The third year projects list for my degree course was released today, and seeing as I’m almost certainly not taking a year out for industrial experience next year I’ll be going into my final year instead and have to choose a project which will be worth 25% of my degree.
So far I’ve eliminated a huge chunk of the list as things I definitely don’t want to do (graphical systems) and that I don’t fulfil the prerequesites for (most of the hardware and maths projects). This is a bit worrying as it doesn’t leave me with a huge range of options, but on the other hand I can now look more carefully at what I do have left to choose from rather than having hundreds of choices to think about.
One project which does look extremely promising is the porting of GDK to Mac OS X. For those of you who have never heard of GDK, it’s basically (and this is a gross simplification before anyone starts picking holes in it) a layer between applications and the graphical interface of the operating system. Instead of making calls to the GUI directly, applications can go through GDK. As a result, if GDK is ported to an operating system then – in theory at least – all GDK applications will work on that system. At the moment GDK is rooted in Linux, but there is a Windows port that allows applications such as Gaim to work on both platforms. However, there aren’t many signs of a port to OS X as of yet, so having someone write one would be a useful contribution to the open source community.
On the other hand, I’ve looked at the supervisor list for the Mac OS X projects and it’s a lecturer who I don’t really know all that well and who doesn’t seem too friendly, so I’ll have to bear that in mind when making a decision. The same goes for the networking projects—they look interesting but I had the supervisor for lectures last semester and it looks like I pretty much failed their side of the module so I’m not sure about that either.
Of course, there’s always the option of putting forward my own custom project proposal, and so long as I can convince Chris Kirkham that it meets the guidelines for projects and I can find someone to supervise me (shouldn’t be too difficult in a department of our size) that should be fine too. Either way I am going to try and speak to a few of the potential supervisors over the next week or so to see what my options are, and hopefully my tutor will be able to advise me too.
Anyway, I have plenty of time to decide, don’t need to make a definite decision until just before exams I think and I’ve got all the Easter holiday to think about it so I’m not too worried. At the end of the day I’m sure I’ll find something to fit my interests and skills.
Why did you choose against having a year in employment? (If you don’t mind me asking.)
Well, I was up for it at the start of the year, but then I got bogged down with things (including Compsoc) and missed the deadlines for most of the half-decent placements (some of which were in November). We get emailed new placements every few days but so far none of them have really taken my fancy—a lot are for investment banks and the financial sector which I’m not all that interested in. My ideal placement would be with a small IT company in Manchester because that would mean remaining in the area plus working for a small company might mean I get a lot of responsibility rather than just being palmed off to someone who has been lumbered with all the undergraduates.
To be honest I just think I’ll do better overall if I carry on with my course and finish it next year and then look for a job as opposed to taking a break now. I already have a lot of experience and I’ve worked every summer for the past three or four years in a variety of places (everything from Oxfam and a pub to writing custom programs and helping with a 2000+ accounts web hosting company). Obviously the extra year on top would look great on my CV but I think I’ll do well enough with my summer work and also extra curricular activities such as being a PASS leader. Being involved with the computer society will probably go down well too, plus it means I’ve got something relevant to talk about at interviews.
As well as the work aspect I’m also enjoying my course and most importantly university as a whole this year, and I don’t want to suddenly break that up for a year if I can help it. I know that sort of sounds like I’m putting my social life before academic work, but to be honest I’d rather be happy and leave with a bit less experience in industry than gamble what I’ve worked for so far on something that might make it easier to find a job afterwards.
Finally, without sounding too immodest I hope, I don’t think I’ll have too much problem getting a job when I finish my degree (although I might want to stay on and do further study anyway). I doubt I’ll just walk into a computer job straight away (I’m not that good!) but I think I could manage to get temporary work and a part time job long enough to keep me ticking over whilst I looked for more permanent employment.
Of course I might change my mind, but to be honest I think it’s a bit late now because most of the placements have had their interviews and will be selecting candidates soon (my friend Danny has already got an offer, which is great). Anyway, I’m happy with things the way they are now and that’s the most important thing.
Wow!
Looks like you’ve thought it all through then?!
I’ve got no doubt that you’ll get a job easily enough. Your CV will be top notch. Between that and knowing just about everything there is to know about your subject you’ll have no worries.
I was wondering if I was in the similar position if I’d do a year ‘out’. I think I’d go for it but only to make my uni life longer! :0D
That reminds me, I need to write to Mrs Bowe…
Working for a small company, volunteering for Oxfam are you SURE you’re a Tory?! 😉
And having a social life is healthy PLUS there’s nowt wrong with getting a Desmond if that happens (though I’m sure you’ll do way better than that)!
You could say that. 🙂 I’m fairly methodical and thorough when it comes to making decisions, especially ones as important as this.
Thanks for the vote of confidence—I need to update my CV at some point to include all the recent experience (I’m still waiting to get my previous version back from the careers person who was supposed to be giving me feedback on it).
Search the Warped disc archives from early last year—Justine and I have already had this argument at some point. 😉
Indeed, I think John Prescott got a third class degree and he’s now theorectically the second most powerful person in the country. 🙂
“Indeed, I think John Prescott got a third class degree and he’s now theorectically the second most powerful person in the country. :)”
Fear!
“You could say that. 🙂 I’m fairly methodical and thorough when it comes to making decisions, especially ones as important as this.”
Perhaps you could teach me how to be?!
“Thanks for the vote of confidence—I need to update my CV at some point to include all the recent experience.”
Is it just me or is writing your CV one of the most boring things eeeeeeeeeeever?!
“I think John Prescott got a third class degree and he’s now theorectically the second most powerful person in the country”
Is Gordon Brown not number 2? And where would Queeny be? This is why I don’t do politics.
Well. As Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott is sort of second in command. But if it came to the situation that Tony Blair was incapacitiated for an extended period of time, you would expect the Chancellor to take over as, to be honest, they’re much more important.
And the Queen is (officially) above them all.
Well my FYP is nearly drawing to a close and i’ve got a hard week of work ahead of me.
I really advise you to do something you are interested in, but also is challenging and requires background research and stuff you can write about.
I was thinking of doing a fluffy project and I really am glad I didn’t, its given me lots to write about in the report, and I actually have learnt a lot.
Always go for the happiness option, you enjoy your life, work hard and play hard and you’ll go far.
It’s boring the first time, but once you’ve got your CV done it’s just a matter of keeping it up to date which is fairly easy.
Technically as Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott would be in charge if anything happened to Tony Blair. However, given his office’s lack of importance compared to the treasury combined with the fact that he is John Prescott would mean that the Chancellor would probably take over pretty quickly. You don’t usually choose your deputy as someone to take over you in politics, more someone who will be a good right hand man and back you on most things.
As for the Queen, she’s the head of state and therefore technically above the Prime Minister (it is “Her Majesty’s Government” after all) but in reality she has virtually no power. In theory she could start refusing to give Royal Assent to proposed Acts of Parliament that she didn’t like, but that’s never going to happen.
I thought I knew that was right.
I’d imagine if Queeny refused to sign things parliament would be able to kick her out anyway and then pass it.
I hate politics. Anyone who wants to be a politician should automatically not be allowed to go into it.
Pete, I agree. I await my “Dear Mr Thompson, today you are required to run the country. Have a nice day!” letter, much like those crazy letters to be a juror.
Good stuff the someone agrees with me, but in saying that I’m always right anyway.
For that reason I’d be good at running the country.
I want to be a juror too. Pity I’ve not been asked yet.
(I posted on your (lewiz’s) site. Thought you could do with your site being graced by my presence.)
Guess that rules me out of government then. 🙁
“Guess that rules me out of government then.”
I’d let you be a politician but only if you give me a brown envelope with loads of money in. (Preferably in £50 notes!)