Trying to pick between Leeds, Birmingham or Imperial Chemical Engineering

OP

Original post by Doonesbury

That's a problem right there, before you even start thinking about which university.

Re universities: have you visited them?

Yeah been to all the applicant days. Really don't think I'm ever going to find a course that I'm 100% on, but going Chem eng because it's the stuff I found interesting at school and the job prospects are so varied. I know roughly what field I want to go into (actuary) I just need to find a university I want to go to

Reply 3

Doones

21

Original post by TheSwyn

Yeah been to all the applicant days. Really don't think I'm ever going to find a course that I'm 100% on, but going Chem eng because it's the stuff I found interesting at school and the job prospects are so varied. I know roughly what field I want to go into (actuary) I just need to find a university I want to go to

Uh... so why not study Actuarial Science then.

Reply 4

Original post by TheSwyn

Yeah been to all the applicant days. Really don't think I'm ever going to find a course that I'm 100% on, but going Chem eng because it's the stuff I found interesting at school and the job prospects are so varied. I know roughly what field I want to go into (actuary) I just need to find a university I want to go to

Why not maths/ maths and stats?

Original post by TheSwyn

Yeah been to all the applicant days. Really don't think I'm ever going to find a course that I'm 100% on, but going Chem eng because it's the stuff I found interesting at school and the job prospects are so varied. I know roughly what field I want to go into (actuary) I just need to find a university I want to go to

If you want to be an actuary then you'd be far better off studying actuarial science or maths and/or stats, rather than something completely different like chemical engineering.

Reply 6

OP

Original post by Smack

If you want to be an actuary then you'd be far better off studying actuarial science or maths and/or stats, rather than something completely different like chemical engineering.

I'm really not sure on being an actuary either it's just a rough feeling. I change my feelings on what id like to do as a job so often!

Reply 7

Perhaps you could post on the careers board for finance/ accounting? There are some really helpful people who work in actuarial fields who post on there who I'm sure could give some good advice. I know that the choice of degree and university can be important for getting work in that field so its worth getting good advice as early as possible. Perhaps google for actuarial careers and see what people recommend?

Reply 8

OP

Original post by ajj2000

Perhaps you could post on the careers board for finance/ accounting? There are some really helpful people who work in actuarial fields who post on there who I'm sure could give some good advice. I know that the choice of degree and university can be important for getting work in that field so its worth getting good advice as early as possible. Perhaps google for actuarial careers and see what people recommend?

Yeah maybe. You dont have any idea on how easy it is to switch courses, or would I have to wait until next year to do it. I'm really not keen on a gap year

Original post by TheSwyn

I'm really not sure on being an actuary either it's just a rough feeling. I change my feelings on what id like to do as a job so often!

I think you should spend some time thinking about what you want to do for a career. There is nothing wrong with delaying entry to university if it is going to let you choose a course that is more inline with your career aims. Being an engineer is quite different to being an actuary - although it might be possible to become an actuary with an engineering degree, although I would definitely heed the advice of @ajj2000.

Reply 10

Original post by TheSwyn

Yeah maybe. You dont have any idea on how easy it is to switch courses, or would I have to wait until next year to do it. I'm really not keen on a gap year

I'd make sure you want to change courses first - you've chosen a really valuable and challenging mathematical field which opens lots of doors - you need to make sure it opens the doors you are interested in, and see whether different university courses are more valued for a field you have expressed interest in.

You could look at entry requirements for the universities you have applied to for different courses if you want to be a bit 'belt and braces'.

Reply 11

OP

Original post by Smack

I think you should spend some time thinking about what you want to do for a career. There is nothing wrong with delaying entry to university if it is going to let you choose a course that is more inline with your career aims. Being an engineer is quite different to being an actuary - although it might be possible to become an actuary with an engineering degree, although I would definitely heed the advice of @ajj2000.

Just having a look now. Theres some really useful stuff, thanks to both of you!

Reply 12

OP

Original post by ajj2000

I'd make sure you want to change courses first - you've chosen a really valuable and challenging mathematical field which opens lots of doors - you need to make sure it opens the doors you are interested in, and see whether different university courses are more valued for a field you have expressed interest in.

You could look at entry requirements for the universities you have applied to for different courses if you want to be a bit 'belt and braces'.

That was my issue. Chemical engineering seems to be one of the top degrees in terms of recruitment and I wouldnt want to leave it unless therr was a really good reason for doing so.

Original post by TheSwyn

Just having a look now. Theres some really useful stuff, thanks to both of you!

No problem.

As you have applied for chemical engineering, were you at one point (or are you still currently) interested in pursuing a career in engineering?

Reply 14

Doones

21

Original post by TheSwyn

That was my issue. Chemical engineering seems to be one of the top degrees in terms of recruitment and I wouldnt want to leave it unless therr was a really good reason for doing so.

As a different thread discussed recently it actually has the highest rate of unemployment of any of the engineering specialisations.

Don't embark on any engineering course unless you are actually interested in it. They have a high workload.

Reply 15

I'd look through the actuarial (and banking) sections of the careers pages and try to contact some of the people who have posted there. There was one guy studying Chem Eng who was looking into this who might be useful.

Reply 16

OP

Original post by Doonesbury

As a different thread discussed recently it actually has the highest rate of unemployment of any of the engineering specialisations.

Don't embark on any engineering course unless you are actually interested in it. They have a high workload.

Wow I really am being enlightened today. I am definitely am interested in chem eng, I just wouldnt say it was my passion so I'm just not sure id want to do it as a job.

Reply 17

OP

Original post by ajj2000

I'd look through the actuarial (and banking) sections of the careers pages and try to contact some of the people who have posted there. There was one guy studying Chem Eng who was looking into this who might be useful.

Will do thanks

Reply 18

blawan

14

In terms of having a good social life and a good time at uni I'd say Leeds or Birmingham. Definitely possible to have a good time at Imperial if you find the right crowd but a lot of people go there to mainly just work hard.

I'd really recommend taking some more time to think about your course though, there's really no point in rushing. Chem eng is no easy course and if you're just doing it because you think it's good degree to take and not because you have a genuine interest then you will most likely struggle to find the motivation to revise and do work. Don't just pick it because it's an attractive degree to employers. There are plenty of other very well respected degrees.

There's also nothing wrong with taking a gap year, I took one and so did around 20 of my mates. Gives you time to really think about what you want without all the pressures of school. A few of my friends did complete 180s and went from courses like dentistry (because they thought it looked good) to music (a subject they actually had a passion for).

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 19

A Rolling Stone