[Kirity]

Hey, so I'm thinking about doing a Civil Engineering course at Uni. I'm just starting A2 and will be applying for uni's in a few months.

I'm not really sure why it stands out to me but I just think it something i like, I've always liked building and creating things and i like lots of problem solving. Plus as a career it seems very dynamic not like a boring office job, from what i heard you get to travel and there are different types of projects all the time. Also i hear it pays quite well.

I was wondering why did you pick Civil Engineering at Uni if you have, just so i know if im going into the right thing. If someone has some experience of a Civil Engineering Course i would like to know if you like it and if you have it as a job what is it like, and what do you actually do. Is there lots of problem solving, is it mainly office work, do you get to travel and so on?



I'm Thinking about picking MEng Civil Engineering International course At UCL as my top first choice (A*, A, A).

But in not really sure about else where, I think A*, A, A is the most i can possibly get so I'm not looking at anything higher.

some Uni choices would be good aswell.


Another thing is I might do some Work Experience at Laing O’Rourke over the 6 weeks at a civil engineering firm. Is this advisable? And should it be through that Quest Apprenticeship thing? Do i have to go though my college or can i just ask the firm myself?



And Finally, i was also contemplating doing A Building Services Degree or a Electrical Eng. Degree. Does anyone have any information about these courses and what jobs i can get from them.

Thanks for the Help!

[Kirity]

C'mon someone can help me?

[Amirindo]

Hi. It seems that you are very interested in engineering in general, as it involves problem solving, and creativity, it seems that infrastructure interests you most (i.e civil) as it contains bridges, roads, ports, etc etc. I advise you first that you should never ever and i mean EVER, be concerned about money in a career, yes its good to think cleverly into what career is good financially, but in the end your happiness is most important, hence choose a career you are sure of, and you enjoy! Which is great that you enjoy civil engineering because it has been around for centuries, as maths has been since the beggining of time!

Research these yourself, dont rely on other make the decision for you, of course its good to take advice, but the final decision is up to you, and you ARE VERY YOUNG, if you are ever unsure, take a year out, do work experience to make sure what career fits you best. Think of all the careers you like, then experience them.
Speaking of work experiencw, you NEED it someday, it will really help you.

Btw To succeed even more in engineering i have heard teachers advise people who like to be engineers someday (maybe me too) that we should practise our maths every single day, whether its 30 mins a day, an hour, 10 mins a day, as long as you practise daily, just to make sure you have a strong foundation of maths, (specific areas you struggle with)
Goodluck, you can do it

This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Kirity]

Thanks that's very useful, I do practise math quite a lot bit not daily maybe I'll start.

Hmm you know you described what civil engineering involved ports, bridges; roads and so on. What sort of engineering covers buildings and new structures like the ones in Dubai

[Cpt_Oppius]

(Original post by Kirity)
Thanks that's very useful, I do practise math quite a lot bit not daily maybe I'll start.

Hmm you know you described what civil engineering involved ports, bridges; roads and so on. What sort of engineering covers buildings and new structures like the ones in Dubai

Hi, the Quest apprenticeship you speak of is for undergraduates as it gives them work experience each summer and a scholarship, so you wouldn't need to do that yet (but after you pick your university it is definitely worth applying for!!)
Looking for experience is an excellent idea, it will really help your Ucas application as it shows you are interested and experienced in Civil Engineering, and also would be fairly enjoyable, so get as much as you possibly can!!

University wise, they all have their own specialisms in the course so look carefully at what they are, for example Bath are linked closely to architecture and Bristol looks at dynamic structures. On the whole the sort of universities you will look at with those grades will all be good courses and would be fairly similar. Any questions get in touch!!

[Amirindo]

Well for building etc etc, in fact civil engineering does also focus on that. Ive also heard architectural engineering is ideal for it aswell. Engineering is VERY VERY broad, but once youve graduated got a degree, you can specialize, e.g. you can be an engineer on working only on the construction of bricks! or even a kettle, or even tools, anything little to anything BIG. Once you get to university, you will have plenty of options and ideas in mind by the end.

[Peel]

It can be pretty much all office work if you're a designer / consultant. Or virtually none if you go into contracting.

[kilojoule]

(Original post by Kirity)
I was wondering why did you pick Civil Engineering at Uni if you have, just so i know if im going into the right thing.

I'm starting a civil engneering course in 3 months, so I don't have any real experience with the course yet, but just follow your heart! I chose civil engineering because I like to design infrastructure and plan cities, but I lack the art skills to study architecture Plus, you get to do a variety of things with a civil engineering degree (many different specialties: structural, transport, geotechnical, environmental, etc), and ultimately if you decide that engineering is not your cup of tea, you can still work in the financial sector

(Original post by Kirity)
I'm Thinking about picking MEng Civil Engineering International course At UCL as my top first choice (A*, A, A).

YES GREAT CHOICE, come to UCL!
Though I must add, it's worth considering the usual suspects (Imperial, Cambridge) and other great schools (Bath, Southampton). I tend to like a more hands-on course, so make sure you look into courses designed with more practical aspects (or theoretical aspects if that's more your thing).

[feghdan]

I am doing civil engineering at Liverpool uni , starting this September .
I picked civil engineering for exactly the same reasons you stated in you second paragraph + my father is a civil engineer too .