Studying computer science at uni!

Hi guys,

Just thought I would update this thread, I have interviews at Essex and Kent in a few weeks so looking forward to that.

I know I asked about it earlier but I am still really looking towards doing my CCNA, through the CBT Nuggets route however as I feel I would like a career in the hardware side of IT.

I know Computer Science can lead me into hardware or software but still.

Any more thoughts on doing my CCNA/Going for a placement?
 
Well now I know I do wish that I applied for a year in the industry option as i have heard a lot of good things about it. Unfortunately my choices were all just the standard Bsc Comp Science. However I am considering deferring for a year so I can always apply next year for the Year In Industry.

Thanks for the replies. I too have been accepted at Lancaster but I am not really keen on going there but it was nice to see I was offered a place as I really wasn't expecting it.
 
Like you say Jon you can go either way, if you went for the year in industry and did Ok but didn't show much interest then when you left uni and went for others and did the same your not going to get a job.

There is no guarantee to anything, i am going to see how my interviews go and then enquire about changing to year in industry if possible and just see what happens.

I know someone who did a normal degree and he took a break after his second year, secured a placement at Microsoft in America, went and did that...came back and finished his degree then went back again. He got the placement at Microsoft by himself and a recommendation from his lecturers.

As I say you can go both ways.

I am still undecided on if I want to do Comp Science which is is terrible I know but its just what I am enjoying at college is Cisco etc and I can't help thinking I should go on and do my CCNA and try for junior network jobs etc.
 
Thought I would update this thread,
Have received conditionals from all of my options so Kent, Greenwich, Southampton and Essex and Lancaster.
The Essex and Southampton ones are to study a different course so they are bottom of my list and I may well reject them soon especially now I have offers for what I want to do at the others.

Just a decision between Lancaster and Kent now. I went to Kent last week for the open day and an interview and really liked it, very impressive compared to the others. There is an open day at Lancaster that I am going to try and go to but its just difficult to organize around family commitments and money!

So yeh, thanks again guys you really helped me. I will let you know what I decide on in the near future!
 
Just to update,

I have received conditionals to study Computer Science at Essex, Kent, Greenwich and Lancaster.

Have till June to reply but of course want to get it out of the way!

Will post again when I decide :)
 
Thought I would update this.

I "firmed" Kent. According to my lecturer at college I will receive triple distinction which is what I need so fingers crossed that place will be confirmed soon!

A quick question, Whilst on my open day at Kent they talked a lot about the software they use which is BlueJ.

I have since downloaded this program and got the book that is recommended on the site which is Objects First with Java A Practical Introduction using BlueJ.

I have been reading through it and working within the software and finding it challenging but I am learning. Just wondering if anyone on here would recommend any other books or anything else I should read up on before starting my course.

Thanks in advance :)
 
I have done some really basic Java before and created a few HTML websites so my experience in coding/programming isn't that great.

I will keep working through this book and then like you say I will check out the tutorials provided by Oracle.
I have another book on the way which is "Head first Java". This has been highly recommended so I am going to also read through that and see what else I can learn.

I didn't meet Michael Kolling but I am sure I met David Barnes as he was the one who introduced us to BlueJ.

Just out of interest if you don't mind me asking, what job did you go into when you left?
 
Mr. Pickle said:
My honest advice for you is DO NOT GO.

You can use your time and money so much more wisely than going to university these days

It is hard not to follow the status quo and you have to be brave, but it is the better option

Take 1 year off before going at least
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If I can use my time and money more wisely then please tell me how!
dowie said:
LOL brilliant - both the authors of the book also lecture on your course...

We used to have 'the golden plug' awards published by our student paper where they listed estimated sales from lecturers plugging their own books on course reading lists. :D

you can check out the MIT open course ware site for some java tutorials too - I'm not sure you need to do too much prep, they will start from scratch when you begin your course so even just going through the recommended book and maybe part of an online course will give you a decent head start.
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Yeh I know! :D

Cheers mate, will check that out.

Yeh, they did say that, some people start the course having never done anything like programming before so they start from the beginning but I would like to just understand it a little before I start! :)
 
I do understand to a certain level at the moment, I have only really just started but it certainly interests me hence why I am starting now rather than just messing about all summer and then going to uni and having one hell of a shock!

I know it doesn't mean that much but I think I am helping myself by doing something now to as you say give me some idea of what is to come.
 
Thanks AJK I had thought about the maths side of CS but I got engrossed in the language side.

I only did GCSE Maths and I did discuss this with one of the lecturers there and they reassured me by saying that there are mandatory maths classes depending on if you did GCSE or A-Level because as you say some fellow students will have already studied certain topics and also there are extra classes available.

I will keep going with reading through this BlueJ book as I am enjoying it! but will also look at those math topics there also though.
 
Yeh I didn't go to six form, I went to college.

Would you say I would be best off spending my time looking into the math topics that I will need than the languages?
 
Cheers UncleRuckus,
Are there any books or websites that you would recommend to help me do that.

I have looked up each of the topics individually and found resources I can use but if you have any specific sites or books etc you can recommend that would be great :)
 
Thanks guys.

Will check out the Khan academy and that book. It's on eBay for 0.99p so if its good I can't complain for that price!

Also what do you mean by you hate computer science. Was that supposed to be started? :p
 
iKettles said:
I've just finished my first year of Comp Sci at Hertfordshire. Whilst I was confident in Maths at school I didn't study it at A-Level (wasn't required for my course) I haven't found the maths too challenging. Set theory, functions and relations is about as tough as it got bar a bit of binary/hexadecimal which isn't really difficult once you've got your head round it. Getting brushed up on Java before you go will help a lot when they throw you into object orientated programming. You'll be fine :)
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Thanks for the advice mate.
grimm said:
I didn't do a maths A level and I had no maths related problems at all with my comp sci degree. I think you need to stop worrying about it and enjoy the rest of your summer like every other normal student.

If you are seriously that worried about it then a comp sci degree is probably not for you.
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I am not particularly worried , I just wanted to get some advice off some guys on what if anything I should do before I start my course. I didn't randomly pick comp sci and now I am running around trying to find out everything and ask everyone what I am actually going to do.

Kainz, interesting to read your story. I believe that a CS degree will benefit me the most right now but anything could change and like yourself I could end up doing something completely different. Talking with the lecturers when I went for my interview and open day I came to the decision that CS was for me but everything could change once I get there and start the course.
 
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