Which Uni Course - IT

[jr123]

I'm in the process of doing my UCAS but I'm not sure which I would like to do at uni. I'm currently studying a level 3 diploma in I.T. The two courses im looking at are-

Computer networking & security
http://www.staffs.ac.uk/courses_and_study/courses/...

And Applied Information Technology
http://www.staffs.ac.uk/courses_and_study/courses/...

I was originally set on doing networking but for some reason, im really doubting my abilities to do the course aswell as the fact that, doing the same for 3 years. Im attracted to the applied IT course, because it is a mix of all IT aspects, similar to my current course.

My concerns lies with what job/earning opportunities there are with either course, as one is very specialist whilst the other is very broad.

Thanks

[PimpmyHotwheels]

Ha, I'm in the same situation as you, haven't even written my personal statement yet. Have you considered computer science? Tutors told me to do some basic certification regardless of going or not going to university but I haven't got a clue. Not even sure if i want to continue on the IT track considering how this current course drags along.

Edited by PimpmyHotwheels on Sunday 27th November 20:51

[Simbu]

I'd be inclined to take a broader approach if you're struggling to decide how you want your career to go. One of the benefits of a degree is the opportunity to decide which parts of IT interest you most. Then you can expand on that while you're there with a view to looking for a job in that area when you graduate. If you can't find it, then you have alternative areas to fall back on.

I did a 4 year IT degree (3rd year placement) and started it with no idea which part of IT I liked most. By the 4th year after my placement I was sure I wanted to be a software dev, despite my best marks being in networks. My course allowed me to choose my final year units, so I concentrated on programming and database stuff, but also did a networks unit.

3 years since graduating I'm happy in a .NET development job.

PS, I wouldn't pay too much heed to the BCS stuff on your course - in my experience it's more or less irrelevant in the real world. If you can blag any free Microsoft or Cisco qualifications though...

[johnnyboy101]

Just some words of advise, DO NOT GO STAFFS, there are much more exciting places to go uni, the area is completely dead.

BTW I go Keele so know the area pretty well!

[CzechItOut]

As PimpMyHotWheels said, I would consider the straight up Computer Science course:

http://www.staffs.ac.uk/courses_and_study/courses/...

That course will give you an introduction to all aspects, including networks and security and will allow you more time to decide what speciality you want to choose when you graduate.

It also has a placement year, which although I didn't do one, I know people who did and they found it extremely valuable.

[Bullett]

I'd not do the networking course.

There are lots of people offering CCNA in 2-3 weeks which is fine if you are smart and have a background in the areas. Plus it's pretty much useless unless you are using it regularly and in an operational environment. Furthermore lots of employers will pay for you to get that qualification.

Go more general, it will be more interesting and varied and you may hate networking.

[72EuropaTC]

johnnyboy101 said:

Just some words of advise, DO NOT GO STAFFS, there are much more exciting places to go uni, the area is completely dead.

BTW I go Keele so know the area pretty well!

Haha.

Choose your course based upon reputation & quality.

Having said that, I went to Staffs when it was a polytech and had a very good IT reputation. Dunno what the course is like now, but have to agree, back then, Stafford & Stoke were somewhat wanting in the excitement stakes.

[jr123]

I was thinking of doing the Applied ICT course because it is very broad, covering all aspects of computing, whilst computer science is more programming. Im not going Uni for the social Life so not that fussed about that part.

[randlemarcus]

jr123 said:

I was thinking of doing the Applied ICT course because it is very broad, covering all aspects of computing, whilst computer science is more programming. Im not going Uni for the social Life so not that fussed about that part.

Hoo boy, where to start?

Have a look at the Computer Science with... degrees that are available. They will be more in-depth than your ICT course, which will teach you how to use ICT, not create and develop it. Ideally, you'll get a grounding in how, and why each individual bit of a system fits together, so that you can fit them together. Look for additional soft skills in the "with..." piece, as they are essential if you want more than a Def Leppard T-shirt as workwear

Don't think of social life as simply going to the SU to get ratted (though you must do some of that too ). Your peers will make or break a course, as will the effort you put into it (funnily enough, this doesn't apply only to your time studying).

Last bit of advice is that you will apply very very little that you learn to your jobs. If you could get the degree in a year, it would be less of a waste of time, but the paperwork will prove invaluable as you get better at it. It's not a guarantee of a job, simply an invitation to get through a series of doors.

[mikees]

johnnyboy101 said:

Just some words of advise, DO NOT GO STAFFS, there are much more exciting places to go uni, the area is completely dead.

BTW I go Keele so know the area pretty well!

I graduated from keele in 1990 with computer science, what's it like now?

[mikees]

randlemarcus said:

Last bit of advice is that you will apply very very little that you learn to your jobs. If you could get the degree in a year, it would be less of a waste of time, but the paperwork will prove invaluable as you get better at it. It's not a guarantee of a job, simply an invitation to get through a series of doors.

Really, I used my degree for 6 years working for a compiler tools software house. Got the job cos I did computer science which included compiler theory.

I use a lot of the knowledge at a high level still.

[randlemarcus]

mikees said:

Really, I used my degree for 6 years working for a compiler tools software house. Got the job cos I did computer science which included compiler theory.

I use a lot of the knowledge at a high level still.

Fair enough, but the OP doesn't want to do code, and is looking at generalist courses.

[johnnyboy101]

mikees said:

I graduated from keele in 1990 with computer science, what's it like now?

Still a small relatively quiet uni (although was even smaller back then), all in all not bad though besides the area and cheap as chips up here

[dcb]

mikees said:

Really, I used my degree for 6 years working for a compiler tools software house. Got the job cos I did computer science which included compiler theory.

I use a lot of the knowledge at a high level still.

Lucky.

A long time ago in a land far away, I spent a couple
of years studying eigenvectors & eigenvalues as part of,
of all things, a Comp Sci degree. Dead boring and never
used any of it since.

OTOH, the three weeks of lectures on Unix, I've used almost
every day for the last 30-odd years.

University computer science courses used to indulge the
research interests of the faculty, independent of the
commercial value of any of the software. I have no idea
what happens now.

[MH]

dcb said:

Lucky.

A long time ago in a land far away, I spent a couple
of years studying eigenvectors & eigenvalues as part of,
of all things, a Comp Sci degree. Dead boring and never
used any of it since.

OTOH, the three weeks of lectures on Unix, I've used almost
every day for the last 30-odd years.

University computer science courses used to indulge the
research interests of the faculty, independent of the
commercial value of any of the software. I have no idea
what happens now.

That was when University was more about furthering your education rather than training for a job.
I spent a long time in my final year talking about Kleene's theorem and finite state machines - used it every day since and so does everyone else who uses a computer.
Mike