Official Imperial Applicants Thread (2012 Entry)

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Imperial College London

London

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Reply 40

Dirac Spinor

Original post by Beth1234

Cambridge, Imperial, Warwick, Edinburgh... and a little torn between UCL and Bristol. There's an 90% chance I'll go for UCL, I think.

Ooh... what college in Cambridge are you applying for?

Christ's

Imperial College London

London

Reply 41

puddleduck

Original post by arianex

How's work exp looking? That'll help loads too.

Thanks! And I've done a week's GP, 2 days lab research, a week in a hospital and then 2 years (and counting) of volunteering at a school for children with special needs... and I'm a form assistant at my school for 6-7 year olds :rolleyes:

I think it should be enough, especially since I'm young in the year and found it reeeally difficult to find people who would take me on (no medics in the family :/)

Reply 42

tpowertj

Thinking of applying for chemistry. Have heard bad things about teaching standards though?

Reply 43

nmudz_009

Does imperial look at what you actually got for AS aswell as predicted grades?>

Reply 44

nikita_atikin

Original post by puddleduck

Hullo, firstly thankyou for all your general advice on this thread so far ^^ Secondly... I got AABB in my ASs: As in maths and biology and Bs in chemistry and RS. I really want to read medicine at Imperial... but had a feeling it was a lost cause. Your comment (above) gave me a little bit of hope...

In your experience, have people with similar AS grades got in to read medicine? (with good references and BMAT and personal statement)

Will the B in chemistry seriously hinder me, and should I retake the module I did rubbishly in (A in mod1 but C in mod2)

Thanks!

-Jemima

Okay it's tricky because your grades are Imperials first port of call and you will find that you're grades are average, meaning loads will have the same grades as you. The fact that you did some GP/lab/form assistant work does redeem you slightly but the B in chemistry is dangerous because you should really be aiming for an A.

I hope you are planning to resit chemistry to bring it up to an A because that's crucial for medicine.

Also do you have any other hobbies like any volunteering you do, sports teams you play for, musical instruments etc etc? It's good to show in your personal statement that you're a varied person with other interests than medicine.

My advice: If you're applying for medicine, you only have 4 options so I would make Imperial your highest uni. It should be the one you "take a punt on" because I know of people with higher AS grades who got rejections.
I have a sister who is in for medicine at Bristol so if you want any help on PS reviewing I'll speak to her, not sure how much she'd help though coz she got 3 rejections too.

Original post by Beth1234

Cambridge, Imperial, Warwick, Edinburgh... and a little torn between UCL and Bristol. There's an 90% chance I'll go for UCL, I think.

Ooh... what college in Cambridge are you applying for?

Noooo!!! Bristol is a beautiful university! :frown:

I applied to UCL and Bristol and thought UCL was a bit dumpy! Plus Bristil is cheaper and its partay for them all year round :wink:

BUT it's your wish entirely and you shouldn't go on what some randomer says!

Reply 45

Beth1234

Original post by nikita_atikin

Noooo!!! Bristol is a beautiful university! :frown:

I applied to UCL and Bristol and thought UCL was a bit dumpy! Plus Bristil is cheaper and its partay for them all year round :wink:

BUT it's your wish entirely and you shouldn't go on what some randomer says!

Gah. Now I'm undecided again... :redface:

I wasn't able to choose one over the other based on the course, and while Bristol is better at maths (according to most league tables) I think UCL has the better reputation in general. I'd probably say I'd like living in London more - but of course the costs are a quite worrying.
I'm hoping it won't matter too much anyway - it would be my bottom preference, whichever one I choose. :smile:

Reply 46

Edwin Okli

I'll be applying for Imperial for Maths and Computer Science, I reckon. This, at the moment, seems like suicide.

Reply 47

Beth1234

Original post by Edwin Okli

I'll be applying for Imperial for Maths and Computer Science, I reckon. This, at the moment, seems like suicide.

Yet another mathematician (even if it is with Computer Science... but I suppose we can forgive that :tongue:

)! I think I recall seeing you on the Cambridge forums (I lurk) - you are applying to Emma?

Reply 48

sam43

Original post by F.I

Also ace your BMAT and you will have a good chance for interview.

LOL at your spoiler! :colone:

Reply 49

Edwin Okli

Original post by Beth1234

Yet another mathematician (even if it is with Computer Science... but I suppose we can forgive that :tongue:

)! I think I recall seeing you on the Cambridge forums (I lurk) - you are applying to Emma?

Another mathematician, yet a disappointed one. At least Imperial don't have to see my UMS.

Yes, Emma, for I like ducks and friendly atmospheres where I can sit beside a pond and contemplate.

Reply 50

puddleduck

Original post by nikita_atikin

I hope you are planning to resit chemistry to bring it up to an A because that's crucial for medicine.

Also do you have any other hobbies like any volunteering you do, sports teams you play for, musical instruments etc etc? It's good to show in your personal statement that you're a varied person with other interests than medicine.

My advice: If you're applying for medicine, you only have 4 options so I would make Imperial your highest uni. It should be the one you "take a punt on" because I know of people with higher AS grades who got rejections.

Thanks for your advice! Yes, I am planning to resit the chemistry module I did badly in, but I'm a bit confused about Imperial's policies about resits so I'm going to phone them up...

I've volunteered and run lots of clubs for younger kids at my school, it's mainly my grades that are the problem. I've been in choir for most of my school life >.<

And yup, Imperial was always my highest uni... except seeing as in my opinion Imperial IS the best uni (from the course outline, intercalated BSci and my open day vibe) it's not saying much :P

Reply 51

ViralRiver

I'll join the bandwagon (if there's space... :P) and offer my advice if you need it. I'm an unconditional offer holder for Aeronautical Engineering (year abroad, H410), though I can most likely help you if you're applying for a similar course such as Mech Eng as well :smile:

.

Background info:
GCSEs: A*A*AAABBBBC (C in English Language :P)
AS Levels: AAAA (Maths, FMaths, Physics, Chem)
A Levels: A*A*AA (Maths, Physics, FMaths, Chem) - 3 UMS of A* in FMaths.

Reply 52

Inactivity

Is work experience essential if I want to study Chemical Engineering? So far I've volunteered at Oxfam and worked at Argos, would I need experience more related to Chem Eng?

Reply 53

kaosu_souzousha

2012 applicants already??? really??? People calm down I haven't even started uni yet and you make me feel old.

You can ask me anything regarding mechanical engineering admission if you wish.

Reply 54

kaosu_souzousha

Original post by Zottula

This thread makes me feel weird :ninja:

I know..... We haven't even started uni and TSR already has 2012 applicants thread..

Reply 55

arianex

Original post by Inactivity

Is work experience essential if I want to study Chemical Engineering? So far I've volunteered at Oxfam and worked at Argos, would I need experience more related to Chem Eng?

Not necessarily - work experience can be hard to come by (not many people will have had it when applying), and even if you get it, it might not be in Chem Eng (maybe in other streams.) But any engineering w/exp will be an eye opener, so don't discount it.

Personally I've got in for BME and I don't have a shred of w/exp on me related to the industry, but I've worked in a call center during the summer of Year 11, and I've also done a lot of stuff (performing arts productions, homework help for juniors, etc) that will have given me the skills to cope with engineering anyway.

I just made sure I "argued" it well in my PS, because I know most people will look at my ECs and go "huh, so how the HELL does that help you become a good engineer apart from learning how to relax?" In fact, performing and managing productions has made me a better team-player and leader and able to delegate/manage a huge task, which is pretty dang vital when you're in your course + making that massive project in 3rd year...see where I'm going here?

Reply 56

Turkay

Hey guys

IGCSE : A*A*A*AAAB

GCE A LEVEL

Biology A*
Turkish A*
Mathematics A
Applied ICT A
Chemistry A

As level
Physics B

I am going to take a gap year ? I will apply for biological sciences !

Reply 57

username498794

My AS results is as follow
Math A
Econ A
Phys E (dropping this)
I'm taking Further Math in A2 year and maybe one more AS subject.
Should I apply for Imperial Computer Science course? Is the E in Physics gonna be a big minus for the University?