Informations Systems: Urgent advice needed

I

Ipwn 4

Expert Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2010
Messages
1,937
Reaction score
226
Information Systems: Urgent advice needed

Hi all,

I recently came across an article ripping on CTI (the college that I attend currently) and after reading this and doing some google'ing I am now considering moving my studies to UNISA and taking up the Computer Science course. The thread regarding CTI was quite old and I was wondering if the same opinions still stand regarding this college and its doings.

I was disgusted to read for instance that the recruitment agencies that CTI makes use of charges companies to hire students and the only people in the thread who came up for CTI were all one-post-wonders, not a single senior member of this forum had anything good to say about CTI.

I'm open to any suggestions regarding the move to UNISA and would also like to know what people thing of CTI now

Regards
Jaco
 
Last edited:
You will definitely not go wrong with UNISA. Many forumites have studied there and will agree with me. Far more recognized than CTI and probably a better course as well.
 
If you already payed your money you might as well complete the course instead of wasting it.

Recruiters all charge for placements so its an industry norm, what gets me is that they promise students jobs but then dont act on the students behalf but on their own by charging recruiter fees.

UNISA is well recognized and actually pretty cheap so thats a good way to go.
 
Yeah, if you already paid money, try complete it.

Guys are pointing you to Unisa - if you can afford to (both time and money) why not even consider full time university where you attend lectures etc?

Check if any universities are willing to give you credits for the work you already completed at CTI - very slim chances - but you might save on having to do some subjects.
 
I must correct you there as I have seen lots of people think that cti promises their students jobs, I have not had this promise made to me once, they assist you in getting interviews.

I spoke to a student advisor today who claims that the first year diploma has a rating of NQF5. Regardless it's a large sum of money to just loose. Sad part is that people don't quite indersand the cti system and if the oke interviewing you doesn't you arn't going to get the job...

Thanks for the replies so far, the only problem now is that I'm too late to register for 2012 at UNISA(correct me if I'm wrong). Do you guys have any suggestions on what to do if I'm not able to study there next year? I am considering completing the cti second year to keep busy while working as it is only 6 months of project management and nowhere near first year in terms of costs(10k for my course).
 
They may consider you for late registration next year.
They are busy with my application now as far as I understand even though the date is over.
 
Ecco said:
Yeah, if you already paid money, try complete it.

Guys are pointing you to Unisa - if you can afford to (both time and money) why not even consider full time university where you attend lectures etc?

Check if any universities are willing to give you credits for the work you already completed at CTI - very slim chances - but you might save on having to do some subjects.
Click to expand...

Time and money isn't quite the issue, I received a 90% merit bursary at UP this year and will get same one next year if I re-register. The thing is that I enjoy the way cti works, I'm currently 20 days ahead of my schedule and still going strong. I enjoy doing things at my pace but should I have to I'll go back to UP as I can still apply there till Friday.

The big reason for me wanting to go the UNISA route is due to the experience I can earn while studying. I stand corrected on this but I think it will be better to work while I study (not to pay for it, purely for experience). What are your thoughts on this?
 
^^vampire^^ said:
They may consider you for late registration next year.
They are busy with my application now as far as I understand even though the date is over.
Click to expand...
On their site it only gives you the option to choose post-grad courses. When did you apply?
 
There are two processes at UNISA. You apply to get a student number, then register.
So I believe applications (for first timers) are closed, but registrations are still open.
 
Fuma said:
There are two processes at UNISA. You apply to get a student number, then register.
So I believe applications (for first timers) are closed, but registrations are still open.
Click to expand...

Does this mean i am now unable to apply for 2012?I have not yet applied for a student number...That leaves me to eithet apply at tuks or do the cti second year and go to unisa in 2012
 
Ipwn 4 said:
Does this mean i am now unable to apply for 2012?I have not yet applied for a student number...That leaves me to eithet apply at tuks or do the cti second year and go to unisa in 2012
Click to expand...
You can apply around Nov/Dec/Jan for July (second semester) intake.
 
I think that if you can afford to study full-time at UP you'd be mad not to.
 
@Fuma u shure about that?

How do you guys rate the UNISA BSc CS vs the UP course,I can afford the UP course but staying at res and all the extra costs will be a bit much,this is my second change in course...I was at UP at the beginning of the year but they wouldn't let me change my course to IT due to the fact that the course I was accepted for has only 60 spots for the 2500+ applications they recieve each year.
 
Last edited:
Ipwn 4 said:
Time and money isn't quite the issue, I received a 90% merit bursary at UP this year and will get same one next year if I re-register. The thing is that I enjoy the way cti works, I'm currently 20 days ahead of my schedule and still going strong. I enjoy doing things at my pace but should I have to I'll go back to UP as I can still apply there till Friday.
Click to expand...
You have the time and the money, go with a university. While you may enjoy the way CTI works, you obviously have other issues with them. If you really wanted to you could also study ahead of the class at university - however your exam dates etc are fixed. You could take on more courses, however you would still only graduate after 3 years for a normal degree or 4 years for Honours.


Ipwn 4 said:
The big reason for me wanting to go the UNISA route is due to the experience I can earn while studying. I stand corrected on this but I think it will be better to work while I study (not to pay for it, purely for experience). What are your thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

You got to ask yourself, what kind of work do you want to do and where do you want to work? What do they value more - experience or a degree or will they give credit for doing both? Also the type of experience matters. If you doing pc support, and you want to go into project management, the pc support experience means very little.

A lot of big corporates place value in a degree - they will then recruit you as part of their graduate programme and you progress through the company accordingly.

Smaller companies may be interested in your experience, and the degree may count towards a higher salary.

My personal view is if you can do full time at a university do it. Have some fun while you there too.
 
UNISA is for when you are working, or didn't get accpeted in your preferred varsity.
If you can afford to go to UP, then no question you should take UP.
UP, Wits, UCT, Stellie, Rhodes, etc are your preferred choices all the time.

I'm studying through UNISA because I cannot attend full time. Post grad is when maybe I will consider other varsities.
 
Fuma said:
UNISA is for when you are working, or didn't get accpeted in your preferred varsity.
If you can afford to go to UP, then no question you should take UP.
UP, Wits, UCT, Stellie, Rhodes, etc are your preferred choices all the time.

I'm studying through UNISA because I cannot attend full time. Post grad is when maybe I will consider other varsities.
Click to expand...
I don't think ill be able to afford 3 years at UP if I don't get a merit bursary again. Thats why I want to know if a UNISA degree is regarded lower then a UP degree, also I would like to go up to post grad level.

Fuma can you please confirm that UNISA does allow students to start in the second semester. I have sent them an email regarding this but have not yet recieved a reply.

I would like to thank everyone for their advice and input thus far, helped me alot so far.
 
You really have to decide on what you want from your career, you can accomplish allot in many ways.

Some people don't have degrees but are experts in their field and in huge demand purely on their skill and reputation so a degree is not always necessary.

Since you sound like you cant necisaraly carry another 3 years without working I would suggest that you try and find a job at a good company where you can grow yourself and learn as much as possible(thats your goal for the first 2 years at least, pure knowledge an experience absorption)

If you cant find that job then study until you can, it is very possible to get a job on the basis of having 1 or 2 years of a degree done with the intention of completing the degree.

Finding that good junior position where you are surrounded by experts is your aim and the best way to learn quickly is through exposure to expert senior's.

A degree is good and will help promotions but which university its from is not as important(as long as its well respected)

Ideally you want to become an expert in your field and prospective employers will chase after you not the other way around.
 
Last edited:
Beachless said:
You really have to decide on what you want from your career, you can accomplish allot in many ways.

Some people don't have degrees but are experts in their field and in huge demand purely on their skill and reputation so a degree is not always necessary.

Since you sound like you cant necisaraly carry another 3 years without working I would suggest that you try and find a job at a good company where you can grow yourself and learn as much as possible(thats your goal for the first 2 years at least, pure knowledge an experience absorption)

If you cant find that job then study until you can, it is very possible to get a job on the basis of having 1 or 2 years of a degree done with the intention of completing the degree.

Finding that good junior position where you are surrounded by experts is your aim and the best way to learn quickly is through exposure to expert senior's.

A degree is good and will help promotions but which university its from is not as important(as long as its well respected)

Ideally you want to become an expert in your field and prospective employers will chase after you not the other way around.
Click to expand...
I don't understand you completely, I agree with you that I should go work. I am capable of paying for my studies at UNISA as there won't be additional cost involved such as res ect.

Thing is that my parents refuse to fund my studies should I start to work(they worked rather then study and never went back to go study). This places me in the position where UNISA is my only option as tuks will be too expensive.

Are there people who do their degrees through the post full time?how will this look on a CV to potential employers?

Can anyone please confirm that it is possible to register(note that I havr not got a student number,this will be a first time application) at UNISA and start in the second semester?
 
Also remember that when applying for a job without a degree, you will generally be rated lower than applicants with degrees. Unless of course you have 20 years experience with [insert specialisation here] and they're looking for that specifically.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X