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Original poster

Which 2 Options do you think DS should be looking at for an interest in Engineering...aerospace maybe? Photo Attached

39 replies

123lookatme · 03/02/2018 10:47

He is interested in engineering of some sort and us saying aerospace...we have z optiond meeting next week. Only has 2 options from this list and then has to choose 2 reserve subjects. He's thinking Design & Technology and Btec Engineering ... they used to do GCSE engineering but then took it off this yr for Btec. Looking at Computering as a reserve but not sure. School isnt much help he said in advising

Which 2 Options do you think DS should be looking at for an interest in Engineering...aerospace maybe? Photo Attached
OP posts:
brizzledrizzle · 03/02/2018 17:50

Bristol ask for A*AA for a lot of courses.

BubblesBuddy · 03/02/2018 17:16

Bristol clearly says MEng course in Aerospace Engineering is A*AA. Bristol are great with contextual offers but not everyone qualifies do they?

The OP asked about this branch of Engineering and the Bristol course is one of the best for this discipline. MEng in other disciplines aren’t directly comparable. Bristol no doubt ask for this because they can. Like nearly any subject, Engineering degrees vary in what they ask for and BEng will be lower. If a university is selecting, rather then recruiting, onto specific courses they ask for higher grades. I think there are high grades required at Sheffield for their Civils course for example. Also, don’t forget very many Engineers never do any Engineering after graduating. They go and Work in the City!

brizzledrizzle · 03/02/2018 17:10

My DS has been advised to do triple science if he is hoping to do aerospace engineering and then A levels in maths and physics.

Pantah630 · 03/02/2018 15:55

Bubbles DS got a contextual offer of ABB for Bristol MengE&EE not aerospace but standard offers are the same, his preferred option is Soton though.

Top engineering courses want high grades for both physics and maths, Imperial and Cambridge also want further maths.

Toomanytealights · 03/02/2018 15:34

God do all engineering courses want an A* A in maths/physics Alevels?

CraftyGin · 03/02/2018 14:51

Computing or economics.

BubblesBuddy · 03/02/2018 14:49

If you look at the MEng in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bristol, which is a top university in the field of Aerospace Engineering and has strong local employment opportunities, they require AAA for this course and the AA must be Maths and Physics in any order. However, there are no special requirements for GCSEs. If he did 8 GCSEs and the BTec it wouldn’t matter but he needs Maths and Physics for A level.

If he thinks about Chemical Engineering, then he needs Chemistry. For GCSE, top grades are best of course but no Engineering course will sneer at a BTec in Engineering as long as he has a strong portfolio of academic subjects and the right A levels at the right grades.

Pantah630 · 03/02/2018 11:51

Computing and DT, most important are physics and maths as said above. DS2 is taking A levels this summer and has offers for Meng Electrical & Electronic Engineering with Maths, Physics, Computing A levels, he is taking History too as his school take 4 As. All those are facilitating subjects for Engineering. If he can do Further Maths as well that would be great.

AtiaoftheJulii · 03/02/2018 11:24

I really don't think it matters at GCSE. He'll need maths and physics A levels I should think, so needs to make sure he works hard at them, but as long as he has a reasonable mixture, he should do whichever subjects he thinks he'll enjoy and do well at.

BigDeskBob · 03/02/2018 11:03

I think computer science would be a good choice, and is a well respected GCSE, but there is nothing wrong with the courses he wants to do.

cricketballs3 · 03/02/2018 11:02

lizs you have got computer science and IT the wrong way round

LinoleumBlownapart · 03/02/2018 10:59

DT and economics, at this stage physics and maths would be the only subjects that would be much use in the future, everything else would be extra.

Original poster
123lookatme · 03/02/2018 10:59

He is doing Geography as his core. This is the computer science course outline. Economics it says is more for people wanting to go into politics and current affairs

Which 2 Options do you think DS should be looking at for an interest in Engineering...aerospace maybe? Photo Attached
OP posts:
LIZS · 03/02/2018 10:53

DT and perhaps Economics or Geography. He can specialise in engineering later. Computing is a bit vague and being phased out, ICT is the more rigorous.

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