The Student Room Group

CS, gender and A-Levels.

Hey. This thread isn't really that important/should be considered low-priority, it's more just a curiosity thing.
I'm currently set on taking Maths, Biology, Chemistry and either Physics or Further Maths(or both).
The choices are catered to taking Computer Science, though I feel that in trying to chose options for CS I've limited my self a bit, since I'm interested in a lot of things...
I'm currently learning C++ and really am enjoying it, and have played around with other languages too in the past. I'm hoping that by Christmas I'll be able to code some basic GUI program.
I'm just wondering though if I'm subjecting my self to social isolation during University if I were to take CS as a female? Do females who take CS tend to have good social lives outside of their course? Etc.
I'm not a particularly social person, and tbh I actually prefer having conversations with male acquaintances than I do with female friends, but for emotional support and simply just maintaining emotional stability, I feel I need female friends...
I don't know really. Would I make friends who are female? It's more out of curiosity. I wanted to post this Anonymously, but don't really know how to, since I feel I'll be neg'd for being so shallow, and probably looking too much into the future, or w.e- IDK why I'm mentioning this tbh, sort of like a, 'I acknowledge I'm being stupid, therefore please don't be too harsh on me for being stupid'... sort of thing.
EMZ=]

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1
Don't think its that stupid - from what my CS friend says (at Southampton) there are not a lot of girls, but I'm sure there are some. Surely you can make friends with girls from outside your own subject.

I think FM would probably be more useful for computing, not so much because either are directly relevant but more from a common approach way of thinking, CS is pretty logical - I did both FM and Physics and hated the physics (they've taken all the maths out of it - went on to do it at Uni = much better).
Reply 2
FM is strongly recommended if you are looking at a top 5 department (they practically require it for people whose colleges offer it - but can't actually require it because some people don't have the choice). Even if you aren't aiming there (which it seems you should), then FM will still be of great use in the course.

I can't really on the social aspect, as I am applying this year but not their yet. At interviews there have been more girls than I expected, but a heck of a lot more boys.
Reply 3
Interesting note on FM actually.

I did it, and it was included in my offer (AA including FM and Physics, with A in maths already achieved).

My friend (got into same Uni, same college, same subject and came 18th/about 170 (!) in the year after 2nd year exams) didn't do it - he did maths, physics, history, government politics and critical thinking and he got an offer of AAA out of any of his subjects....so it could be that if you do it, they'll probably ask for it...

Anyone know if there's any truth to the 'Apply for Physics or Maths, not CS' thing I keep hearing? quite a few people seem to think you're more likely to get into a computing job with high maths/physics skills...curious.
(edited 13 years ago)
Reply 4
You sound like me, minus the maths A-Level bit, which is my biggest regret to be honest haha.

I went to an all-girl secondary school, and I was really worried I'd be the only girl at uni doing Computer Science, but I'm not! All the girls stick together, however I've gone off in the complete opposite direction and all my friends are guys. Seriously, there are six of us in our circle of friends and I'm the only girl. It's awesome though, it's such a change from school and I thinnk I needed it to be honest.

So I wouldn't worry too much, as I said, all the other girls on the course sit together/eat lunch together/hang out together, where as I end up sitting in a row of guys in lectures and sticking out like a sore thumb! They're great friends though so I really don't care, so you'll be fine either way!
Reply 5
^I'd be interested in that too^.
I'm not very bothered about which University I go too tbh. I'm not willing to put my self through all that stress- I can get quite obsessive and I don't know if I'd be able to cope with 'needing' A grades, etc. I'd probably be so sick of all the stress after college I'd not even want to go to Uni.
I think it'd only make a small difference anyway, in terms of my salary. Maybe my employability, but I'm hoping with home-brew and contributions to open-source(none of which I've done yet, but plan on in the future), that it'd get rid of any disadvantage I'd have over someone from the top 10. In terms of my education, I think I'll be self-teaching my self a lot anyway.
Maths(or maybe Chemistry) is my favourite subject anyway, but I've been reading about particle physics on Wikipedia in my free time and it's just really started to interest me, which is why I sort of want to do it at A-Level... But I can pursuit that interest in my free-time, I suppose. If it's true that they take out the maths then I don't think I'd be very interested in it though. I was talking to a guy via email who was doing A2 physics and he said it had a lot of maths in it at A2, but then again, he said he hates maths do idk.
@SmileLetsGo: You have no idea how reassuring that is :smile:. Would you say the girls on your course are reasonably social/normal? 'Cause all my current female friends aren't and I feel really alienated around girls who are normal tbh >_<.
As long as it's socially acceptable for girls to befriend males in Uni I'm not really that bothered tbh :P.
EMZ=]
EDIT: @fh2010: tried to give you positive rep. but it says I've reached my limit for the day? Don't see how that works tbh since I only rep'd two so far.
(edited 13 years ago)
Reply 6
No idea how the positive rep thing works. Thanks anyway - I don't really use TSR much...I got on today because someone was trolling a friend and I've spend the whole evening commenting on a range of stuff, its quite interesting really.

You sound pretty into teaching yourself - check out an Open Uni course in physics, I did a 10 point course called 'How the Universe Works' between during AS level and that was immensely cool (got school to pay half the fee as it made them look good). Didn't have much maths as its an introductory course, but in terms of ideas it was incredible - quite a bit of quarks, qualitative overview of the evolution of the universe etc.
(edited 13 years ago)
Reply 7
^I prefer smaller forums, but the two boards I go on the most are basically dead right now, so I've just started using TSR a lot, even though I'm not particularly academic^.
EMZ=]
Reply 8
Nice to see a girl interested in computers, I'm planning on doing computer science next year and was hoping its not going to be a TOTAL sausage fest xD

Your A level choices seem good though maths and chemistry are great, just don't make the mistake I made and take ICT...
Reply 9
Yeah, I'm definitely not taking ICT. My parents said I should take Computing, but when I looked briefly through the curriculum, I honestly didn't see the point(not to be cocky or anything). The only issue I think I might have in CS with not taking Computing is networking(I just hate it wish a passion tbh), but I've bought some books on it that I plan on reading over the summer or w.e :P.
EMZ=]
Reply 10
If you live in halls you'll be fine. I'm doing an IT degree next year and I am by no means a stereotypical 'Computer guy' - I play a lot of sport and music etc etc, and just because the majority of the people on my course won't be similar, I won't let that stop me making friends with everyone else. From what my friends who are at uni say, its good to get on with your course mates (goes without saying), however your flatmates may end up being your closest friends as you spend a ton of social time with them. I wouldn't worry about being a girl either - you'll have the pick of the bunch... of CS geeks, but still... pick of the bunch all the same :smile:

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that the course you do at uni doesn't have to define who you are - some of the most down to earth, every day people I know end up telling me they're studying Maths or whatever. If you go into university thinking you won't make friends and have your head down all the time, then yeah you might struggle, but if you take your degree out of the equation for a second you're just like everyone else there - an undergraduate studying for a degree.

P.S - you can't post anon in this part of the forum (I don't think), and if I were you I'd do Maths and Physics if you want to be in the best position for CS at uni.
Reply 11
^Ahh, this is good :smile:. I think I'd get along okay with people who are taking CS for the most part, really, I think I just failed to take into account I'd also be socialising outside of my course :P!^
EMZ=]
Reply 12
Original post by JackWoot
Nice to see a girl interested in computers, I'm planning on doing computer science next year and was hoping its not going to be a TOTAL sausage fest xD

Your A level choices seem good though maths and chemistry are great, just don't make the mistake I made and take ICT...



Made the same mistake taking ICT :\
Reply 13
Original post by fh2010
Anyone know if there's any truth to the 'Apply for Physics or Maths, not CS' thing I keep hearing? quite a few people seem to think you're more likely to get into a computing job with high maths/physics skills...curious.

Quite an incredible statement to make...who is this group of 'quite a few' people? And what kind of context was it in (e.g. particular universities etc)?

If it was just an unqualified statement, they sound very uninformed.
Reply 14
Original post by Chrosson
Quite an incredible statement to make...who is this group of 'quite a few' people? And what kind of context was it in (e.g. particular universities etc)?

If it was just an unqualified statement, they sound very uninformed.


I've heard a few people interested in working on games mention it, mainly southampton and Oxford people that I've heard it from
Reply 15
I know that some companies ask for either a (master's) degree in either Computer Science or Applied Mathematics(which no doubt involves more CS than normal Mathematic and Physics degrees), Valve being one that comes to mind... if that's of any help. But I don't think it stated a preference over either.
EMZ=]
Reply 16
There's not that many girls on the CS course but i've in no way been subjected so social isolation!

Theres a computer society at Edinburgh and the president is in my year, and female. There's plenty of nice girl and nice guys. Being female really doesn't make that much difference.

My first year was awesome, to be fair i havnt spoken to that many people on my course as i was in halls, i had too much going on social wise to have time to join social events in my course. The girls don't all stick together and seem to mingle with everyone.

My friends are guys, but they're awesome and from my Uni halls.

I suggest you take further maths btw, its been really useful!

I took Maths, Furthermaths, English lit/lang and Chemistry.

Very glad i did not take Computing. The a level is almost made redundant by your CS degree and Chemistry and English lit/lang has been a much nicer thing to have.
(edited 13 years ago)
Reply 17
Original post by fh2010

Anyone know if there's any truth to the 'Apply for Physics or Maths, not CS' thing I keep hearing? quite a few people seem to think you're more likely to get into a computing job with high maths/physics skills...curious.


I don't think it's neccessarily true. A decent maths or physics graduate will be better than a mediocre CS grad. I think the problem is there are some CS courses that are quite easy to sail through without really having a particularly good ability at the subject, where as that's not quite so true of maths and physics. But a good CS grad with lots of ability and motivation would probably have an edge over maths and physics grads. They're all good subjects for that sort of job though. Quite a few people where I work have physics degrees.

Original post by fh2010
I've heard a few people interested in working on games mention it, mainly southampton and Oxford people that I've heard it from


I work in games. The thing is you need to be a decent programmer to get the job. If you do maths or physics, you'd have to be doing quite a lot of programming in your spare time. With CS you get many more opportunities to improve your skill on the course.
Original post by Emor
@SmileLetsGo: You have no idea how reassuring that is :smile:. Would you say the girls on your course are reasonably social/normal? 'Cause all my current female friends aren't and I feel really alienated around girls who are normal tbh >_<.


They all seem normal, and by normal I mean they would rather go out shopping and clubbing than sit at home and do revision or watching weird dramas like I would - slightly extreme, but it gets my point across haha.

However, they're all really friendly and appear to be quite relieved there are other girls doing the course haha. They are more interested in the ICT aspect though rather than the computing aspect.

I have sat with the girls before and they'll be sitting talking about people's formal dresses, where as I'll go and sit with my guy friend's and we'll complain about how we dislike Java or something. So you'll fit in wherever you'll fit in really, you'll end up in the right group anyway I'm sure.

My friend's at school were uh, quite different too, (in a good sort of geeky way) but I'm doing fine attempting to socialise with normal girls so you'll be sweet haha :biggrin:
Reply 19
Computing at A level gives decent background knowledge to the first year. Btw Physics looks better on a CS app, it doesn't have much maths in it at A level so I don't know why, but there you have it.

Quick Reply