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Geek Culture / So what are you doing after you GCSEs

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Delta Games
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Posted: 17th Mar 2006 11:34
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I plan to do a BTEC national at me local collage in MEDIA (GAMES). It lasts 2 years and you use 3D studio MAX, Unreal engine and other pro development tools. I was in at the open night and it looks very good. they even had a Xbox 360 running.
After that I am going to do a degree in games programing and development at the same collage (if they offer it at that time) or go to a different collage about 50 miles a way.

what are the rest of you going to do.
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Philip
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Posted: 17th Mar 2006 12:06
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I sat my GCSEs in 1991 and everything since then has been a blur. I'm still not clear what I'm doing after my GCSEs.

Cheer if you like bears! Cheer if you like jam sandwiches!
Quote of the week: "... I started learning DBP while I was a Satellite Network Controller for the US Army Space Command ... "
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Scraggle
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Posted: 17th Mar 2006 15:41 Edited at: 17th Mar 2006 15:41
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1991? When we met at the conference last year I was convinced you were older than me! Oh well, I suppose it is hard to judge the age of a bear whilst it is stealing the orange juice from your pic-a-nic basket!
When I left school GCSE's didn't exist, I took O Levels and I still don't know what I am doing after them!


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Jeku
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Posted: 17th Mar 2006 18:18
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We don't have GCSEs, but I imagine it's the final tests in the last year of high school?

I wasted my time at a so-called "game programming" university, had no hope of finding a job after, so I finished my degree at a real university. Got a real paying programming job at a game company in December of last year and have been in bliss ever since


Automaton Games website has been revamped! Check it out!
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Zotoaster
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Posted: 17th Mar 2006 18:55
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I'm gonna stay in school another two years, then go to the RSAMD (Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama), then I will be touring Scotland with my guitar, then I go to London, make my name there, and then L.A. here I come

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Philip
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Posted: 17th Mar 2006 19:40
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@Scraggle

I only look older than you because of the stress of my occupation. :-(

Thankfully I don't look as old as IanM (who is 52 in July)

Cheer if you like bears! Cheer if you like jam sandwiches!
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Scraggle
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Posted: 17th Mar 2006 20:35
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only 52?

He isn't holding up well


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Killswitch
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Location: School damnit!! Let me go!! PLEASE!!!
Posted: 17th Mar 2006 20:58
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Well after my GCSEs, last year, I got a job working in the city (London) with me dad near Liverpool St. station. Luckily I had July 7th off because that was the day of our leaving prom! I had to go back the week after, it was so weird.

Anyway, in my free time (that summer) I wrote an interpreter and had a lot of fun with my mates.

I stayed on at my schools sith form where I'm doing History, Geography, Philosophy and Maths.

~Heed my word hobags: Jism~
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Robin
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Posted: 17th Mar 2006 21:17 Edited at: 17th Mar 2006 21:18
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Yes I did a-levels: maths, physics, german and design technology, and now I'm just coming to the end of my first year studying civil engineering at imperial.

I think if you want to get into programming for a living, I'd do what Jeku suggests and study maths/computing at a level and uni, to get a 'proper' degree. You need min. maths A-level to get into almost any job to do with computers.

Of course the choice is yours - and good luck either way

Robin

HP H5550 PDA with fingerprint scanner for sale - need to sell - make me an offer!
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OSX Using Happy Dude
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Posted: 17th Mar 2006 21:45 Edited at: 17th Mar 2006 22:11
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I did GCSE at school, and then when to college, doing a computer science course (that unfortunately had a maths element in - had to that twice), and then off to University for 3 years. Again, the maths element had a poor result (and very boring too).

After that I was unemployed for a year (which was quite alright by me), after which I got a job that was initially in Midhurst, and is now in Chichester.

I do believe that the need for maths is over-rated, unless you manage to get a job in some 3D or scientific role. With most jobs you only need basic knowledge - most of the coding is just logic or layout design - the need for mathematics is severly over exaggerated.

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re faze
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Posted: 17th Mar 2006 23:57
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what the heck is a gsce?

Dont code slowly be SWIFT about it!
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Philip
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Posted: 18th Mar 2006 00:01
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Its a type of chicken sandwich.

Cheer if you like bears! Cheer if you like jam sandwiches!
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himynameisali
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Posted: 18th Mar 2006 00:01 Edited at: 18th Mar 2006 00:04
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Quote: "what the heck is a gsce?"


No, it's not an "GSCE" its an GCSE, and it stands for "General Certificate of Secondary Education"

And plus, I'm only in year 9 at school, I've got another 2 years at school before I complete school, not unless I go into sixth form, and go to university after that, I'm not sure on what to do, get a job, or go to sixth form

a.k.a. Ali M
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Robin
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Posted: 18th Mar 2006 00:52
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Quote: "I do believe that the need for maths is over-rated"


I think it's mandatory to take maths a-level if you want to do anything science, technology, financial or computing related at university...From looking through uni prospectuses last year, I saw to get on most such courses in most universities you need to have taken A-Level Maths, and most required at minimum a B.

Robin

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OSX Using Happy Dude
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Posted: 18th Mar 2006 01:15
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Fortunately you don't always need A Levels - BTEC grades can be sometimes used instead.

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Tinkergirl
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Posted: 18th Mar 2006 01:17
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Pff. Revised Highers for 'teh win'. (Despite the fact they no longer exist, of course - Scottish equivalent).

As for Maths, painful story:
Did Higher Maths, got a C. Now usually, they don't let you do CSYS Maths (think equiv to 1st year at Uni, but still at school) unless you got a B or greater. But, the degree I wanted gave me a 'conditional' - they wanted me to get a C in CSYS Maths.

Ouch. So I begged and pleaded, and they let me take the CSYS. Now, they're hard (hardest thing you can do at school) and I wasn't amazing at maths (good, but not great). After a year of maths pain, I managed to get that C in CSYS Maths.

So, I got onto the course. Met with my lecturer who looked through my file...

Lecturer: "Hmm, you took CSYS Maths, even though you only got a C in the Higher?"
Me: "Yes, needed it to get on this course."
Lecturer: "Strange, you didn't need it - I wonder why I said you needed that."

Aaaaaarrrgghh!

Anyway - Maths can be very useful - vectors and such being much more useful than I'd have given them credit for. If only they'd told me at school they'd be useful for doing 3d rotations and movement, then I'd have paid more attention!
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Jeku
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Posted: 18th Mar 2006 01:38
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Yes, the need for higher level Math is *not* an exaggeration if you want to be a video game software engineer. They will test you on your knowledge of linear algebra among other things


Automaton Games website has been revamped! Check it out!
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soapyfish
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Posted: 18th Mar 2006 03:23 Edited at: 18th Mar 2006 03:25
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By the time I'm 21 I'll be so rich I'll never have to do anoter days work again. If that fails, I'll hide in a cupboard until everything sorts itself out.

I AM A MORON
and won't change my sig until I get off my oversized behind and finish a project.
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OSX Using Happy Dude
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Posted: 18th Mar 2006 11:05
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I've never actually wanted to join a commerical games company - I always want to go at my own pace, and not follow some orders by some suit who thinks they know what they want.

I did apply for a job at Probe when I was unemployed. Mind you, that was mainly to keep the people at the Job Centre happy...

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Philip
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Posted: 18th Mar 2006 15:53
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My main reason for deciding at a young and impressionable age that I wanted to read Law was because I had never heard of a poor lawyer.

Poverty is a terrible thing. My advice: avoid it.

Cheer if you like bears! Cheer if you like jam sandwiches!
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General Sephiro
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Posted: 18th Mar 2006 16:40
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hm i was just after finishing a BTEC national diploma for IT practioners in software developement (a.k.a. games development) well worth doing the course but shortly after i started searching for jobs... and i was shocked to find the sheer LACK of jobs out there for games developers around my area so i decided to create my own company blah blah blah...

My Advise: Do it ^-^


http://www.hybridwolves.co.uk
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Chilled Programmer 420
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Posted: 18th Mar 2006 16:43
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im at collage at the minuet on a btec nationel diploma in computers and software enginering, and after that ive applied for a course at derby university on a computer game programing degree.

[url=www.freewebs.com/tyhrfg][img]bruce.bmp[/img][/url]
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David T
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Posted: 19th Mar 2006 13:43
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I'm doing A levels in Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry. FM is just incredible - some of hte stuff you do like mechanics and discrete maths is incredibly useful when programming games

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Philip
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Posted: 19th Mar 2006 13:46 Edited at: 19th Mar 2006 13:46
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My A-Levels (1993) were Economics, English literature, Technology, Business Studies and General Studies.

In retrospect I shouldn't have bothered with Business Studies and should have done something substantive like History or Geography.

Cheer if you like bears! Cheer if you like jam sandwiches!
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adr
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Posted: 19th Mar 2006 14:26
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I did A-Level maths thinking that it get me out of doing it at uni... which wasn't the case ...

I agree with David T that A-Level maths, for me, provided a lot of useful foundations for advanced trig and fundamental matrix maths. However, I think that uni probably helped more with more abstract concepts, such as FSMs.... Ignoring the fact I've forgotten all of it.

I've always been wary of "alternative routes" when it comes to education. If you think about GNVQs, BTECs, etc and anything else non-standard, it's all vocational. You don't get a GNVQ in Mechanical Engineering or a GNVQ in Physics. They're always in something more specific to one job. Not to put to fine a point on it, (or insult any happy GNVQers/BTECers) they were designed to give a qualification to people who couldn't do maths.

That's why I don't like em.

[center]
iv tryed everything!!!!!!!!!! could u please just add The gun and shooting Code thats All!!!!!!!!!
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Teh Go0rfmeister
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Posted: 19th Mar 2006 14:58
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at the time of my GCSE's, i was convinced i was going to join the RAF, i needed 3 a-levels to qualify to be a pilot.

I always wanted to join the forces, for the reasons that people who want to join the forces do. that combined with my love of flying pretty much made up my mind.

i'm not a pascifist, nor am i scared of fighting etc, but i do believe in responsibility, and i couldnt allow myself to be part of Iraq's turmoil. the armed forces are meant to be about defending a country from invasion, if i was back in WW2 i'd be one of the many probably to lie about my age to get in the forces sooner. the armed forces are NOT meant to be about blowing up other countries, totally unjustifiably.

hence i lost my intrest in joining the RAF, and failing to find a replacement occupation, lost any motivation or reason to do well in my A-levels.

as soon as i finish my studies, i want to tour the world, and i dont mean a sight-seeing tour. i want to see it for what it really is, for example, what its actually like to walk through the streets of bagdad, in person, not through the eyes of the media.

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Tinkergirl
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Posted: 19th Mar 2006 16:15 Edited at: 19th Mar 2006 16:16
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Quote: "My A-Levels (1993) were Economics, English literature, Technology, Business Studies and General Studies. "

Sounds like lots of fun, Philip

For Highers, I did Maths, English, Physics, Chemistry, Art+Design, Religious Studies. Then that pesky CSYS Maths (tried CSYS Physics, but dropped out - FAR too hard).

Of those, Maths would have been really useful if I remembered half of it, English was boring but Uni's like you to have it, Physics and Chemistry have been of next to no use to me, and curiously Art+Design was very useful indeed (my project was to design a computer game ). RE was just for something interesting to do, and I liked the philosophical side to it.

[edit] Oh! And I got a certificate in Trampolining You'd be amazed how often that one gets brought up in interviews
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Megaton Cat
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Posted: 19th Mar 2006 16:32
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I have just over a year left of school and I'm as confused as anybody. I am going to take a shot at a 3-year Graphic Design degree...assuming I get it.

Though my ultimate goal would be to get started in my own "buisness". But wouldn't everybody?

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Philip
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Posted: 19th Mar 2006 23:43
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Quote: "Quote: "My A-Levels (1993) were Economics, English literature, Technology, Business Studies and General Studies. "

Sounds like lots of fun, Philip "


Touche!

I thought I'd have a crack at 5 A-Levels because ... well ... let me put it this way - I pretend to be a cartoon bear ... need I say more about my tenuous grasp on sanity?

Mind you, from the fact that you read highers I detect that you are a Scot. Aren't Highers supposed to have been harder than A-Levels? Thats what all my Scottish pals allege.

Quote: "[edit] Oh! And I got a certificate in Trampolining You'd be amazed how often that one gets brought up in interviews "


Thats actually a very good tip for anyone here going for interview. For god's sake put something slightly unusual and interesting on your CV. Speaking as an occasional interviewer, its terrible to try and find things to talk about when under "interests" the candidate has written the bog standard: "reading, watching TV, chess".

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Tinkergirl
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Posted: 20th Mar 2006 00:56
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Quote: "Aren't Highers supposed to have been harder than A-Levels?"


Apparently from what I've heard. Alledgedly a Higher is worth one grade more than the same A-Level, so a Higher B is an A-Level A, and so forth. Also, you can choose to do a Higher over one year, and most do. Fear the people who do 5 Highers in one year and get A's! I knew one - he went on to do Law But who knows for certain how they differ? (Barring possibly University entrance setters).

For those confused - in Scotland we did Standard Grades over two years (roughly equiv to GCSEs) and then Highers over one year (or two, if you were struggling). After that, if you stayed on for the last year, you could do a CSYS (Certificate of Sixth Year Studies) which was roughly equivalent to the first year of a degree course of the appropriate subject.

Standard Grade = GCSE
Higher = A-Level

However, I believe the system's changed again, and you don't do "Revised Highers" any more. They kept changing it.

Quote: "I pretend to be a cartoon bear"


What do you mean 'pretend' - hang on, I thought you were... Oh I get it. You're just playing a joke, aren't you. Crazy bear - you won't fool me that easily
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Philip
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Posted: 20th Mar 2006 23:26
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Quote: "What do you mean 'pretend' - hang on, I thought you were... Oh I get it. You're just playing a joke, aren't you. Crazy bear - you won't fool me that easily"


Rats! I'm busted.

Quote: "I knew one - he went on to do Law "


Scottish or English law? No disrespect is intended but the (economic) problem with reading Scottish law is that the market for it is very small - there are only four major Scottish law firms and the only place to earn a really good salary is Edinburgh. Hence the reason why London attracts so many smart Scottish law graduates who re-train by learning English law. Then they apparently spend the rest of their careers in the next office from mine telling me how superior Scottish law is to English law!

Not that I'm bitter or anything. And I don't dispute the point in issue because the young lady in the next office is: (1) seriously hot; and (2) from Glasgow and therefore probably able to beat me at arm-wrestling.

Cheer if you like bears! Cheer if you like jam sandwiches!
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Mnemonix
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Posted: 20th Mar 2006 23:36 Edited at: 20th Mar 2006 23:37
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Quote: " I pretend to be a cartoon bear"


Pretend?

[edit]


Aaaarrgh, Somebody beat me to it.

WE SHALL BECOME ALL POWERFUL! CRUSH THE LESSER RACES! CONQUER THE GALAXY! UNIMAGINABLE POWER! UNLIMITED RICE PUDDING ! ! ! ETC. ! ! ! ETC.! ! !
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