Well i now hate flying
I was even admiring the new lifts nr John Lewis in Leicester today
I specialize looking at the exposed beams in multi storey car parks
Mechanical Engineers
- Thread starter doublehelix2
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I specialize looking at the exposed beams in multi storey car parks
I had to do an essay on "The Status of Engineers in Society" for an IMechE Undergrad Scholarship (I got it 
) and I pretty much had said everything in this thread. Particularly referencing how Engineer isn't a protected title, so you get "Sky installation engineer" or whatever, and how it means many people just don't know what engineers do. (One misconception I found asking friends was people thought the job engineers do was carried out by "designers". Whilst engineers are designers in a way, it's not a massively publicised profession so people don't understand).
After my interview the interviewer was quick to point out I wouldn't be a true engineer until way after I've completed my degree.
) and I pretty much had said everything in this thread. Particularly referencing how Engineer isn't a protected title, so you get "Sky installation engineer" or whatever, and how it means many people just don't know what engineers do. (One misconception I found asking friends was people thought the job engineers do was carried out by "designers". Whilst engineers are designers in a way, it's not a massively publicised profession so people don't understand).After my interview the interviewer was quick to point out I wouldn't be a true engineer until way after I've completed my degree.
Soldato
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I agree. A sky box fitter is not an engineer and I imagine some engineers would find that insulting.
We are publicised - only in a bad way, as in only when something goes wrong.
For example that bridge in USA that fell down, blame the engineers!
As for that particle accelerator experiment to prove where we came from, it was shown on TV as a waste of money (although I assume people waste billions a year on religion stuff).
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So if someone was technically/mechanically mided is that more important for ME? Or just being good at maths?
In Germany medical "doctors" don't get a title unless they've actually earned a doctorate (unlike the UK) - and yep engineers tend to have a high status.
Regardless of which engineering discipline you decide to settle for, perhaps it would be a good idea to grab a copy of K.A.Stroud's two books, Engineering Mathematics and Advanced Engineering Mathematics in advance.
I've got the first one in anticipation of doing something related to civil engineering myself (more just to see if I could handle the maths involved) and I gather the foundation chapters basically cover what you would be expected to know on arrival as an undergraduate, with the core chapters and the 2nd book covering a lot of the topics you'll encounter in year 1 and possibly through into year 2 of your degree.
I've got the first one in anticipation of doing something related to civil engineering myself (more just to see if I could handle the maths involved) and I gather the foundation chapters basically cover what you would be expected to know on arrival as an undergraduate, with the core chapters and the 2nd book covering a lot of the topics you'll encounter in year 1 and possibly through into year 2 of your degree.
Soldato
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Consider also environmental engineering, huge variety of expertise fields to choose from and lots of opportunities . I have yet to see an unemployed env. engineer ( i am one too)
Associate
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You can get away with being bad at maths, I got a grade E at Alevel then got a First class honours at university in ME. Granted It was the statistics module that caused this (i got less than 20%), i was strong in pure mathematics and mechanics.
The maths only comes into play when you put logic into practice, I.E you look at a system, work out what variables you have got and what you havnt got, then you number crunch. The number crunching is just following a pattern that you can learn, you dont have to be a maths genius to learn a methodical pattern.
I would say that being mechanically minded (being able to look at things and figure out how they work, or whats under compression/tension etc - essentially applying common sense) is more important, as this is fundamental to solving engineering problems.
What are chances of someone managing to get a place on one of those engineering courses without A level in Maths or Physics? I' currently 21 and have 3 A levels and not really sure what to do with myself and have been taking interest in some engineering careers lately.
Associate
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Pretty sure you need A levels in maths and physics for all the courses I saw, do you have A levels in either maths or physics? or neither?
I think without maths and physics A levels that you would need to do a foundation year (or science/engineering access course) first before being able to start any worthwhile engineering degree.
Soldato
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since when did engineers need perfect grammar ?
they just need carol vorderman style maths skills
you do a foundation degree or some places call it extended degree. basically a year extra to pick up on the maths and physics kind of things before you start the Beng. thats what it is at northumbria anyway, which might be of some relevance to you since your nearby