Help applying for a mechanical engineering course?

So in November, I'm going to be applying for a mechanical engineering course at Manchester Uni. The entry requirements are AAA, but I'm relatively confident I will be able to get these grades.
I study biology, chemistry maths and psychology at AS, and will keep on bio, chem and maths next year. The entry requirements say they will consider applicants without physics, providing you have studied mechanics 1 and 2 in maths. That said, I feel like as a non-physics applicant I'll be somewhere at the bottom of the pile.

My question is this:
What can I do in the next 7/8 months that will put me above (or at least on par with) other applicants? I really am interested in the course and would like to do it, so I don't really want to be rejected. My college will allow me to do an EPQ next year as well as 3 A-levels, but I really don't know what to do it on, as many of the examples I have seen are so confusing!

Any help at all really would be appreciated :smile:

Original post by jasonrose98

So in November, I'm going to be applying for a mechanical engineering course at Manchester Uni. The entry requirements are AAA, but I'm relatively confident I will be able to get these grades.
I study biology, chemistry maths and psychology at AS, and will keep on bio, chem and maths next year. The entry requirements say they will consider applicants without physics, providing you have studied mechanics 1 and 2 in maths. That said, I feel like as a non-physics applicant I'll be somewhere at the bottom of the pile.

My question is this:
What can I do in the next 7/8 months that will put me above (or at least on par with) other applicants? I really am interested in the course and would like to do it, so I don't really want to be rejected. My college will allow me to do an EPQ next year as well as 3 A-levels, but I really don't know what to do it on, as many of the examples I have seen are so confusing!

Any help at all really would be appreciated :smile:

Unless you fail to meet the grade requirements or do not have the right subjects you probably won't be rejected. Check with the admissions tutors at the universities you would like to study at whether you have the correct subjects. If not, then make sure you do the correct subjects. Then make sure you achieve the required grades at a minimum, hopefully exceeding them.

Reply 2

PQ

Clearing and Applications Advisor

21

Original post by jasonrose98

So in November, I'm going to be applying for a mechanical engineering course at Manchester Uni. The entry requirements are AAA, but I'm relatively confident I will be able to get these grades.
I study biology, chemistry maths and psychology at AS, and will keep on bio, chem and maths next year. The entry requirements say they will consider applicants without physics, providing you have studied mechanics 1 and 2 in maths. That said, I feel like as a non-physics applicant I'll be somewhere at the bottom of the pile.

My question is this:
What can I do in the next 7/8 months that will put me above (or at least on par with) other applicants? I really am interested in the course and would like to do it, so I don't really want to be rejected. My college will allow me to do an EPQ next year as well as 3 A-levels, but I really don't know what to do it on, as many of the examples I have seen are so confusing!

Any help at all really would be appreciated :smile:

Have a look at the modules in first year and think about which areas you might have an advantage from physics A level. http://www.mace.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/mechanical-engineering/meng-mechanical-engineering-4years/year-1/

Spend your summer working through some MOOCs on the sort of topics you think might help. Something like https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/through-engineers-eyes or https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/cracking-mechanics from futurelearn might help. edx has a lot more courses but they take a lot more trawling to find something that works for you: https://www.edx.org/course/subject/engineering and https://www.edx.org/course/subject/physics

I don't know the exact content of the mech maths modules but looking at the first year modules something covering fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and something on circuits/electrical engineering basics would seem like a good bet.

As you're targeting a single university put some time into getting to know the university. Watch their news/events pages: http://www.mace.manchester.ac.uk/news/recent-news/ and http://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/events/ follow their social media accounts (to find out when they have public lectures, open events etc ie http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/aspiring-students/discover-days/ ) watch videos on their youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/universitymanchester etc etc

Reply 3

Lawliettt

14

Original post by jasonrose98

My question is this:
What can I do in the next 7/8 months that will put me above (or at least on par with) other applicants?
Any help at all really would be appreciated :smile:

Try doing the UKMT if your school runs it. And enter your modules individually so they know you did M1. Providing you're doing m1 and m2, just get good grades and you'll get an offer. You really don't need an EPQ or work experience. I certainly didn't.

Reply 4

swanseajack1

19

Original post by Lawliettt

Try doing the UKMT if your school runs it. And enter your modules individually so they know you did M1. Providing you're doing m1 and m2, just get good grades and you'll get an offer. You really don't need an EPQ or work experience. I certainly didn't.