So… I have decided to enrol in a degree 😳. I am studying computer science with the University of London.
I would be considered as a mature student and it’s been a long time since I have been part of the academic world so to speak. For the last 16 years I have been working as a professional dancer. I have an amazing career which has taken me all over the world and I have had the privilege to perform in some amazing venues in some awesome countries.
As I am sure the case is with many others the Covid-19 pandemic had a major effect on the entertainment industry and I started to think about other skills I could acquire. It was at this time that I researched everything… I did a property investment course, I looked at finance and stock trading, I looked at more creative outlets like video editing and creation. But at some point along the way I discovered computer programming.
At this point I would love to say that it was an immediate connection, that I threw myself into it and it changed my life…🤔
I will say that I did indeed throw myself into it but this led me to become very quickly overwhelmed and after hours, days and weeks of trying to consume mountains of information, the desire and the enthusiasm to keep going fell lower and lower down my list of priorities🤦🏼♂️.
At this time I came across the degree program offered by the University of London through Coursera but I thought it would be too hard and because I’ve been away from the academic world for so long I would struggle.
However…
The idea never faded completely and I dabbled here and there for a few months until one day I felt like something clicked and I was feeling like I could actually do this. I committed to completing the Google IT professional certification through Coursera and to my suprise and delight, I really enjoyed it! Yay me 🤩!
It was at this point that my attention was caught once again by the Bsc Computer Science degree offered by the University of London.
I decided that I should go for it and apply, I thoroughly enjoyed the google IT course and as an added bonus the certificate I received is eligible for 15 credits. (Cool👍🏻)
I sent off my application and after what felt like an eternity I received the good news… 🎉I was accepted!!!🎉
I am starting out on the performance based admission which means that I have to complete two modules and get a grade of 40% or higher before I can continue with the degree. To be clear I am still a fully fledged student on the program it’s just the university has two routes which you can take. I suspect that because I have been out of education for a while this was the best option for me.
The two modules I will be taking this term are:
- Introduction to computer programming 1.
- Discrete Mathematics.
However before beginning the course there is a compulsory orientation course which you have to complete. This is to outline what to expect during the degree, tools available to you as a student, rules and regulations and how to use the Coursera platform.
As well as the orientation course you are given access to the student portal and slack.
The student portal has a wealth of resources. You get access to an online library, you can access a blog written by students, you can see a list of clubs to join, you can access your student email, as well as all important information and key dates to remember.
The slack community is also offered which is where fellow students introduce themselves and a place where you can find out more information and ask/answer questions.
I’ll be honest for me this was a little overwhelming as you are given access to all of these resources at the same time. However after a few weeks of taking it all in I think the setup is great and I can see how all of this will be of great use during my degree, particularly the slack community.
I am writing this on 9th October 2022 ,
Which means…
Tomorrow is the day when my degree officially begins! How exciting! In my case I am currently finishing up a contract on board a cruise ship which is probably a bit of an unusual setting, however thanks to Coursera I can jump online, download the videos and other learning materials for offline study and get started on this new adventure.
If you are a fellow student starting your degree this year, an existing student currently on the program or someone who is thinking about signing up…drop a comment, say hi 👋🏻 and I hope you all enjoy the journey 👍🏻. If you‘re interested check out this next post.
Here we go….
Stephen 😁.