University Help.

[PaulMacC]

Greetings.
I was planning to go to University for Games Development. I actually had a nice University pick out here for the course - http://prospectus.ulster.ac.uk/course/?id=6996 - It says no actual specific A-Levels required . I went to an interview evening tonight and another guy from Queens University told me that I was 3 steps behind people if I applied without Physics or Maths @ A-Level. The courses at Queens Uni requires Maths or Physics but the one at University of Ulster (One I was looking at) doesnt require it. Would I have an equal chance of getting into the course of someone who does have Maths/Physics @ A-Level. They do not specify any exact A-Levels. I'm really put down by this, he even told my friend to look for a career in media or ICT as he wont make it in Games Dev w/o Maths or Physics.

[Jordy]

Possibly but you have to bare in mind Games Development is an incredibly competitive industry and degrees in it do not help your chances that much. Degrees aren't what game developers are looking for and there's far too many people with them who can't find jobs in the gaming industry. My suggestions would of been to start coding at an early age with Flash or iPhone Applications and then hopefully a game developer would notice you. More and more often, game developers are moving to Asia where people are just as skilled but work for less. I can see why people would want to work in the gaming industry, but judging by how difficult it is to get into it, is it really that desirable? And also, without Physics or Maths you're just making it even more difficult for yourself. Maths & Physics generally show skills in computing (mathematically minded people excel at computing), and computer skills therefore help with game developing.

Just my thoughts on the game industry from what I've seen and heard.

[PaulMacC]

True but I know people who do Physics and Maths that are terrible with computers. What I was asking is even though the course specifies no exact A-Level's would they take someone with a Physics/Maths A-Level over myself.

[Jordy]

True but I know people who do Physics and Maths that are terrible with computers. What I was asking is even though the course specifies no exact A-Level's would they take someone with a Physics/Maths A-Level over myself.

I would say so yes, although it would probably depend somewhat on what you took and the grades you both got. Maths & Physics are among the most difficult A Levels and therefore valued as more.

If they got an A in Maths and Physics, chances are, whatever you took and whatever grade you got, they would get in over you.

[PaulMacC]

I would say so yes, although it would probably depend somewhat on what you took and the grades you both got. Maths & Physics are among the most difficult A Levels and therefore valued as more.

If they got an A in Maths and Physics, chances are, whatever you took and whatever grade you got, they would get in over you.

I'm not too great at Maths. I got a B at GCSE and didnt understand some stuff. Would you say it would be beneficial to apply for the Uni place and if I dont get it just go to a FE College and sit a A-Level Maths course?

[Catzsy]

I'm not too great at Maths. I got a B at GCSE and didnt understand some stuff. Would you say it would be beneficial to apply for the Uni place and if I dont get it just go to a FE College and sit a A-Level Maths course?

I would say that would be very sensible to apply to the University that suits your academic capabilities which by the sound of it is the Ulster one that doesn't require the A grades. Have you already got A levels or or you studying them at the moment?

[PaulMacC]

I would say that would be very sensible to apply to the University that suits your academic capabilities which by the sound of it is the Ulster one that doesn't require the A grades. Have you already got A levels or or you studying them at the moment?

Yeah, I'm about to hit the end of my ASLevel's at the moment. I'm studying Politics, Business and ICT.
The prospectus for University of Ulster says: 260 UCAS Points, Grades BC Including One Subject - Maths, Physics, Chemistry, IT, Biology, ICT or Engineering. Would I be able to apply for multiple courses just incase I do not get into one. Computer Science says it does not require any specific A-Levels. Information Communication Tech requires ICT which I am doing. I dont want to apply and then get accepted into ICT because I am doing ICT @ A-Level and not the other subjects. I'm trying to say I dont want apply and get put into Info Com Tech because they think I'd be best suited for it. I'd like to do Comp Sci or Games Dev ;P

University of Ulster
Computers Games Development - 260 Points - BC Grades - Science/Tech/Maths/IT
Computer Science - 260 Points - BC Grades - All Subjects Considered

Do you think I'd have a chance at getting into any of the above with around A/B A-Level grades/

[Jordy]

I'm not too great at Maths. I got a B at GCSE and didnt understand some stuff. Would you say it would be beneficial to apply for the Uni place and if I dont get it just go to a FE College and sit a A-Level Maths course?

Yeah that sounds like a good backup plan should you not get the place. I would also agree with what Catzsy says.

And yes I think you do stand a good chance of getting in

[Catzsy]

Yeah, I'm about to hit the end of my ASLevel's at the moment. I'm studying Politics, Business and ICT.
The prospectus for University of Ulster says: 260 UCAS Points, Grades BC Including One Subject - Maths, Physics, Chemistry, IT, Biology, ICT or Engineering. Would I be able to apply for multiple courses just incase I do not get into one. Computer Science says it does not require any specific A-Levels. Information Communication Tech requires ICT which I am doing. I dont want to apply and then get accepted into ICT because I am doing ICT @ A-Level and not the other subjects. I'm trying to say I dont want apply and get put into Info Com Tech because they think I'd be best suited for it. I'd like to do Comp Sci or Games Dev ;P

University of Ulster
Computers Games Development - 260 Points - BC Grades - Science/Tech/Maths/IT
Computer Science - 260 Points - BC Grades - All Subjects Considered

Do you think I'd have a chance at getting into any of the above with around A/B A-Level grades/

Well you can apply for more than one course - I would check what else is on offer that interest you. A friend of mine applied for BSC Business and actually got in on that. When he went to the induction day he realised that the maths required would be not to his liking so he asked to be transfered to the BA (Hons) Business and they were happy to oblige.
260 points is the minimum you need but I would say it is going to be quite tough this year but I would say that A/B grades would be fine. Also what you should consider that there are still going to be a great demand for Sciences, business and Law Graduates which would include ICT so that would be a good path to go down. As far as computer games development is concerned it is a hard profession to get into but alternatives to that is a career in teaching it yourself once you have an honours degree. If there didn't seem to be many posts available you could apply to go on a Post Graduate Certificate of Education Course for FE and HE or the Cert Ed for Schools. Your personal tutor should be able to help and advise you too as well as helping with UCAS proposals.

[PaulMacC]

A lot of the games development can be applied to stuff outside of games. I know people who've done Games Dev and ended up working for Software companies.