[The_Gina]

Hi,

I am stuck between applying for NatSci or Engineering at Cambridge.
I am doing Maths, Further Maths, Physics & Chemistry A Levels and am predicted 3/4 A*s. I like Maths the best, especially the core and mechanic modules. I also like the materials and quantum aspects of physics, aswell as physical and inorganic aspects of chemistry. I am not overly keen on electronics though however, nor the organic parts of chemistry.

I am drawn towards Natural Sciences as it keeps my options open, so I can do Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Materials, and specialise in one of them, or even switch to Chemical Engineering in the 2nd year. My only issue is with the career prospects, as it seems to be that you would go into teaching, research or finance.

Engineering interests me due to the maths involved, but I am not a very 'hands-on' person, preferring to design things on a computer, rather than make and build things. I have heard that alot of what you do in an engineering degree is hands-on making things, rather than calculations and designing on a computer (which is what I would like to do).

In terms of the maths involved in engineering, and in physics, what is the difference? I really like calculus and applying it to solve problems, but don;t want to be learning useless things like why proving that 1=0 (in a maths degree).

I would very much appreciate help as I am stuck as to which degree to do.

[Podcaster]

If you hate organic chem (organic is a BIG chunk of chem), hate electronics (avoid physics), want to do something that is practical ( maths isn't very practical ) then I would say engineering. But you don't like making things..... You little miss, are a careers adviser's nightmare.

This was posted from The Student Room's Android App on my HTC Desire C

[The_Gina]

I think materials engineering would suit me? It's all inorganic chemistry and physics and is design on a molecular level which appeals more


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

[When you see it...]

Give or take a few of your points (I actually like electronics and don't particularly mind organic chemistry, but I HATE materials and atomic structure and things like that with a passion), I can empathise with a lot of what you have said (especially the 1 = 0 comment - silly mathematicians ). I'm just posting to bump this thread.

(Original post by Podcaster)
You little miss, are a careers adviser's nightmare.

Everyone is because careers advice is a load of BS.

(Original post by The_Gina)
x

I may be chatting ****, but I think Chemical Enginering encompasses inorganic chemistry, mechanics, "applied" style maths and materials-related science whilst avoiding the organic chemistry and electronics that you don't like. It may even include quantum physics (I know that if you studied chemistry you would learn about how it is explained by QM, but I would have thought that Chemical Engineering is more 'practical' and would spend less time on actually explaining things and more time showing you how to actually do things (engineering is a vocational course after all)).
Anyway, I don't know much about Chem Eng, but it is worth checking out.

[wibletg]

(Original post by The_Gina)
Hi,

I am stuck between applying for NatSci or Engineering at Cambridge.
I am doing Maths, Further Maths, Physics & Chemistry A Levels and am predicted 3/4 A*s. I like Maths the best, especially the core and mechanic modules. I also like the materials and quantum aspects of physics, aswell as physical and inorganic aspects of chemistry. I am not overly keen on electronics though however, nor the organic parts of chemistry.

I am drawn towards Natural Sciences as it keeps my options open, so I can do Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Materials, and specialise in one of them, or even switch to Chemical Engineering in the 2nd year. My only issue is with the career prospects, as it seems to be that you would go into teaching, research or finance.

Engineering interests me due to the maths involved, but I am not a very 'hands-on' person, preferring to design things on a computer, rather than make and build things. I have heard that alot of what you do in an engineering degree is hands-on making things, rather than calculations and designing on a computer (which is what I would like to do).

In terms of the maths involved in engineering, and in physics, what is the difference? I really like calculus and applying it to solve problems, but don;t want to be learning useless things like why proving that 1=0 (in a maths degree).

I would very much appreciate help as I am stuck as to which degree to do.

I have to point out, Engineering is usually calculations and designing things on computers

It's very rare you actually make things unless you're doing computational fluid dynamics and you want to test that your computer model is accurate using a model and a wind tunnel (for example)

The general public has an idea that an engineer is the guy who comes out to fix their washing machine when it breaks - not the case

[The_Gina]

(Original post by wibletg)
I have to point out, Engineering is usually calculations and designing things on computers

It's very rare you actually make things unless you're doing computational fluid dynamics and you want to test that your computer model is accurate using a model and a wind tunnel (for example)

The general public has an idea that an engineer is the guy who comes out to fix their washing machine when it breaks - not the case

I see that you are doing chemical engineering. What made you apply for that as opposed to general engineering or any of the other engineering streams?

[wibletg]

(Original post by The_Gina)
I see that you are doing chemical engineering. What made you apply for that as opposed to general engineering or any of the other engineering streams?

Well I applied for ChemEng via Engineering so if I decide that I'm enjoying general engineering I'll not transfer to the ChemEng course

The way Cam works is that you don't apply for any of the other engineering streams straight away - you do 2 years then specialise, unless you're doing ChemEng or Manufacturing Eng (I think anyway) in which case you specialise after your first year.

The only real reason I chose ChemEng over anything else is because I genuinely enjoy Chemistry and although the ChemEng courses are usually 75% maths and physics and 25% Chemistry that's roughly the same balance as at A Level.

[The_Gina]

(Original post by wibletg)
Well I applied for ChemEng via Engineering so if I decide that I'm enjoying general engineering I'll not transfer to the ChemEng course

The way Cam works is that you don't apply for any of the other engineering streams straight away - you do 2 years then specialise, unless you're doing ChemEng or Manufacturing Eng (I think anyway) in which case you specialise after your first year.

The only real reason I chose ChemEng over anything else is because I genuinely enjoy Chemistry and although the ChemEng courses are usually 75% maths and physics and 25% Chemistry that's roughly the same balance as at A Level.

I will apply to general engineering and possibly switch to chem eng in year 2 if I prefer the sound of it.
Do you know what kind of chemistry is involved? eg is it mostly rates of reaction, equilibria etc or more organic chemistry?

[wibletg]

(Original post by The_Gina)
I will apply to general engineering and possibly switch to chem eng in year 2 if I prefer the sound of it.
Do you know what kind of chemistry is involved? eg is it mostly rates of reaction, equilibria etc or more organic chemistry?

I believe it's inorganic chemistry, i.e. the effects of heat, improving yields etc.

[ben-smith]

(Original post by The_Gina)
Hi,
I really like calculus and applying it to solve problems, but don;t want to be learning useless things like why proving that 1=0 (in a maths degree).

this is hilarious. You clearly know a lot about mathematics degrees.

[The_Gina]

(Original post by ben-smith)
this is hilarious. You clearly know a lot about mathematics degrees.

I know it was a poor example (I meant proving that 1=/0), but I want to apply maths to real world problems, rather than spend all my time on learning the proofs and underlying theory behind the maths.

[ben-smith]

(Original post by The_Gina)
I know it was a poor example (I meant proving that 1=/0), but I want to apply maths to real world problems, rather than spend all my time on learning the proofs and underlying theory behind the maths.

fair enough
it's worth pointing out that in maths degrees you do apply maths to the real world. There's a reason why Newton, Turing, Maxwell, Keynes and Penrose did maths degrees.

[Observatory]

(Original post by The_Gina)
but I want to apply maths to real world problems

Then you probably want to study physics or aero eng.

Alternatively, do a maths degree, choose all the applied options, and then become a physicist or aero eng.

[The_Gina]

(Original post by Observatory)
Then you probably want to study physics or aero eng.

Alternatively, do a maths degree, choose all the applied options, and then become a physicist or aero eng.

Why aero eng in particular, is it the most mathematical?

[Observatory]

(Original post by The_Gina)
Why aero eng in particular, is it the most mathematical?

It's hard to generalise, but generally yes. You can move into computational fluid dynamics which is probably the most mathematical branch of engineering (also has some applications in oil-gas).

Aero is also one of the few areas of engineering that still has unsolved maths problems associated with it, but you'd be better off with a maths degree for that.