where to go after year 11?

Freddie589 · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:16

need some help guys,

I'm currently in year 11 and finish school in September! (16 on 2nd august) i got offered a place today at a collage which would be a networking and computing BTEC level 3 diploma, but i have to pay £400 to build my own system with them! and it has to be with there chosen components! i mean the facilities are brand new etc.. all neat clean RFID tags to get though doors etc.. but i want to work in gaming hardware, i want to be a system builder for OCUK

, is this the right course for me or should i look at apprenticeship? or even go straight into work! so whats the best road for me guys?

thanks
fredide589

[TW]Fox · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:18

You don't want your eventual career to be in building gaming systems - trust me. You think you do now, but really, you don't.

Streeteh · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:19

[TW]Fox;18213442 said:
You don't want your eventual career to be in building gaming systems - trust me. You think you do now, but really, you don't.

This tbh. If you think the course is right for you, complete it, but come up with something more ambitious to do with the qualification.

trigger-happy · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:20

STAY in sixth form, I'm a sixth former telling you this, I have seen guys go on paths which are not future proof. Get A-level qualifications and then get a well paid job, you don't want a full time job of building rigs like [TW]Fox said, its good as part time but trust me you get frustrated and sick of it.

Disco Boy · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:20

Do the course or other solid qualifications.

gord · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:21

Isn't 6th form compulsory now?

Get your A Levels.

jp_bl_68 · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:22

Freddie589 said:
or even go straight into work!

I wouldn't recommend this. My advice would be to stay in school for as long as possible, provided there's a subject/course you're actually interested in.

Dunks · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:22

DO NOT aspire to be a system builder. It's really not something you'd want to do as a career...

Pav89 · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:23

Another vote for stay and do A-Levels. You won't regret it.

I promise you that in 2-3 years you'd have changed your mind about what you want to do.

trigger-happy · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:23

gord said:
Isn't 6th form compulsory now?

Get your A Levels.

nah bro. People can go to other colleges if they fail to meet 5+ GCSE's or more (for some sixth forms). Mostly people go to college's because they specialise in a subject.

Freddie589 · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:23

Dunks said:
DO NOT aspire to be a system builder. It's really not something you'd want to do as a career...

your all saying it, but why not

it sounds like a great job i love building and doing it for a job would be amazing

POB · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:24

What is this £400 to build a system about? sounds odd.

Brian8bit · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:25

Freddie589 said:
your all saying it, but why not it sounds like a great job i love building and doing it for a job would be amazing

There's no future in it. Nowhere to move to. It's a general labouring job.

Freelanc3r · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:25

[TW]Fox;18213442 said:
You don't want your eventual career to be in building gaming systems - trust me. You think you do now, but really, you don't.

Agreed. I am 16 and build systems at OcUK part time, wouldn't ever make a full time job of it, its unskilled labour after all.

Chives · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:25

[TW]Fox;18213442 said:
You don't want your eventual career to be in building gaming systems - trust me. You think you do now, but really, you don't.

This. Stay on to your sixth form if you can ( I know some have very strict entry requirements, mines certainly does) If not go another sixth form with less stringent requirements and do A levels there.

POB · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:25

Freddie589 said:
your all saying it, but why not it sounds like a great job i love building and doing it for a job would be amazing

1 Billion people in Chinese factories can do the same job, there is no skill involved.

trigger-happy · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:28

Freddie589 said:
your all saying it, but why not it sounds like a great job i love building and doing it for a job would be amazing

dude if you like hardware do A level ICT. If you want to go more advanced then do computing.

Dunks · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:33

Freddie589 said:
your all saying it, but why not it sounds like a great job i love building and doing it for a job would be amazing

Becuase you'd be stuck in a dead end job earning <£20k a year?

trigger-happy · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:35

Dunks said:
Becuase you'd be stuck in a dead end job earning <£20k a year?

+1

m8, you will not even be able to afford top-notch rigs like you see the guys building here. Stay in sixth form.

hybrid572 · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:39

If you can, do an apprenticeship in computing somewhere. You'll gain skills and valuable qualifications, along with a wage of at least £95/week, and valuable work experience, which it sounds like you'd enjoy and could really do with. Once you've put your other computer skills to good use, which I'm sure are plentiful, you'll wonder why you ever wanted to spend your life just putting systems together.