How difficult is Computer Science?

SPENCER24

i dont really agree with that. im not good at maths but the maths isnt exactly rocket science. some of it is basic such as binary numbers. secondly, programming for 4 hours a day?? i practice it for an hour every two nights and cope fine.

It depends which uni you go to. The maths behind fourier transformations or neural nets is not trivial stuff.

Reply 21

SPENCER24

alex0o0

It depends which uni you go to. The maths behind fourier transformations or neural nets is not trivial stuff.

oh yeh dont get me wrong its not all easy. some of the maths we do is rock solid but it can all be learnt if you read the topic again and again

Reply 22

amie

14

SPENCER24

oh yeh dont get me wrong its not all easy. some of the maths we do is rock solid but it can all be learnt if you read the topic again and again

Unless you're inherently bad at Maths. I could handle up to GCSE Higher grade B but more than that and I'm lost, no matter how much work I put in. That's why I'm switching out of CS and onto something I'm actually good at and stand a chance of passing, Social Sciences!

My advice is to be careful if you don't actually meet your universities CS conditions, or even come close to them. I got in because my course was 50% CS and the A-Level maths condition didn't apply but even so, I couldn't hack the maths. The conditions are there for a reason!

Reply 23

Dills

1

laney is there loads of maths involved on the notts comp sci course? I'm taking it for A level and am predicted an A but I've never really been very confident in my mathematical ability.

Is the course full of computer geeks as well? I'm not really your stereotypical computer freak who spends hours downloading porn all the time so I don't want to be an outcast!

Are you on jubilee campus?

Reply 24

icedout

1

Dills

laney is there loads of maths involved on the notts comp sci course? I'm taking it for A level and am predicted an A but I've never really been very confident in my mathematical ability.

^ Ditto this question.

Reply 25

Sephiroth

18

Which are the best unis for Computer Science that don't require Maths? While Maths was one of my best subjects at GCSE I did not do it at A level.

Reply 26

Navajo

14

Swansea, is in the top 10 in the UK and the dept and Uni really does rock!!

Seriously check it out!

Reply 27

Sephiroth

18

Looks very nice. Location kinda puts me off though.

Reply 28

amie

14

Are you looking for straight CS? Or could you combine it with other subjects?

For example, at Bath straight CS requires A-Level Maths (at grade A I think, could be wrong) but their CS & Business (20% business, 80% CS) and CIS (50/50, business and CS) courses don't require the A-Level, just the GCSE at grade B I think. It might be similar at other good universities, so that might be a route worth looking into.

Reply 29

Sephiroth

18

I was thinking straight, the subjects that are combined with some don't seem to interest me enough. Haven't looked into it much though. Pretty much the only locations I'd want is in the north or midlands because I don't want to be too far south. (I'm in Durham)

Reply 30

giraffehaveabath

Dills

laney is there loads of maths involved on the notts comp sci course? I'm taking it for A level and am predicted an A but I've never really been very confident in my mathematical ability.

Is the course full of computer geeks as well? I'm not really your stereotypical computer freak who spends hours downloading porn all the time so I don't want to be an outcast!

Are you on jubilee campus?

Whoops sorry duder, I forgot to check back :frown:

Some nerd I am...

This year we did one module each semester (out of six) in maths, but from next year they're changing it to be one module in the Autumn semesters of years 1 and 2 I think (there is also a module Algorithmic Problem Solving which is quite mathsy, but not actually maths per se). It's not really that difficult if you're willing to put the work in, do past papers, make sure you go to the tutorials and so on. You'll be fine! A lot of people don't even have maths A-Level as the prerequisites are either maths OR computing. Some of the stuff was new to me, even though I did have it; sets, truth tables and the like. Not majorly hard though.

RE: Computer geeks, obviously there are a fair few of them but definitely nowhere near everyone. Most people are just normal! I think most people hang around more with the people they live near in halls anyway so don't worry about that.

I live in Cripps on University Park and get the bus over to Jubilee for lectures. Works out pretty well; UP is reeeeeeeeally lovely.

Now, back to coursework. :wink:

Reply 31

Sephiroth

18

Hmm I just saw Birmingham only require GCSE grade B for their Maths requirement. It's a good uni too apparently. What do you guys think?

Reply 32

beLIEve

Hi i'm new to these forums! Next year i'm planning on learning the wonders of C# at Hull University. Althought i haven't done A-level maths they will give me two compulsory maths mondules to catch up on whatever i missed out on. But heres my question, Is this a good university and a respected degree or a waste of my time and how do people think i will cope considering i only got a B at GCSE math!

Reply 33

StillUndecided

To those who are doing comp sci:
did you do COMPUTING at ALevel? If you did, how much different are some of the first year modules to ALevel? Is it much harder or is it similar because of people who may not have done it at ALevel.
Plus is the maths then not much past GCSE standard? I'm not really that bothered because I will have it to ALevel (as well as computing) I am just curious really.

Cheers in advance

Reply 34

764dak

10

To be honest, more maths would make CS easier for me. Programming would be annoying.

Reply 35

iisjman07

1

Original post by StillUndecided

To those who are doing comp sci:
did you do COMPUTING at ALevel? If you did, how much different are some of the first year modules to ALevel? Is it much harder or is it similar because of people who may not have done it at ALevel.
Plus is the maths then not much past GCSE standard? I'm not really that bothered because I will have it to ALevel (as well as computing) I am just curious really.

Cheers in advance

What did you study in your a-level computing? And on the maths question, the prominence of maths in compsci-related degrees varies dramatically from uni to uni; for example, I failed my a-level maths (got an 'd' at as level, 'b' at gcse) and am currently studying software engineering - yet any maths on the course is very simple.

Reply 36

CharliePhillips

Original post by xstudentx

a computer science degree has a 'good salary'?
compared to what exactly?

Anything! Because of the technology in this day in age, they're very high demand, therefore the salary is very high, for example say you were going to work for google or microsoft ( which I know wouldn't be your average person) but they would earn £75k as a starting salary!!!!!!!!!

As for your avegae computer science job it was £40k as a starting salary in 2010 as a software developer... obviously there are many jobs in CS and IT that pay well below that but hey ho!

Reply 37

exe

unless you already know a bit of programming or are just really mathematical, computer sciecne will be difficult at most unis. If you know how to program your first year will be a bit of a joke at most unis unless they make you take a lot of theoretical stuff.

either way, the workload is a LOT higher than 90% of other degrees if you plan on getting a first.

How difficult is Computer Science?

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