Now studying IT, whats to expect?

Forums › IT Pro and developers › Now studying IT, whats to expect?

tardtasticx

3084 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 483

#114424 19-Feb-2013 18:41

Well as some of you know, I studied Architecture last year which didn't go so well (passed a few classes but it wasn't for me) and decided IT was the way to go because its always been a big interest of mine and pretty much everyone I know says the same.

Those of you who have done a similar course before, what was it like? In terms of both the work load and course equipment requirements?

Last year was pretty crazy, lots of all nighters building stupid models or massive A1 tech drawings etc, spending hundreds a week on materials like paper and pencils and card. I dont expect that so much this year but I'm not quite sure, I got a new computer at a few weeks ago, (latest MacBook Air 13" 128GB) and plan to sell my old laptop (HP, i7, 8gb ram 128GB SSD) mainly because of battery performance and portability, and macs are pretty damn nice. I imagine that would have been the biggest expense but what else would I need?

Any general info on what to expect would be nice, I cant wait though :D orientation starts this week but its at Unitec where I studied last year so I know most of the place anyway, was also offered a place at AUT's Bachelor of Computer Science but decided to go with Unitecs Bachelor of Computer Systems because its more abouts computers themselves rather than using them for science and programming which isnt what I want to do, more wanting to go into support, maintenance or networking (I chose the networking options over programming, but we still have a compulsory programming class each week).

Orientation starts Friday with my first programming class on Monday morning. Eeek! Writing my letter of resignation at the moment for my call centre job which only requires 2 days notice anyway, thank god.

Cheers! Sam

1 | 2

3084 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 483

#766001 19-Feb-2013 21:43

Sorry just realised the typo now haha. Please ignore. :)

kyhwana2

2572 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 233

#766024 19-Feb-2013 22:04

See http://devopsreactions.tumblr.com/ and http://securityreactions.tumblr.com/

Kingy

395 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 32

#766275 20-Feb-2013 10:47

I did the similar Bachelors degree at UCOL in Palmerston North. I went down the Programming route but even then I managed to do 3-4 papers on the networking/support side so you'll have plenty of opportunity to try different things out.

As for work load, if you have any kind of knowledge of computers and good enough time management you should find the entire course manageable. As for doing all nighters, well again if you have decent time management you shouldn't really need to do them. I did the occasional one but only because I kept putting off the work.

As for expenses, the Mac probably wasn't the way to go. I know at UCOL they are very much Microsoft based so all programming/web dev stuff was done on windows with windows IDEs (C#, ASP.NET, Visual Studio etc). The networking based stuff was all done on Ubuntu server however. I didn't need to purchase any books at all and because everything is done on a computer, I think I may have used 1 notebook over the entire 3 years.

Any other questions let me know :) Happy to answer them.

Web development blog: http://www.devhour.net
Follow me on twitter: @JAGracie

lxsw20

3689 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2174

Subscriber

#766280 20-Feb-2013 10:50

Mac will be fine, just run Windows 7 in Boot Camp or parallels.

Behodar

11094 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6071

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#766287 20-Feb-2013 10:56

I have the Unitec Bachelor of Computing Systems that you've mentioned, I did it in 2002-04 so it may have changed a little but I expect that the bulk of it will be pretty similar. It covered everything from installing a server OS (Windows and Linux) to setting up databases, software development, project management (progress charts, reports).

I had no problems with doing it on a Mac, armed with a copy of Virtual PC for the stuff I couldn't do in OS X (mainly for Microsoft Project). It's a lot faster these days on the Intel machines!

joutei

308 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 9

#766292 20-Feb-2013 11:01

I will be starting the same degree at AUT this year. Best of luck !

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

Distorter

242 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 40

#766762 20-Feb-2013 22:45

I'm wanting to do something like this but part time. Has anyone gone down this route, I couldn't imagine finishing up work and going full time study.

I'm in Wellington and I see Weltec have a few night time classes for Diplomas, but I imagine it being pretty full on.

Hammerer

2480 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 802

Lifetime subscriber

#766778 21-Feb-2013 00:00

Distorter: I'm wanting to do something like this but part time. Has anyone gone down this route, I couldn't imagine finishing up work and going full time study.

I'm in Wellington and I see Weltec have a few night time classes for Diplomas, but I imagine it being pretty full on.

I found that part-time study is like having a secondary job. It is hard for me to finish because of the demands of and my commitment to my primary job. For example, I wouldn't use my job time to complete my studies unless I got my employer's permission but many of my colleagues have been happy to take unauthorised liberties.

I prefer full-time study because I'm there when most other students and staff are, I can finish in a shorter duration, and I can focus more deeply on the area studied. It's been the same for me, whether I'm studying computing, engineering, management, languages and the social sciences.

Cloudmelon

186 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 5

#766930 21-Feb-2013 11:43

I study Comp Sci at Otago Uni. Really loving it, the flexibility of a BSc in computer science is great.

I would say you don't need to go out of your way to purchase a new laptop or anything, it's really easy to do all work with what uni will provide (meaning the labs you will attend and the facilities you have access to) or with one you may already own.

Work load, I would say is all up to the person. You could put hardly effort in an still be ok - not that I'm saying you should...

tardtasticx

3084 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 483

#767323 21-Feb-2013 21:23

Thanks so much for the insight guys :D

I cant wait (dont anyone dare quote me on this if I ever ask for help down the line haha)

Orientation starts tomorrow, and after reviewing my timetable, it looks like most of my classes are lab based anyway so I probably wont have to bother taking in a computer with my most days like I did before (then again that was a big bulky HP not a MacBook Air.)

ComSci guys; what made you choose that over the Com Systems/other course? What do you plan to do?
Com Systems guys; what are you doing now after graduating?

naggyman

697 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 86

#767340 21-Feb-2013 22:02

Tell us how it goes ;)
In high school now, so this path is what I think I may do. Would be interested to get info from a student.

Morgan French-Stagg

morgan.french.net.nz

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

tardtasticx

3084 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 483

#767351 21-Feb-2013 22:24

naggyman: Tell us how it goes ;)
In high school now, so this path is what I think I may do. Would be interested to get info from a student.

Haha I'm sure people on this forum will be seeing a lot of questions/requests from me over the next few years.
What classes are you doing in HS at the moment? I done computing in level 1 and 2 NCEA and got a certificate in level 2 as well as some award at the end of the year but I couldnt take it in level 3 because not enough people in my school were interested so they dropped it. If I had it in level 3 I most likely would have gone into computing right away as apposed to doing Architecture last year, waste of a damn year hahaa.

khull

1245 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 133

#767358 21-Feb-2013 22:50

I have a conjoint degree - late nights were and probably still a requirement in any paper you do. And that includes an IT degree. Best thing ever was when I started working soon after and could never convince myself to return to being poor and not having my weekends.

tardtasticx

3084 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 483

#767359 21-Feb-2013 22:52

khull: I have a conjoint degree - late nights were and probably still a requirement in any paper you do. And that includes an IT degree. Best thing ever was when I started working soon after and could never convince myself to return to being poor and not having my weekends.

I know :( I worked full time over the summer but I guess it had to come to an end. I achieved the goal of paying debt off so I wont be too poor when I start but I cant wait to start working full time again, its amazing how far you can make 100 go when youre a student.

naggyman

697 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 86

#767389 22-Feb-2013 07:23

tardtasticx:
What classes are you doing in HS at the moment? I done computing in level 1 and 2 NCEA and got a certificate in level 2 as well as some award at the end of the year but I couldnt take it in level 3 because not enough people in my school were interested so they dropped it. If I had it in level 3 I most likely would have gone into computing right away as apposed to doing Architecture last year, waste of a damn year hahaa.

I am in Year 11, doing NCEA Level 1 (Duh!). I am taking computers this year, I didn't take it in year 9 or 10 as it looked like a waste of time. I am finding with the first 4 weeks that yr11 computing is a waste of time. We are doing the most simple Microsoft Excel Unit that we could ever do. Apparently our school's year 10 test is harder than this Level 1 internal. Argh.

I will stick with it, try and get number 1 in Year 11 and all that. This school has about 1100 students so I don't think there is a numbers issue for the computing department. If you have any tips I would greatly appreciate them. Anyways, lets get ready for school - I do have Computers first period!

Morgan French-Stagg

morgan.french.net.nz

1 | 2