Chemical engineering application thread 2012
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Original post by innerhollow
Hey guys, I'm only a 1st year ChemEnger but feel free to PM/quote me with any questions you have with regards to my application last year/how I'm finding the course so far.
Hello, i applied imperial college this year and i've got an interview on next Wednesday. since i really want to get an offer form imperial, so i am pretty nervous about the interview. Do you know how important is the interview, if i really screwed up the interview, do i still stand a chance of getting in? and what kind of typical questions they normally ask in the interview?
Original post by innerhollow
(KK this is gonna be a pretty detailed answer)
I'm at Imperial, so the whole uni is a massive cock-fest lol. ChemEng is actually one of the more feminine subjects here!
The banter IS good here tho, nearly all of my friends are guys so we just discuss the most random, inappropriate stuff :P
The course is very varied so you'll like some modules better than others. I wouldn't say the course is particularly fascinating but it's an approachable course. You just learn the material well. Here are my modules for this year:
- Fluid Mechanics (quite interesting, favourite module)
- Thermodynamics (confusing and rather boring)
- Process Analysis (bit repetitive, it's all about solving material/energy balances)
- Properties of Matter (dead interesting but confusing)
- Chemistry (all the 2nd years I spoke to HATED this module)
- Maths (probs the easiest module to pick up marks in)
- Heat and Mass Transfer (not started this yet but it's apparently quite difficult)
All my closest friends are from my hall btw. The social life question is really hard to answer. I'm in 1st year so things have been going well- I have time to hang out with my mates from halls pretty much every evening and I do go out usually once a week. However, I do spend most of my day working on problem sheets/coursework/assignments/revising/etc. especially at weekends. The workload is difficult, it's a lot more than pretty much every other subject out there. Keeping on top of work is dead important, get all your assignments done as early as possible.
All I can say is if you manage your time well you'll have time to have a good time with your mates; but do be prepared to make work a priority when it comes to deadlines and stuff.
I'm sure you'll do fine, good luck with your application. Let me know if you have any more questions!
I'm at Imperial, so the whole uni is a massive cock-fest lol. ChemEng is actually one of the more feminine subjects here!
The banter IS good here tho, nearly all of my friends are guys so we just discuss the most random, inappropriate stuff :PThe course is very varied so you'll like some modules better than others. I wouldn't say the course is particularly fascinating but it's an approachable course. You just learn the material well. Here are my modules for this year:
- Fluid Mechanics (quite interesting, favourite module)
- Thermodynamics (confusing and rather boring)
- Process Analysis (bit repetitive, it's all about solving material/energy balances)
- Properties of Matter (dead interesting but confusing)
- Chemistry (all the 2nd years I spoke to HATED this module)
- Maths (probs the easiest module to pick up marks in)
- Heat and Mass Transfer (not started this yet but it's apparently quite difficult)
All my closest friends are from my hall btw. The social life question is really hard to answer. I'm in 1st year so things have been going well- I have time to hang out with my mates from halls pretty much every evening and I do go out usually once a week. However, I do spend most of my day working on problem sheets/coursework/assignments/revising/etc. especially at weekends. The workload is difficult, it's a lot more than pretty much every other subject out there. Keeping on top of work is dead important, get all your assignments done as early as possible.
All I can say is if you manage your time well you'll have time to have a good time with your mates; but do be prepared to make work a priority when it comes to deadlines and stuff.
I'm sure you'll do fine, good luck with your application. Let me know if you have any more questions!
sounds great! I can imagine Imperial being a very intense university to be at, but it does have an amazing reputation for graduate success. I'm really excited for the course as it seems to bring in all the best bits from my three subject choices now, but there's obviously going to be a few things that will not be as interesting. I just hope that extra workload is worth the effort when I could be doing a slightly different degree and still have the same job prospects.
I've found my subjects very little work at A-level so I keep on top of it all pretty easily and I have no idea what sort of jump it's going to be. I'm hoping to get a job transfer from my local Waitrose so I'm guessing I'll have to limit my hours for that considering the amount of work you've mentioned at weekends.
Gotta love the banter though, think our sense of humour in Cambridge is a bit more laddish than up t'north, so might have to tone it down a bit.
All the best matey.
Original post by Tom3211
sounds great! I can imagine Imperial being a very intense university to be at, but it does have an amazing reputation for graduate success. I'm really excited for the course as it seems to bring in all the best bits from my three subject choices now, but there's obviously going to be a few things that will not be as interesting. I just hope that extra workload is worth the effort when I could be doing a slightly different degree and still have the same job prospects.
I've found my subjects very little work at A-level so I keep on top of it all pretty easily and I have no idea what sort of jump it's going to be. I'm hoping to get a job transfer from my local Waitrose so I'm guessing I'll have to limit my hours for that considering the amount of work you've mentioned at weekends.
Gotta love the banter though, think our sense of humour in Cambridge is a bit more laddish than up t'north, so might have to tone it down a bit.
All the best matey.
I've found my subjects very little work at A-level so I keep on top of it all pretty easily and I have no idea what sort of jump it's going to be. I'm hoping to get a job transfer from my local Waitrose so I'm guessing I'll have to limit my hours for that considering the amount of work you've mentioned at weekends.
Gotta love the banter though, think our sense of humour in Cambridge is a bit more laddish than up t'north, so might have to tone it down a bit.
All the best matey.
Your job prospects wouldn't be the same with any other degree, if you want to be an Engineer then you pretty much gotta do an Engineering degree.
The jump from A-level to degree is pretty big. For Science A-levels it's largely a case of just learning some material and then rattling through textbook questions until you get it. At degree level the questions are baffling and confusing. As my tutor put it, "A talented student could spend hours and hours on a problem sheet and still not complete it. It's normal to only get the first few questions done." The style is completely different. That said 1st year hasn't been too bad so far.
With regards to part-time work, I don't think I know anyone here who has a part-time job. If you can avoid doing a job, avoid it. Any free time you have would be better spent socialising or on societies/extracurriculars rather than doing menial work.
No probs, all the best to you too =]
(edited 12 years ago)
Original post by shaos1993
Hello, i applied imperial college this year and i've got an interview on next Wednesday. since i really want to get an offer form imperial, so i am pretty nervous about the interview. Do you know how important is the interview, if i really screwed up the interview, do i still stand a chance of getting in? and what kind of typical questions they normally ask in the interview?
Don't worry too much about the interview, it's a massive milestone getting the interview in the first place.
The questions vary widely. Some people got very informal interviews, others were given maths questions, I was quizzed on my PS. Try and arrange a mock interview if you can, otherwise just relax and rest assured that you're good enough!
Original post by innerhollow
(KK this is gonna be a pretty detailed answer)
I'm at Imperial, so the whole uni is a massive cock-fest lol. ChemEng is actually one of the more feminine subjects here! The banter IS good here tho, nearly all of my friends are guys so we just discuss the most random, inappropriate stuff :P
The course is very varied so you'll like some modules better than others. I wouldn't say the course is particularly fascinating but it's an approachable course. You just learn the material well. Here are my modules for this year:
- Fluid Mechanics (quite interesting, favourite module)
- Thermodynamics (confusing and rather boring)
- Process Analysis (bit repetitive, it's all about solving material/energy balances)
- Properties of Matter (dead interesting but confusing)
- Chemistry (all the 2nd years I spoke to HATED this module)
- Maths (probs the easiest module to pick up marks in)
- Heat and Mass Transfer (not started this yet but it's apparently quite difficult)
All my closest friends are from my hall btw. The social life question is really hard to answer. I'm in 1st year so things have been going well- I have time to hang out with my mates from halls pretty much every evening and I do go out usually once a week. However, I do spend most of my day working on problem sheets/coursework/assignments/revising/etc. especially at weekends. The workload is difficult, it's a lot more than pretty much every other subject out there. Keeping on top of work is dead important, get all your assignments done as early as possible.
All I can say is if you manage your time well you'll have time to have a good time with your mates; but do be prepared to make work a priority when it comes to deadlines and stuff.
I'm sure you'll do fine, good luck with your application. Let me know if you have any more questions!
I'm at Imperial, so the whole uni is a massive cock-fest lol. ChemEng is actually one of the more feminine subjects here!
The banter IS good here tho, nearly all of my friends are guys so we just discuss the most random, inappropriate stuff :PThe course is very varied so you'll like some modules better than others. I wouldn't say the course is particularly fascinating but it's an approachable course. You just learn the material well. Here are my modules for this year:
- Fluid Mechanics (quite interesting, favourite module)
- Thermodynamics (confusing and rather boring)
- Process Analysis (bit repetitive, it's all about solving material/energy balances)
- Properties of Matter (dead interesting but confusing)
- Chemistry (all the 2nd years I spoke to HATED this module)
- Maths (probs the easiest module to pick up marks in)
- Heat and Mass Transfer (not started this yet but it's apparently quite difficult)
All my closest friends are from my hall btw. The social life question is really hard to answer. I'm in 1st year so things have been going well- I have time to hang out with my mates from halls pretty much every evening and I do go out usually once a week. However, I do spend most of my day working on problem sheets/coursework/assignments/revising/etc. especially at weekends. The workload is difficult, it's a lot more than pretty much every other subject out there. Keeping on top of work is dead important, get all your assignments done as early as possible.
All I can say is if you manage your time well you'll have time to have a good time with your mates; but do be prepared to make work a priority when it comes to deadlines and stuff.
I'm sure you'll do fine, good luck with your application. Let me know if you have any more questions!
That's an amazing answer that Sums up many points, however I didn't apply to imperial but I applied to Nottingham Birmingham loughborough and surrey and still have a fifth choice to choose.
I was just wondering if physics plays a major major role is this degree since I personally haven't done physics at A-level however I am on a gap year in ye army now and I am planning to start reading physics so that I am not falling behind when I come to university.
Original post by hispanofrançais
I do not live in England, but in the EU.( Predicted 91%)I received the acknowledgement from imperial id say about a week after applying basically saying that "your application will receive careful consideration" and explaining all the loans i-I could get x) anyone heard anything more ?
i only got one email, it said things about visa (coz i dont live in the EU) but thats all i've heard from them!
so, sorry, i cant really help on that...Original post by ru7lan
That's an amazing answer that Sums up many points, however I didn't apply to imperial but I applied to Nottingham Birmingham loughborough and surrey and still have a fifth choice to choose.
I was just wondering if physics plays a major major role is this degree since I personally haven't done physics at A-level however I am on a gap year in ye army now and I am planning to start reading physics so that I am not falling behind when I come to university.
I was just wondering if physics plays a major major role is this degree since I personally haven't done physics at A-level however I am on a gap year in ye army now and I am planning to start reading physics so that I am not falling behind when I come to university.
It doesn't play anywhere near as major a role as Maths, but it's still very useful. I would say it's not necessary to catch up on A-level Physics, but it would make your first term easier (especially for Properties of Matter module). If you've done a lot of Mechanics in Maths that helps.
Original post by doubled99
hey, does anyone have an interview at Birmingham on the 7th December? And does anyone whos had one/ knows someone who has one have any idea what sort of questions they ask you? Thanks 
hey bro i had my birminghan interview on the 9th of November and its a doddle. My best piece of advice tho is when u find out ur interviewer
(about half an hour before the interview) type his name into google and see what it comes up with. Therefore u always have something to talk about. Even if they know uv looked them up they will think ur pro for the effort. I did this and got an offer the next day
Original post by Cath-ay
Aww mine's on 1st Dec lol so is this other guy's. Quick! ask em to change it and join us lol 
ahhh well iv suddenly decided i cba go completely to bath open day. they dont care so its cool
where else did u apply?Original post by physics1
hey bro i had my birminghan interview on the 9th of November and its a doddle. My best piece of advice tho is when u find out ur interviewer
(about half an hour before the interview) type his name into google and see what it comes up with. Therefore u always have something to talk about. Even if they know uv looked them up they will think ur pro for the effort. I did this and got an offer the next day
(about half an hour before the interview) type his name into google and see what it comes up with. Therefore u always have something to talk about. Even if they know uv looked them up they will think ur pro for the effort. I did this and got an offer the next day
oh thats good! haha sounds great, hopefully the ol' LG cookie will actually allow me to use its browser that day :P
Original post by innerhollow
(KK this is gonna be a pretty detailed answer)
I'm at Imperial, so the whole uni is a massive cock-fest lol. ChemEng is actually one of the more feminine subjects here! The banter IS good here tho, nearly all of my friends are guys so we just discuss the most random, inappropriate stuff :P
The course is very varied so you'll like some modules better than others. I wouldn't say the course is particularly fascinating but it's an approachable course. You just learn the material well. Here are my modules for this year:
- Fluid Mechanics (quite interesting, favourite module)
- Thermodynamics (confusing and rather boring)
- Process Analysis (bit repetitive, it's all about solving material/energy balances)
- Properties of Matter (dead interesting but confusing)
- Chemistry (all the 2nd years I spoke to HATED this module)
- Maths (probs the easiest module to pick up marks in)
- Heat and Mass Transfer (not started this yet but it's apparently quite difficult)
All my closest friends are from my hall btw. The social life question is really hard to answer. I'm in 1st year so things have been going well- I have time to hang out with my mates from halls pretty much every evening and I do go out usually once a week. However, I do spend most of my day working on problem sheets/coursework/assignments/revising/etc. especially at weekends. The workload is difficult, it's a lot more than pretty much every other subject out there. Keeping on top of work is dead important, get all your assignments done as early as possible.
All I can say is if you manage your time well you'll have time to have a good time with your mates; but do be prepared to make work a priority when it comes to deadlines and stuff.
I'm sure you'll do fine, good luck with your application. Let me know if you have any more questions!
I'm at Imperial, so the whole uni is a massive cock-fest lol. ChemEng is actually one of the more feminine subjects here!
The banter IS good here tho, nearly all of my friends are guys so we just discuss the most random, inappropriate stuff :PThe course is very varied so you'll like some modules better than others. I wouldn't say the course is particularly fascinating but it's an approachable course. You just learn the material well. Here are my modules for this year:
- Fluid Mechanics (quite interesting, favourite module)
- Thermodynamics (confusing and rather boring)
- Process Analysis (bit repetitive, it's all about solving material/energy balances)
- Properties of Matter (dead interesting but confusing)
- Chemistry (all the 2nd years I spoke to HATED this module)
- Maths (probs the easiest module to pick up marks in)
- Heat and Mass Transfer (not started this yet but it's apparently quite difficult)
All my closest friends are from my hall btw. The social life question is really hard to answer. I'm in 1st year so things have been going well- I have time to hang out with my mates from halls pretty much every evening and I do go out usually once a week. However, I do spend most of my day working on problem sheets/coursework/assignments/revising/etc. especially at weekends. The workload is difficult, it's a lot more than pretty much every other subject out there. Keeping on top of work is dead important, get all your assignments done as early as possible.
All I can say is if you manage your time well you'll have time to have a good time with your mates; but do be prepared to make work a priority when it comes to deadlines and stuff.
I'm sure you'll do fine, good luck with your application. Let me know if you have any more questions!
Hey....was just wondering what offer you got from imperial last year?...I applied there too and have an interview sometime in december..hopefully its good...xx
Original post by Yinks
Hey....was just wondering what offer you got from imperial last year?...I applied there too and have an interview sometime in december..hopefully its good...xx
AAA in Scottish Advanced Highers (Maths, Chem, Physics).
All A-level offers given out last year were A*A*A/A*AAA or in some cases A*A*AA.
(edited 12 years ago)
Original post by innerhollow
AAA in Scottish Advanced Highers (Maths, Chem, Physics).
All A-level offers given out last year were A*A*A/A*AAA or in some cases A*A*AA.
All A-level offers given out last year were A*A*A/A*AAA or in some cases A*A*AA.
Oh wow!!...so much of my hope for A*AA...
...do they give offers higher than you predicted grades?Original post by Yinks
Oh wow!!...so much of my hope for A*AA......do they give offers higher than you predicted grades?
...do they give offers higher than you predicted grades?Honestly I can't say. It depends on their applicant pool for that cycle, they may give you an offer higher than what you're predicted or they might not. The fact that you have an interview is very promising though, it indicates that they're confident in your application despite your predicted grades being sub-requirement.
Original post by zaka6800
What Do you guys think is better - Lufbra or UCL??
Both are known as good universities, I think it depends on what you think makes a good university. I've not heard good things about the chemical engineering department at UCL but rates highly on everything else, whereas Loughborough is renowned for its sporting and Engineering achievements and still has a good rating on tables. UCL will offer you big city living and perhaps more diversity in culture, whereas Loughborough will give you a campus outside of a small town with links to bigger cities if you want that.
Original post by innerhollow
Honestly I can't say. It depends on their applicant pool for that cycle, they may give you an offer higher than what you're predicted or they might not. The fact that you have an interview is very promising though, it indicates that they're confident in your application despite your predicted grades being sub-requirement.
hopefully....thanks alot though..xx
..good luck....Original post by innerhollow
(KK this is gonna be a pretty detailed answer)
I'm at Imperial, so the whole uni is a massive cock-fest lol. ChemEng is actually one of the more feminine subjects here! The banter IS good here tho, nearly all of my friends are guys so we just discuss the most random, inappropriate stuff :P
The course is very varied so you'll like some modules better than others. I wouldn't say the course is particularly fascinating but it's an approachable course. You just learn the material well. Here are my modules for this year:
- Fluid Mechanics (quite interesting, favourite module)
- Thermodynamics (confusing and rather boring)
- Process Analysis (bit repetitive, it's all about solving material/energy balances)
- Properties of Matter (dead interesting but confusing)
- Chemistry (all the 2nd years I spoke to HATED this module)
- Maths (probs the easiest module to pick up marks in)
- Heat and Mass Transfer (not started this yet but it's apparently quite difficult)
All my closest friends are from my hall btw. The social life question is really hard to answer. I'm in 1st year so things have been going well- I have time to hang out with my mates from halls pretty much every evening and I do go out usually once a week. However, I do spend most of my day working on problem sheets/coursework/assignments/revising/etc. especially at weekends. The workload is difficult, it's a lot more than pretty much every other subject out there. Keeping on top of work is dead important, get all your assignments done as early as possible.
All I can say is if you manage your time well you'll have time to have a good time with your mates; but do be prepared to make work a priority when it comes to deadlines and stuff.
I'm sure you'll do fine, good luck with your application. Let me know if you have any more questions!
I'm at Imperial, so the whole uni is a massive cock-fest lol. ChemEng is actually one of the more feminine subjects here!
The banter IS good here tho, nearly all of my friends are guys so we just discuss the most random, inappropriate stuff :PThe course is very varied so you'll like some modules better than others. I wouldn't say the course is particularly fascinating but it's an approachable course. You just learn the material well. Here are my modules for this year:
- Fluid Mechanics (quite interesting, favourite module)
- Thermodynamics (confusing and rather boring)
- Process Analysis (bit repetitive, it's all about solving material/energy balances)
- Properties of Matter (dead interesting but confusing)
- Chemistry (all the 2nd years I spoke to HATED this module)
- Maths (probs the easiest module to pick up marks in)
- Heat and Mass Transfer (not started this yet but it's apparently quite difficult)
All my closest friends are from my hall btw. The social life question is really hard to answer. I'm in 1st year so things have been going well- I have time to hang out with my mates from halls pretty much every evening and I do go out usually once a week. However, I do spend most of my day working on problem sheets/coursework/assignments/revising/etc. especially at weekends. The workload is difficult, it's a lot more than pretty much every other subject out there. Keeping on top of work is dead important, get all your assignments done as early as possible.
All I can say is if you manage your time well you'll have time to have a good time with your mates; but do be prepared to make work a priority when it comes to deadlines and stuff.
I'm sure you'll do fine, good luck with your application. Let me know if you have any more questions!
Hi, im applying to imperial this year and i hav a house in london so i was wondering if u dont live in the hall is it quite hard to socialize???
thnx!
Original post by anon101
Hi, im applying to imperial this year and i hav a house in london so i was wondering if u dont live in the hall is it quite hard to socialize???
thnx!
thnx!
Sorry to say but not living in halls makes it a lot more difficult to socialise and find good friends.
(edited 12 years ago)
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