Which route should i take to get into programming after UCT rejection

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DarkDesire

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Ive had my application for a Bsc IT at UCT declined for dodgy matric results and im looking for a way forward so that i don't make this year a waste.

My intention is to try and do a few diplomas/short courses this year and start looking for work in the industry so that when i go the UNISA route next year I'll hopefully be gaining work experience at the same time.

A friend of mine working at http://www.airborneconsulting.co.za suggested that i do MCST .NET and start from their. The student adviser at UCT also suggested i do the SUN Java qualification besides also mentioning the MCST .NET.

Im hoping that guys can offer me advice on which courses to take that's targeted towards the South African job market and specifically get me working this year. I might be naive in that respect but any advice would be appreciated.
 
Doing short courses in Java or C# is a good idea, as both are quite relevant to the current market in SA. If you haven't had SQL exposure, also look at introductory courses in SQL as DB's are integral to a large number of dev projects. To get work without having offers already from friends, family or your own contacts, it might be necessary to focus on one of those. At this early stage though, going the focussed route has benefits and disadvantages
 
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You don't have to wait for next year to go to UNISA. You can register for next semester. The applications will open around next month. Check UNISA website.
 
or you can just try a other varsity, but its too late to register at other places so try Unisa. Short courses are good but a diploma or degree will add MUCH more weight.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys, I think the best course of action for this year then would be to do the MCST and Java courses and a SQL course through UNISA this year and then continue with my degree next year.

Are their any websites that help with placements for entry level coders or companies with repute who take on entry level or intern coders. I'm based in Cape Town, Cheers again guys
 
i also recommend you take a software engineering course to better understand the software layers and quality of what software is supposed to be measured against. I think that everyone should do that though.

Finding an entry level job is quite a mission dude...so the only thing that can be done in this country is to spray and pray. Send CV's to everyone and pray you get the job.

If you have difficulties with interview questions then just ask and i will help you where i can.
 
DarkDesire said:
Thanks for all the replies guys, I think the best course of action for this year then would be to do the MCST and Java courses and a SQL course through UNISA this year and then continue with my degree next year.

Are their any websites that help with placements for entry level coders or companies with repute who take on entry level or intern coders. I'm based in Cape Town, Cheers again guys
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As a UNISA student I will tell you No. Start your BSc this year. You need to do bridging modules and those short courses are intended for guys that don't want to get tertiary education. Your prospective employer will be more impressed with you wanting to study a full degree vs having already passed a whole lot of short courses.

You can teach yourself all that content. PM me if you want any advice.

Also I decided to first do a certificate (as it was the quickest route to get a qualification) and then finish my degree (I use all my modules from my certificate as credits towards the degree). Well I just got awarded my cetificate this week and nobody cares. I'm still a junior developer on a junior salary - I have to wait for my BSc before I move on.
 
As a fellow unisa student I'm going to agree with cb. Start your BSc with unisa next semester. You can then try to get into a full time university next year if you wish using your unisa modules as credits, or continue at unisa. Plus you still have some time to do a couple of certs before you start with your degree.
 
What do you marks look like? What is your APU or whatever that new score is they use at Universities?

Do you absolutely have to study in Cape Town?
 
+1 UNISA

Gives you the opportunity to enter the workplace earlier as a junior or (if you had the money to go study anyway) study for cheaper and open up your days quite a bit (depending on how you study/if you're committed etc)
 
Like others have said if you have the first year of a degree done that is worth more than certificate courses.
Also the Microsoft, SUN certification really should be acompanied by work experience.

I would recommend the following:

Start a UNISA degree.
While your studying go on to www.rent-acoder.com or other freelance sites and choose a project on there without bidding and complete it.(This will give you real world projects to work on and allot of new things to research and learn)
Once you've completed a few without bidding on them and your skills have improved start bidding on small projects which dont have strict deadlines and complete the ones youve won.

This will give you a good cv to find that first decent job, which is normally not easy....


As for languages C# and Java are the most popular and have shortages at the moment so your chances will be greater of landing a job.
 
While doing the qualification (eventually) is a must, the best thing you can do for your programming career is write some code. Recently, I've had to work with a number of people with this or that university degree, this or that certification and this or that diploma. They have no idea what they're doing.

In contrast, I've also had to work with some people with no qualifications other than some experience at the school of hard knocks, and they're great.

Many companies will, once you're working for them, even pay for you to do certifications.
 
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