This week it's all about the open days, and why it's important to attend them. Open days at all universities are an integral part of your choices. This is your opportunity to see the campus, accommodation and ask the questions you need to.
For my open day at the University of Bedfordshire, I went armed with questions. Read about the course (as mentioned in several if the previous blog posts), read reviews, and went with as much knowledge as possible. With this prior knowledge in mind, I was able to ask relevant questions, and clear up any discrepancies I had. I was able to confirm teaching structure, course structure, and most importantly exam structure.
A tour of the campus provided me with a nice overall look at where I would be working for the next few years, as well as some useful pointers for places to study. Along with this, pointers of where the best places for food and drink were also welcomed.
I have not stayed in university accommodation, I have traveled from home each day, so I did not go on the tour. However, my friends who did, said that it was very well presented, and assisted in making their choices.
Next week its all about the balance of study and socializing, and the problems and possible solutions that come with going to university.
Monday, 29 June 2015
Friday, 19 June 2015
How the course is taught
This week I'm delving into the details of my course specifically, as well as an overview of the majority of computing courses. I'm going to talk about the make-up of the course, choices and the lecturers themselves.
All computing courses (apart from a couple specialized like maths) have the exact same first year. You all do the same 4 units, all taught at the same time, together. This means that everyone gets the same level of teaching as a basis to move forward next year. It also means that if during the year you decide that you want to change course because something else looks better than what you were planning on doing, you can. As I'm talking about first year, I would like to clarify something regarding the mythology around the whole "first year doesn't count". Your right, it doesn't count towards your final degree grade. HOWEVER, you must still PASS the year otherwise, congratulations on wasting £9000+ to sit around and do nothing all year. I can't stress enough, make use of your first year, make your mistakes here, ask questions, get to know your lecturers, get to know where help is and how you get it and most importantly, learn how to use BREO (the online course/University management tool).
On the course that I am studying, Computer Security and Forensics, you do not get a choice of modules. I know that on other computing courses this is the same. Do the research, find out what your course is structured like. Not having to choose, at least based on my experience with my brother who had to choose at his university, is actually quite relieving. Yes, you might end up doing a unit you dislike. However, if you had to choose and you wanted to do one unit, then got rejected and had to do a unit you disliked, then it would feel worse. in my experience so far, the units themselves are selected for a reason whether you feel they are relevant or not. My advice, roll with it and if you have any problems bring it up with your course representative, or the lecturer.
On the subject of lecturers, lets talk about them next. In my experience so far, they are all very approachable and willing to listen to your opinions, no matter what they are. If you dont like the unit, what is being taught, you don't understand, whatever the issue is, they are willing to listen. As an example, we had a major issue with one of our units this year, we were expected to have A-level maths knowledge in order to build upon it with engineering based maths. Now, I was the only person in the class who had touched A-level maths, and I failed it. After a couple of lectures of this going completely over our heads, I was asked to go to the head of unit to get it sorted. After several meetings/conversations, we came to the conclusion that the teaching syllabus would change to incorporate some maths lessons, and that subject matter would be adapted to less intense maths. Also for next year, the entire unit would be re-structured to prevent this from happening again. So through talking and conversation with the lecturers, we took what was clearly a problem and turned it into a positive outcome.
I know this weeks blog was longer than normal, so if you stayed till the end then thanks. Next week I'll be talking about open days and how important it is to go armed with certain things.
All computing courses (apart from a couple specialized like maths) have the exact same first year. You all do the same 4 units, all taught at the same time, together. This means that everyone gets the same level of teaching as a basis to move forward next year. It also means that if during the year you decide that you want to change course because something else looks better than what you were planning on doing, you can. As I'm talking about first year, I would like to clarify something regarding the mythology around the whole "first year doesn't count". Your right, it doesn't count towards your final degree grade. HOWEVER, you must still PASS the year otherwise, congratulations on wasting £9000+ to sit around and do nothing all year. I can't stress enough, make use of your first year, make your mistakes here, ask questions, get to know your lecturers, get to know where help is and how you get it and most importantly, learn how to use BREO (the online course/University management tool).
On the course that I am studying, Computer Security and Forensics, you do not get a choice of modules. I know that on other computing courses this is the same. Do the research, find out what your course is structured like. Not having to choose, at least based on my experience with my brother who had to choose at his university, is actually quite relieving. Yes, you might end up doing a unit you dislike. However, if you had to choose and you wanted to do one unit, then got rejected and had to do a unit you disliked, then it would feel worse. in my experience so far, the units themselves are selected for a reason whether you feel they are relevant or not. My advice, roll with it and if you have any problems bring it up with your course representative, or the lecturer.
On the subject of lecturers, lets talk about them next. In my experience so far, they are all very approachable and willing to listen to your opinions, no matter what they are. If you dont like the unit, what is being taught, you don't understand, whatever the issue is, they are willing to listen. As an example, we had a major issue with one of our units this year, we were expected to have A-level maths knowledge in order to build upon it with engineering based maths. Now, I was the only person in the class who had touched A-level maths, and I failed it. After a couple of lectures of this going completely over our heads, I was asked to go to the head of unit to get it sorted. After several meetings/conversations, we came to the conclusion that the teaching syllabus would change to incorporate some maths lessons, and that subject matter would be adapted to less intense maths. Also for next year, the entire unit would be re-structured to prevent this from happening again. So through talking and conversation with the lecturers, we took what was clearly a problem and turned it into a positive outcome.
I know this weeks blog was longer than normal, so if you stayed till the end then thanks. Next week I'll be talking about open days and how important it is to go armed with certain things.
Monday, 15 June 2015
Ahhh, those were the days...
This week its time to get nostalgic. I look back at my past two years and decide what is my most memorable memory. What I have decided to do, is look back only on the past year and choose from there. The past year for me has seen quite a change, both inside and outside of university life.
So during this year, I have been a PAL leader, a course representative as well as the group project leader in all my projects. All of these were personal achievements for which I am very proud. Outside of University I have become a Pilot Officer RAF VR(T) (Volunteer Reserve Training) within the Air cadet Organisation, and recently taken command of my cadet Squadron. Also, I have discovered that I'm not as bad as I used to be at gaming, though still pretty rubbish in the grand scheme of things. All in all, these things have made it a good year.
However, my number one experience of the year, has to be the opportunity to work with Bedfordshire Police on a "real" case. It was real in a sense that the malicious attack had happened to a real world company, using real world software. Myself, along with four of my friends went to the company and assisted in the removal of the malware, as well as securing it against further attack of this nature. Whilst I cant go into great detail, I can say that it was a very enjoyable and enlightening experience to have an opportunity to work with Bedfordshire Police. The University have a full media article here if you are interested in some more information on this.
This weeks blog is shorter than usual, however next week I'll be talking about how my course is taught, so that will definitely take some more reading.
So during this year, I have been a PAL leader, a course representative as well as the group project leader in all my projects. All of these were personal achievements for which I am very proud. Outside of University I have become a Pilot Officer RAF VR(T) (Volunteer Reserve Training) within the Air cadet Organisation, and recently taken command of my cadet Squadron. Also, I have discovered that I'm not as bad as I used to be at gaming, though still pretty rubbish in the grand scheme of things. All in all, these things have made it a good year.
However, my number one experience of the year, has to be the opportunity to work with Bedfordshire Police on a "real" case. It was real in a sense that the malicious attack had happened to a real world company, using real world software. Myself, along with four of my friends went to the company and assisted in the removal of the malware, as well as securing it against further attack of this nature. Whilst I cant go into great detail, I can say that it was a very enjoyable and enlightening experience to have an opportunity to work with Bedfordshire Police. The University have a full media article here if you are interested in some more information on this.
This weeks blog is shorter than usual, however next week I'll be talking about how my course is taught, so that will definitely take some more reading.
Friday, 5 June 2015
Choosing your new University
The results are in, you know what you want to study, but the question is where? Do you go and study a subject at a university that you like the name of? Do you find the subject that you desperately want to study but it's at an obscure university on the other side of the planet? The trick is to find the balance.
So to start with, the university itself. My biggest tip would be to do the research on not just the university, but the halls, the local area, the nightlife, the societies, everything and anything that is important to you. Make sure you actually read the 'small print' as it were. Don't just look for the good reviews, look at the not so good ones as well. With a balanced outlook, then you can decide if the university is for you.
But before you can look for universities, you need to find a course that is good for you. Again, there are a few things that you will need to bear in mind. Research, research, research. Do not just pick a course on a whim, nor pick a course because it's at the university you want to go to. Look at the course, is it a sandwich, is it a 3 or 4 year, what the units are, will there be choices, this and many more things relating to any course need to be researched. Do not just pick a course because it sounds fun, speak to people who are already taking it and get the negative points as well. Then, you can make an informed decision.
I picked the University of Bedfordshire to study Computer Security and Forensics for several reasons. I briefly mentioned last week how I came to choose the University and the course. I'll elaborate a bit with a bit more background. I never originally wanted to go to university, I was just going into the world of work. However, because of my A-level grades, I wasn't able to do what I wanted to do. After working in jobs that were rather boring and dead-end, I decided that I was going to go to university. After doing some looking around, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to do Computer Security and Forensics. After looking at several universities, I discovered that no-one apart from the University of Bedfordshire did the course I wanted to do. Several did however do similar courses, but after some research either the units didn't look as good, or the university facilities didn't appeal to me. So it was a combination of all of these that led me to choose my course and university.
Next week I'm going to talk about a reflection of my past year, and some key events that I have found interesting this past year.
So to start with, the university itself. My biggest tip would be to do the research on not just the university, but the halls, the local area, the nightlife, the societies, everything and anything that is important to you. Make sure you actually read the 'small print' as it were. Don't just look for the good reviews, look at the not so good ones as well. With a balanced outlook, then you can decide if the university is for you.
But before you can look for universities, you need to find a course that is good for you. Again, there are a few things that you will need to bear in mind. Research, research, research. Do not just pick a course on a whim, nor pick a course because it's at the university you want to go to. Look at the course, is it a sandwich, is it a 3 or 4 year, what the units are, will there be choices, this and many more things relating to any course need to be researched. Do not just pick a course because it sounds fun, speak to people who are already taking it and get the negative points as well. Then, you can make an informed decision.
I picked the University of Bedfordshire to study Computer Security and Forensics for several reasons. I briefly mentioned last week how I came to choose the University and the course. I'll elaborate a bit with a bit more background. I never originally wanted to go to university, I was just going into the world of work. However, because of my A-level grades, I wasn't able to do what I wanted to do. After working in jobs that were rather boring and dead-end, I decided that I was going to go to university. After doing some looking around, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to do Computer Security and Forensics. After looking at several universities, I discovered that no-one apart from the University of Bedfordshire did the course I wanted to do. Several did however do similar courses, but after some research either the units didn't look as good, or the university facilities didn't appeal to me. So it was a combination of all of these that led me to choose my course and university.
Next week I'm going to talk about a reflection of my past year, and some key events that I have found interesting this past year.
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