To be furious about this?

[LahDiDahDiDah]

DD went to enrol at college this morning after collecting her GCSE results. She wanted to go on her own with friends so I didn't go with her.

She had been given a conditional place for her chosen 3 A levels in January, and got the required GCSE results.

This morning she was told that she had to chose a different A level as 2 of her chosen subjects had been timetabled at the same time!

She was put on the spot and told to chose a different subject and was told that if they had enough applicants for the course, they may still change the timetable and she can do the one she had chosen.

The two subjects timetabled at the same time are subjects that go together - Maths and Computer Science. I mean WTAF!

So she has no guarantee, two weeks before the course is supposed to start, that she will be able to do her chosen subject.

I have rung the college asking them to get back to me to discuss but AIBU to think this is nuts?

You need Maths to do Computer Science post A-level.
You can get onto a CS degree course without it but you'll be at a disadvantage.

I wouldn't worry to much about the A-level computer science if she has already done the GCSE. DD did both and she had done a good 50% of the A-level course in her GCSE as not all schools can offer it. That was also the main reason DD did 4 A-levels as the computer science look a bit easy.

As long as she does maths which is the main requirement.

Oddly enough DD's college also did a timetable clash with maths and computer science but luckily they had 2 maths classes.

This is a weakness in the educational system. And pretty poor. This has been going on for decades.

Someone who wants to do and may well be interested in particular subjects cannot do them all because the rota they have drawn up won’t allow it.

Not managing the rota’s well is one thing. Not providing what there is with sufficient notice is a disgrace.

Defford need maths with CS at Oxbridge , Imperial, Warwick, Durham, Manchester, Bristol, Bath, UCL, KCL, Birmingham....it definitely disadvantages CS students if maths is not offered. Just so bizarre!

If they've got that many students, surely they've got multiple maths classes for a level?

You certainly can do Computer Science at University without A Level Maths. My son is doing it and not a chance he would have got A Level Maths.

Hi
this is very common and really not the end of the world. If you feel very strongly about it I’d suggest having a look at other colleges - they don’t work like schools and can often free us spaces, which they do as they want the money. It’s not too late to look elsewhere.

I know PP said, accurately, that some good Schools of CS do not require Maths. But these are actually few in number, whereas more vocational specialist courses at pst 1992 universities are less likely to require it.
For most good, solid CS degree programmes, Maths is the most important subject.

I don’t know how the DD’s interest in an apprenticeship may change things.

I am a STEM academic who did a long stint as an admissions tutor in a high tariff School.

This isn’t true- you can do CS at uni without Comp as I, but perhaps not at highly competitive universities

You can do it but you'll have gaps in your knowledge.

Very annoying OP and how odd to timetable Computer Science and Maths at the same time! Like you said, they complement each other so many students would take both as you get a big overlap of students doing both subjects. How strange of the college! I would phone around to other colleges. If your daughter has level 7’s and 8’s and 9’s in Maths and Computer Science, they will bite her hand off to give her a place. Alternatively, would she consider Physics?

It is stupid as I’m sure a lot of pupils want to do maths and CS! Not sure there’s much you can do though apart from going to a different sixth form.
Chemistry is a sensible second choice (assuming she got at least 7 at GCSE), will be a good base for any kind of maths/physics/engineering/CS degree.
You also don’t need CS A level for a CS degree so she is better off choosing maths & physics

Computer Science isn't a proper subject at A level. She should do Chemistry

What utter nonsense! Tell that to my former student who went from A level comp sci to a degree apprenticeship in cyber and is now very well respected in her field.

It’s utter nuts but computer science isn’t critical at all level and not usually needed for comp sci at the top unis so it shouldn’t harm her that way

but I am all for kids studying what they like at that age

Why did you say she would have picked a different collage then?