enter into third level education and get some experience with it all that you begin to be able to differentiate between good and average quality courses. 17 and 18 year old Leaving Cert. students are (obviously) hopeless at this.


  • #13
    stringy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 652 ✭✭✭stringy


    Mickswizard wrote: »
    Thats a tautology, not an explanation. It's like answering "Why did Susan Boyle lose BGT" with "because she didn't get enough votes".

    But that is the answer, simple. In addition to the fact that yes it has to compete with TCD and UCD, and DCU doesn't offer civil engineering as part of the common entry option. Plus it's a newer university.

    Points do not reflect the standard or quality of any course, not just engineering


  • #14
    glaston
    Closed Accounts Posts: 331 ✭✭glaston


    Shiny wrote: »

    The majority of the pharmaceuticals industry is located in Cork hence getting
    a qualification there seems more obvious as it would be appreciated by the
    local industry.

    Pharmaceutical companies in Cork want Biomed graduates about as much as they want gonorrhea. Process, chemical and mechanical maybe.


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