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Geek Culture / Future Choices and that stuff

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Neofish
20
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Joined: 7th Apr 2004
Location: A swimming pool of coke
Posted: 28th Jan 2005 03:41
The time has come for the students at my school to begin choosing their A-Level choices. This started me thinking (not a good thing). Seeming as A-Levels are the first real step into my career, I want to choose carefully and have a nice long think about it. Before you ask, I'm posting here for opinions and "experienced guidance" seeming as the internet sucks for this kind of thing and my schools IT department is practically non-exisant. So here is a quick description of what I want to do and my current thoughts:

What I want to do (in short):
Game programming in C++ with oGL (or dX seeming as oGL is far less popular).

What I was thinking of choosing for A-Level:
Maths (I'm good at it)
Physics (I'm good at it and enjoy it)
Chemistry (I'm good at it and enjoy it)
<empty slot>

Anyway, has anyone any advice on the A-Levels I should chose to prepare for me to go into game programming? Also any other random advice that fits in here?

Thanks,
Neofish

Note: I'm sure I've missed something but I'm sure to remember it later

David T
Retired Moderator
22
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Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: England
Posted: 28th Jan 2005 03:47
I'm doing Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Then do a Computer Science degree at Cambridge, then possible a postgrad at Stanford and/or find work in the nitty gritty programming jobs

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Neofish
20
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Joined: 7th Apr 2004
Location: A swimming pool of coke
Posted: 28th Jan 2005 03:53
That is a possiblity, as you already know (MSN).

spooky
22
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Joined: 30th Aug 2002
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 28th Jan 2005 05:26
I did A levels in Maths and Physics (around 17 years ago when exams actually taxed your brain).

Maths is a definite must for computer related career.

I also did Statistics exams as well which I found very interesting.

I enjoyed Physics at O level but A level really messed up my head with all those complicated equations. Did not really help in my computer career.

I only did CSE chemistry as I sucked at it so bad. Bunsen burners were fun though.

At college I did a City and Guilds in Applications Programming and passed with flying colours. The language unfortunately was COBOL which is the most painful language you could ever program in. Did teach you a lot though.

After leaving college I walked straight into a top paid computing job in London and am still working there!

These days things are a lot different as most youngsters have a good knowledge of computing from an early age and have that advantage over us oldbies that had never had the internet or anything.

Anyway, good luck on your A levels whatever you decide.

Boo!
IanG
20
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Joined: 25th Sep 2004
Location: Cyberspace
Posted: 28th Jan 2005 05:38
whatever you do don't do law, my brother is doing it and it basically learning cases, more cases and surprisingly more cases

Used to be Phoenix_insane registered in september 2003 despite what the date says to the left <--
PC - amd athlon 2.0ghz, 512mb, GeForce FX 5200 128mb, 200gb, xp pro sp2
Neofish
20
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Joined: 7th Apr 2004
Location: A swimming pool of coke
Posted: 28th Jan 2005 05:51
Quote: "(around 17 years ago when exams actually taxed your brain)"

Don't start that argument

Quote: "Bunsen burners were fun though."



Quote: "whatever you do don't do law"

I don't intend to. However several of my friends are: one is going to a different school to do law and IT A-Levels. Not so bad until you consider the school he's going to

Dave J
Retired Moderator
21
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Joined: 11th Feb 2003
Location: Secret Military Pub, Down Under
Posted: 28th Jan 2005 20:55
Quote: "I'm doing Further Maths"


Ironically, we have 3 Math subjects in Australia: Further Maths, Maths Methods, and Specialist Maths, with Further Maths being by far the easiest. Interesting that the name of our bad Maths is the same name as your good Maths.


"Computers are useless, they can only give you answers."

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