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How prestigious is Imperial really?

Im just wondering how people react when they hear you graduated from Imperial. I know obviously oxbridge graduates make people go "whoa they must be either clever and/or stick-up!", but would you say that people are impressed by Imperial graduates?

I read somehwere that Imperial is the "MIT of Europe", i know people that graduate from MIT are some of the cleverest in the world, would you say Imperial is not far off?

Reply 1

danielbolt

I can tell you that Imperial was voted the best university in Europe for engineering, something I keep getting told.

Reply 2

spy007

OP

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danielbolt

I can tell you that Imperial was voted the best university in Europe for engineering, something I keep getting told.

yeh i reads that when that was in the same sentence as comparing it to the MIT of Europe.

Reply 3

rock_eleven

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spy007

Im just wondering how people react when they hear you graduated from Imperial. I know obviously oxbridge graduates make people go "whoa they must be either clever and/or stick-up!", but would you say that people are impressed by Imperial graduates?

I read somehwere that Imperial is the "MIT of Europe", i know people that graduate from MIT are some of the cleverest in the world, would you say Imperial is not far off?

I think anything you hear about imperial as positive as "the MIT of europe" has come from imperial itself. Imperial's only concern seems to be improving its image. Hardly anyone has heard of Imperial though, its a nobody.

Reply: OMG but people who MATTER have heard of it - employers etc!!!

I still think the general public's knowledge of a uni is fairly useful in seeing how awesome it is. Oxbridge is known around the world, Imperial is just nothing. I think the only people who would be impressed by an Imperial degree are people who work at Imperial. It seems like its so desperate to be as cool as oxbridge, and everyone here tries to pretend its so great (I guess some really believe in it, but I think many dont really).

So no I dont think Imperial counts as anything like prestigious

Reply 4

Dead Chic

imperial has tonnes of links wiv industry - job wise its pretty sound :wink:

Reply 5

spy007

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Dead Chic

imperial has tonnes of links wiv industry - job wise its pretty sound :wink:

yeh but so is city university lol

i was under the impression that, in terms of impressing someone/an employer it went like this

Cambridge
Oxford
Imperial
LSE

note: for financial jobs LSE would be 3rd and Imperial 4th

So i still thought constantly being 2nd,3rd,4th University for Imperial would make it prestigious?

Reply 6

spy007

OP

1

http://www.helga-nowotny.at/documents/eit.htm

Reply 7

kesso12

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What about Nottingham?

Reply 8

spy007

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kesso12

What about Nottingham?

1) ok i thought someone saying Imperial wasnt prestigious was silly- Nottingham is less prestigious than Imperial by far.

2) where did Nottingham come into this? lol

:p:

Reply 9

Tom H

9

To be honest, I don't think most ordinary people know, or care, about how good certain universities are bar Oxford and Cambridge.

Reply 10

rahmed

Very good uni - respectable - good job opportunities

Reply 11

spy007

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Tom H

To be honest, I don't think most ordinary people know, or care, about how good certain universities are bar Oxford and Cambridge.

thing is- one could argue that LSE and Imperial are as good as oxford, who relies upon its tradition for glory not results.

Reply 12

spy007

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edders

If you want people to go "cooee, you go to Imperial, you must be a genius," then sorry, it doesn't happen. Usually it's more like "oh, is that in London?" But for the people who matter (ie not the plebs, but employers and graduate schools), then an Imperial degree is arguably on a par with Oxbridge, which in fact isn't the huge advantage people imagine it to be any more. It's more about what you do with your summers re. work experience etc to bolster your CV.

i was looking to go into the diplomatic branch (foreign commonwealth office), perhaps fast stream. therefore i didnt know if it was still school-boy ties and oxbridge- and if so- would imperial still be recognised in an environment like that.

Reply 13

spy007

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edders

Is a science/eng degree the best thing to have for the FCO anyway? I suppose they would appreciate you bringing new skills to the job though. Of course the FCO isn't just Oxbridge any more; such discrimination isn't allowed.

I am pretty sure that a science degree is much more respected than an arts degree. Mathematics at oxbridge has the highest average a level tariff (540) compared with anything else. Therefore i would have thought it shows better intelligence than someone with an arts degree :confused:

lol!

Reply 14

Valerio

After being here for a month, I doubt that Imperial has the 'best' students.
Yes, there are brilliant smart people, but you'll be suprised to see how unacademical, unparticipating some of the people here are.
I was expecting everyone to be enthusiastic and willing to participate, but somehow the shyness of some people really make me wonder how they are going to contribute to the big environment. Nevertheless there are quite intellectual people around, and you just have to work with the right people.

Reply 15

pole_from_swede

6

Valerio

After being here for a month, I doubt that Imperial has the 'best' students.
Yes, there are brilliant smart people, but you'll be suprised to see how unacademical, unparticipating some of the people here are.
I was expecting everyone to be enthusiastic and willing to participate, but somehow the shyness of some people really make me wonder how they are going to contribute to the big environment. Nevertheless there are quite intellectual people around, and you just have to work with the right people.

it's sad but true. IC has a huge influx of asian people not able to cooperate with other students not from their country. Of course it is not only asian people, but most of these "shy, polite and calm" are from this continent.I understand cultural differences but personally I find it pathetic.

Reply 16

spy007

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Valerio

Yes, there are brilliant smart people, but you'll be suprised to see how unacademical,

you've lost me, how can they be brilliant smart people but not academical?

Reply 17

spy007

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edders

If 'academical' is even a word.

i was only quoting what he said- i would never have used such a word (eyes rolling) lol

Reply 18

jovialtom

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it's sad but true. IC has a huge influx of asian people not able to cooperate with other students not from their country. Of course it is not only asian people, but most of these "shy, polite and calm" are from this continent.I understand cultural differences but personally I find it pathetic.
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that's rubbish, the only reason that they stick together is because english people are so hooked up on stereotypes. Have you ever made the effort and talked to any of these people? i doubt it, so what gives you the right to criticise them? I spent a year studying in asia with a group of about 7 other english people. I made so many asian friends, they are the friendliest, most non judgemental people in the world. In the classes which i only knew my english friends, and hence sat with them, i would not be surprised if many of the asian people thought that english people only stick together in groups, never talking to anyone else. But thats because they didnt know us... and anyway, isn't it natural when your in a new environment, on the other side of the world, to stick with people who you have something in common with and can appreciate what your going through?

I just think your being very shortsighted.
Tom

Reply 19

Gauss

11

spy007

i was only quoting what he said- i would never have used such a word (eyes rolling) lol

He meant to saw that you will see both sides of the spectrum.

Will see very clever people, and at the same time you will see unacademic people too.

How prestigious is Imperial really?

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