Merchant ventures building for comp science, isn't it?
And the guardian league table has always been weirdly anti-UoB.
A levels
- Thread starter DJ_Martin
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Merchant ventures building for comp science, isn't it?
And the guardian league table has always been weirdly anti-UoB.
Merchant ventures building for comp science, isn't it?
And the guardian league table has always been weirdly anti-UoB.
I've never quite seen it as much as UWE coming 3rd for a subject and UoB being about 15th, mind! ahaha.
A-Level physics, maths and further maths are the most useful in my opinion. I wouldn't bother with A-Level computing though, chemistry or biology would be more useful.
I did A-level maths/physics/computing (followed by Computational Physics at degree level) and chemistry would have been far more useful to me both during my degree and after.
I did A-level maths/physics/computing (followed by Computational Physics at degree level) and chemistry would have been far more useful to me both during my degree and after.
I think the grauniad hates Russell group, in the electronic/electrical engineering table it has Essex near the top where they don't even do Meng, I don't know how good it is but I really doubt it is better than Bristol which I have been to and I know it has good industry links.
Same boat OP, I have chosen Further Maths, Maths, Physics, Computing and Psychology.
I found connexions at my school very useful and so was the head of sixth form. I want to go into game designing because it is my passion but you have not stated what sort of goal you are aiming for after a degree.
I've been told that Computer Science, Maths or Physics at degree level will be great if you want to get into game designing and I am aiming to do a Computer Science degree at either Edinburgh or Oxford university. After doing a degree which would be useful I was planning on doing a 1 year course for game designing because doing a full course for game designing will teach you the stuff but that stuff you learn will be out of date quite quickly. Game technology changes so rapidly and most of the stuff you would have learned becomes out of date so you basically wasted your time.
You should set up a goal to aim for after university and build the foundations for that goal but make sure you leave a couple of doors open if you have a change of heart.
Maths and Physics will leave a lot of door opens for anyone so they are a very good choice.
I found connexions at my school very useful and so was the head of sixth form. I want to go into game designing because it is my passion but you have not stated what sort of goal you are aiming for after a degree.
I've been told that Computer Science, Maths or Physics at degree level will be great if you want to get into game designing and I am aiming to do a Computer Science degree at either Edinburgh or Oxford university. After doing a degree which would be useful I was planning on doing a 1 year course for game designing because doing a full course for game designing will teach you the stuff but that stuff you learn will be out of date quite quickly. Game technology changes so rapidly and most of the stuff you would have learned becomes out of date so you basically wasted your time.
You should set up a goal to aim for after university and build the foundations for that goal but make sure you leave a couple of doors open if you have a change of heart.
Maths and Physics will leave a lot of door opens for anyone so they are a very good choice.
How did you find Computing then? I'm thinking I will only end up with A levels in Maths, Physics and computing with the way my school works as it tries to make almost everyone only have 3 A levels in the second year (Lazy I suppose). People seem to be against Art but do AS levels even matter? I thought I would choose it as it would most likely be dropped and I could enjoy it in the meantime.
My end-goal was originally game design which is where the plans of a degree in computer science came from but it seemed more a US based industry, not that I am totally against moving countries but surely it would be difficult to get a job in america with UK qualifications and no experience?
I just want a job where I can be creative which has decent pay but doesn't overtake my life. I suppose that's what everyone wants but at the moment I don't really know what to aim for.
Actually I am unsure if you meant you have already done A levels or you are at the same stage as me?
We have a good games industry in the uk, but only a few games design degrees are accredited by industry.
When I say same boat I mean I am the same age and going through the same thoughts and questions
Game designing for the big AAA companies are mainly based in the USA however there are quite a few in the UK and many smaller companies as well
My plan was to get a few years of experience out in the USA and then come back here once I have the experience. A UK qualification does not mean you will be limited outside of our country, if it is a university degree then that qualification will be useful worldwide especially if it is a very well known university such as Oxford.
Just keep your options open and aim for your goal even if it means leaving the country for a few years
Computing is very dull but if you can remember a lot of logical information easily, it's a doddle. A project in a coding language is required, but again, if you have any experience, it's easy.
I rthink my overall percentage for computing was 95% and I did the AS in year 11 and the A2 in year 12.
Whether it's a respected qualification is up for debate. It's far too easy to be compared to anything like Maths or Physics, imo.
If you look at the UCAS website for the majority of universities it says that Maths is a requirement for Computer Science and Further Maths, Computing and a Science is highly recommended.
So I would say it is useful to do if you are planning on doing Computer Science.
Well I don't have any experience. I can use HTML and CSS reasonably well but something tells me that these don't count
I attempted to learn C++ for myself a few times but I think I really need the guidance of a teacher to start me off which is a little strange for me as I am normally quite good at teaching myself things. With C++ I would just go through a tutorial of how to make a certain thing, get to the end and then think to myself "What have I actually learnt here?"
I attempted to learn C++ for myself a few times but I think I really need the guidance of a teacher to start me off which is a little strange for me as I am normally quite good at teaching myself things. With C++ I would just go through a tutorial of how to make a certain thing, get to the end and then think to myself "What have I actually learnt here?"
Naw, you'll likely need to do something that interfaces with a database. I used VB.Net and hooked into an access database as it was the simplest. Although, there is literally zero requirement your program actually work; it just has to look like it's working in screenshots. The coding aspect of a computing A level is a total joke.
I went to a top ten and they didn't care.
Was the same in GCSE ICT.
I didn't put in any effort for the Microsoft Access coursework and my database did not even function properly.
But with a couple of hours of making fake screen shots and writing down the theory which I knew I got an A*
Was the same in GCSE ICT.
I didn't put in any effort for the Microsoft Access coursework and my database did not even function properly.
But with a couple of hours of making fake screen shots and writing down the theory which I knew I got an A*
I've ended up with an A for my ICT at GCSE. That is, unless the moderators see what an absolute **** my IT teacher has been in marking and give me about 5 marks
[Rant]ICT in my class seemed to be who could suck up to the teacher most. One of the people who have now got an A* had to ask me things like how to change the text colour in Microsoft Word and I am fairly sure she won't have got above a C in any of the core subjects like maths, sciences and english which really ****es me off. I got an A* in the Graphics unit easily and an A* in the E-safety unit (Basically using all of the Microsoft office programs to produce a range of products.) What messed me up was the game design unit. It was the one I had looked forward to most. This is until I found out we would be making our game in missionmaker, if you are not familiar with this software it is the most tedious program I have ever had the displeasure of using, glitched horrendously all of the time to the point I had to remake my game a few times. At the end I was told by my teacher that I hadn't included enough elements to my game (I made it an FPS and he wanted it to be some kind of puzzle games too using all of the **** tools of missionmaker that I could) Anyway I achieved one of the lowest marks in the class for my game despite the fact when he made his year 7 class test the games. Mine was rated in the top 3 for fun factor.
[/Rant]Anyway yeah, I thought that computing would be a step away from the ICT way of doing things. Maybe if I just BS my way through like many others have I will have an easier time and a better mark.
I still think computing would be more useful than chemistry for an A level to get into a computer science course as I am still not put off that idea yet.
I'd completely agree. If I hadn't done the AS before sixth form I would've not bothered and taken something else. Still, it ended up alright overall and I came out with 5 full A levels (Maths, Computing, Geography, Physics, Further Maths) and I am going where I want and doing something I want to do this year, even if I missed out last year!
I'm going to have to resit my AS year, frankly. My grades will be shocking. Further Maths completely wrecked me and I couldn't cram all the time in to get everything done before the exam, and FP1 just didn't sink in at all. I did Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry. So hopefully I'll be able to to Maths, Physics, Economics and Biology next year. Anyone found Biology easier than Chemistry?
This was another thing I was worried about, while some people are suggesting further maths and chemistry, I will be the first two admit that I am not the hardest worker and I am the type who handed in my English essays a few days late each time etc. because I found it hard to apply msyelf to the task unless I was under pressure. My English teacher would just tell me to bring it in next lesson so in my mind I would be thinking "What is the point of doing it now?"
I know I am going to have to get my ass into gear for A levels but I still don't think that something that requires a hell of a lot of work, especially outside the class is my type of subject
This was another thing I was worried about, while some people are suggesting further maths and chemistry, I will be the first two admit that I am not the hardest worker and I am the type who handed in my English essays a few days late each time etc. because I found it hard to apply msyelf to the task unless I was under pressure. My English teacher would just tell me to bring it in next lesson so in my mind I would be thinking "What is the point of doing it now?"
I know I am going to have to get my ass into gear for A levels but I still don't think that something that requires a hell of a lot of work, especially outside the class is my type of subject
Haha you're a lot like me
I think I handed in my last piece of English coursework 3 months late...
I know some people in sixth form at my school who were lazy at GCSE's but as soon as they started there A-Level's they changed and started to become more organised and they changed gear pretty quickly. Just hoping the same will happen to me or I will probably have to drop Further Maths and Psychology or Computing