Careers in engineering after Uni?

[OpenToSuggestions]

I do wonder how you'd get on without A -Level maths as there is a hell of a lot in there; especially if you get down to work with Fast Fourier transform, multiple matrices and various equations in fluid mechanics (needed for aero).

Like mglover said the uni is also very important, as the old polys are still considered second class and I'd take a 2/1 (or maybe a 2/2) from a proper over a 1 from a poly. Call me 'old school' but you'll find quite a lot in my line with the same attitude and it does bear out further down the line.

The most sense I have heard in a long, long time.
My engineering degree at Loughborough was nothing short than incredibly time consuming and stressful. I have visit friends at Polys doing engineering and their idea of 'hard work' isn't even close - They hadn't got a clue.

I am afraid words alone cannot stress enough the importance of going to a good University.

OP: Have a look at Product Design Engineering at Loughborough, you can go into Mechanical Engineering jobs with it no problems. You don't need maths to do it as I knew someone who was on the course in that situation.

Plenty of jobs in both. Pay special attention to Design for Environment and sustainability because these are the current and future hot topics respectively.

As others have said; if you want to do engineering make sure your maths is very strong

My maths is way above average but I have to work at pure maths (stuff like Laplace transforms is still completely over my head!).

I have gone into the environmental side, as like it or not, manufacturing is going environmental, big time.

 

[RomanNose]

Won't a foundation year be pretty stressful as he will practically have to learn A level maths in 1 year instead of two? Don't they recommend most students to do further maths as well?
Anyway, I heard that in the first few weeks they try and get everyone on the same level in terms of maths ability which is why I am not doing further maths as 4 a levels in maths,physics, electronics and further maths would be too much.

 

[Appelhanns]

Thanks for all the replies, got a lot of think abouting going on!

Regrettably, I didn't take Maths at A-Level and so I'm applying for some Unis that don't require a Maths A Level but I'm also applying for Liverpool Uni and Manchester Uni for the Foundation engineering courses.

I read up a little on the pure Mechanical Engineering courses and they seem very similar (at least the first two years!). So maybe if I get into places by doing a foundation year beforehand I'll have an extra year to decide on which course to specialise in. Although the pure mech eng seems logical being the broadest of the lot.

Oasin, Manchester Met is one of my choices down for Automotive Eng. Are/have you enjoying/enjoyed being there? And is the department well-equipped?

I have enjoyed it, obviously I cannot compare it to 'proper' uni's as I haven't been there. I did a HND in Auto at Swansea Met as I didn't have A level maths or physics and they really are well equipped with some great lecturers for purely auto stuff. MMU also has some v.good lecturers and I don't have any complaints about the course, being honest however, I do think they could improve quite a lot of it.

Won't a foundation year be pretty stressful as he will practically have to learn A level maths in 1 year instead of two? Don't they recommend most students to do further maths as well?
Anyway, I heard that in the first few weeks they try and get everyone on the same level in terms of maths ability which is why I am not doing further maths as 4 a levels in maths,physics, electronics and further maths would be too much.

Not at all, as you arn't learning A level maths, you're learning the required maths topics for engineering to AS or A level standard.

That is because you clearly excelled on placement. There will always be the odd person who gets the job with the poor University but the vast majority are up **** creek without a paddle. The University you go to is just as important as the subject you do.
Getting a first class at Manchester Met just means you beat everyine else who got DEU at Alevel and really isn't fit for higher education.

OP: Do a foundation year at Loughborough if you want to do Mechanical Engineering. It is something like 5th in the rankings for it iirc, way ahead of Liverpool and Manchester (the proper one).

I did do well on my placement but as I said, I believe that a placement is 100% the way to go to give yourself the best possible chance after graduation. The "vast majority" are up **** creek because they either aren't good enough or aren't selling themselves to employers well enough because the jobs are out there.