The Student Room Group
Original post by A_2275
In currently on a level 2 course and thinking about moving on to this course at 17. I was wondering if this course is worth and for those who have done it where has it got you. Does this get you far. Does it have a good field career wise?

I am currently on the last year of the Level three national extended diploma, and Im looking to pursue software development and have offers from the University of Nottingham and University of East Anglia and University of stirling, still waiting for the last two, to study Computer Science, you'll study a good range of core modules and then some optionals that your college will pick, but someone in my class is looking to go into 3D graphics, and hes in the same position as you, did the level 2 then at 17 started the national extended level, and another is looking to go into data science at university so there is quite a lot of different paths you could go down after as the national extended is equivalent to 3 A levels, a lot of universities will accept this for courses like computer science or other IT related courses. If you have any more questions id be happy to try and answer them as best as I can :smile:
Reply 2
Original post by BailyEast1
I am currently on the last year of the Level three national extended diploma, and Im looking to pursue software development and have offers from the University of Nottingham and University of East Anglia and University of stirling, still waiting for the last two, to study Computer Science, you'll study a good range of core modules and then some optionals that your college will pick, but someone in my class is looking to go into 3D graphics, and hes in the same position as you, did the level 2 then at 17 started the national extended level, and another is looking to go into data science at university so there is quite a lot of different paths you could go down after as the national extended is equivalent to 3 A levels, a lot of universities will accept this for courses like computer science or other IT related courses. If you have any more questions id be happy to try and answer them as best as I can :smile:

Hey there. Thank you very much for the reply. Is it ok that I'm currently on an none related IT level 2. My level 2 is engineering. I'd be switching from something completely different. Also is it ok that I'd be starting at 17? Is it bad? It really concerns me that I'd be starting a year later and would end up going university a year later then others. I just wanted to know about the progression of this course. Many thanks
Original post by A_2275
Hey there. Thank you very much for the reply. Is it ok that I'm currently on an none related IT level 2. My level 2 is engineering. I'd be switching from something completely different. Also is it ok that I'd be starting at 17? Is it bad? It really concerns me that I'd be starting a year later and would end up going university a year later then others. I just wanted to know about the progression of this course. Many thanks

Before I started this course I was taking A-levels in Economics, history and business so I wouldn’t worry too much about the transition, as long as you have a genuine interest in computing I think you’ll be more than fine ! And also I’ll be starting university at 20 years old it’s not a big deal at all many people do the same and many people on my current course are over 18 so it’s not even a big deal! And remember its never a problem doing things at your own pace and following your own path, not everyone progresses through education at the same rate!
Reply 4
Original post by BailyEast1
Before I started this course I was taking A-levels in Economics, history and business so I wouldn’t worry too much about the transition, as long as you have a genuine interest in computing I think you’ll be more than fine ! And also I’ll be starting university at 20 years old it’s not a big deal at all many people do the same and many people on my current course are over 18 so it’s not even a big deal! And remember its never a problem doing things at your own pace and following your own path, not everyone progresses through education at the same rate!


Thanks you very much this helps alot. Thank you. What course are you currently doing and also did you do a year of the A levels you mentioned?
Original post by A_2275
In currently on a level 2 course and thinking about moving on to this course at 17. I was wondering if this course is worth and for those who have done it where has it got you. Does this get you far. Does it have a good field career wise?

You sound like an adult learner like me.
17? you sound like you had extenuating circumstances like me.

Isn't everyone on level 2 before moving to level 3 or retaking level 2 due to extenuating circumstances?


Are you doing Cambridge IGCSE?

Cambridge IGCSE is a much better level 2 than IB MYP or BTEC. https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/bw7p9t/switching_from_igcse_to_ib_myp_any_suggestions/



I'm not doing BTEC Level 3 but I didn't finish BTEC Level 2 IT and moved to IGCSE (adding Latin and Classical Greek) and FSMQ Additional Maths (catch up and then do IB DP or A-level) due to extenuating circumstances and having one or two bad years.



FYI, there's no P=NP or Turing machine.

BTEC Level 2 IT was the worst, making websites or graphics design is not relevant at all!



at my school for BTEC Level 2, I don't even get to learn Latin or Greek; only English and the teachers are very bad and only cover the very basics and did not tailor the content to me, and IT only, no others :frown:, too specialised tbh.



Original post by BailyEast1
I am currently on the last year of the Level three national extended diploma, and Im looking to pursue software development and have offers from the University of Nottingham and University of East Anglia and University of stirling, still waiting for the last two, to study Computer Science, you'll study a good range of core modules and then some optionals that your college will pick, but someone in my class is looking to go into 3D graphics, and hes in the same position as you, did the level 2 then at 17 started the national extended level, and another is looking to go into data science at university so there is quite a lot of different paths you could go down after as the national extended is equivalent to 3 A levels, a lot of universities will accept this for courses like computer science or other IT related courses. If you have any more questions id be happy to try and answer them as best as I can :smile:



So you did more pure Maths and Physics alongside?



software development is not computer science and slightly irrelevant.

Computer Science is P=NP, Quantum Mechanics, Logic gates, Turing machine.

why not University of Oxford?
Reply 6
Original post by John L2 Student
You sound like an adult learner like me.
17? you sound like you had extenuating circumstances like me.

Isn't everyone on level 2 before moving to level 3 or retaking level 2 due to extenuating circumstances?


Are you doing Cambridge IGCSE?

Cambridge IGCSE is a much better level 2 than IB MYP or BTEC. https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/bw7p9t/switching_from_igcse_to_ib_myp_any_suggestions/



I'm not doing BTEC Level 3 but I didn't finish BTEC Level 2 IT and moved to IGCSE (adding Latin and Classical Greek) and FSMQ Additional Maths (catch up and then do IB DP or A-level) due to extenuating circumstances and having one or two bad years.



FYI, there's no P=NP or Turing machine.

BTEC Level 2 IT was the worst, making websites or graphics design is not relevant at all!



at my school for BTEC Level 2, I don't even get to learn Latin or Greek; only English and the teachers are very bad and only cover the very basics and did not tailor the content to me, and IT only, no others :frown:, too specialised tbh.






So you did more pure Maths and Physics alongside?



software development is not computer science and slightly irrelevant.

Computer Science is P=NP, Quantum Mechanics, Logic gates, Turing machine.

why not University of Oxford?

Thank you for your reply. I'm currently stuck on this level 2 for the year and can't move to anything else. I plan on doing a level 3 next year a year later when I'm 17.