The Student Room Group

How important is computing?

Hi,
I am coming up to choosing my GCSE options but am really struggling. I think I have managed to decide most of them:

Compulsory:
English, Maths, Religious Studies, PE (core)
Science:
Triple
Options: (Here's where I'm unsure)
Geography, History, Drama, Computing (Programming).

I am allowed to choose three options and a reserve, so it's a question of what is the reserve.

I really enjoy all of the subjects and am very good at them as well. I am thinking of going into medicine.

The main problem is that today I found out that being an IT specialist was well paid and something I quite enjoy so a potential fall-back. I also discovered that, if I do not do Computing then I do not actually have anything saying that I can use a computer, even though I am one of the best in my class. Finally, I discovered that I.C.T. was part of the national curriculum for most schools, but we are are free school so it is not compulsory for us.

I was told that potentially, when applying for a job, almost everyone I will be up against will have some sort of qualification in I.C.T. so I could be at a serious disadvantage.

Basically, what I wanted to know was how important a GCSE in computing was and how much of a difference it would make, either good or bad, for employment or getting into university/ medical school.

Thank you very much for your help.
(edited 11 years ago)
You're doing the exact same options as I am, apart from the fact I'm not doing Drama :P
GCSE options do not matter in the slightest if you have triple science, a language and all of the core, because then you are entitled to apply for any university course (assuming you meet the A level req too).
Reply 3
You know what I'll tell you the truth. I started my GCSE's a year early so essentially I chose my subjects at the end of year 8. Unlike your school the compulsory subjects in our school is : Additional Science ; English Language ; English literature ; Maths; French or Spanish depending on preference and then a humanity ( geography or History). We had to pick two other choices so I decided to pick Business studies and Triple Sciene as my options. Unfortunately I didn't get Business studies because of it being the same time as Triple science. I had a reserve for Computing but to be honest I'm great on a computer but awful at programming. Anyway being in year 8 I didn't account the difficultly computing acquires so I made a mistake and picked it. Last year in year 10 or when I was in year 9 we first started... It was so hard... And this is my second year now and I'm doing a controlled assessment now and gosh is it difficult. I'm a straight A/A* student but believe me I'm getting C's because I find it so difficult. My advice to you is only do it If you will enjoy it and are good at it. To answer te question ' Computing or computer science is one of the most regarded Gcse hence the reason I haven't quit'. If you were to get an A or an A* in gcse computing and you were going for an interview you would most defiantly be picked its so much better than ICT. Hope this helps... Only pick it if you will enjoy it!!!

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