Consils
Sun 24-Feb-13 19:59:46
ds1 wants to study engineering. He was planning to take English, Maths, Chemistry and physics but is now wavering over the chemistry. He is planning to apply to Oxford. Thanks.
Not saying it with any particular inference, but people may not be aware that different universities can have a very different feel depending on the types of courses.
For example my uni was very northern and had very few public school people. It was also very engineering based and therefore tended to attract a certain subset of personalities. Universities with more arts based courses will tend to attract different cohorts. It is something people should think about what they are likely to feel comfortable when thinking where to apply.
Oxbridge often tend to have better facilities than many universities, but may not always be the best choice for a given subject.
The other decision is whether to go straight in to a specialised course, or opt for a more general course which specialises in later years.
racingheart
Tue 26-Feb-13 22:59:12
OP, on a school visit today, a DT teacher told me two of his pupils had been offered bursaries at uni for engineering due to their DT work. It really complements physics and maths.
Consils
Thu 28-Feb-13 10:50:27
Thanks everyone. We will discuss further maths.
Consils
Tue 05-Mar-13 16:25:46
He is now talking about taking philosophy. Philosophy!
DS 17 wants a careers in engineering and is taking Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Philosophy
thejoysofboys
Tue 05-Mar-13 16:42:56
I have the degree which your DS desires. My A levels were Maths, Mechanics/Applied Maths (i.e. Maths & Further Maths), Physics & Chemistry.
I took the entrance exams to get my place (coming as I did from a state comprehensive this was seen to be the best way of getting noticed by the tutors). Entrance exams for Engineering were in Maths & Physics back in those days. Physics is def an important one for all sorts of engineering.
Lilymaid
Tue 05-Mar-13 16:43:32
Way back in the 20th Century there was a course called Use of English that was widely taken by students intending to go to university. It doesn't seem to exist any more, which is a pity. DH is an engineer and has to spend much of his rather expensively charged out time rewriting reports written by other engineers who are good at maths/computing/practical engineering, but can't express themselves intelligbly in the English language!
