A Levels vs. Computing Qualifications

Nebzor

Nebzor

Nebzor

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Afternoon.

Currently I am doing my AS Levels (General Studies, Physics, Psychology, History and English Lit.) and due to my laziness and general dislike for school and what I'm studying I think at A Level I'll probably only get Bs and Cs in the three that count (you drop one AS level at the end of Year 12.)

I am really contemplating quitting school and going for the industry recognised computing qualifications, e.g. A+, Network+, Security+, CCNA, MCSE etc.

Which would you value more as an employer, average A Levels or specialised industry based training/qualifications? And would it be such a terrible idea not to get a degree?
 
Well, seeing as an AS level only takes one year and you are rapidly approaching the end of the school year you would be really silly to leave now.

Better to finish the AS levels, then spend the summer looking at getting the basic IT (A+ and N+) courses for next year.
 
That is what I was thinking, but I'm pretty sure AS Levels are nigh on useless as some view them as only a stepping stone from GCSE.

But anyway, before any leaving whenever happens, I'd like to see what people in a position to employ would say :)
 
Your mistake my son was going sixform, i don't know anyone who hated college.

In a computing job it's experience they will take over qualifications 9/10.
 
Do your A-Levels duh.

You are 16, why would you put all your eggs in one basket by getting some ridiculously specific computer course.

Having A-Levels will be useful in any industry. Having a computer qualification will be useful in the computer industry. I know which I'd want. Plus once you've done your A-Levels you can always do the computer stuff later. It's not like you don't have the time.
 
I don't know anything about the computing industry but I would have thought it would be better if you complete your A levels (if you are going to drop one, drop general studies, I took gen studies(1 year a level) in my second year and took up AS classics, I really wish I had just done classics in one year than gen studies).
 
$loth said:
I don't know anything about the computing industry but I would have thought it would be better if you complete your A levels (if you are going to drop one, drop general studies, I took gen studies(1 year a level) in my second year and took up AS classics, I really wish I had just done classics in one year than gen studies).
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My sixth form, unfortunately, states that General Studies is compulsory throughout the two years :o
 
A-levels are worth having even if you don't intend to go to University.

One possibility would be to finish your A-levels, then get a job to gain some experience alongside studying for a more specialised qualification (if you get really lucky you may even get some financial support for this from your employer, if it's relevant).

Simply ditching A-levels to take up a specialised computing qualification probably won't get you very far because at the end of the day all you will have is that piece of paper and no experience. Which means that when you apply for jobs in the industry, you will be even further down the pecking order compared to others with no experience, but who hold A-levels in addition to the industry-specific qualification.

One further point to bear in mind, is that when starting out in employment the type of roles you are likely to be considered for will probably be fairly low-end, i.e. not requiring fancy IT quals. In fact it may be that your CV could be initially reviewed by the HR dept who will instantly give kudos to A-levels but maybe not some random jumble of letters they've never heard of.
 
I appreciate what you're saying, but from what I can gather experience is greater than qualifications, so surely an apprenticeship with the possibility of training for qualifications is highly useful?
 
Don't be a spanner, A-levels are more important. Get the other certs later. A classic education gives you credibility.

(And yes, I have A-levels, a degree and many Cisco certs)
 
Yes an apprenticeship may be worthwhile but personally I'd view that as something to do after A-levels, otherwise you've wasted the best part of a year. At least finish the AS Levels. I can't comment too much on how employers see them because the system was slightly different when I was at school (you just did 3 A-levels for both years, no AS levels).

My personal opinion is that it makes sense to complete your A-levels now while you have the chance (which you may not get in the future) and while the subject content is fresh in your mind. While Bs and Cs are not top grades in terms of uni applications etc, employers will look on them favourably.

Of course, if you really find you are not enjoying your study at all then cutting your losses in the summer is not something I would discount. One of my weaknesses is that I very rarely quit anything I start; one of my few regrets in education is that I didn't change my degree subject in the first year but instead perservered for three years doing something I wasn't overly interested in.
 
Considering your age and how difficult it is to get a decent, well paying job in the computing industry these days I'd say get as many qualifications as you can. Get your A levels, then get the certs while you're doing some work. Computing based for experience if you can, but any form of employment is better than nothing as employers like to see you've done at least some work before.
 
Benjarghmin said:
That is what I was thinking, but I'm pretty sure AS Levels are nigh on useless as some view them as only a stepping stone from GCSE.

But anyway, before any leaving whenever happens, I'd like to see what people in a position to employ would say :)
Click to expand...

AS levels are no less credible than a full A-level, you are taking 4 Alevels currently, dropping them down to AS level will mean that you walk away with the equivalent of 2 A-levels. If you are not enjoying the A levels speak to your head of year and teachers about dropping them to AS.

I am in a position to employ people, not in the IT industry but it is part of my job. If you handed your CV in to me I would notice a year gap between leaving school and either looking for a job or starting IT courses. I would ask what you did in this year. It wouldn't look good to say nothing as I would think you are lazy, and if you told me you quit it relly wouldn't look good.

It would be much better to tell an employer that you dropped them down to AS level because you wanted to dedicate your time to getting into the IT industry.

As for dropping them altogether, I can tell you that although the IT industry may seem appealing, your opinion can change rather quickly after spending 70 hour weeks in front of a monitor etc. I am sure there are many people on these forums that, after getting in to IT decided that they had made a mistake. If this does happen and you have no AS/A levels to fall back on you are up **** creek.

You should drop the A levels to AS, look at courses in IT and also look for a job in that field.
 
Thanks to all those who have posted useful comments, and not so much thanks to all those "stop being silly" comments. You'd be silly to expect me to listen to you.
 
Whatever you do, do your A levels. Seriously. Get proper A levels, not just AS levels, THEN decide what to do. You can go anywhere once you've done your A levels - Uni, computers, whatever you like. It's only another 18 months of crappy school but it'll set you up properly and you've nothing to lose by doing it.

And DO WELL in them - if you decide to go to Uni employers are still obsessed with A level results for grad schemes.
 
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