Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / College

Author
Message
AlexI
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 31st Dec 2004
Location: UK
Posted: 28th Feb 2007 22:28
Link
Hi,
In about an year and half i will have to go to college, though in a month or so i have to decide which collge i will go to. Any ideas for any collges that do a bit more than just excel, word and all that crap. I live in esher, surrey so any collge near there would be cool.

I looked at esher college http://www.esher.ac.uk though looking at the IT course for the first year it looks like just using excel, second year a bit better vb, but i already know how to program in vb and i doubt they would teach to much stuff with it other than the basics and stuff that i know.

Thanks,
Alex


Back to top
Profile PM
Killswitch
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 2nd Oct 2002
Location: School damnit!! Let me go!! PLEASE!!!
Posted: 1st Mar 2007 00:51
Link
If you're planning to do a degree in Computer Science/Software Engineering than DO NOT DO ICT.

In fact, don't do ICT at all in post-16 education. Last year the countries top 15 Unis stopped recognising ICT as a proper A-Level/equivilant.

Going back to my first sentance, if that is the direction you want to go in then you almost deffinatly need to take A-Level Maths, and/or Further Maths.

Apart from that I can't help with your college choice, I live nowhere near Surrey.

~Heed my word hobags: Jism~
Back to top
Profile PM Email
GatorHex
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Apr 2005
Location: Gunchester, UK
Posted: 1st Mar 2007 01:20 Edited at: 1st Mar 2007 01:26
Link
I would recommend skipping A-Levels and using a HND as the stepping stone to a degree or job intstead.

Don't believe the hype that you can't do a computing degree without A-level math, that's the bad crappy career advice I was given too!

Its a pity your don't live up north we run some great games programming course at Liverpool and Bolton Unis.

http://www.KumKie.com http://bulldog.servegame.com
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Zappo
Valued Member
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Oct 2004
Location: In the post
Posted: 1st Mar 2007 15:08
Link
I doubt anywhere would let you on a HND course without first obtaining A-levels or a National Diploma (unless the entry qualifications have dropped significantly in the last few years).
If you pretty much know what you want to do then I would certainly recommend a College course as it would be more focussed on your interest area, rather than the more generic A-levels. I would be tempted to phone some up around your area as they will often run particular courses which aren't listed in their prospectus if there is enough interest. Colleges tend to offer better advice on which course would suit you too, as schools tend to try and push you towards A-levels.
Back to top
Profile PM Website
GatorHex
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Apr 2005
Location: Gunchester, UK
Posted: 1st Mar 2007 15:33 Edited at: 1st Mar 2007 16:32
Link
There are other routes onto an HND then A-Levels.

They will let you on if you over 20 (mature student)

or if you pass an aptitude test (basic IQ logic, puzzel solving and math, not realy A-level standard)

or as in my case i went to an interview and showed them some of the games I'd written in STOS and AMOS that had appeared on magazine cover disks. They said the code was good enough and I didn't have to take the IQ test.

Also worth concidering, on A-levels in a 6th form they still treat you like a child, at college/uni you're treated like a human!

http://www.KumKie.com http://bulldog.servegame.com
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 1st Mar 2007 17:23
Link
Quote: "Don't believe the hype that you can't do a computing degree without A-level math, that's the bad crappy career advice I was given too!"
Yeah, thats crap. I did a BTEC instead of A-levels (more programming in BTEC) and then did a degree instead of HND. No problems. Although it took a while (like years) before my boss would let HND graduates in for interviews no matter what we said. Comp sci all the way basically.

Hah, STOS! Used to love that. Still have manual around here someplace. Wrote my BTEC main project in that. Think the lecturer (who was a witch and probably dead now) gave it a bad mark because you couldn't see how to use it from the manual I wrote because you used a mouse. Bitch. It was miles better than most of the other crap projects that were mainly written in sodding COBOL. Grrrr. Still angry 16 years later....

And yes, 6 form you are a kid, a college (eg. BTEC) you are treated like an adult. Not quite like Uni, but very close.

And whats all this considering of "not just word and excel"? What about considering the nightlife, how many pubs are there etc etc. Much more important IMHO.

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Moondog
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: outside the box
Posted: 1st Mar 2007 19:06
Link
college? who needs college? i dropped out of college because in all seriousness, the "professors" were teaching tutorials they bumbed off the internet...and when i called one out, he kicked me out of his class for the rest of the year...oh yah, this was Full Sail i'm talking about, lol!

So, no college for me, and look where i am ..wait, where am i? holy crap! who are all these people telling me what to model!?

MOONDOG


current projects: Mystic Dream // red // battle room
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Jeku
Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Jul 2003
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posted: 1st Mar 2007 21:13
Link
Well you don't need college to be a modeler as far as I know, so you're not that far off

Back to top
Profile PM Website
AlexI
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 31st Dec 2004
Location: UK
Posted: 2nd Mar 2007 11:46
Link
@ GatorHex
Quote: " HND"
& Dazzag
Quote: "BTEC"


Whats that?? Where do you go for that?

I either want to get a job as a 3D Modeler, server admin or web designer


Back to top
Profile PM
Zappo
Valued Member
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Oct 2004
Location: In the post
Posted: 2nd Mar 2007 12:27
Link
BTEC are the examining body and the ones who provide the qualification. By 'BTEC' I expect they are refering to a BTEC National Diploma and by 'HND' they are refering to BTEC Higher National Diploma. A National Diploma is equivalent to 3 or 4 A-levels depending upon your grades, and the HND sits between the National Diploma and a Degree (if I remember correctly).
Back to top
Profile PM Website
GatorHex
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Apr 2005
Location: Gunchester, UK
Posted: 2nd Mar 2007 18:22 Edited at: 2nd Mar 2007 18:36
Link
Yeah that sounds about right Zappo, also if you get good grades in the HND (I had an 82% destinction rate) you can just jump straight to year 2 of the Degree.

The BTEC/HND courses are more geared towards paractical work, can you program it?, yes you can, then you pass!

When I moved to the degree I did bad in my 1st couple of assignments because i wasn't up to speed on how they wanted the research and reports done, even though my software was top rate.

!hi! "Whats that?? Where do you go for that?"

I did the HND at Bolton Polytechnic College, then it grew into an Institute so I did the BSc Hons. and now its a full University so I'm back doing their MSc Hons. I also worked there for part of my career too. They can't get rid of me!

However there is a lot of University snobbery, I'm sure if I'd gone to Oxford/Cambridge and barely scraped a pass grade I'd have more people offering me a Job What can i say I'm poor so had to go to a Uni offering the lowest fees! I've got the EU funding 100% of my MSc Hons costs or i probably wouldn't have gone back if that wasn't the deal, LOL

http://www.KumKie.com http://bulldog.servegame.com
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Seppuku Arts
Moderator
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Aug 2004
Location: Cambridgeshire, England
Posted: 2nd Mar 2007 21:12
Link
You can do 3D courses at various other places, they do one at the Anglia Ruskin university, Chelmsford, its a 'Computer Aided Visualisation' course, which uses 3D modelling/animation, 2D animation, web design, multimedia production etc.

Requirements are 160 tariff points with 3 GCSEs at C or above or equivalent. It has some good career prospects, you could look into it, be sure to ask as many questions as possible to see if it is for you.

However you can still find other institutions, I'm no expert for these courses, what's good and what's not, I'm going to the Anglia Ruskin in Cambridge for a course in Writing.

I know a few 3D modellers on another forum, some are post-graduate 3D artists, you may want to post at this forum.

http://forum.3dworldmag.com

Did The Buddha have a Zen micro?
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Uncle Sam
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 23rd Jul 2005
Location: West Coast, USA
Posted: 2nd Mar 2007 22:45
Link
Good luck !hi!. I find college to be a challanging and yet interesting experience, to say the least.

Uncle Sam
Nvidia Geforce 7950GT 512MB PCIEx, 2.66 GHZ Pentium 4 proccessor, 1GB RAM
Need particles? Click here!
Back to top
Profile PM Email
David R
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 9th Sep 2003
Location: 3.14
Posted: 2nd Mar 2007 23:25
Link
Quote: "Don't believe the hype that you can't do a computing degree without A-level math, that's the bad crappy career advice I was given too!"


Good - the entrance requirements to do A-Level Maths here at my schools' Sixth form are somewhat draconian (A in GCSE maths). Being not exactly amazing at Maths, I reckon I'll get a B - but it's reassuring to hear that I don't absolutely require A-Level maths to get into Computing


"History shall be kind to me, for I intend to write it" - Winston Churchill
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
AlexI
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 31st Dec 2004
Location: UK
Posted: 5th Mar 2007 16:50 Edited at: 5th Mar 2007 16:52
Link
I found college near me Kingston College and found a really good course the second year looks great:
Quote: "In the second year, you opt to follow one of three pathways and the units associated with these pathways: Computing, Business Information Technology, Software Engineering.

Year 2 Core Units: Quality Management Principles, Networks (with Cisco) options, Advanced Project
Option Units: Web Site Management, OOD, Software Engineering Techniques, Database Management Systems, Business Application Development, Systems Software (Unix), Multimedia & Internet Development, AI, Programming in C++, Computer Architecture, Computer Management"


-> http://www.kingston-college.ac.uk/study/1089105176.html

Problem is i dont have any A levels which it requires i have only GCSE's when i leave school The A level IT course they are doing looks very basic stuff i already know


Back to top
Profile PM
Zaibatsu
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 1st May 2006
Location: Lost in Thought
Posted: 6th Mar 2007 03:32
Link
kind of far away but i heard Georgia Tech is good...

"I admire its purity, a survivor, unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality"

Back to top
Profile PM Email
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 6th Mar 2007 08:43
Link
Quote: "I found college near me Kingston College and found a really good course the second year looks great"
Thats a BTEC HND. If just out of school then you require either A levels or a BTEC ND. Apart from obvious exceptions (proven genius or daddy in the masons) then that is it. And it doesn't matter if you know it already, part of it is to show that you did the work and you were committed to do it. If they had a thousand people saying "but I know everything there is to learn at A-level or BTEC ND" then how would they know who is lying? Stuff that, thats the main reason why we insist on qualifications when doing interviews. Anyone can say whatever they want. It's our money an d jobs (if you employ a lemon who do you think it reflects badly on?) on the line, so why take the chance? A piece of paper saying you have qualification X at least gives you better odds.

Anyway, don't be in a rush to finish college. Overall work sucks. And don't be under any illusion that a game programmer (I assume that is what you aspire to) will be loads of fun etc. Mindless repetitive programming to fix tiny annoying bugs is what most of it is about. Friend of mine worked on Carmaggedon. Basically changed the code to allow Chinese. Fun. Not. Anyway, my point is enjoy college for as long as possible. Learning stuff isn't that important (if you are clever enough it is a piece of p**s really), and you have a hell of a time in the process (which most of the time has nothing to do with lectures, computers, or infact anything to do with your course at all).

Saying that, I did know this girl in uni who turned out to be 2 years younger than everyone else because she was a genius at school or somesuch. And her dad was the local priest and she was the head of the local student charity/ church group or somesuch. Came as a bit of a surprise to say the least. Party wasn't quite as good after that one lets say (and one bloke there turned out to be the son of the highest police officer in the county....)

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
AlexI
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 31st Dec 2004
Location: UK
Posted: 18th Mar 2007 00:21 Edited at: 18th Mar 2007 00:23
Link
Quote: "Saying that, I did know this girl in uni who turned out to be 2 years younger ...."

lol good story

Quote: "Anyway, don't be in a rush to finish college. Overall work sucks."

Theres not really anything else better to do, i spend pretty much all my time on the computer anyway. And school is just crap i wish i could leave

Quote: "I assume that is what you aspire to will"

Im not really sure, i used to be into game programming and was good at 3d modelling though slowly i seem to have moved into being a linux server admin

Thanks,
alex


Back to top
Profile PM
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 18th Mar 2007 14:49
Link
Quote: "And school is just crap i wish i could leave"
Yeah true. BTEC is better as they treat you a bit better and more like adults. Uni rules as you can pretty much do what you want. Plus you are away from home. Whatever you do don't get a Uni near your family. And if you do then insist on living at Uni and not with them. Honest to god. I didn't even talk on the phone to my parents for 3 months when I went to Uni. Didn't do much else apart from partying, and realisation that I might have to goto lectures was a bit of a shock (1st year they were a bit stricter; third year I was lucky if I turned up to 2 lectures a week), but it will be the best time of your life. Or it should be. Practically zero rules and surrounded by people who just want to go out and party. Damn. Once you get a job you then have 20-25 days holiday a year (plus bank holidays) and thats it. Practically didn't get out of bed for that sort of period in Uni. Cry...

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Current fave quote : "She was like a candle in the wind.... unreliable...."
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
PowerSoft
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Oct 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 18th Mar 2007 15:37 Edited at: 18th Mar 2007 15:37
Link
I'm doing Further Maths A-Level and it is basically ALevel Maths + Further Maths A Level (if that makes sense)

I would say that it is HIGHLY useful to do it, and gives you a vaster knowledge and problem solving ability.

I'm doing ICT as well, that was more to do with the fact that I felt there would be parts of the course that could be used to help expand my documentation skills etc as the coursework is pretty long and hefty. There is also the fact it reduces the general stress and workload in theory...

(oh I'm also doing Business Studies)

The Innuendo's, 4 Piece Indie Rock Band
http://theinnuendos.tk:::http://myspace.com/theinnuendosrock
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
NeX the Fairly Fast Ferret
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Apr 2005
Location: The Fifth Plane of Oblivion
Posted: 19th Mar 2007 00:50
Link
Not quite old enough for college, but doing a "Diploma in Digital Aplications" (useless rubbish that I don't intend upon using). I usually finish a project in half the time I'm supposed to and spend the rest of it making flash movies involving stick men and dangerous weapons.
I don't really get much of a chance to do much in the project anyway - it's incredibly rigid and unchallenging. Not to mention that I have the "maximum" 20MB of user space, so I couldn't fit it in anyway.


Since the other one was scaring you guys so much...
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Venge
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 13th Sep 2006
Location: Iowa
Posted: 19th Mar 2007 00:59
Link
I actually found a college in this state for computer animation.
Sent an online application about a week ago, haven't heard anything back.

How long does it usually take to get a reply from colleges?

a.k.a. me
formerly known as "i hate you"
Back to top
Profile PM
Jonny_S
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Oct 2002
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 19th Mar 2007 17:55
Link
Quote: "
Don't believe the hype that you can't do a computing degree without A-level math, that's the bad crappy career advice I was given too!"

yeh it b/s I got into all my unis (some good but not great ones in the UK) with A-levels in Geography, Electronics and ICT. I did As maths for a week until I realised it was more worthwhile doing something that I liked instead of something which *may* (but probably won't) give me any advantage.

I finally changed the bad spelling
Back to top
Profile PM
RUCCUS
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 11th Dec 2004
Location: Canada
Posted: 19th Mar 2007 18:21
Link
Sheridan College in Canada has one of the best modeling / graphics curriculum in the world. Disney themselves go to Sheridan first to find aspiring graphics artists and 3D modelers for their productions.

Where I plan to go.


>> Gibble Blops
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 19th Mar 2007 22:18
Link
Quote: "Don't believe the hype that you can't do a computing degree without A-level math"
Absolutely. And if all else fails then just join a course with lower entry requirements then apply to move to the course of your choice straight away. Normally there are a few dropouts and you can move over pretty quickly. When I was in Uni there was about 120 people in the 1st year of Comp. Sci. About 8 of them were girls. 3 of them up and left (annoyingly well fit ones too) after a month to goto Physics. Turns out the Uni's Physic department was a bit harder than Comp Sci to get into, so they joined us specifically to jump ship as soon as they could.

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Current fave quote : "She was like a candle in the wind.... unreliable...."
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2024-11-18 09:32:41
Your offset time is: 2024-11-18 09:32:41