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Advice for A level choices please

55 replies

BaconAndAvocado · 23/11/2022 14:40

DS2 is in Year 11 and will have to start thinking about his A level choices.
Something he said he might want to do is to be a Computer Software Engineer.

Does anyone know which degree this would mean (I’m thinking Computer Science?) and which A levels he would require?

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 01/12/2022 13:16

@Boopear
Lancaster don’t offer on UCAS points! They went A levels, IB or BTec. I cannot see they mention UCAS points at all. Are you thinking of UCLAN?

@curiousllama
The op didn’t mention Imperial. There’s no shot at Imperial.

curiousllama · 01/12/2022 13:48

TizerorFizz · 01/12/2022 13:16

@Boopear
Lancaster don’t offer on UCAS points! They went A levels, IB or BTec. I cannot see they mention UCAS points at all. Are you thinking of UCLAN?

@curiousllama
The op didn’t mention Imperial. There’s no shot at Imperial.

If you look back at my comments you would see that I was quoting another person who mentioned Imperial first and clarifying their stance. Please check.

curiousllama · 01/12/2022 13:52

TizerorFizz · 01/12/2022 13:16

@Boopear
Lancaster don’t offer on UCAS points! They went A levels, IB or BTec. I cannot see they mention UCAS points at all. Are you thinking of UCLAN?

@curiousllama
The op didn’t mention Imperial. There’s no shot at Imperial.

Sorry quoting twice as not sure how to edit posts.

You cannot rule out a shot as OP's Mum has not given clarity on natural ability as much. She's given info on where he is standing from mock performance; that's different. If he's not considering FM at all, then of course that's out, but if he's better than his mocks show then there might be a chance. We need more info. I was admitted into a CS + Maths course at Imperial, although I switched to Maths in the end, so I think I know..

justanotherdaduser · 01/12/2022 16:06

Boopear · 01/12/2022 12:45

Just jumping into this thread if i may. What are people's thoughts on doing CS without a maths a level at all? Son v keen on cs, but his maths gcse predictions not great (probably max 7) and he finds it difficult . It would seem that several unis (i appreciate not Russell group, but Lancaster as an example) are more focused on UCAS points rather than subjects, while the ones that specify maths are looking at A/A*. It would therefore seem pragmatic to focus on which A levels would gain the most points (he is doing physics and CS, but we need to make the call on maths as the 3rd or not) rather than running the risk of a low Maths A level grade. Are we being naive in this approach?

(Apologies for hijacking thread but I've been following and it seems to fit the discussion!)

It's doable, as you say, further down the CS league table.

Some, like Newcastle, 'encourage' A level computing (which your DS is doing anyway), and also require GCSE Maths (grade 6 in case of Newcastle), others have less stringent requirement (Kent, grade 4 Maths GCSE) etc.

One thing worth looking at is their syllabus. Kent with less stringent maths requirement still covers a decent amount of prerequisite maths in the first year (linear algebra, set theory, statistics, proofs, etc). Similarly for others too. So it's not possible to avoid maths entirely in a core computer science degree program, at least in first year.

That said, all of it is applied maths though, do not make up majority of the course content (even in first year), and I would imagine the universities will have good support for those modules, given A level maths isn't in their entry criteria.

Regarding career outside universities, I work in this sector and hire CS graduates, and haven't seen any preferential treatment for graduates with maths heavy CS degree. For sure a CV with Imperial or Warwick attract attention and will get an interview relatively easily, but for vast majority of CS graduate jobs in private sector, maths is not that relevant. There are some niche areas where its useful, but these roles often get filled with people from Maths or Physics background anyway.

Boopear · 01/12/2022 18:34

Thanks all. Much appreciated.

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