Maths, Sciences and Engineering
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Science / Natural Sciences
In the case of Natural Sciences TR071, the S2S Peer mentor Groups (you'll receive an email telling you whose group you're in) and going to tutorials as a means of getting to know people in your course are essential. The class is huge and unless you get these small group sessions you will not meet anyone, and you will not enjoy the course.
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I'm Eoin O'Keeffe and I'm in TR071; General Science. I think the great thing about the course is that you begin to see the world in a different light. You question things you wouldn't have put any pass on before and understand things that occur in every day.
I have dsylexia and this course contain few barriers to one with such a disability, but those with dyscalculia might find it quite difficult as maths apply to all options of the course. For those coming in to the course with a disability, they shouldn't worry. those with spelling disabilities will be able to cope quite well, but as I said those that have trouble with numbers may find it abit challenging.
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I am in my final year in Science specialized in Immunology. Science uses a different kind of language compared to the classic courses e.g. BESS, English, Law. There are a lot of new difficult words and names that you will never have come across before and they can be very daunting. In first and second year, you will find them hard to get used to. But as you go through the years, you wont even notice them any longer, as they will be part of your everyday vocabulary. When worried about spelling in exams, the correctors are all scientist and will completely understand your situation. Science is a fascinating course and leaves you with many options for a final degree from zoology and geology to neurology and immunology. I have never regretted my choice and have loved every minute of every year.
Joanna Tilley
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I am in second year science and have dyslexia. I found the first 5 months of the course hard when I was a 1st year because it's such a change to the way classes are taught in secondary school. You have to be prepared to learn new methods of taking notes and study. I quickly found that it was not possible for me not to do continuous study through the course. I had to take maths in 1st year which I found the most difficult because its one of my problem subjects but you do not need it after first year unless you want to do physics. The biology module is not a difficult course to understand but the amount of reading makes it hard for some one with dyslexia because i found it just takes a lot of time to get through the material although it is not difficult to understand.
The college provides students with dyslexia photocopy cards which I found very useful. I could photo copy parts of the library books I need and then I could highlight and makes notes on the photo copies. There are also computer rooms (assistive technology rooms) in the Hamiltion Library which I use a lot.
I think science is a great course and I really started to enjoy it after Christmas of 1st year when you get settled in, but for anyone with dyslexia just be prepared to put in work at the start, get used to taking notes and just having a quick read over your notes and lecture notes the night after the lecture or at the end of the week.
Wesley Shaw SF
Back to topScience: Physiology
I am a third year science student with dyslexia. Like most sixth year students I put more thought into my sixth year holiday than my CAO. My form consisted of multiple courses that I thought little about. Never did I see myself doing science in college. For starters I was failing Biology up until after the mocks, it was only about two weeks before the leaving certificate that everything clicked and I loved it.
My first choice was OT in Trinity, I was adamant I would get this. Stupidly I thought little about any other courses. I missed out on OT by a very small amount and was devastated, being left with a course I knew nothing about. For the first few months I hated it, being annoyed at myself for not taking more time to carefully plan my CAO form. After Christmas I gave the course a chance and realised science was not that bad, when I had settled further into the course to my surprise I stared to really enjoy it.
Now I realise although I was stupid in planning my course choice it could not have worked out better. Science is a course that gives you ample amount of opportunities. It is a very broad course that leaves you with a huge amount to choose from after you graduate.
First year in science consists of a large range of subjects including maths, physics, chemistry, geography and biology. In Second year we could narrow it down more but we had to do biochemistry. Second year was tough as I did not realise that so many difficult subjects were compulsory and was convinced I was going to fail biochemistry. However I kept on top of it and to my amazement it was my best result at the end of the year.
Third year is my favourite so far, having now specialised in Physiology. This course is quite competitive to get into but the hard work paid off and I am delighted with it. I love going to every single lecture and it is now very rare that I stare up at lectures with a look of confusion. Physiology involves a lot of presentations and in course assignments, so you have a lot of marks before doing the end of year exam, which takes a lot of pressure off for students with learning disabilities. I would warn you that it does involve a lot of journal reading, which is the only part I don’t like.
If I was to start over I would READ THE PROSPECTUS for every course I was considering. Even if you think that you will get your first choice, as you never know what will happen. If science is on your CAO you have to know that it involves a lot of constant work. If you’re not a science fan come the end of sixth year I would forget about it. It is a time consuming course for any dyslexic student as it require constant work therefore part time jobs are nearly impossible to keep up (I have tried three years running and lasted two months every time). If you are unsure about what you want to do and enjoy even biology, science is definitely worth considering. It is very important to realise that there is no such thing as an easy course!
The best thing about science has to be the amazing friends I have made through my two and a half years in Trinity. I love coming into college every day and can honestly say I could not see myself doing anything else. Although it was a rough start now I never want to leave.
Back to topNeuroscience
Common Science Entry
I really enjoy my course, its quite thorough and covers the in-depth scientific aspects as well as the broader aspects in relation to human health and disease, with modules in anatomy and neurodegenevative diseases. I found 1st and 2nd year quite different though, coming in I didn't expect the number of hours that we had, its quite an intensive work load for the first 2 years with quite alot of lab hours a week (depending on subject choices) as well as lectures. Its tough but if you have an interest in science its a great course because it covers so many different fields.
Once you specialise in your 3rd and 4th year the number of lectures/labs usually eases up a bit, it did in neuroscience anyway but there is much move continual assessment in the sophister years so thats another aspect to be aware of; I found the continual assessment came in really handy at the end of 3rd year which I didn't expect starting out. I thought continual assessment wasn't really a strong point for me but if you just keep tapping away at it, it really does help. To be honest I havent't found any major barriers to date, all the lecturers and supervisors were always helpful if I needed anything. The onyl drawback that I found was the commitment the course required, the weeks are long especially in the first 2 years and even though the number of hours is less in senior years theres still a good bit of work especially because both years marks contribute to the final degree, so I guess that would be something to think about if you suffer from a condition in which fatigue etc. is a factor.
Back to topMathematics
I am a second year maths student. I would begin by asking a student if they had a real interest in maths rather than putting it down as a last option as the course is very different than that of the leaving cert course. It is quite abstact. It is also quite intense I found that after missing a few weeks it can be quite hard to catch up. As alot of chapters lead onto the next chapter in some ways you cant really skip the chapters you miss and expect to be alright.
But overall it is a very interesting course if your willing to put in alot of effort and there are great options in 3rd year and 4th year. And there is also a broad career`s choice when you finish the course eg. actuary, banking, teaching etc. But im not sure if I would recommend it if you want to get into teaching. As my maths teacher did a course very similar to it and he basically put it that you are nearly over quailified. There are easier courses if you have your mind set to be a secoundary teacher.