Imperial or Bristol for Aero?

Prospective Aerospace Engineers feel free to ask me about any of the application procedure etc aswell considering Ive just been through it :smile:

Firstly, I'd like to congratulate you on your grades and getting in, you smashed your A-levels...

Secondly, I'll just copy and paste what I said earlier, same question...

"Hey, quick question, what sorta extra stuff did you do get such places and what grades did you get in what subject? I want to apply for Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial, Bristol, Cambridge, Southampton, Bath.. well something along those lines.. I'm in year 12 and I wanted to kow. What kind of wider reading did you do? If so, could you recommend me some ideas?"

Thanks :smile:

Reply 21

kogaht

2

Original post by ShahzaibMuneeb

Firstly, I'd like to congratulate you on your grades and getting in, you smashed your A-levels...

Secondly, I'll just copy and paste what I said earlier, same question...

"Hey, quick question, what sorta extra stuff did you do get such places and what grades did you get in what subject? I want to apply for Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial, Bristol, Cambridge, Southampton, Bath.. well something along those lines.. I'm in year 12 and I wanted to kow. What kind of wider reading did you do? If so, could you recommend me some ideas?"

Thanks :smile:

Mechanics of Flight by Warren F. Phillips is good.
other books you might want to read as cambridge is general engineering are:

Structures: Theory and Analysis by Martin S. Williams and J. D. Todd (Oxford professors)
Strength of Materials and Structures by John Case
Electrical and Electronic Technology by Edward Hughes
Advanced Engineering Mathematics by Erwin Kreyszig
Advanced Engineering Mathematics by K. A. Stroud

Grades at pretty much standard from A*A*A to AAA.

Extra stuff:
DOE, lots of school sport teams, school orchestras, maybe go to lectures from pilots or engineers, industries visits.
Just do loads more outside the school. For Cambridge understand more maths is a definite advantage.

Hope this helps.

Reply 22

TomSouthwell

2

Original post by ShahzaibMuneeb

Firstly, I'd like to congratulate you on your grades and getting in, you smashed your A-levels...

Secondly, I'll just copy and paste what I said earlier, same question...

"Hey, quick question, what sorta extra stuff did you do get such places and what grades did you get in what subject? I want to apply for Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial, Bristol, Cambridge, Southampton, Bath.. well something along those lines.. I'm in year 12 and I wanted to kow. What kind of wider reading did you do? If so, could you recommend me some ideas?"

Thanks :smile:

I do like how on TSR there are people who are keen enough to find out more about their prospective subject :smile:

Firstly, I went on a Engineering HeadStart Course at Cambridge which I really liked as it gave you an insight into what Engineering at University is really like! I also did an Extended Project (Edexcel) where I wrote a 8000 word dissertation on "How natural phenomena affect an aircraft's safety and performance". I believe things like this helped me at interview as it gave me something unique and specific to talk about.

Also if you haven't organised it yet, work experience is paramount! I did a week at BP and a week at Dunlop Aircraft Tyres in Birmingham where I worked on the technical design team - again something to put in your personal statement and shows interest in the course. I went to events like farnborough airshow aswell.

Reading wise I read, The Fundamental Theories of How a Jet Engine works, The Aeroplane Technical to give me a background on Aeronautics and for Cambridge I read, To Engineer is Human as this is strongly Civil Engineering based.

I row everyweek, play in a school band, play electric guitar aswell as in another band, did Young Enterprise and Duke of Edinburgh Gold as well as CCF. Most unis don't Carr about co-curricular but I think is shows them youre not some boring, unapproachable drone!

I did my personal statement as 10% What inspired me, 50% Work Experience and other activated mentioned above, and how they helped me choose this dicipline, 20% Academics, so the A Levels I do and why they are relevant, 15% on Sport, D of E etc and how the skills I got from them would help me as a engineer, finally 5% on a conclusion.

I hope this helps! On a final note, before interview go on the department website, look at the research and pick one interesting topic they are researching. Learn the basics/enough information to talk confidently about it then when the interviewers says, "Why Bristol...?" you can say because of this this, facilities.... AND this research really interests me. I think it shows enthusiasm and would make you stand out. Also brush up on your Maths and physics, well the areas that are relevant to engineering. As all my Unis asked me some Technical stuff - not just Cambridge!

Anyway best of luck and I hope you succeed in whatever you aim to do!

Reply 23

no_one001

12

Original post by jdf1993

Firmed Bristol in the end. Always new I would but there is still doubt in my mind whether Ive done the right thing by rejecting Imperial :/ still

BRIZZLE 2011!!! :biggrin:

DD

Original post by *Hakz*

You have not in anyway disadvantaged yourself my friend.

If Bristol is the enivronment that you will suit you then it can't get better than that. At least you know now that you will be motivated to study at a place your comfortable with for 3+ years.

Even though Imperial might have a better reputation, It will only win against Bristol marginally.

Well done for getting offers from both by the way.

But what about your maths retake? Since you will not be attending Imperial anymore.

Should have read it all.... Ignore my post haha. It's always better to go where you think you will be happy.

Happiness >>>>> Everything else

Reply 24

JIMJAMZ200

1

Hi, can i just ask what a level subjects u took an wat grade u gt thanks

Reply 25

jdf1993

OP

7

Original post by JIMJAMZ200

Hi, can i just ask what a level subjects u took an wat grade u gt thanks

At AS level I took Maths A, Further Maths A, Chemistry B, Physics A and D&T Product Design A.

At A2 I carried on Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics. The predicted grades sent on my ucas were A*A*AA. But realistically I think Ill probably get AAAA*.

Reply 26

kogaht

2

Original post by JIMJAMZ200

Hi, can i just ask what a level subjects u took an wat grade u gt thanks

mind imperial is asking for A* in maths and physics and an A in related subject (preferably further maths).

Reply 27

ilickbatteries

15

Original post by Sulfox

Don't go to Imperial just because of it's reputation. Go to the university you want to go to.

Sorry mate, that kind of sense isn't allowed on here.

On TSR, you should always go to the best university because lets face it, if you don't go to Oxbridge, LSE or Imperial you will be on the dole for the rest of your life.

Reply 28

JIMJAMZ200

1

wat bout bristol, surrey, bath, southampton and queen marys

Reply 29

jdf1993

OP

7

all of those except queen marys were on my shortlist. i really didnt know how to go about choosing uni's and didnt have time or the money to visit them all. so i ended up pretty much goin for what was higher on the league table... the surrey and southampton programmes look good and i applied for bath but their course is a bit different and there's not much in bath really... just had a glance at queen marys online and its seems good, the fact that its accredited by IMechE and RAeS makes me jealous but its quite low in the league tables.

Reply 30

SJS101

2

Original post by TomSouthwell

Prospective Aerospace Engineers feel free to ask me about any of the application procedure etc aswell considering Ive just been through it :smile:

Shall I Firm Bristol or Southampton???? :smile:

Reply 31

jdf1993

OP

7

Original post by SJS101

Shall I Firm Bristol or Southampton???? :smile:

BRISTOL!!!!!

Its an AMAZING city, got the best industrial links youll find, better in league tables for aero (i think) but it is reallly hard work! :smile:

Reply 32

SJS101

2

Original post by jdf1993

BRISTOL!!!!!

Its an AMAZING city, got the best industrial links youll find, better in league tables for aero (i think) but it is reallly hard work! :smile:

Hi thanks for your opinion and i do agree its an amazing city :smile:

Also agree with the fact that it has the best industrial links however i would like to get into F1 or something along those lines, (and want to specialise in aerodynamics... so is southampton better for that?)

Also depends on what league table you look at, some say southampton is top, some say imperial and some bristol :smile:

Reply 33

Politricks

19

Original post by ilickbatteries

University of Nestlé.

You failed at accumulating positive rep with a bad joke.

Reply 34

AeroLB

2

Anyone currently at Imperial, and willing to give an insight into the course there? I'm stuck between Imperial and Loughborough for my firm.

Reply 35

SJS101

2

Hi I need help from any aero student at bristol, or anyone who knows the answer.

When it comes to aerodynamics does Bristol have anything in there course related to doing race car aerodynamics such as ground effects etc?? Also can you do projects based on car aerodynamics or is it always airbus and augusta westland?

thankyouuuuuu :smile:

Reply 36

Imposition

Original post by jdf1993

BRISTOL!!!!!

Its an AMAZING city, got the best industrial links youll find, better in league tables for aero (i think) but it is reallly hard work! :smile:

Read through the whole thread, very interesting. I will be applying for engineering in the future, hopefully. Imperial preferably.
I assume you are at Bristol now as this thread is nearly a year old and you were coming to the end of your A2 year.
I would like to know, what first year at uni has consisted of so far and what grades you achieved in your final year of sixth form.

Reply 37

dugdugdug

14

Original post by ilickbatteries

Sorry mate, that kind of sense isn't allowed on here.

On TSR, you should always go to the best university because lets face it, if you don't go to Oxbridge, LSE or Imperial you will be on the dole for the rest of your life.

Problem is these days you could have gone to one of them and still be on the dole!

Reply 38

dugdugdug

14

Imperial is renowned for Engineering.

On the social aspect, you have the following (numbers in minutes walking from Imperial):

Harrods (10)
Sloane Square / King's Road shopping (20)
Knightsbridge shopping (10)
High Street Kensington shopping (15)
Oxford Street Shopping (30)
Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens (5)
V & A Museum (< 5)
Science Museum (< 1)
National History Museum (< 5)
Geological Museum (< 5)
West End Bars and Restaurants (30)
West End Cinemas and Theatres (30)

Reply 39

Ryanco

I have just come across this thread and i'm in a similar predicament ahaha
I live on the outskirts of London and know exactly what it has to offer. I personally love London, t'is a great city but i'm not sure about Imperial. The degree is, on paper, better than Bristol, however I want to go to University for more than a degree and I'm therefore drawn to the more vibrant and sociable Bristol. Any opinions on what may be the best decision from what you guys have learnt? I am 99% sure I would like to get a job in aero but would like to have the back up of going to work in the city, any ideas?

Imperial or Bristol for Aero?

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