[jonnyfrog]

Hey guys, I'm looking at CompSci courses that you don't need maths for. Like a bit of an idiot, I didn't take it... but I did think I was gonna do music.

Does anyone know of the best courses out there for Computer Science (2010 entry) without maths A-level? The ones I've seen so far are King's and Birmingham.

Thanks

Jonny

[nuodai]

Off the top of my head I don't know, but there is likely to be a greater number of unis who accept CompSci with AS Maths than without any Maths at all, so it's maybe worth taking AS Maths in Year 13.

[WelshBluebird]

I know when I was at the open day, the admissions guy here at Bath did say he would consider people who didn't have A level maths. But personally, I wouldn't recommend it. Granted, one of the modules in the first year covers some A level maths stuff you will need, but personally, had I not seen it at A level, I would have had to do a lot more work to understand it. At least try to do AS maths though. No matter what uni you go to, it will probably help you if your want to do CS.

[Creepy]

(Original post by jonnyfrog)
Hey guys, I'm looking at CompSci courses that you don't need maths for. Like a bit of an idiot, I didn't take it... but I did think I was gonna do music.

Does anyone know of the best courses out there for Computer Science (2010 entry) without maths A-level? The ones I've seen so far are King's and Birmingham.

Thanks

Jonny

I think you're going to struggle. Have you thought about doing a Computing course?

[jonnyfrog]

(Original post by Creepy)
I think you're going to struggle. Have you thought about doing a Computing course?

I'm pretty good at maths anyhow, and logic too. But I suppose I could consider doing Maths AS in year 13... I'd probably have to drop another subject, I'm doing 5 AS's at the moment, and knock on wood, I'm more or less on course for A*AAA/A*AAB next year if i only drop one.

What's the difference between computing and computer science? The more specific 'computing' courses don't seem to be for me, all the ones listed on UCAS seem to be more vocational than I'd want.

[TheQueenOfComputerScience]

You can go to QUB and do a MEng Computer Science without ALevel Maths cause they find it hard to get students over here. It is a maths intensive course and a proper Computer Science degree and as it is a russle group uni there are very good prospects if you want to stay on for PhD. Furthermore if you go in with 3 A's you would get an instant £200 a year travel bursary and an instant one off £1000 scholarship bursary when you start. I would seriously consider it.

[Creepy]

(Original post by jonnyfrog)
I'm pretty good at maths anyhow, and logic too. But I suppose I could consider doing Maths AS in year 13... I'd probably have to drop another subject, I'm doing 5 AS's at the moment, and knock on wood, I'm more or less on course for A*AAA/A*AAB next year if i only drop one.

What's the difference between computing and computer science? The more specific 'computing' courses don't seem to be for me, all the ones listed on UCAS seem to be more vocational than I'd want.

They are more vocational, however that's not necessarily a bad thing. I specialise in Networking, I currently work for Citrix as an intern. They have said they can train people to learn what they need to know, however I have a strength in coming to the company with a strong knowledge of networking which puts me 'ahead' of other graduates who have done Computer Science.

The only problem I have is I have not been taught programming as in depth as a compsci student, but because I have done two years of Java I have the basic principles, so learning another language wouldn't be too difficult.

[130ss]

i think kings is prob one of the best. if you dont have maths you will find it very hard!!

[orionmoo]

Surrey - 8th in country on guardian league tables. You need EITHER maths or computing or physics to full A Level. If you don't have at least one of those subjects then... I don't think Computing is the subject for you, to be frank!

[codemonkey]

(Original post by jonnyfrog)
I'm pretty good at maths anyhow, and logic too. But I suppose I could consider doing Maths AS in year 13... I'd probably have to drop another subject, I'm doing 5 AS's at the moment, and knock on wood, I'm more or less on course for A*AAA/A*AAB next year if i only drop one.

What's the difference between computing and computer science? The more specific 'computing' courses don't seem to be for me, all the ones listed on UCAS seem to be more vocational than I'd want.

What 'creepy' said, they tend to be more geared towards industry as well. Having said that, some unis name their course computing such as imperial when infact its more computer science so i guess you need to see the module descriptions to be sure. Mates of mine at kings who didnt do maths found it quite hard after year 1.

[jonnyfrog]

(Original post by orionmoo)
Surrey - 8th in country on guardian league tables. You need EITHER maths or computing or physics to full A Level. If you don't have at least one of those subjects then... I don't think Computing is the subject for you, to be frank!

Surrey are 6th on the Times tables, too. I think I'll be applying Any other ideas? Keep 'em coming

[orionmoo]

Lancaster also - BBB, and you don't need any specific subjects. Although for CS and Maths it is BBB(maths) so..

[mituozo]

(Original post by jonnyfrog)
I'm pretty good at maths anyhow, and logic too. But I suppose I could consider doing Maths AS in year 13... I'd probably have to drop another subject, I'm doing 5 AS's at the moment, and knock on wood, I'm more or less on course for A*AAA/A*AAB next year if i only drop one.

What's the difference between computing and computer science? The more specific 'computing' courses don't seem to be for me, all the ones listed on UCAS seem to be more vocational than I'd want.

If you're that sort of caliber of student, then the advice I'd give you is to drop a subject and get a full A2 in maths done next year.

In my first year of further maths we covered C1, C2, C3, C4, S1, M1, S2.. We didn't take C4 until the January afterwards though.. So if you put the time into it you're more than capable of getting it done. (you wouldn't need the extra S2 that I took either).

You could drop 2 subjects, or even 3 and be fine aslong as you do the full A2 in maths. I can guarentee that an A2 in maths is going to be more helpful for getting onto a computer science course anywhere than 2 extra a levels in random subjects will be.

If you can get A*AA at A2, in Maths and at least one science you're set for pretty much any computer science course in the country bar maybe Cambridge which asks for further maths. You only need 3 A2's remember.. Anything else is an extra. Don't do any more than 3 unless you're 100% sure you're going to get A's in the others IMO.

[jonnyfrog]

That sounds intriguing, in my school the students who do further maths get the whole AS & A2 done in the first year for maths. Do you reckon that having not done any modules yet by the Oxbridge apps, and only a few by the other application deadlines, will affect Universities who require maths for the course?

[300mg]

It's ALL about the course and the uni. If they don't require maths then you should assume that there will be many others without it and they will teach it from the ground up. Having physics / chemistry or something maths based will be a boost because if your last encounter with mathematics was GCSE then you could be pretty rusty.

[ttx]

(Original post by jonnyfrog)
What's the difference between computing and computer science? The more specific 'computing' courses don't seem to be for me, all the ones listed on UCAS seem to be more vocational than I'd want.

If you want to do an academic course then bite the bullet and do the Maths. Maths is critical to advanced computer science.