Computer science, Where would you recommend?

[Serin]

DS2 wants to study computer science, we have no experience in this field at all. He is doing ok academically (pretty much all 7 and 8 at GCSE and doing maths, CS, and physics at A level , all predicted A grades).

Does anyone have any experience of studying CS at university? Where is recommended?

[MarchingFrogs]

@Ozzie9523, this is quite an old thread and the person you quoted hasn't posted (at least, not with that username - I really can't get used to the MN thing of 'name changing' every five minutes...) since later on in that month. It might be better to start your own thread with the questions you want answered?

[Ozzie9523]

@BoringPerson

DS is doing a comp sci Phd at one of the Unis mentioned here. He is shocked at how rapidly things are declining at his university mostly due to a rapid increase student numbers and a lowering of academic standards. If my kid was looking to do comp sci I’d suggest they ask a lot of questions....

One of my other DC had to get to the library at 7am to be sure of getting a seat at her RG Uni. It’s a stunning looking library that features in all the advertising literature.

Hello there, I've been looking on Mumsnet for information on CS degrees for our 17 year old son who needs to choose a uni soon for next year and saw your post. Could I ask what uni your son is at where he said the standards are rapidly declining please? And the other one you mentioned where getting space at the library is the issue. Thanks for any help and advice, this is our first time doing this and it seems to be a bit of a minefield!

[Serin]

Hugo! Thank you! I will head over to that thread

[SallyOMalley]

@Serin

[Serin]

Oh God!! Please dont apologise!
I genuinely appreciate your comments and those of everyone else who replied to my original post.
I'm really sorry if I came across as snippy, didnt mean to at all! I was actually being boastful as for once things are organised in this house with regards to the uni application (and the help from all on here)

[SallyOMalley]

Sorry, I didn't mean to tell you what to do. I kind of meant it in the spirit of general advice really. You'd be amazed at what we see (or rather, don't see).

[Serin]

Sally, his PS is all but finished and ready to go, once UCAS opens. He is our 3rd to go to uni in 4 years. He knows the ropes

[SallyOMalley]

I work in Admissions for a Computer Science department in an RG university.I've been nodding at all the good advice on here!

With my work hat on, I absolutely recommend summer schools such as Headstart - such a brilliant experience.

I also recommend looking closely at the courses that offer a year in industry - a great opportunity to put hard skills into practice. Just as importantly, we see our students come back into their final year (or third year if doing an MEng) with renewed motivation for their studies and a huge improvement in their 'soft' skills such as team work, time management etc etc. Many of our students are offered jobs by their placement provider on graduation.

Regarding personal statement, it sounds so obvious but we see many applications that simply don't mention why the prospective student wants to study CS. Why are they passionate about it? What really makes them 'tick'? Yes, it's great to read about DofE for example, but sometimes we're no clearer as to why they've chosen CS over physics or maths!

Another obvious point: get them to read the subject requirements carefully! Maths is an essential requirement at our place but we receive so many applications where the student isn't taking that subject and so we're a wasted option - with an immediate reject from us. It pains me every time I have to do that.

On the upside, rest assured we read every single application and personal statement and highlight interesting content for our academic colleagues to discuss at interview. It's not always true that no one reads them!

[Serin]

Just an update to everyone who very helpfully posted on this thread.
We took all your advice and DS2 managed to get on 3 uni summer schools, Southampton, York (Headfirst, electronic engineering) and the Cyberfirst advanced at Cheltenham.
He has had a fantastic time and interestingly it seemed to be the same kids appearing on the same courses. Maybe they also have mumsnetting mums!
On the GCHQ course they were given lots of information about different apprenticeship routes including military roles and the joint cyber force unit? He was very interested in these.
Also got his AS grades which are A*AA which keeps a lot of unis open for him.
Manchester is very local for us (could live at home) but he was more taken with York and Southampton.
To anyone else's DC considering CS I would definitely look into the summer schools route and yo all the lovely posters who helped us, thank you

[BoringPerson]

DS is doing a comp sci Phd at one of the Unis mentioned here. He is shocked at how rapidly things are declining at his university mostly due to a rapid increase student numbers and a lowering of academic standards. If my kid was looking to do comp sci I’d suggest they ask a lot of questions....

One of my other DC had to get to the library at 7am to be sure of getting a seat at her RG Uni. It’s a stunning looking library that features in all the advertising literature.

[meditrina]

The new spec CompSci A level is a completely different beast to its predecessors and it is being very warmly welcomed.

[EllenJanesthickerknickers]

Things have changed re Computer Science A level in just the last couple of years. My DS1 took maths, FM, physics and computing at AS in 2015 but dropped computing to concentrate on his maths and physics. That was the last year to start the old linked AS/A2 for computing and he said the new syllabus (the current A level) looked much better.

He is now finishing his maths degree in which he took a few computing modules at Warwick and is having absolutely no trouble getting job offers as a graduate software engineer. The companies he’s applied to don’t seem concerned he didn’t do computing A level or a degree. His summer job in a software company has been invaluable and they seem to like his maths degree.

Obviously, this may change as computing has really taken off as a subject. DS’s school didn’t even offer it as a GCSE!

I can remember us looking at degrees as he could have taken computing without computing A level, but decided at the time that the industry moves so quickly that the A level especially and even the degree subject matter would be obsolete before he started work! That might have been hyperbole, but as I said, he’s currently holding on to 2 job offers on graduate schemes and has turned down 3 jobs he didn’t fancy. His only rejections have been for jobs with smaller companies who required more initial experience, oh, and from Amazon!

[bruffin]

No gf finished on 2017 and just finished her masters elsewhere, she wasn't computer science.
Ds started off engineering then moved to computer science and dropped out in 2017. It wasn't because of the overcrowding, but they said at the time it was noticeably starting to happen , by the time they left.
Thankfully ds has got himself a good job.
I do think it is something that potential students need to be aware of and looked into.

[SunburstsOrMarbleHalls]

bruffin sorry I have just seen your above post.

That sounds very concerning indeed. After a brief google I found a local news article stating that Economics lectures were taking place in the local Vue cinema in 2017. It was suggested that this was due to an unprecedented number of successful applications that year and an aggressive drive by the university itself to rapidly expand.

I wonder if this overcrowding situation has been remedied and if the university has invested in building extra accommodation and faculty space?

This would definitely impact DS's decision to put Surrey down as a choice on his UCAS. It has a good ranking for Computer Science which can create an assumption that all is well.

Did your DS and his girlfriend decide to move to another university?

[bruffin]

Surrey University has a good reputation for computer science. Nice campus and town - ds1 has had several school trips there
Ds and his gf both went Surrey Ds did a year of computer science.
It's now over crowded , having to hire local cinema for lecture theatre and not enough local housing even for first years. They saw the library get more and more crowded. He liked living there but said pastoral care was non existent.
They saw a big change while they were there.

[Serin]

Thanks Sunbursts, it sounds v much like our DS is considering very similar universities to yours. Good luck to him and to all the others considering CS.

[SunburstsOrMarbleHalls]

Really interesting information on this post. DS is in yr 12 and wants to study CS at university. His A levels are Maths, Further Maths, CS and History. He knew he would be taking a risk picking history over physics but he just loves the subject.

The only drawback DS has is that he opted to do his CS GCSE a year early on the old syllabus and in hindsight it was the wrong choice. He and two other students were barely taught anything by the teacher and had to self study using you tube tutorials as guidance on some topics. He was only 14 at the time (one of the youngest in the year) and was not mature enough to independently study. He achieved a B grade and it was one of the main reasons he switched to a different school that had a more robust CS department for A level.
His other GCSE's were a mix of 9s 8s 7s a 6 and a 5 (french)

He is just starting to look at CS degree choices and at the moment he likes the look of Durham, Southampton, Surrey, York and Lancaster. They are a mixed bag regarding entrance requirements and hopefully his decision not to take physics wont adversely affect his options.

Good luck to your DS Serin

[Ashmount]

Just seen this thread - better late than never! Based on DS2's experience there are a few potential routes onto CS courses. He took maths, physics and CS at A level, getting BBB. He'd already decided though that he wanted to go to Manchester, so went through their Foundation Year Science and Engineering, then onto CS.

That has worked out. He has completed his first two years and is on course for a first. This year is his year in industry, which is in cyber security with a fintech company, paying above national average wage. Reportedly some of his course mates on £40k plus for their intern year - no doubt that demand for CS grads is huge

[ErrolTheDragon]

Good for her! my DDs gcse options were CS, electronic products and drama - but in a girls' school this wasn't too remarkable.

[ZandathePanda]

My youngest Dd wants to be an actress with a computer programmer as a back up . So, at the moment, in a couple of years time, her A level choices will be computer science, maths and drama . She is in a class of male introverts and I think she bemuses/ scares them in equal measure. She doesn’t get the highest marks in tests but her brain works differently so when the teacher gave them some coding puzzles she cracked them quicker.

[BasiliskStare]

OP - Bristol for CS ? My information is out of date a bit but may be worth looking at. It is out of date but I think a student could vary between maths and CS - just a thought.

[PostNotInHaste]

Lurking with interest as suspect that might be way DS headed. He was gutted when his school ditched CS GCSE and looking forward to taking it for A Level.

[impostersyndrome]

I agree with PP on the oxbridge courses. Not applied enough. Maths and more maths for A levels is the best preparation. Check out their industry links as well. Practical experience during the summer can be invaluable. I’ve DM’d you, OP.