What course to do in college

RookieClocker

RookieClocker

RookieClocker

Associate
Joined
6 Jan 2010
Posts
197
Location
Leicester
hey guys i was wondering what course you need to do in college to get a job to do with
fixing computers up
solving internal computer problems

looking forwards to your replies

thanks :D
 
Aim higher than fixing computers and help desk positions.

I would suggest doing a course that will bring you up to the entry requirments for a Computer Science degree.
 
Computer science is, in a basic definition, the engineering of computer programmes by creating code. This can require a lot of maths to achieve relatively complicated programmes. As such, it's very far removed from IT, which in more in line with gaining a detailed knowledge of using existing computer programmes.
 
programming software isnt really my thing :/
i like building computers and solving os based problems
viruses spyware adware etc
u can get really annoying ones sometimes
 
RookieClocker said:
whats do you exactly study in computer science ?
how to actually make the parts?
Click to expand...

It depends on the University, but generally it will open many doors for you into the majority of roles in IT.

Computer Science covers things like:
- Hardware concepts
- Programming / Software Engineering
- Algorithm Design
- Operating Systems, networking etc
- Artificial Intelligence - neural networks, data mining etc
- Security

If you wanted to learn 'how to make the parts' then a course like Computer System Engineering would be good.

It's perhaps not easy to decide on that if you're still at college level now, but definetly whatever course you pick do so with aims of moving into higher education, as your prospects will be quite limited if you just want to go stright from college to a computer repair position.

If that's really what you want to do though, then pick a college level course that combines some electronic engineering, programming, basic computer science elements.
 
RookieClocker said:
programming software isnt really my thing :/
i like building computers and solving os based problems
viruses spyware adware etc
u can get really annoying ones sometimes
Click to expand...

Sure, I think that's what most people on this forum enjoy (or have done in the past) - we wouldn't be here otherwise :)

The thing is, it's not really something that you can go on to make a career out of. You'd struggle to earn enough to live on doing basic tasks such as that, unless you set up and grow a successful business building custom computers, for example. The vast majority of money in IT is in the use of enterprise software.

If building PCs is really what you want to do, I'm not sure you'll learn it at college. You'd be best off getting a job in a local PC repair store, learning the trade, and then striking out alone.

EDIT: As TNTCoder says, though, if you want to stay in education a course which focuses on leading to studying electrical engineering/computer systems engineering would be best for you. Does your college have a careers department?
 
Nitefly said:
Computer science is, in a basic definition, the engineering of computer programmes by creating code. This can require a lot of maths to achieve relatively complicated programmes. As such, it's very far removed from IT, which in more in line with gaining a detailed knowledge of using existing computer programmes.
Click to expand...
What do you mean by "lots of maths" is it advanced maths, because I am looking to get into IT when I'm older and I'm useless at maths. Just struggling at the moment to scrape a C at GCSE.
 
Chives said:
What do you mean by "lots of maths" is it advanced maths, because I am looking to get into IT when I'm older and I'm useless at maths. Just struggling at the moment to scrape a C at GCSE.
Click to expand...

With computer science, you are looking at a required A level in maths or even further maths depending on which university you go to. Remember, computer science as a degree is the creation and engineering of computer programmes.

With IT, since as far as I'm aware it doesn't involve any complex programming, there are few (if any) maths requirements.
 
Nitefly said:
With computer science, you are looking at a required A level in maths or even further maths depending on which university you go to. Remember, computer science as a degree is the creation and engineering of computer programmes.

With IT, since as far as I'm aware it doesn't involve any complex programming, there are few (if any) maths requirements.
Click to expand...
Ah that's good news for me, thank you. :)
 
Chives said:
Ah that's good news for me, thank you. :)
Click to expand...

Well, I wouldn't take my word for it. IT isn't really something that is required to be of degree level and is offered at very few (if any) first class institutions as a degree.

I would investigate what you actually want to do and then look at whether you need to go to university and if so what the course requirements are.

Working with computers is certainly not another term for 'IT'.
 
RookieClocker said:
programming software isnt really my thing :/
i like building computers and solving os based problems
viruses spyware adware etc
u can get really annoying ones sometimes
Click to expand...

Most of us enjoy that. Unfortunately it's not usually a very lucrative career path.

Find a good compromise between something you're good at, something you enjoy and something that earns some money. I study Computer Science and although the workload is a bit much in the 3rd year I really enjoy what I do and I'm good at it (usually :D). No one can really help you with that decision.
 
RookieClocker said:
hey guys i was wondering what course you need to do in college to get a job to do with
fixing computers up
solving internal computer problems

looking forwards to your replies

thanks :D
Click to expand...

NVQ Level 2/3 IT Practitioner and professional is an apprenticeship too. (Forgot exact name of course, but thats almost it)
 
Nitefly said:
Well, I wouldn't take my word for it. IT isn't really something that is required to be of degree level and is offered at very few (if any) first class institutions as a degree.

I would investigate what you actually want to do and then look at whether you need to go to university and if so what the course requirements are.

Working with computers is certainly not another term for 'IT'.
Click to expand...
Well I'm not really sure what I want to do, not yet anyway.
I excel in IT. I was editing msconfig and doing some very basic modding of games at 11. I just imagined myself in 10 years time making websites in dreamweaver and making nice spreadsheets in excel.
 
tntcoder said:
Aim higher than fixing computers and help desk positions.

I would suggest doing a course that will bring you up to the entry requirments for a Computer Science degree.
Click to expand...

This, solid advice

Alternatively, point your browser at jobserve.co.uk and browse I.T roles, I'd question college courses versus all out studying for the Microsoft certs, call me controversial but a friend did this and it worked for him (home study, paid for the exams himself).

There's also always the open university which even does the CCNA these days (for about £900 or so)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom