What are you doing at uni?
- Thread starter Tommy B
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Blackstar said:
So its a masters in name only then? It's all a bit confusing to me
When you say 'A Masters in...' it conjurs up images of a very high level degree.... whereas that site seems to say its simply the Scottish equivilent of an Honours degree here?
Anyone know?
Scott Salisbury said:The worst part of it must be machine code programming and computer architecture. It sounded really interesting at first, learning about motherboards etc. But damn is it ******* dull as hell.
Problem is, they teach us off powerpoints based on information from the mid 90s. I remember one slide titled "State of the art hardware, how 2GB hard drives work".
I mean come on, update your slides. I know the way hard drives work are pretty much the same, but I'm sure the inside of a 120GB hard drive would be much more interesting.
I remember another slide showing a comparison between different types of memory modules, the biggest being 64Mb
To be honest the same principals apply, the only difference would be the numbers on their slides.
I'm surprised you examine how hard drives work at least physically and talk about memory modules and stuff... that is kind of assumed knowledge on our course and I'm not even doing computer science (I'm doing joint honors Computing and Management at Loughborough).
The only part of hard drives we've touched upon is different types of optimisations used to order the data to be retreived depending on the location of the head - i.e., optimising by sector or track or in the case of systems with multiple disks on the same bus, goign to the disk that will be nearest the required data first and then looking at problems associated with such optimisations.
Most of the modules have however been on things like caching, pipelining, interupts, sceduling etc etc.
I loved the comp arch modules, got 84% in "Computer Architecture" (annoyingly being a first year module it doesnt count towards the final degree classification) and 90% in the final year "Advanced Computer Architecture" exam.
Not bad given it was a single open ended eassay style question rather than a structured exam (which should in theory have made it harder) - the question I answered was "Why is caching imperitive to the high performance of a pipelined processor" or something along those lines.
I've totally finished now, and get my degre classification on the third, with a full module breakdown a few days after
I've just finished my second year doing Mechanical Engineering with Automotive at the University of Birmingham. I messed up my tests a little this year, got 2 retakes, a high 2:2 overall though and I've qualified to stay on for the MEng over the next two years. I really will be pulling my finger out over the next two years, as I know I'm capable of a first, as most of my coursework shows that.
It's a very enjoyable course in my opinion, and Engineering generally is a good overall choice for somebody studying Maths and Physics, as you actually get to fully apply what you've been learning to real world things and understand why you're doing things. Plus the design and development aspects of the course really interest me, though there is very little hands on time at all, I've got Formula Student for that.
It's a very enjoyable course in my opinion, and Engineering generally is a good overall choice for somebody studying Maths and Physics, as you actually get to fully apply what you've been learning to real world things and understand why you're doing things. Plus the design and development aspects of the course really interest me, though there is very little hands on time at all, I've got Formula Student for that.
Una said:
I am not saying it is NOT USED at all but you will find the frequency of use in everyday life very low if not zero, when compare to other things e.g English language, + - X and division in Maths..(now those are almost everyday stuff and thank god i paid attention in class during the lectures)
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PeterNem said:
Yeah same here, we've covered those exact things too. I was mainly just talking about the introduction slides before he went on to talk about the more detailed stuff. I know the same principals apply really, it's just one of those things that bugs me a bit.
PeterNem said:To be honest the same principals apply, the only difference would be the numbers on their slides.
I'm surprised you examine how hard drives work at least physically and talk about memory modules and stuff... that is kind of assumed knowledge on our course and I'm not even doing computer science (I'm doing joint honors Computing and Management at Loughborough).
The only part of hard drives we've touched upon is different types of optimisations used to order the data to be retreived depending on the location of the head - i.e., optimising by sector or track or in the case of systems with multiple disks on the same bus, goign to the disk that will be nearest the required data first and then looking at problems associated with such optimisations.
Most of the modules have however been on things like caching, pipelining, interupts, sceduling etc etc.
I loved the comp arch modules, got 84% in "Computer Architecture" (annoyingly being a first year module it doesnt count towards the final degree classification) and 90% in the final year "Advanced Computer Architecture" exam.
Not bad given it was a single open ended eassay style question rather than a structured exam (which should in theory have made it harder) - the question I answered was "Why is caching imperitive to the high performance of a pipelined processor" or something along those lines.
I've totally finished now, and get my degre classification on the third, with a full module breakdown a few days after
Yeah it sounds pretty much like ours, we went into cache/interupts/bus arbitration etc in a big way. Only briefly looked at hard disk structure, most of it was straight forward to be honest, apart from assembly language programming.
DaveyD said:
I second the engineering pimping
. They may not be the easiest degrees, but being able to apply things you learn to real life is very satisfying. There is also quite a bit of choice with the various engineering disciplines and you can specialise fairly easily in the later years of most courses. Generally the pay is good because engineers are in demand atm.
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im doing physics
hardwork, BETTER be worth it or im going to be mad
hardwork, BETTER be worth it or im going to be mad
Just a quick warning about engineering; the timetables are horrendous, you have to do MUCH more work than all of your friends, and there arn't any girls in the lectures.
Apart from this, and assuming you can manage to do the work, it will lead to a very solid career. Maybe not as highly paid as investment bankers, but the working hours are normal (9-5)0, and when/if you become chartered you can earn big moneez.
Apart from this, and assuming you can manage to do the work, it will lead to a very solid career. Maybe not as highly paid as investment bankers, but the working hours are normal (9-5)0, and when/if you become chartered you can earn big moneez.
ArmyofHarmony said:
Hate to say it, but although physics is tough, you would be better of with a more vocational degree if you want solid career prospects. I know 3 physic graduates (on that graduated from oxford) that cant get a job in any science based area.
If you did something like medicine/dentistry or even pharmacy you can walk straight into a job once graduated.
Studied Maths, Physics and Chemistry at A-Level.
Doing Chemical Engineering in university at the moment and I must say I am enjoying it but the thermodynamics is a pain, a lot of work involved as well . At the moment im basically doing a Maths course, a Chemistry course and the Chemical Engineering side of things. Have a physics module tacked on for good measure as well... however, im virtually gauranteed employment when I leave university (if I pass anyway )
Doing Chemical Engineering in university at the moment and I must say I am enjoying it but the thermodynamics is a pain, a lot of work involved as well
. At the moment im basically doing a Maths course, a Chemistry course and the Chemical Engineering side of things. Have a physics module tacked on for good measure as well... however, im virtually gauranteed employment when I leave university (if I pass anyway )
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Was doing Computer Science, but found it to be the most boring degree known to man. Going on to do Games Technology this year. Oh yes, game making degree. Degrees arent just about education, dont do something you wont enjoy. Think about your interests and likes and imagine yourself sticking it out for 3 or 4 years.
50/50 said:
That's what I thought when I first arrived at uni, but my first year timetable wasn't bad at all. However, they do get a lot of info into lectures we have. I'm not sure what my 2nd timetable will be like, but us chem engineers seem to have a better timetable than most of the other engineering courses.
Corran said:Studied Maths, Physics and Chemistry at A-Level.
Doing Chemical Engineering in university at the moment and I must say I am enjoying it but the thermodynamics is a pain, a lot of work involved as well
Ah cool, someone else who does chemical engineering
. Where are you studying?ElRazur said:No disrespect, i do appreciate what you are studying but People from third world contries tend to shun courses like that as NO ONE will employ you when you go back home.
Due to the fact that their isnt a market for it back home unlike Medicine, Engineering etc...
And what exactly have 3rd world countries got to do with me getting a job after uni and a psychology degree. Also they dont shun courses like that at all, do you actually know what you are talking about?
My mum's an NHS 'professional' and happen to know there are plenty of jobs involving psychology in the UK and the NHS through looking through their vacancy posts, and thats just England, just think of the USA, thats a messed up nation who are crying for psychologists.
50/50 said:
It's not really *that* bad here, though this year I've had 9am lectures every day for the most part, and around 18-22 hours of lectures a week.
Girls wise, that is true, but the girls I know are all great, and I'm very good friends with a lot of them. But even so, Girls on a course aren't the main thing, as you'll see plenty more in halls when you start off anyway, and that's where you often make up your first main group of uni friends from anyway.
Remember though, Engineers work hard, but also play(drink) hard too