Official Unofficial Computer Science 2016 applicants

username1911047

I am hoping I could get some advice, as I'm an international student (26 year old autistic lady, very little work experience in any field) and stressing about which offer I should accept. I am wanting to do the MSc conversion degree in computer science so I can get a grounding in computer science fundamentals, have a cs degree on my resume, and hopefully come out it with an entry level software dev job that I can work my way up from.
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I've been teaching myself about computer science and program design for about 6 months but I have no formal education in it.
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I've been accepted to both Kent and Bristol. I have a weak math background (I'm happy to learn more math but still want to pass my classes) and I'm very concerned about my ability to find work afterward since being autistic puts me at a disadvantage for interviews etc. Kent's industrial placement program appeals to me but I know getting a placement isn't guaranteed and Bristol seems to have both name recognition and a lot of assistance.
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halp? I really wish I could go visit the two universities but my £5.5 an hour job isn't enough to fund overseas travel.
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also can people tell me anything about canterbury and bristol? in the united states where I'm from people will leave me alone in big cities but in smaller ones I sometimes get people thinking I'm a 'danger to myself' and calling the police and stuff like that, so from a safety perspective I prefer living somewhere where people tend to mind their own business to living somewhere epitomized by small town nosiness.
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so any information is very very helpful and appreciated thank you all
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[edit: for some reason my line breaks aren't coming through so there's no formatting. sorry everyone. i'll try filling them in with periods.]

Bristol is much more of a busy, student city (higher population too) whereas Canterbury is more of a smaller 'rural'y city.
I think you'd find that wherever you go in the UK people will be very accepting and welcoming, moreso in Student areas where people tend to be more liberal so both of these should be totally fine (probably more Bristol).

I can only speak for Bristol Uni as I haven't looked at Canterbury but it was definitely one of my favourites. The course seemed brilliant as did the Uni and city as a whole. The only drawback was that the accommodation kinda sucked, but if you can afford nice accommodation or you're like me and don't really mind then it should be fine.

TLDR; if you can get the grades, Bristol is the one.

Reply 601

SL1235

Original post by JP298

Why has the student been so small each year and why have they decided to 'scale-up'?

Posted from TSR Mobile

It was small in the past because the Scottish government capped our numbers of EU students and because we were slowly and steadily growing staff, students and reputation. In the past few years we've been getting lots of excellent applications, and non-Scottish UK students fall outside the cap, so we've been growing, but we don't want to grow too fast because it risks losing quality of experience (also it takes time to grow facilities).

Reply 602

sophiebookley

7

Name - Sophie
A2 Subjects Prediction/Achieved - AAB (Maths, Computing and Chemistry respectively)
Programming languages you know and to what level - Python (Confident), JavaScript (Adequate), SQL (Adequate), Visual Basic (Confident)
Uni's Chosen - York as firm, Salford as insurance. Also applied to Manchester, Manchester Met and Liverpool.

Hi! I'm from Liverpool, so if anybody has applied there and wants to know what the city/uni is like let me know. Crazy seeing so many people predicted A*'s on this thread! I'm in awe. :clap2:

Original post by sophiebookley

Name - Sophie
A2 Subjects Prediction/Achieved - AAB (Maths, Computing and Chemistry respectively)
Programming languages you know and to what level - Python (Confident), JavaScript (Adequate), SQL (Adequate), Visual Basic (Confident)
Uni's Chosen - York as firm, Salford as insurance. Also applied to Manchester, Manchester Met and Liverpool.

Hi! I'm from Liverpool, so if anybody has applied there and wants to know what the city/uni is like let me know. Crazy seeing so many people predicted A*'s on this thread! I'm in awe. :clap2:

I've firmed Liverpool! Can you tell me if it's good for people who don't drink/party at all? :colondollar:

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 604

sophiebookley

7

Original post by Edminzodo

I've firmed Liverpool! Can you tell me if it's good for people who don't drink/party at all? :colondollar:

Posted from TSR Mobile

In terms of university things I think most universities have socials in which you can happily participate without drinking (such as meals, activities and pub quizzes, as you probably already know).

In terms of the city itself, there are lots of wonderful restaurants to go to, particularly Free State Kitchen (by the Liverpool Philharmonic), Almost Famous (by Seel Street near the Bold Street area of town) and many more! Google them if you're curious. There's also many other well known restaurants (such as Nandos, Pizza Hut, etc) in the Liverpool One area, as well as many high street stores (http://www.liverpool-one.com/home.aspx). There's also a cinema and a 'rooftop' garden area.

At the likes of Christmas/half terms there's often events going on in the Liverpool One area, some are family oriented, but there was a zip wire set up through the town centre that lots of people went on and enjoyed a few months ago!

The Bold street area (near the top end, by St Lukes/'the bombed out church) has lots of independent, unique stores and Quiggens (the local alternative... 'shopping centre', I guess? Basically where you can get a pink tutu, vintage clothes and a full length leather coat all in the same place :P) is also nearby. Some unique events are also held in St Lukes and there are some nice restaurants to visit in China town, which is great to go to on Chinese New Year! :smile:

http://www.bombedoutchurch.com/
http://www.liverpoolchinatown.co.uk/

Also, there's the Albert Dock area, about 15/20 minutes walk from the main bus station (Queen's square) where there are more restaurants, cafes and the Tate modern. The other museums (such as the art gallery and the world museum) and the central library (the library for Liverpool Uni, I believe) are also located near to the Queen's square bus station and St Georges hall.

http://www.albertdock.com/
http://liverpoolcityhalls.co.uk/st-georges-hall/about/
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/

Lots of events are held in the city in general (such as in the Sefton park and the other marks in the surrounding areas), but you may not stray this far from the city centre if you're studying at the university. :smile:

http://www.limfestival.com/

There's also the two cathedrals the Metropolitan (not too far from the main Liverpool Uni buildings) and the Anglican (by China town), which are both pretty to go see. The Liverpool Echo Arena and the Liverpool Philharmonic also both have concerts and events going on.

http://www.liverpoolphil.com/
http://www.echoarena.com/

This website is also pretty good for checking out events and places to go to in the city:

http://www.visitliverpool.com/whats-on

And this one for the smaller (but amazing!) establishments in the city:

http://independent-liverpool.co.uk/

Sorry for the long post, I hope this helps! Feel free to ask anymore questions.

Original post by sophiebookley

In terms of university things I think most universities have socials in which you can happily participate without drinking (such as meals, activities and pub quizzes, as you probably already know).

In terms of the city itself, there are lots of wonderful restaurants to go to, particularly Free State Kitchen (by the Liverpool Philharmonic), Almost Famous (by Seel Street near the Bold Street area of town) and many more! Google them if you're curious. There's also many other well known restaurants (such as Nandos, Pizza Hut, etc) in the Liverpool One area, as well as many high street stores (http://www.liverpool-one.com/home.aspx). There's also a cinema and a 'rooftop' garden area.

At the likes of Christmas/half terms there's often events going on in the Liverpool One area, some are family oriented, but there was a zip wire set up through the town centre that lots of people went on and enjoyed a few months ago!

The Bold street area (near the top end, by St Lukes/'the bombed out church) has lots of independent, unique stores and Quiggens (the local alternative... 'shopping centre', I guess? Basically where you can get a pink tutu, vintage clothes and a full length leather coat all in the same place :P) is also nearby. Some unique events are also held in St Lukes and there are some nice restaurants to visit in China town, which is great to go to on Chinese New Year! :smile:

http://www.bombedoutchurch.com/
http://www.liverpoolchinatown.co.uk/

Also, there's the Albert Dock area, about 15/20 minutes walk from the main bus station (Queen's square) where there are more restaurants, cafes and the Tate modern. The other museums (such as the art gallery and the world museum) and the central library (the library for Liverpool Uni, I believe) are also located near to the Queen's square bus station and St Georges hall.

http://www.albertdock.com/
http://liverpoolcityhalls.co.uk/st-georges-hall/about/
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/

Lots of events are held in the city in general (such as in the Sefton park and the other marks in the surrounding areas), but you may not stray this far from the city centre if you're studying at the university. :smile:

http://www.limfestival.com/

There's also the two cathedrals the Metropolitan (not too far from the main Liverpool Uni buildings) and the Anglican (by China town), which are both pretty to go see. The Liverpool Echo Arena and the Liverpool Philharmonic also both have concerts and events going on.

http://www.liverpoolphil.com/
http://www.echoarena.com/

This website is also pretty good for checking out events and places to go to in the city:

http://www.visitliverpool.com/whats-on

And this one for the smaller (but amazing!) establishments in the city:

http://independent-liverpool.co.uk/

Sorry for the long post, I hope this helps! Feel free to ask anymore questions.

Oh my gosh, this is absolutely fantastic and so kind of you! Thank you so, so much! I'm looking forward to trying different restaurants and cafes around the city, and also juts exploring! :biggrin:

Reply 606

sophiebookley

7

Original post by Edminzodo

Oh my gosh, this is absolutely fantastic and so kind of you! Thank you so, so much! I'm looking forward to trying different restaurants and cafes around the city, and also juts exploring! :biggrin:

Aha no problem! Speaking of cafes, Leaf on Bold street is cute and has loads of different types of tea, The Egg cafe by Quiggens is a vegan restaurant that's pretty cool and there's also a replica of the cafe from Friends. :')

https://thisisleaf.co.uk/
http://www.eggcafe.co.uk/
http://www.central-perk.co.uk/liverpool/

Enjoy uni and exploring! :smile:

Original post by sophiebookley

Aha no problem! Speaking of cafes, Leaf on Bold street is cute and has loads of different types of tea, The Egg cafe by Quiggens is a vegan restaurant that's pretty cool and there's also a replica of the cafe from Friends. :' :wink:

https://thisisleaf.co.uk/
http://www.eggcafe.co.uk/
http://www.central-perk.co.uk/liverpool/

Enjoy uni and exploring! :smile:

Wow! I would probably never have found these, thank you! I'll definitely visit Leaf, I love tea! :biggrin:

Reply 608

kasumikat

11

Hi everyone, im kinda new to computer science and got interested in it once i went to an open day >.<

Name - Kira (known as kasumikat online)

A2 Subjects Prediction/Achieved - i dont do A-levels..... But in my BTEC im predicted Passes

AS Subjects Grades - as i said before i dont do A levels but i've gotten a Pass in my first year of my course

GCSE's Grades - B in PE C's in Maths, English, Art, RE and ICT (BTEC level 2) everything else is a D or an E grade
Extra Curricular - ummm im just on social media a lot and play games as well as draw designs...
Programming languages you know and to what level - None :smile:

im so going to fail arent i?.... (╥﹏╥)
Uni's Chosen - University of Sussex to do a foundation year in computer science

Kinda makes me wonder why they even picked me.... xD but then again i love being on the computer and social media and i love doing maths (though its very challenging. Im guessing they liked my ps too

Reply 609

username1831327

2

Name: Phoebe
Prediced A2 grades: A*A*A in maths, chemistry and computing respectively
Expected grades: AA*A* in the order above
AS grades: AAA
GCSE grades: A*A*A*A*AAABB and 2 distinctions for ICT
Chosen Uni: University of Manchester
Programming languges: Swift and C and i'm going to start Java soon
Extra curricular: trying to come up with app ideas that will make me rich (no such luck haha)

Reply 610

TercioOfParma

18

Name - Eli
A2 predicted grades - ABC(History, Maths, Computing)
AS grades - BBCD(History, Computing, Maths, Physics)
GCSE Grades : A*A*A*AAAABB(Maths, English Lit, History, German, IT, Additional Science, Science, Geography, English Language)
Extra Curricular : Been programming since I was about 13, Games, Some operating systems work, algorithms, all sorts.
Programming Languages : C (primary language, written a ton with it), Java (educated with), x86 NASM Assembly, Python, Object Pascal(rusty)
Uni's - Firmed Kent (got BBB requirement, interview went well so they dropped my requirements a grade), Insurance Swansea

I put a ton of work into revision (Started late March, and some modules earlier), so with any luck will get BBB or higher. Computing coursework got a low grade for some reason, even though I spent weeks and weeks on it (35k words, 15k LOC in C) and was quite a complex project (wrote a full strategy game with a modular system so you could strip it out and do something new). If the grades aren't up to par, my backup is quite strong I think, since I am looking after a physically ill parent and a mentally ill one too.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 611

pecora

9

Original post by kasumikat

Kinda makes me wonder why they even picked me.... xD but then again i love being on the computer and social media and i love doing maths (though its very challenging. Im guessing they liked my ps too

If only computer science had anything to do with social media...

Reply 612

kasumikat

11

Original post by pecora

If only computer science had anything to do with social media...

well i am going to hopefully do digital media and i think that has a little bit to do with social media and designing web pages

Reply 613

GeorgeCCole

Hello everyone :smile:

How many of you will be staying in campus to study Computer Science ?

Reply 614

username2130115

16

Original post by terminal

I am hoping I could get some advice, as I'm an international student (26 year old autistic lady, very little work experience in any field) and stressing about which offer I should accept. I am wanting to do the MSc conversion degree in computer science so I can get a grounding in computer science fundamentals, have a cs degree on my resume, and hopefully come out it with an entry level software dev job that I can work my way up from.
.
I've been teaching myself about computer science and program design for about 6 months but I have no formal education in it.
.
I've been accepted to both Kent and Bristol. I have a weak math background (I'm happy to learn more math but still want to pass my classes) and I'm very concerned about my ability to find work afterward since being autistic puts me at a disadvantage for interviews etc. Kent's industrial placement program appeals to me but I know getting a placement isn't guaranteed and Bristol seems to have both name recognition and a lot of assistance.
.
halp? I really wish I could go visit the two universities but my £5.5 an hour job isn't enough to fund overseas travel.
.
also can people tell me anything about canterbury and bristol? in the united states where I'm from people will leave me alone in big cities but in smaller ones I sometimes get people thinking I'm a 'danger to myself' and calling the police and stuff like that, so from a safety perspective I prefer living somewhere where people tend to mind their own business to living somewhere epitomized by small town nosiness.
.
so any information is very very helpful and appreciated thank you all
.
[edit: for some reason my line breaks aren't coming through so there's no formatting. sorry everyone. i'll try filling them in with periods.]

the maths in computer science is mainly discrete maths. most people who have done a-level maths won't have touched discrete maths. a-level maths mainly covers algebra and calculus which are continuous maths. there is some continuous math in signals, algorithms and machine learning. you could touch up on that by self-teaching some a-level modules but it's not absolutely necessary because you're doing a conversion course.

work on your interview skills.

Reply 615

A47

4

What laptop/pc (basic specs included) will u be taking to uni for compsci?

Already own a hp laptop: 8gb ram 1tb hdd i5 4th gen.

Thinking of trading it in for something along the lines of a surface pro 4.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 616

Xabier

14

I'm going off to St Andrews for CS after I missed my grades for my firm Bristol. Is it crazy that I'm considering reapplying to Bristol and retaking the Physics unit I messed up to get the grade A I need? I just really liked the look of Bristol but I'm not sure if I should bother applying there again - especially since it's going to be tricky to revise for that physics unit since there would be very little time between the end of the academic year and the exam.

So would a better course of action be to just stay at St Andrews and do my best and IF I don't enjoy it THEN apply to Bristol with my under par grades (AAB when I needed AAA) but with a good year at St Andrews to add to my application - would something like this even be considered? And what are your opinions on St A's CS course vs Bristol's? Thanks for any input. Tagged you Princepieman as you seem very good at giving advice and are familiar with CS courses.

Reply 617

username738914

21

Original post by Xabier

I'm going off to St Andrews for CS after I missed my grades for my firm Bristol. Is it crazy that I'm considering reapplying to Bristol and retaking the Physics unit I messed up to get the grade A I need? I just really liked the look of Bristol but I'm not sure if I should bother applying there again - especially since it's going to be tricky to revise for that physics unit since there would be very little time between the end of the academic year and the exam.

So would a better course of action be to just stay at St Andrews and do my best and IF I don't enjoy it THEN apply to Bristol with my under par grades (AAB when I needed AAA) but with a good year at St Andrews to add to my application - would something like this even be considered? And what are your opinions on St A's CS course vs Bristol's? Thanks for any input. Tagged you Princepieman as you seem very good at giving advice and are familiar with CS courses.

1st option is the most sensible, considering St As have four year long degrees anyway.*

EDIT: St As is top notch for CS, can't go wrong with it at all*