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Hey all

I am nearing the end of my school years, and am about to break through into Further Education with flying colours ( I hope ). But, I'm at a bit of a loss...

I live in New South Wales ( Eastern Coast ) in Australia, and am looking for places to further my education in the Computer Sciences areas...

Particularily, Graphics/Multimedia, General/specialised Programming/Application Development, Gameing ( Yes, there are courses for that ) and some sort of further mathmatics.

I have done a bit of asking around between my friends overseas ( for general course ideas ) and have asked my teacher friend where she thinks is a good place to go, but it all seems a bit... daunting... I mean, it's not that I can't decide where to go ( as I don't mind having to relocate to the other side of the world if it'll help me any ), but it's more a question of what exactly should I do, and what specific courses should I undertake, and which should I avoid..?

Any suggestions/information/URL's or anything else you can congure up would be extremely apreciated and will help me to follow my dream to become a professional programmer/Graphic Artist

Thanks for those that dare read the post And special thanks to those that can contribute

Jess.

[EDIT]
After reading Vash the Stampede's thread "Software Engineering", I can see the different views that might crop up in this discussion...
But, what I am after is the education.
I know, you might think, 'Oh, the boy will go through Uni and get a degree in Graphics or Application Development, wow. Then what? He'll be sitting at a help desk for the rest of his days, or stuck in a dead end job designing Company Buisness cards for $5 an hour.'
But, I beleive that I am onto a good thing atm, and I can forsee that I will have a quite good job opportunity lined up when I complete my education.
Thanks again
[/EDIT]

Hmm, I don't know of any in NSW, but there's quite a few good programming/software development courses down here in Melbourne. Victoria has quite a few IT scholarship courses so I don't see why there shouldn't be any up there, your best bet is to take a look around the websites and go to some open days (should be happening in a month or two).

I know there's the Academy of Interactive Entertainment in the ACT, which is basically a game development course that teaches programming and graphics (C++ and 3D Max/Maya). Unfortunately it's a full-fee course and not HEX so you'd have to put up quite a large sum of money.

Your school should have a careers teacher or someone that can offer a lot of help in finding the right course for you, definately worth giving them a visit. Also speak to your IT teachers because they'll know of past students or people that have gone into courses and could probably recommend a few good ones.

There are actually quite a few in NSW, and I have managed to find at least one other Game orientated course that is run by the Charles Sturt University, and is HEX supported ( but needs a UAI of 82.25!!! )

Yeah, we have a career's advisor, but he's an ex english teacher, and he seems to not know much at all about careers unfortunatly But, I can ask him none-the-less.

And our "IT" teacher is an ex music teacher!!
I and my mate Bruce literally have to teach him certain things when he can't work it out ( both for code and theory ), and last year was the first time he taught Software Design & Development and Information Processes & Technology ( Yes, he teaches both, and yes, he sucks at both ).

And so, you can see my predicament

I assume you are in somewhat the same situation Exeat? Or are you planning to follow a different line of work?

Jess.

*Cough*
Any information or anything really at all would be helpfull guys ( and girls ) if you can offer it...

It doesn't even have to be related to Australia, I mean, I just need some advice about University/College.

Thanks
Jess.

Well it's not so bad for me because we have a great careers teacher and we often have ex-students who are doing IT courses dropping around and telling us if it's good or bad. I have a couple courses that I'm interested in taking, yet to decide which one in particular and I'll also have to wait for my ENTER (UAI) score before I know how good a chance I have at getting in.

*cough*

I'm going to Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI to get my Associate's Degree in Computer Programming and Bachelour's in Information Technologies. Yeah, that isn't exactly in Australia...but if you're willing to go abroad, we're the same age Jess, maybe I could see you in college! Haha.

http://www.jwu.edu

They actually have a very high amount of foreign students. It'd be cool to go to school with someone who I very well may end up working with.

I know in WA, since I live here, murdoch uni is starting a bachelor of science in gaming(something like that) next year, I think it'll be very competive but hell it's still cool... do stuff like design theory, practical stuff, C style programming, 3d stuff with maya/lightwave and max, and the other stuff that you do with games, yeah, I only read it briefly so it's quite a bad description....

Interesting proposition there Steve, lol...

But, I think I'll try to stick to my own country unless I definatly can't get what I want, etc, etc.

Toilet Freak, I know about that course. It's being offered by the Charles Sturt Uni's all across Australia too, and you're right on the mark with your description there about the course

Thanks for the input.
Jess.