Chemical Engineering Applicants - 2017 Entry

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Reply 480

NeverLucky

Original post by reginaph

any tips for imperial interview? Mines tomorrow

What subject?

Reply 481

richardhello

Imperial interview :smile:

haven't decided what date yet though...

Reply 482

Dusky Mauve

Original post by Sammy9898

Omg that's great! I have a few questions for you if you don't mind answering!

How was your first year? Are the lecturers/professors good or bad? Is the workload really insane or is it manageable? I know there's so much to learn for engineering but do you still get enough time to take part in societies? 😊

Sorry to bombard you with questions lol, id be so grateful if you could answer ! :biggrin:

Yeah no problem! I found first year quite overwhelming if I'm being honest. Looking back it feels like such a blur and a probably should have taken things a bit more slowly! I think you'd get that anywhere though. You'll get good and bad lecturers, but obviously your interest in the module and how easy you find it skew your perspective of the person teaching it. They all get the information across, but with some you'll have to spend more time unravelling what they've said than others.

The workload is more than manageable. I was the queen of procrastination in my first year, doing most of my revision last minute, and i still came out with good grades! I would definitely recommend keeping on top of tutorial sheets though or you won't have a clue what's going on in the next lecture. I do a lot a dance with the society at uni, so I usually do a couple of classes a week, we go on a social every now and then, and we also do some fundraising throughout the year and I take part in competitions, but as long as you manage your time well there's loads of time for fun stuff!

Reply 483

reginaph

Original post by NeverLucky

What subject?

Chemical Engineering- they've sent me the itinerary and I have a 30 minute interview. Not sure if/how to prepare for it because some people say it's an informal chat but others say there's some technical questions as well...

Reply 484

NeverLucky

Original post by reginaph

It'll depend on the interviewer. You might be asked a lot of questions from the PS, you might not - it entirely depends and knowing what someone else got asked doesn't help a great deal. I think the best advice I can give now cos it's tomorrow would just be to take a bit of time to read over your PS and practice talking about an area of Chemical Engineering you find interesting for a couple of minutes. The interview probably won't be until the afternoon so just try to relax during the events that the department have put on and enjoy the day. Remember, it's a great achievement to even get an interview!

Reply 485

richardhello

Quick question: when it says upload photo on the interview form, what do they mean?

Reply 486

SugarCoatedCart

Original post by richardhello

Quick question: when it says upload photo on the interview form, what do they mean?

A picture of you, probably passport style.

Reply 487

FusionNetworks

Anyone going to the Manchester interview tomorrow ? I haven't had any email about where to meet or a timetable.

Reply 488

Leo2614

Hey guys

Looking at this thread I'm starting to worry about if I have a chance of getting into a chemical engineering degree!
My GCSEs werent great 3A* 4A 3B
Predicted grades: A*AA
I plan on just applying to the standards unis with requirements of AAA, I have work experience at an engineering company, do I have a chance? Thanks :smile:

Reply 489

SugarCoatedCart

Original post by FusionNetworks

Anyone going to the Manchester interview tomorrow ? I haven't had any email about where to meet or a timetable.

Didn't you get an email from the admissions tutor? Email him for more info. This is mine on a different date tho.

Open Day will begin at 10.45am prompt and finish between 3.30 and 4.00. The day will consist of a presentation by the admissions tutor and undergraduate students in the school, an interview, lunch hosted by the students, a question and answer session and a tour of the facilities. On arrival on campus, please make your way to the James Chadwick Building, Room 4.010 on 4th Floor. The James Chadwick Building is number 89 on the attached campus map (attached).

Reply 490

FusionNetworks

Original post by SugarCoatedCart

Thank you very much!

Reply 491

richardhello

Original post by Leo2614

Hey guys

Yeah of course you do, what were your AS results?

Reply 492

Cheesy Taters

Hi,

Im currently studying H803 MEng Chemical Engineering w/ Industrial Experience at the University of Manchester and am currently in my 3rd year (Placement Year).

I applied in 2013/2014 to:
- Manchester
- Birmingham
- Nottingham
- Bath
- UCL

I recieved offers from all my unis except UCL.

Feel free to ask me any questions and I will try to answer them as best as I can

.

P.S. I know I've posted here before this is just for the new peeps :smile:

Reply 493

munchkin1212

Original post by Cheesy Taters

.

P.S. I know I've posted here before this is just for the new peeps :smile:

Hi! What made you choose Manchester over the other universities?

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Reply 494

T Jack Zhang

Original post by Cheesy Taters

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P.S. I know I've posted here before this is just for the new peeps :smile:

Hi, I currently have an unconditional offer from University of Manchester and I decided choose it as my firm choice. Could you please tell me your experience at Manchester and describe its teaching and research quality? Thank you very much! :colondollar:

Reply 495

khanpatel321

Original post by Leo2614

Hey guys

Yes don't worry! You'll be fine with that profile :smile:

Reply 496

khanpatel321

Original post by Cheesy Taters

.

P.S. I know I've posted here before this is just for the new peeps :smile:

Hi i'm a first year also at Manchester... any tips for securing a placement?

Edit : btw what field is your placement in if you don't mind me asking. I would love to get a placement in an oil and gas company.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 497

Leo2614

Original post by richardhello

Yeah of course you do, what were your AS results?

AAB Chem, bio, maths, I had a pretty bad news before my C2 exam so I didn't do so well but I'm going to resist which should be good :3

Reply 498

Leo2614

Original post by khanpatel321

Yes don't worry! You'll be fine with that profile :smile:

Thank you! ^-^

Reply 499

Cheesy Taters

Original post by khanpatel321

Tips for securing a placement? Apply early and apply everywhere. Its as simple as that. Many of the early placements that come up in October/November will be underapplied and the ones between December - March will be where most people apply. Oil and Gas is an excellent place to apply but from my current year, only about 10 people out of the 45 people who got placements actually got those placement. Yes they pay well but often they will look for all the people with the best academics. Don't get me wrong, definetly apply - there is no harm in doing so. But realistically, unless you are a 70%+ student, it will be unlikely to get a placement at the likes of Total or BP. But, there was one student who had a 65% average who managed to land a placement at BP so if Oil and Gas is what you are really interested in, go for it!

My placement is on a chemical fertiliser plant, where we create Ammonium Nitrate fertiliser. The company where I am working are the UK's only producer of Ammonia and Nitric Acid and hence, they are quite a large site. The parent company is also American and hence, the company has quite a lot of capital behind it for new projects. This means that as a process engineer, you have a much higher chance of actually having your applications for money to be approved.

Original post by T Jack Zhang

In terms of teaching, first year is split into EBL (Enquiry Based Learning) and normal lectures. In lectures you will cover the content of the course e.g. learning concepts/methods of working and equation derivations etc. In the EBL sessions, you will be assigned a group of people who you must work with to answer questions that are given to you. It is quite difficult and is really quite challenging but it forced you to understand what you are learning in lectures, and not just memorise it in parrot fashion. The EBL sessions, really teach you how to solve problems and then when you think you know the method to solve the problem, how to apply the knowledge you have to actually solve it. At my University at least, if you attend all the lectures and can complete all EBL questions, then you will get at least 70% in your exam. It's as simple as that.

First year is quite busy in terms of lectures and most of the lecturers will not be super good (they give the first years to newer lecturers for experience). But the content is not too hard and for the one course that involves something new, Chemical Engineering Design 1, there is quite a good lecturer who is excellent at explaining things, if you ask him. The second year is still quite busy in terms of lectures but the EBL sessions aren't as strict. The idea is that you either have a group of friends from first year who you sit down and work through the problems with every week or that you will spend the time to solve them on your own. Again, this is another point where you must begin to drive yourself to actively work outside of lectures, not only to understand the content but also to practise applying it in EBL question.

BTW, along the same line, when you solve EBL questions, make sure you keep all of your sheets where you tried to find the solution and failed. As well as this, when you find out the correct method, make sure you write it out, with comments if possible, so that when you come to revise, you have you own 'markscheme' for the EBL questions.

Each module in the course is a different split of coursework and exam. Generally, they are 80% exam, 20% coursework and like I said, the coursework should almost be guaranteed full marks if you work in a group and sit together to answer the questions. The exception to this is the Laboratory Projects 1&2 Modules, which are 100% coursework based. During the first year, you will have to write a 8 page lab report every 2 weeks. Don't EVER leave this to the last minute. Lab reports are hard work (not to scare you ) and many of your course mates will screw up their first few. Make sure you don't fall into the trap of thinking 'I have plenty of time' or the trap of 'Don't worry, it doesn't matter that much'. I will tell you now, that my lab reports are what pulled my average grade up to 65%. I scored an average of 90% and that was because I would spend the entire time I had available on writing the report and making sure it was right. Also, don't copy anyone. Feel free to read their report and take ideas/equations(in some of the harder reports, it can be very difficult to find the relevant/right information) and if you do end up at Manchester, feel free to ask me for my work, I don't mind giving it all to you (although there is a lot so I dunno how I'd give it to you ).

All in all, lectures can be boring if you have a bad lecturer, but the EBLs are always a challenge and to me, I looooove problem solving so I wouldn't mind sitting there for a few hours trying to tackle a problem . Work hard on everything and make sure you work in a group where you can and don't copy from sources you shouldn't and you'll be fine.

Some of the halls are literally on campus but they are normally quieter and more expensive. It is generally the foreign students who choose to stay in these halls. The other halls are 1 bus journey away in a place called Fallowfield and it is mostly the people who have also moved from home in the UK. The halls that are in Fallowfield are generally not as nice but are also much cheaper. Also, most of the students in Fallowfield are the partying types, so there is always something to do there. Many of the people I know actually chose to go to Fallowfield as it gives you more of an opportunity to socialise with your peers outside of lectures and gives you the opportunity to make friends. I would say that making friends outside of your course is just as important as making friends within your course. It will mean that when you're out with your friends, you won't just end up talking about work and will actually socialise :P.

Then there is a third option of private halls. They can be a good idea but it is important to remember that although they are cheaper, you won't have much contact with your course mates if you end up at one of them.

Sorry for the essay :s-smilie:

Original post by munchkin1212

Hi! What made you choose Manchester over the other universities?

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I would say the pros are saving £9000 in tuition fees and actually earning money in your 5th year whilst still getting 5 years worth of degree. Also, I love that there are design projects in the first year - it gets you to really understand one the main aspects of this degree and you can make an accurate judgement as to whether you like it or not in the first year so you don't 'waste' any more years on a course you're not 100% happy with.

Additionally, this degree is bloody hard work. Its up to you if you want to work your arse off for 4 years or if you want to party/relax then go to a uni with a 5 year course. But be prepared, you must work hard. However, saying that, I know of many people who managed to balance work/going out quite well by keeping going to the weekends/to a minimum during the week.

Obviously you're at uni to have fun and make lifetime friends, so just keep that in mind wherever you end up.