A level choices and uni/job

[bowbear]

Just looking for some ideas or suggestions, or pearls of wisdom really.

My DD is waivering on her choice of A level subjects. She'd made a decision after a lot of angst and is now doubting her choices. She was planning maths, further maths, physics and computer science with a view to doing computer science at uni. She's no having major doubts, and really unsure what she wants to do. She's is creative and musical and is worrying about facing a dry, office based future, at the moment she is thinking about sound engineering.
She was recently diagnosd with ASD and feeling a little overwhelmed with it all. I don't want to push her into anything but would love to give her some ideas about what possibilities are out there, but ensure she doesn't limit her options.
Sorry very waffly post, would love some ideas.

www.gold.ac.uk/ug/bmus-bsc-music-computing/
www.port.ac.uk/courses/computing-and-creative-technologies/bsc-hons-music-computing/
www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/degrees/index.php?action=view&code=w351
www.whatuni.com/degree-courses/search?subject=music-technology

Even when I was at Uni computers and music was starting to be a thing, one of the electrical engineering professors had a player piano attached to a computer.

She should consider the possibility of music in games. One recent graduate I know did his dissertation in the effect different sounds and music had on the game playing experience. For example if the players avatar was running the tempo of the background sounds increased.

Other possibilities are computer based sound and lighting rigs at events, concerts and in theatres. Music production facilities for film and albums use computers extensively.

You could encourage her to write/email one of the universities listed to try and get information from them. Perhaps even a visit.

Another possibility is get in touch with a computer games producer and see if they will invite her to see them work.

Lastly the British Computer Society en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Computer_Society
has regional branches - you might try to get in touch with one of them.

Science degree is fine for being an art or music freak. One of the most arty people I know is a gal who... carries a pack of spanners with her everywhere. She is a senior producer of online multiplayer games. She has 2 degrees in biology. She makes amazing artistic cakes for her office full of geeks. And other arty creations. She's a legend at ComiCon.

DD & I agreed DD shouldn't do Art GCSE b/c it might kill her love of Art. But getting a well-paid job would let her pursue her Art interest at her leisure.

Thank you so much for your replies and some great suggestions.
I think she would love the idea of creating music for online games or films. We've talked a lot about computers/tech underpinnng everything so it would be ideal for her to bring her two interests together.

I will show her those links and see if that sparks her imagination!

lljkk - Your friend with her bag of spanners sounds fab :)

She's drop dead gorgeous too.... :)

Go on careers sites or google graduate computing jobs and see what kind of grad schemes and jobs come up - Im just finishing my MA right now and a lot of my friends are in completely different career paths than their degree ( by choice) my friend did History and is now becoming an auditor lol! Just remember its not the be all and end all what she chooses to do at uni - try and aim for the right area but don't panic and think she can only ever do one thing afterwards - kids don't realise that they're not deciding their ENTIRE future in this one moment, mainly because the educational system its like it is.
She sounds like a smart kid, she'll be okay, just tell her to do what she needs but not forget to also do something that she loves, even if its just one A level. My mum made me do Chem at A-level, insisting that I couldn't get into Uni without a science, even though I wanted to do English Language - short version of the story, I got a U - But I did get into a top 10 Uni doing English Lit ( so it wasn't the end of the world see? ).

My DS1 has chosen similar A levels to your daughter, and he is also very musical. I think there is a strong correlation between music and maths - lots of his similarly techy friends are musical.
DS1 also looking at CompSci at uni, and has foudn there are lots of options for combining with other subjects - some Unis (Warwick or Southampton iirc) actively encourage taking some unrelated modules for 'breadth'.

DS figured it's easier to keep doing music in your spare time as a hobby than it is Physics!

It does feel like she is having to set her future in stone with the choices she's facing and like most 16yr old she doesn't know what she wants to do. Great to hear that people do manage to change direction as they get older. I definitely agree that doing something you love is so important.

Physics does sound like an unusual hobby :-)

Really appreciate the comments, thank you x

Not music, but here is another example of computer science and the arts meeting:

Two Imperial College alumni (both ex Information Systems Engineering students) were awarded Oscars in 2003 for their work on visual effects. They have been involved in famous digital makeup examples such as the noseless Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films, replacing Mystique’s eyes in X-Men and helping Natalie Portman undergo an amazing transformation in Black Swan.

Sorry that should read 2013 not 2003!

2 science graduates of my acquaintance ... both did Maths, Physics, Chemistry (and either Further Maths or Biology) A-levels...

One is a composer.

Another is a playwright and theatre director...

Many people end up doing jobs that are nothing to do with their A Levels or their degrees. It's true as well that at that age many of us had an idea of what we wanted to do but that changed. My cousin wanted to be a chef but then at 35 decided to be an English teacher!

My advice to you daughter would be to do the A Levels on the subjects she really likes and will do well in.

Hello,
I studied Music Tech at Uni, If I could start again, I'd go into Computer Games sound design, a coding background would be a great skill. A GOOD degree, with proven graduate employment. Music Tech/Audio Engineer courses are everywhere, but I chose badly and I'm still paying back loans from 15+ years ago which annoy me every month on my pay slip- not to mention this weeks announcement that my debt has just been sold on.... GRRRRRRRRR....

I've ended up in a well paid job doing live telly stuff, but the hours are long. It's a brilliant job in the Summer, but in the Winter, it's cold, dark and you can get sent to any corner of the country/world with little notice! I'd love a nice little job in a warm games studio, doing fun things, rather than pulling on an extra layer of thermals to go and make footy for Sky happen!
My Dad spent my teenage years telling me to go and be an Accountant or a Solicitor, but I'm pleased I've found my job. I can't imagine doing anything else!