[rittim0]

Hey all!

Just need a bit of help here, would be appreciated. So I'm rather confused as to what Uni's I should take interest in. Firstly in terms of grades, I'd probably expect something like ABB by the end of year 13. I've taken up Geography, English, ICT & Economics, and I'm most likely to drop English this year. I want to essentially take up Computer Sciences (BSc).

I've done a lot of research and although my grades aren't that great I got a huge amount of experience in the IT Industry and many other industries.

1) I run a property development company alongside my father, (dealing with corporate clients who purchase properties on long term lets as well as purchases, and much more, wont get too much into this as it's not related.)

2) I've been Web Designing & Developing since I was 11 years old. I've had over 50+ clients over the years in relation to web designing, motion graphics, including the NHS, Estate Agencies, Charities, Hotels and more. I also do advanced networking with client server systems using Windows Server and OSX Servers.

3) I walked around London pretty much every week of the summer holidays last year pitching to over 2500+ companies to provide my services.

4) I've worked at one of the UK's largest wedding photography & videography companies as a professional photographer (I do professional photography & videography too using high end DSLRs and Steadicam & Glidecam applications). I then edit these videos + pictures using industry standard software such as the Adobe Suites (After Effects, Photoshop etc..)

5) I currently work alongside one of London's largest estate agencies in managing their IT systems, websites, emails, networks, marketing, often get huge corporate clients who own 150+ luxury apartments from these guys for online marketing (SEO).

6) I also work in the high end of the wedding industry with another company since moving on from the old company creating high end motion picture cinematic wedding trailers, photo retouching, online marketing, web development, the list goes on. I also work with corporate clients for the creation of adverts and so on...

7) I'm currently in the development phase of my upcoming Social Network. I've been working on this for over a year, and it's pretty much my life's ambitions. It's received massive investment offers as well as buyout offers for the ideas I've implemented in it. All which I have rejected as I'd rather not have someone else grab my dreams! The technology implemented in this thing is amazing.

8) I'm in talks with my current wedding company where I work at for a joint business ventureship in using ariel photography and videography applications. (I've always flown giant gas planes & electronic planes as a hobby, combining this with the wedding industry.)

9) I also happened to get an interview at Young Apprentice. Didn't get through the first stage however haha!

Hopefully all of this would give you an idea of what I do outside school.
I've spoken to a few students who went to the USA to study too. Pretty interested in this myself but I have no clue how the system works and I'd doubt I'd get in with those grades anyway. But can anyone enlighten me as to how this system works, obviously my parents won't ever shell out £250k over 3 years just to have me there so I'd have to take a scholarship should I get lucky with grades.

I won't be working for people past University. I'm more of a business type of person and I've realised after working at my first wedding company for 6 months, I reached breaking point. I enjoy the intensity of business and the excitement it provides of waking up everyday where something different can happen.

Could anyone mention any universities which would be suitable for me, and why? And it would be great if someone can help me with how studying abroad works.

Anyone who's bothered to read all of this - I love you already! Thanks!

[Atena369]

Damn,your work experience is amazing! I think that if you had medium-high grades you would make a very strong applicant. Even though your work is impressive,the universities have to take into consideration grades as well. However,I don't know much about admissions since I'm just a high school student,so someone who had similar experience with you and is currently in university would be much more helpful.
As for suitable universities for you:
1.Cambridge-very competitive but they it says they have the best CS program in UK.You might not have plenty of admission chances unless you get better grades,but it's always worth a try. Also,if you get shortlisted,you'll have to give an exam.
2.Oxford- pretty much like Cambridge.
3.Imperial College- less competitive than Oxbridge. They're 100% a science college. You can find more kinds of CS courses (like robots stuff).
4.UCL
5.St.Andrews
6.Newcastle
7.Bristol
8.Bath
These last 4 are good universities and are much easier to get into than Oxbridge.But then again,current CS students at any of these colleges would be of great help if you asked them.I'm only telling you what I've heard of them and read on the internet.
Lastly,about studying abroad I know about...nothing. Hope I've been helpful. Good luck!

[rittim0]

(Original post by Atena369)
Damn,your work experience is amazing! I think that if you had medium-high grades you would make a very strong applicant. Even though your work is impressive,the universities have to take into consideration grades as well. However,I don't know much about admissions since I'm just a high school student,so someone who had similar experience with you and is currently in university would be much more helpful.
As for suitable universities for you:
1.Cambridge-very competitive but they it says they have the best CS program in UK.You might not have plenty of admission chances unless you get better grades,but it's always worth a try. Also,if you get shortlisted,you'll have to give an exam.
2.Oxford- pretty much like Cambridge.
3.Imperial College- less competitive than Oxbridge. They're 100% a science college. You can find more kinds of CS courses (like robots stuff).
4.UCL
5.St.Andrews
6.Newcastle
7.Bristol
8.Bath
These last 4 are good universities and are much easier to get into than Oxbridge.But then again,current CS students at any of these colleges would be of great help if you asked them.I'm only telling you what I've heard of them and read on the internet.
Lastly,about studying abroad I know about...nothing. Hope I've been helpful. Good luck!

Hey!

Thanks for the reply. Yup, I've been working so hard in the work experience field haha. Oxbridge is out of question, no chance, no where near clever enough for that :P

I think I'd give Newcastle a shot, it keeps popping up! Thanks for the reply again.

[willbee]

With all your work experience, I think Oxbridge is worth a shot, most people applying there won't be advanced as you are if you want to do an IT-related degree. They choose people they think would be an asset to the university, and you're obviously already going places so they should appreciate that.

I honestly don't think I've come across anyone your age who seems to have accomplished so much business-wise!! I would think you would have your pick of unis!!