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THE TRUE EFFECT OF UNiVERSiTY CHOiCES?
Hi, I'm a Scottish student in 6th year and was thinking about which universities I will apply for when the time comes this year. I expect to get AAAAB and I am considering a course in either chemical engineering or mechanical engineering.
Ideally, the top ranked universities would be situated in Scotland and I would just apply for one of them but their not, and I was thinking that the choice I have would be Strathclyde, Edinburgh or Herriot Watt. Are students really affected by the universities that they attend? Surely if a student attends a lower ranked university but still manages to achieve the highest grade possible, they should have the same chances after graduation as a student who attends a higher ranked university and achieves a similar grade
or am I mistaken?
Thanks
Ideally, the top ranked universities would be situated in Scotland and I would just apply for one of them but their not, and I was thinking that the choice I have would be Strathclyde, Edinburgh or Herriot Watt. Are students really affected by the universities that they attend? Surely if a student attends a lower ranked university but still manages to achieve the highest grade possible, they should have the same chances after graduation as a student who attends a higher ranked university and achieves a similar grade
or am I mistaken?Thanks
universities all have different levels of teaching.
a degree from a good university is worth more than a degree of the same class from a crap university.
don't take too much notice of league tables, they have issues. so just use them as a rough guide.
and its worth considering how well the department is viewed, not just the university.
a degree from a good university is worth more than a degree of the same class from a crap university.
don't take too much notice of league tables, they have issues. so just use them as a rough guide.
and its worth considering how well the department is viewed, not just the university.
All people on this forum will tell you is that it does matter and will severly hinder you. 
To be honest, it depends on what you want to do. Obviously some people will discriminate due to their dependance on league tables to tell them what makes a good university. On this forum I've heard stories about graduate employers throwing applications not from top universities in the bin, and others saying they look only at grades.
It it bothers YOU that you won't be attending a highly ranked university then apply for them and them alone. However, my university was one of the few in the country that offer my course, and im still very happy with it despite its low rankings. It offers me everything i want. Obviously it could be different come September but im willing to take that chance.
To be honest, it depends on what you want to do. Obviously some people will discriminate due to their dependance on league tables to tell them what makes a good university. On this forum I've heard stories about graduate employers throwing applications not from top universities in the bin, and others saying they look only at grades.
It it bothers YOU that you won't be attending a highly ranked university then apply for them and them alone. However, my university was one of the few in the country that offer my course, and im still very happy with it despite its low rankings. It offers me everything i want. Obviously it could be different come September but im willing to take that chance.
innerhollow
For ENGINEERING, Uni choice is of very little importance, as firms are almost solely interested in your degree class and your work experience, which you acquire from a young age. Believe me, I did a school placement at a top engineering firm, and there were graduates from a variety of unis working there.
However, going to a better uni is never a hindrance, and better facilities/better teaching is something you would benefit from. I know that for ChemEng, Edinburgh is an excellent uni. Also, if you decide to move out of the engineering sector and go into finance for example (something many engineers do), then you'd be better regarded having gone to a better uni. Which is completely fair, because for many degrees it's harder to get the identical degree class from a better uni. Getting a first from Cambridge is significantly more difficult than getting a first from LJMU.
However, going to a better uni is never a hindrance, and better facilities/better teaching is something you would benefit from. I know that for ChemEng, Edinburgh is an excellent uni. Also, if you decide to move out of the engineering sector and go into finance for example (something many engineers do), then you'd be better regarded having gone to a better uni. Which is completely fair, because for many degrees it's harder to get the identical degree class from a better uni. Getting a first from Cambridge is significantly more difficult than getting a first from LJMU.
Ok cheers for the input. I was also interested in a career in finance as I quite like business management and economics at school, but don't believe it would be as enjoyable and interesting as engineering would be.
What sort of things do you think I could do to prepare for a course in chemical engineering? Reading materials, short courses etc? Are there any decent magazines for engineering that are actually worth the money?
innerhollow
If you're considering finance, go for the best uni you can. Edinburgh is an EXCELLENT uni in terms of that.
I'm actually a prospective ChemEnger myself, so I can probably help you a lot with that.
Just learn what chemical engineering really is. It'll give you a huge advantage over most other applicants, who only know superficial details about it, if you can talk about actual areas of the course you would enjoy studying. I've got a paragraph in my PS talking about particular modules I'd enjoy.
I'm actually a prospective ChemEnger myself, so I can probably help you a lot with that.
Just learn what chemical engineering really is. It'll give you a huge advantage over most other applicants, who only know superficial details about it, if you can talk about actual areas of the course you would enjoy studying. I've got a paragraph in my PS talking about particular modules I'd enjoy.
Ok thanks for the input. Are there any textbooks or websites that provide some of the necessary notes for the Chemical Engineering course? if there are not, which key areas of the course would you recommend I read up on?
Also, are there any journals/magazines directed at chemical engineers or just engineers? I already read The Economist to improve my knowledge of economics and also to allow me to apply the substance which I learn in school to everyday situations, but was unsure which journal would be best for preparing for university.
Thanks
It does matter. Universities all set their own exams. The better unis have the better students and set harder exams. As it is much harder to get a 1st from Oxford than it is to get one from Kingston, a 1st from Oxford is worth a whole lot more. Particularly as you mention a career in finance where it is not unheard of for employers to list the unis they require applicants to have studied at.
Also if you're not sure between Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, most straight 'Engineering' courses will give you the opportunity to specialise a couple of years into the course. You'd keep your options open and you'd probably gain more transferable skills.
Also if you're not sure between Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, most straight 'Engineering' courses will give you the opportunity to specialise a couple of years into the course. You'd keep your options open and you'd probably gain more transferable skills.
innerhollow
Actually, just remembered, here's a book I bought a few weeks ago. I haven't started reading it yet, but the ChemEng tutor at Cambridge told me that it's excellent in terms of deciding if ChemEng is suitable for you:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Introduction-Chemical-Process-Fundamentals-Design/dp/0073407933/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278243922&sr=8-3
There's practice questions as well, so you can make sure you really understand all the content.
Also read module lists, which are available on university websites. Almost all of the course content is completely new since you don't cover even basic/simplified models of these topics in school, so doing this is very useful. If you go into a ChemEng degree without the faintest clue what Fluid Mechanics or Thermodynamics are, then you're in less of a position to assess if you'll enjoy and do well at the degree.
Apart from that, there aren't really many ChemEng resources for school students. I also read the Economist myself, but there isn't really anything like that for ChemEng that can be read by non-professionals (the only ChemEng magazines out there are aimed at people already working in the field).
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Introduction-Chemical-Process-Fundamentals-Design/dp/0073407933/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278243922&sr=8-3
There's practice questions as well, so you can make sure you really understand all the content.
Also read module lists, which are available on university websites. Almost all of the course content is completely new since you don't cover even basic/simplified models of these topics in school, so doing this is very useful. If you go into a ChemEng degree without the faintest clue what Fluid Mechanics or Thermodynamics are, then you're in less of a position to assess if you'll enjoy and do well at the degree.
Apart from that, there aren't really many ChemEng resources for school students. I also read the Economist myself, but there isn't really anything like that for ChemEng that can be read by non-professionals (the only ChemEng magazines out there are aimed at people already working in the field).
Ok thanks, I'll try and get that book and get more of an insight into the course
I might get some help from you when writing my personal statement since you seemed to have done well in being accepted for Cambridge 
innerhollow
I'm going to start reading it in the next few days. It should be a good read.
Sorry mate, I WISH I was already in Cambridge! :P I haven't even applied for unis yet!! I only mentioned the Cambridge ChemEng tutor as I was at the Open Day. I'll be working on my own PS actually.
Sorry mate, I WISH I was already in Cambridge! :P I haven't even applied for unis yet!! I only mentioned the Cambridge ChemEng tutor as I was at the Open Day. I'll be working on my own PS actually.
Aw kl I just assumed you were at Cambridge
As for the textbook, would you be able to inform me of how the book seems as I don't want to go out and purchase it if you say its sh*t Cheers for the help anyway
grange789
Hi, I'm a Scottish student in 6th year and was thinking about which universities I will apply for when the time comes this year. I expect to get AAAAB and I am considering a course in either chemical engineering or mechanical engineering.
Ideally, the top ranked universities would be situated in Scotland and I would just apply for one of them but their not, and I was thinking that the choice I have would be Strathclyde, Edinburgh or Herriot Watt. Are students really affected by the universities that they attend? Surely if a student attends a lower ranked university but still manages to achieve the highest grade possible, they should have the same chances after graduation as a student who attends a higher ranked university and achieves a similar grade or am I mistaken?
Thanks
Ideally, the top ranked universities would be situated in Scotland and I would just apply for one of them but their not, and I was thinking that the choice I have would be Strathclyde, Edinburgh or Herriot Watt. Are students really affected by the universities that they attend? Surely if a student attends a lower ranked university but still manages to achieve the highest grade possible, they should have the same chances after graduation as a student who attends a higher ranked university and achieves a similar grade
or am I mistaken?Thanks
You've been listening to too much babble from the A-level students and university freshers who seem intent in broadcasting to the world just how little they know about graduate recruitment and how it varies between sectors.
innerhollow
Offer advice instead of slagging off others. You get far too worked up about the topic of uni choice! Graduates working in the financial sector state themselves the weighting given to uni choice, and I highly doubt you know more than them about the finance sector.
You get far too worked up about the topic of uni choice! Graduates working in the financial sector state themselves the weighting given to uni choice, and I highly doubt you know more than them about the finance sector.I thought that this was in the engineering section, or is there a problem with my browser?
innerhollow
Both. OP initially wanted to know about engineering, but then mentioned he also had an interest in the finance sector.
If someone wants to work in finance then I'd suggest that a degree in economics or something of that like would be more useful.
Anyway, what firm did you do a placement for? I've been to quite a few local firms on visits and stuff and to be honest, the vast majority of people that I met and talked to long enough to ascertain where they went to university all went to university locally (i.e. Aberdeen University or the Robert Gordon University). I think there is definitely something of a geographical bias going on. Might be just because it's easier for a company in Aberdeen to look to the Aberdeen universities for graduates, and for people at these universities to attend events and jobs fairs. Then again, Strathclyde was also quite well represented and so was Sheffield.
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