CSci Work Experience
University course discussion for computer science and IT.
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CSci Work ExperienceI'm going to start Year 13 in September so I'm near the time to start writing personal Statements.
I want to study Computer Science. My grades are decent but I lack work experience.
There are next to none opportunities around where I live and although I'm coming up with some of my own experience (Made some websites, coded a couple games), I think that working somewhere would give me that extra edge.
What I'm basically asking is, for anyone who is taking CSci as a degree, what did you do for you for WE?
Thanks in advance
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Re: CSci Work ExperienceJust like you, nothing much really. 2 Weeks in a web-design agency last year, and was offered a job there too aha. But I have been running my own web-design & software development firm with over 300 clients for about 3 years so I think that should be suitable as an alternative to work exp. I pm'd the oxford department for CS and the rep said that they're looking to see enthusiasm and initiative. As long as you display that (as you have done with your websites and games), it should be okay!
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Re: CSci Work ExperienceYep just continue with your websites I guess and you could always start up a few software projects in your free time and such, everything like this will always give you that edge over applicants because remember a lot of the applicants won't even know how to program yet!(Original post by MissAjayG)
Thanks, was starting to get frantic there, thinking I had to to something and can't find anything.
Of course I won't just rest from now until December but, it's nice not to worry too much
Where are you thinking of applying btw?Last edited by pixelfrag; 23-05-2012 at 10:56. -
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Re: CSci Work ExperienceIndeed you did. Here's the answer I gave you just in case it's of use to anyone else....(Original post by pixelfrag)
I pm'd the oxford department for CS and the rep said that they're looking to see enthusiasm and initiative. As long as you display that (as you have done with your websites and games), it should be okay!
"It's important to us that you demonstrate a real passion for Computer Science that will see you three/four years of study at undergraduate level. There is no checklist of [extra curricular] things we want to see you having done, and there's no requirement for having done work experience. We'd rather hear about what you've chosen to do that's computing-related, what excited you, and why. Work experience is one way of doing this, and some students come to us having done some, but it certainly isn't the only route." -
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Re: CSci Work ExperienceI had another question if you don't mind, possibly OP could relate to it too and I'm sure you've been asked many times but is further maths an utter necessary for admission? It is commonly said that it is "recommended and favorable" but would it have considerable weight when choosing one applicant over another if one applicant had further maths and the other didn't?(Original post by Oxford Computer Science Dept)
Indeed you did. Here's the answer I gave you just in case it's of use to anyone else....
"It's important to us that you demonstrate a real passion for Computer Science that will see you three/four years of study at undergraduate level. There is no checklist of [extra curricular] things we want to see you having done, and there's no requirement for having done work experience. We'd rather hear about what you've chosen to do that's computing-related, what excited you, and why. Work experience is one way of doing this, and some students come to us having done some, but it certainly isn't the only route."
Thank you again! -
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Re: CSci Work ExperienceI have no work experience for anything relating to CS and I managed to get offers from Warwick, Bristol, Durham and Manchester, so I wouldn't worry too much! Just try to show you're interested in other ways, read some books, magazines, find what interests you and talk about in your personal statement. For me I just talked about Cryptography and enjoying Maths. The Code Book by Simon Singh is really good, and I'm sure there are other books you can find as well. Good luck with your application.
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Re: CSci Work ExperienceComputing is a mathematical subject, especially in the way we approach it at Oxford. So it's important to us that you have developed your ability in mathematical thinking. We think doing both Maths and Further Maths to A2 is the best way of doing this, but we recognise that some schools are unable to offer this combination, and we recognise too that some candidates come late to the realisation of the benefits of Further Maths, too late to change subject choices they have already made. So whilst double Maths is a good combination of A levels for us, we are more than willing to consider applications from people with a single Maths A level, with or without Further Maths to AS level. If you had chosen not to do FMaths we'd be curious as to why.(Original post by pixelfrag)
is further maths an utter necessary for admission? It is commonly said that it is "recommended and favorable" but would it have considerable weight when choosing one applicant over another if one applicant had further maths and the other didn't?
Further Maths tends to help people with the aptitude test part of the application process, but we know if you're doing FMaths or not when we look at your results.
We can't accept applications from people who are not taking at least Mathematics to A2 level, but for those who are not taking Further Mathematics to A2, there are resources to help with the transition from school to university Mathematics.
Of the students who we made offers to in the last admissions round, who applied with/doing A Levels, 95% had done Further Maths. The rest hadn't.
Hope that helps. Feel free to throw further questions my way.Last edited by Oxford Computer Science Dept; 23-05-2012 at 15:04. -
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Re: CSci Work ExperienceIndeed there are. We make some suggestions here.(Original post by WaNaBe)
The Code Book by Simon Singh is really good, and I'm sure there are other books you can find as well.Last edited by Oxford Computer Science Dept; 23-05-2012 at 15:27. -
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Re: CSci Work ExperienceThat's the page I used to decide what books to buy. A very useful link to anyone interested in what books to take a look at.
I also bought The New Turning Omnibus from that list, but struggled to follow a lot of it so gave up after about 80 pages, should I be worried? -
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Re: CSci Work ExperienceNo don't worry at all. Some of them are difficult; some people get on well with some and not others. We're thinking about re-jigging the list so your feedback is really helpful - thank you.(Original post by WaNaBe)
That's the page I used to decide what books to buy. A very useful link to anyone interested in what books to take a look at.
I also bought The New Turning Omnibus from that list, but struggled to follow a lot of it so gave up after about 80 pages, should I be worried? -
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Re: CSci Work ExperienceLooking at Surrey, Sussex, Southampton and Kent, but Southampton is the one my heart is really set on(Original post by pixelfrag)
Yep just continue with your websites I guess and you could always start up a few software projects in your free time and such, everything like this will always give you that edge over applicants because remember a lot of the applicants won't even know how to program yet!
Where are you thinking of applying btw?
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Re: CSci Work Experienceahaha this is exactly what i found too!(Original post by WaNaBe)
That's the page I used to decide what books to buy. A very useful link to anyone interested in what books to take a look at.
I also bought The New Turning Omnibus from that list, but struggled to follow a lot of it so gave up after about 80 pages, should I be worried? -
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Re: CSci Work Experiencethat's awesome, what's the name of your firm?(Original post by pixelfrag)
Just like you, nothing much really. 2 Weeks in a web-design agency last year, and was offered a job there too aha. But I have been running my own web-design & software development firm with over 300 clients for about 3 years so I think that should be suitable as an alternative to work exp. I pm'd the oxford department for CS and the rep said that they're looking to see enthusiasm and initiative. As long as you display that (as you have done with your websites and games), it should be okay! -
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Re: CSci Work ExperienceI love how active you are on this forum!(Original post by Oxford Computer Science Dept)
No don't worry at all. Some of them are difficult; some people get on well with some and not others. We're thinking about re-jigging the list so your feedback is really helpful - thank you.
A recommendation is Code by Charles Petzold. It's really reader friendly and explains the very basics of computers (logic gates, adders, boolean algebra etc) a really good read and not too expensive either. -
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Re: CSci Work ExperienceWebsite is currently under refurbishment (nearly done with the new design and functionality, still have to enable the ability to sift through our work) but we're at www.strokenine.com(Original post by h2shin)
that's awesome, what's the name of your firm?
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Re: CSci Work Experiencethat site is actually quite sexy...(Original post by pixelfrag)
Website is currently under refurbishment (nearly done with the new design and functionality, still have to enable the ability to sift through our work) but we're at www.strokenine.com
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Re: CSci Work ExperienceThank you! Still a lot more to do, you can't view any of the website jobs (more website jobs completed to add actually) and the software page needs updating too aha. But good to hear that!(Original post by h2shin)
that site is actually quite sexy... -
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Re: CSci Work ExperienceNoted! Thanks(Original post by h2shin)
ahaha this is exactly what i found too! -
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Re: CSci Work ExperienceThank you :-)(Original post by h2shin)
I love how active you are on this forum!
A recommendation is Code by Charles Petzold. It's really reader friendly and explains the very basics of computers (logic gates, adders, boolean algebra etc) a really good read and not too expensive either.
That looks interesting - thanks for the suggestion. I'll add it to the list of possible changes.
