Matric & my future: Lost!

PPLdude

PPLdude

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Hey guys,

Ill keep it to the point.

  • Grade 11 marks are too bad to study right after matric (So I have to take a gap year)
  • I really enjoy I.T. I love making websites outside of school, and love the hardware aspect of IT (but hate java)
  • I was too lazy and didn't want to work hard, so I dropped maths to math lit
  • Contemplating studying HR, but my passion is with I.T

So my question is:
Is it possible for me to study somewhere and get a meaningful degree?

And what aspect of I.T do you suggest I go in, if any.

I stay in Cape Town btw.
 
static_sa said:
Hey guys,

Ill keep it to the point.

  • Grade 11 marks are too bad to study right after matric (So I have to take a gap year)
  • I really enjoy I.T. I love making websites outside of school, and love the hardware aspect of IT (but hate java)
  • I was too lazy and didn't want to work hard, so I dropped maths to math lit
  • Contemplating studying HR, but my passion is with I.T

So my question is:
Is it possible for me to study somewhere and get a meaningful degree?

And what aspect of I.T do you suggest I go in, if any.

I stay in Cape Town btw.
Click to expand...

Could you not use your gap year getting your maths up to snuff?
 
Well I was planning to do a 1 year course at CTI and use those point for comp.sci but after reading some threads, everyone bashes that uni's cred down.
 
static_sa said:
Well I was planning to do a 1 year course at CTI and use those point for comp.sci but after reading some threads, everyone bashes that uni's cred down.
Click to expand...
That's a learning institution and not a university. But as said there's A+, N+ etc. which you can do at a bunch of institutions. No real need to go the university route for I.T.
 
Do you know what the best place would be if I wanted to land a network engineering job?

I was thinking doing a bridging course for maths then study comp.sci, but i'm not sure if its possible
 
static_sa said:
Well I was planning to do a 1 year course at CTI and use those point for comp.sci but after reading some threads, everyone bashes that uni's cred down.
Click to expand...

For one thing, I have to correct you, CTI are not a Uni, they are merely a pisspoor attempt at a training centre.
 
static_sa said:
Do you know what the best place would be if I wanted to land a network engineering job?

I was thinking doing a bridging course for maths then study comp.sci, but i'm not sure if its possible
Click to expand...

Comp Sci will have a boat load of programming and possibly a large portion in Java...

As for the maths thing, is maths a subject you struggle with normally or not? And since you've already admitted to not really wanting to work during Grade 11, how will you cope with a real IT job where at least 80% of the stuff you do (if not more) is boring drudge work?
 
Please stay away from CTI, they will charge you a lot of money and the instructor will just read from the book. If you are going to go the A+,N+, CCNA route rather do it yourself. Buy the books read them and understand them., For CCNA I would say practice on GNS3.

As Nick333 said use the gap year to up your maths but at the same time I would be doing these network foundation courses. I would contact various companies and ask them if you can shadow someone to learn.
 
static_sa said:
Well I was planning to do a 1 year course at CTI and use those point for comp.sci but after reading some threads, everyone bashes that uni's cred down.
Click to expand...
I'll await your "CTI is useless thread". Stay away unless you have a lot of money and plan on doing a proper diploma/degree through a uni later.

Google " site:mybroadband.co.za/vb CTI" and have a look see
 
Also, computer science is about algorithms and data structures (amongst many other topics) which require a good mathematical understanding. I would go the CCNA route considering you want to be in networking...
 
First off, thanks for the reply guys.

So last night I was doing some research and a lot of job opening for network engineer required CCNA, CCNP, etc which is awesome.
So I think this means I don't need to go to a uni if I want to get into this career, but rather get these certificates as well as A+, N+ etc.

If any of you miss understood, I am currently in matric. At the rate I am going ill be getting B+ or A average for finals.
 
static_sa said:
First off, thanks for the reply guys.

So last night I was doing some research and a lot of job opening for network engineer required CCNA, CCNP, etc which is awesome.
So I think this means I don't need to go to a uni if I want to get into this career, but rather get these certificates as well as A+, N+ etc.

If any of you miss understood, I am currently in matric. At the rate I am going ill be getting B+ or A average for finals.
Click to expand...

Please rethink the not going to university part as it may hinder your career growth. Personally I would rather try make it into university and remember Comp Sci isn't the only IT courses at university there is BCom Information Systems, in Stellenbosch there is a BA Socio-Informatics degree. So do not limit yourself.
 
ActivateD said:
Please rethink the not going to university part as it may hinder your career growth. Personally I would rather try make it into university and remember Comp Sci isn't the only IT courses at university there is BCom Information Systems, in Stellenbosch there is a BA Socio-Informatics degree. So do not limit yourself.
Click to expand...

Everything needs maths, which is really crippling my options. Maybe I go the route of getting CCNA, and all those then as I work maybe pickup a uni degree? It's just the fact that I do math lit and not core maths. (yes yes, I am aware of my stupid decision)
 
static_sa said:
Everything needs maths, which is really crippling my options. Maybe I go the route of getting CCNA, and all those then as I work maybe pickup a uni degree? It's just the fact that I do math lit and not core maths. (yes yes, I am aware of my stupid decision)
Click to expand...
Back in the day when I was at Uni they also had has a basic Math course. A few students who didn't get a D in Maths higher grade in matric took that subject in their 1st year and still could take the normal Computer Science classes in the same 1st year. After you pass this in your first year you can still do Maths 1 in your 2nd year. Go see a career counsillor at your uni about this possible choice i you consider it.
 
The thing is, I have to take a gap year, because I can only apply with my matric marks. So I was thinking doing CCNA or relevant compTIA bundle during the year.
 
I also suggest doing a bridging course or something to get into a degree. I redid matric myself to up my Maths marks (E to high A) in order to get in. Although many people get by with these other certifications, your expected level of success is much higher with a degree.
 
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