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Would I be stupid taking a CCNA CISCO plus 2 Alevels???

Right my school has just offered a new course called CISCO, which is computer networking and I am very interested in taking this course. The teachers are great, I want to do computing at uni, and our school is very resouceful. But my problem is this. It is a double award, so i can only take 2 other alevels, and apparently this CISCO is not worth ucas points. So would this mean I wouldnt find it as easy to get into university? My other 2 alevels are maths and physics by the way.

Thanks for any help.

Reply 1

capslock

1

I started this course but gave it up after the first 'semester'. It's not so much that it was difficult, just you had to dedicate a lot of time to learn the material which could be spent more wisely. Plus it has to be retaken after 3 years (because of technology updates), which would be expensive. As I have no intension of going into computer networking then it wasn’t really worth me continuing it. However if you are interested in a career in networking, then it is probably worth taking (especially since it is an expensive course to do outside school).

But as far as university does, this will be worth nothing compared to a 3rd A level. You would definitely be making a mistake taking this over another A level if you wanted to study Computing at a reputable university.

Reply 2

f1sk

trifid

Right my school has just offered a new course called CISCO, which is computer networking and I am very interested in taking this course. The teachers are great, I want to do computing at uni, and our school is very resouceful. But my problem is this. It is a double award, so i can only take 2 other alevels, and apparently this CISCO is not worth ucas points. So would this mean I wouldnt find it as easy to get into university? My other 2 alevels are maths and physics by the way.

Thanks for any help.

This would indeed make it very hard if not impossible to get into top universities. Most unis make offers based on 3 A-Levels and if you were thinking of Computer Science then the CISCO course cannot replace those. The course is an excellent one for people looking to enter the networking/computing field and is highly regarded by employers, it would thus compliment your A-Levels well but shouldnt be used as a replacement. If wanted to enter employment straight after your ALevels this would be a good move, otherwise you should try to do another A Level.

Reply 3

Camford

12

trifid

Right my school has just offered a new course called CISCO, which is computer networking and I am very interested in taking this course. The teachers are great, I want to do computing at uni, and our school is very resouceful. But my problem is this. It is a double award, so i can only take 2 other alevels, and apparently this CISCO is not worth ucas points. So would this mean I wouldnt find it as easy to get into university? My other 2 alevels are maths and physics by the way.

Thanks for any help.

Most of the universities' Computer Science courses specify that you are not required to do anything computer related in your A'Level years. However, having A'level maths and a practical science (chemistry, physics or biology) is necessary. On top of the 2 A'levels, you need a 3rd to get into a good uni. I'm not sure whether universities will look as this CISCO thing as an A'Level equivalent or not. What you really want to do is to e-mail the admission office of a university which you think you might be applying to and get some professional opinion.

If you really like networking, then the course shouldn't take up too much time. In addition to all the things you've already listed, you might be able find some time for an extra A'Level. I did five in the past 2 years and had plenty of spare time.

Reply 4

trifid

OP

thanks for the rapid replies everyone. I will send an email to a uni then. I could ask my school if i can do another alevel along with the others. I dont like the idea of having to re-do the CCNA every 3 years though.

Reply 5

f1sk

trifid

thanks for the rapid replies everyone. I will send an email to a uni then. I could ask my school if i can do another alevel along with the others. I dont like the idea of having to re-do the CCNA every 3 years though.

The course is targetted at people going into employment who would encounter the new technology as they work so they only need to sit the exam every 3 years not the course.

Reply 6

[-David-]

1

I took CCNA 1 at college and had no problems

Reply 7

trifid

OP

david did you take any other alevels? and did you get into a uni easily after? thanks

Reply 8

StarBlueUK

2

trifid

Right my school has just offered a new course called CISCO, which is computer networking and I am very interested in taking this course. The teachers are great, I want to do computing at uni, and our school is very resouceful. But my problem is this. It is a double award, so i can only take 2 other alevels, and apparently this CISCO is not worth ucas points. So would this mean I wouldnt find it as easy to get into university? My other 2 alevels are maths and physics by the way.

Thanks for any help.

If you want to go to university it would be a bad idea to do the CISCO course instead of two A Levels. Why not do A Levels in Computing and or IT?

Reply 9

trifid

OP

the teachers are really bad for IT at my school, but there are different ones for the CISCO which are really good. I also dont enjoy IT very much at all, writing about excel is very boring.

Reply 10

[-David-]

1

trifid

david did you take any other alevels? and did you get into a uni easily after? thanks

I studied for an AVCE Double award plus 6 additional units (equaling the equilivant of 3 a levels) whilst i took my Cisco CCNA1 and have got into Uni no probs.

Would I be stupid taking a CCNA CISCO plus 2 Alevels???

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