[Corryms]

Basically I'm in my second year of A-Levels.
Last year I got bad AS results for Biology and Chemistry (Not a fan of science), but got an A in my Computing exam.
This year I decided to resit AS Bio and Chem, and continue onto A2 computing.
I decided to apply through UCAS for a foundation year at uni, for computer science. I got an unconditional offer.

Basically I was wondering, if I do bad in AS Bio and Chem....again, once I've completed my degree, what should I tell potential employers/put on my cv. Will I be able to find a job as a programmer, if I only have one A-level, and completed a foundation year?

Thanks

[SnoochToTheBooch]

if you get a good degree then I doubt A-levels matter too much. I had bad A-levels and did a foundation year, and when I was having interviews for graduate schemes the degree was all they were interested in. Their words to me were "we don't care what you did when you were 18". A-levels are still fairly basic in their material anyway so if you get a solid degree classification then you're obviously not incompetent.

[Corryms]

(Original post by SnoochToTheBooch)
if you get a good degree then I doubt A-levels matter too much. When I was having interviews for graduate schemes that was all they were interested in. Their words to me were "we don't care what you did when you were 18". A-levels are still fairly basic in their material anyway so if you get a solid degree classification then you're obviously not incompetent.

What would you suggest I put on my CV for my college/a-levels section?
Thanks

[SnoochToTheBooch]

(Original post by Corryms)
What would you suggest I put on my CV for my college/a-levels section?
Thanks

you're better off asking someone else because in the end I just somehow blundered into a PhD position where I never had to hand in a CV.

[Corryms]

Anybody else?

[Corryms]

bump

[Productoflabour]

As above to be honest dude. As long as you do well at University then employers will see your progression and see that you have matured since your A-levels. Also, particularly for Grad schemes, determination to succeed when you've failed at something is a plus point when considering applicants. Failure leads to better skills and innovation.

Just work hard now to make sure you don't mess them up again! Lol.

[Corryms]

(Original post by Productoflabour)
As above to be honest dude. As long as you do well at University then employers will see your progression and see that you have matured since your A-levels. Also, particularly for Grad schemes, determination to succeed when you've failed at something is a plus point when considering applicants. Failure leads to better skills and innovation.

Just work hard now to make sure you don't mess them up again! Lol.

Any suggestions for what I should put under the college section of my CV then.

Should I just put: Studied A-Levels achieving an A in Computing.

Would that seem like I'm obviously hiding something, or that I'm just showing relevant qualifications.

[Productoflabour]

(Original post by Corryms)
Any suggestions for what I should put under the college section of my CV then.

Should I just put: Studied A-Levels achieving an A in Computing.

Would that seem like I'm obviously hiding something, or that I'm just showing relevant qualifications.

I would just wait and see what your resit results are. Then you can put them down without having to worry. Pretty much if you got into uni then your clearly talented and that's what will impress employers not what you did/didnt do four years ago.(ie post graduation).

[SpicyStrawberry]

(Original post by Corryms)
Any suggestions for what I should put under the college section of my CV then.

Should I just put: Studied A-Levels achieving an A in Computing.

Would that seem like I'm obviously hiding something, or that I'm just showing relevant qualifications.

Just put something like:

2010-2012 College Name
A-level Computing [A]

(I've tried to space it out but it keeps aligning to the left)

If you want to put your overall results for your AS-levels you can do that too. As long as the info is there and easy to read you'll be fine.

[Corryms]

(Original post by SpicyStrawberry)
Just put something like:

2010-2012 College Name
A-level Computing [A]

(I've tried to space it out but it keeps aligning to the left)

If you want to put your overall results for your AS-levels you can do that too. As long as the info is there and easy to read you'll be fine.

Will I still have a chance of getting a job with just one A-level?
Thankyou

[threeportdrift]

(Original post by Corryms)
Basically I'm in my second year of A-Levels.
Last year I got bad AS results for Biology and Chemistry (Not a fan of science), but got an A in my Computing exam.
This year I decided to resit AS Bio and Chem, and continue onto A2 computing.
I decided to apply through UCAS for a foundation year at uni, for computer science. I got an unconditional offer.

Basically I was wondering, if I do bad in AS Bio and Chem....again, once I've completed my degree, what should I tell potential employers/put on my cv. Will I be able to find a job as a programmer, if I only have one A-level, and completed a foundation year?

Thanks

You put the truth on your CV. You tell employers the truth if they ask. It's entirely in your hands as to what that truth is, given that you haven't taken the final exams yet.

What you really want to know is will you create a world of pain for yourself if you flunk 2 out of 3 A levels? The answer is - not certainly, but certainly probably. The most competitive employers will look for a strong set of A levels, which you won't have by a large margin. Non competitive employers might be far less bothered, especially if your degree is strong. But are you really going to turn yourself around at university? Only you know if you are prepared to do that. However, if you really are prepared to knuckle down at uni, how come you aren't when in Year 13?

[Corryms]

(Original post by threeportdrift)
You put the truth on your CV. You tell employers the truth if they ask. It's entirely in your hands as to what that truth is, given that you haven't taken the final exams yet.

What you really want to know is will you create a world of pain for yourself if you flunk 2 out of 3 A levels? The answer is - not certainly, but certainly probably. The most competitive employers will look for a strong set of A levels, which you won't have by a large margin. Non competitive employers might be far less bothered, especially if your degree is strong. But are you really going to turn yourself around at university? Only you know if you are prepared to do that. However, if you really are prepared to knuckle down at uni, how come you aren't when in Year 13?

My final exam is on Wednesday. I had one today which I believe i've got a B in.
I don't enjoy Biology and Chemistry and was suggested to take them by my college, as a way to fill up my timetable. That's the reason i'm doing bad in it.
I enjoy computing, and do well in it.

[threeportdrift]

(Original post by Corryms)
My final exam is on Wednesday. I had one today which I believe i've got a B in.
I don't enjoy Biology and Chemistry and was suggested to take them by my college, as a way to fill up my timetable. That's the reason i'm doing bad in it.
I enjoy computing, and do well in it.

All of which changes nothing.

[SpicyStrawberry]

(Original post by threeportdrift)
You put the truth on your CV. You tell employers the truth if they ask. It's entirely in your hands as to what that truth is, given that you haven't taken the final exams yet.

What you really want to know is will you create a world of pain for yourself if you flunk 2 out of 3 A levels? The answer is - not certainly, but certainly probably. The most competitive employers will look for a strong set of A levels, which you won't have by a large margin. Non competitive employers might be far less bothered, especially if your degree is strong. But are you really going to turn yourself around at university? Only you know if you are prepared to do that. However, if you really are prepared to knuckle down at uni, how come you aren't when in Year 13?

You have such a negative attitude. A-levels aren't that important if you have a first class degree, nobody starts off at the top in jobs anyway unless extremely fortunate. Grad schemes often ask for a certain number of UCAS points from A-levels, but the OP hasn't finished their exams yet so they could do well, and I think it's sad that you don't think they can turn themselves around doing a course they love at uni.

A-levels are completely different to uni and require you to memorise and regurgitate information, degree-level work requires research and independence - completely different skills. I don't understand why you feel the need to patronise the OP for asking a simple question, it's completely unnecessary.

[SpicyStrawberry]

(Original post by Corryms)
Will I still have a chance of getting a job with just one A-level?
Thankyou

What type of work were you hoping to apply for? Most low-end jobs are happy with GCSEs so you are very well qualified for those, but if you're aiming higher your A-level results could affect your application, it really depends on how highly the employers value them. Once you have a decent degree I doubt they will take them into as much consideration.

I think the problem with a lot of people on TSR is they automatically assume people are aiming for top competitive jobs, which often isn't the case and try to patronise you.

[Corryms]

(Original post by SpicyStrawberry)
What type of work were you hoping to apply for? Most low-end jobs are happy with GCSEs so you are very well qualified for those, but if you're aiming higher your A-level results could affect your application, it really depends on how highly the employers value them. Once you have a decent degree I doubt they will take them into as much consideration.

I think the problem with a lot of people on TSR is they automatically assume people are aiming for top competitive jobs, which often isn't the case and try to patronise you.

Once i've completed my degree, I will be looking for a job as a low level programmer.
On my CV I intend just to put
A Levels : Computing [A]
BTEC IT [Distinction]


I asked my teacher and he said he achieved a D and E in his a-levels, and the school were not concerned as he had a degree.

Thanks for being supportive

[threeportdrift]

(Original post by SpicyStrawberry)

A-levels aren't that important if you have a first class degree.....

Grad schemes often ask for a certain number of UCAS points from A-levels

How do you square your comments above? A levels are still important if Grad schemes ask for a certain number of UCAS points.

I didn't say anything negative about the OPs ability, I merely pointed out that he was in a position to stop all this happening. What I didn't do was patronisingly assume that because the OP indicated they were on course to get 1 A level, that they should be satisfied with a very basic entry level job on graduation.

Actually, what I did was point out to the OP that if they wanted to get a graduate job after university, then they should realise the significance of their A levels. As you also pointed out, a First will often not counter very poor A levels, and the OP is lining up for very poor A levels.

Of course the OP might engage more with university level work and flourish. I never indicated that might not be the case. But what I did suggest they looked at was the likelihood of that happening if they couldn't do the same thing at A level.

All you are doing is waltzing in with some happy-clappy idea that there might be some narrow margin whereby an employer ignores the fact the OP has 1 A level, and therefore inevitably goes to a low end university, but gets a 1st so everything is rosy. Whereas I offered the OP a scenario that was a) more realistic and b) would give them many more options on graduation.

[SpicyStrawberry]

(Original post by threeportdrift)
How do you square your comments above? A levels are still important if Grad schemes ask for a certain number of UCAS points.

I didn't say anything negative about the OPs ability, I merely pointed out that he was in a position to stop all this happening. What I didn't do was patronisingly assume that because the OP indicated they were on course to get 1 A level, that they should be satisfied with a very basic entry level job on graduation.

Actually, what I did was point out to the OP that if they wanted to get a graduate job after university, then they should realise the significance of their A levels. As you also pointed out, a First will often not counter very poor A levels, and the OP is lining up for very poor A levels.

Of course the OP might engage more with university level work and flourish. I never indicated that might not be the case. But what I did suggest they looked at was the likelihood of that happening if they couldn't do the same thing at A level.

All you are doing is waltzing in with some happy-clappy idea that there might be some narrow margin whereby an employer ignores the fact the OP has 1 A level, and therefore inevitably goes to a low end university, but gets a 1st so everything is rosy. Whereas I offered the OP a scenario that was a) more realistic and b) would give them many more options on graduation.

You may not have overtly said anything negative about the OP's ability but the way you phrased your comments were quite patronising. There is no need to be like that, you are a CV helper after all.

I'm hardly "waltzing in with some happy-clappy idea" - this is what I was talking about, patronising, negative attitude - I'm merely saying that A-levels aren't that important to many employers once you have a decent degree. I doubt realistically the OP is going for a top job at a bank for example, so assuming employers will want top A-levels and all that comes with it is probably a bit over the top.

I'm not questioning your competence as a CV helper, but what you've said from an outsiders perspective wasn't very constructive.

[SpicyStrawberry]

(Original post by Corryms)
Once i've completed my degree, I will be looking for a job as a low level programmer.
On my CV I intend just to put
A Levels : Computing [A]
BTEC IT [Distinction]


I asked my teacher and he said he achieved a D and E in his a-levels, and the school were not concerned as he had a degree.

Thanks for being supportive

Sounds good to me

Best of luck with your results.