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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

A-Level choice for engineering

53 replies

Bickleymumma · 25/01/2022 19:21

My DS is choosing his a-levels and was set on Maths, Physics and DT as as well an EPQ instead of further maths as all school careers advice has pointed him to engineering. He’s a good all rounder predicted all 8/9s but is now worried he enjoys Geography/History more than physics. Would he be scuppering his engineering plans if he he replaced physics with a humanity or should he not even consider engineering if he doesn’t love physics. He doesn’t have any ideas about career other than engineering. Any advice gratefully received.Thanks

OP posts:
5zeds · 25/01/2022 22:27

Maths and physics complement each other and physics is relatively easy to feel confident in (in that once you get it like maths it’s all just exam technique). History is very very “big” and open ended so I personally wouldn’t. Geography sounds like an interesting addition. I would imagine there are good trips to breakup the Alevel years and it does demonstrate your ability to write/communicate which is crucial to engineering.
It doesn’t sound like he knows what he wants to do at uni really though.

PatriciaHolm · 25/01/2022 22:40

@ErrolTheDragon thank you! On the back of your advice ive just sent him the Cambridge advice I found online about what to take, which somehow we had missed.. :-( so thank you very much for bothering to reply. He is perfectly capable of further maths.

ErrolTheDragon · 25/01/2022 22:54

[quote PatriciaHolm]@ErrolTheDragon thank you! On the back of your advice ive just sent him the Cambridge advice I found online about what to take, which somehow we had missed.. :-( so thank you very much for bothering to reply. He is perfectly capable of further maths. [/quote]
That's ok - glad you mean he's at the choosing stage still! It really is quite important to check the websites for specific courses/unis they're interested in (usually searching requirements will get you to the right place). And in this specific case it's worth noting the 'very strongly' - it's not just a hoop to jump through to get a place, but because the course has a lot of hard maths, and with the sheer amount of content and pace it'd be really difficult to cope without having done FM. (My dd graduated from there last summer)

ErrolTheDragon · 25/01/2022 22:59

But just to add - it may be he weighs it up and decides he'd prefer to go elsewhere, especially if he already knows he wants to specialise in auto. There are loads of excellent engineering options! (Dd was seriously torn between Cambridge and electrical&electronics at Southampton for instance)

PatriciaHolm · 25/01/2022 23:00

@ErrolTheDragon yes, he is! And I thought we had done so, but somehow we had missed the "very strongly"..! But fortunately in plenty of time to rectify, if he wants to enough. His maths teacher reckons he will be fine, I know that as they have talked about it. Thank you for your perspective from the other side! (His father went to Cambridge and I went to oxford so I think there is also a bit of "in my day..." going on as well ;))

TizerorFizz · 25/01/2022 23:29

DH, many moons ago, before MEng courses, did BEng in Civil Engineering at Sheffield. Still a top place to go. Interestingly they don’t specify Physics but do maths. I would have thought Physics was vital for Civil Engineering.

It’s very wrong of a computer based careers programme to just say “engineering”. Civil is very different from aerospace, mechanical or chemical. Young people have different interests and engineering can be an extension of these. DH liked his architecture classes at school and engineering A level where they spent time being taught by Heinz Woolf (remember him?) at Brunel University. The school really understood engineering!

Do look at the Www.engc.org.uk website under info for school Leavers. It points students towards the engineering discipline that’s best for them.

Civil engineers can work in environmental engineering and studying Geography is useful. Better than History. Do FM if he can. DT is more useful for design and product engineering. Less useful for civil and structural engineering.

theemperorhasnoclothes · 25/01/2022 23:31

It's important to consider the students he'll be up against for places and what they'll have, especially if aiming for Oxbridge. Whilst Oxbridge may not flat out require further maths, how many in engineering are admitted without it?

Original poster
Bickleymumma · 26/01/2022 06:46

Thanks again for all the brilliant advice. I can see that we’re being a bit too relaxed about it all (I’m a bit shocked other students his age know exactly what they want to do as a career) and he needs to do a lot more research before finalising his options. I will talk to him about Geography and FM but he really enjoys DT. I’ll see if he can meet with the school careers advisor too. Thanks again.

OP posts:
crankysaurus · 26/01/2022 07:17

I would still at that stage suggest he follows the A levels he most enjoys, if he doesn't have a firm final goal. Engineering is so very very diverse and there'll be something he'll fit into well. I work alongside engineers in a sustainability team and the low carbon/ sustainability side of things is increasing all the time so a more balanced interest base would be very useful in that.

Panicmode1 · 26/01/2022 07:22

My DS was offered a place at Cambridge yesterday for engineering. He's doing maths, further maths, physics, DT and an EPQ.

The advice was that if your school offers FM, they expect you to take it....no idea if that is true! If he isn't enjoying physics, I would question whether engineering would be his bag. Is comp science good at his school? DS is a bit worried his coding/computing isn't as strong as it may need to be - I'm not sure whether it is possible to swap comp science in and physics out? DS scoured all of the course specs and has applied to some design engineering courses which may have slightly different requirements.

Good luck with the choosing. I think its so tough they have to choose so early - but that's a whole different thread!

TheAbbotOfUnreason · 26/01/2022 07:31

If your DS really enjoys DT then have you looked at design engineering or product design as a potential uni / career path?

NotMeNoNo · 26/01/2022 07:32

I'm an engineer. The physics is kind of a tool you use to solve problems rather than and end in itself. I would keep geography as well which might be useful for civil engineering/surveying/ GIS/ground engineering.
I'd also look at courses other than Oxbridge.

ErrolTheDragon · 26/01/2022 08:57

I'd also look at courses other than Oxbridge.

That's a must even for the minority who do want to aim to go there!

ErrolTheDragon · 26/01/2022 09:12

DS is a bit worried his coding/computing isn't as strong as it may need to be - I'm not sure whether it is possible to swap comp science in and physics out?

From what I've observed (and from my own experience as a scientific software developer) if the aim is engineering rather than CS or related subjects, then the physics is more fundamental (in the way NotMeNoNo described). Some coding is needed for most STEM subjects nowadays but they do get courses - most of the cohort won't have done CS, whereas most (or all on some courses) will have done physics. Probably a good idea to learn some Python (seems to be the popular language at the moment) and perhaps a bit of C (if they're likely to be doing robotics/electronics) in the summer before uni so that it's not a foreign language to them.

MarshaBradyo · 26/01/2022 09:16

Ds is doing Maths, Further Maths, Physics and CS with intention to do engineer (aeronautical)

MarshaBradyo · 26/01/2022 09:16

Engineering..

NotMeNoNo · 26/01/2022 11:12

For A levels I would keep Maths and Physics and anything else that interests, DT or Geography both have great relevant content or will at least provide a good grade. Further maths won't be wasted either.
That will be enough for most engineering courses apart from some niche ones.

During sixth form he can explore the different engineering careers, go to a Big Bang fair, get work experience etc etc and focus in on university courses.

Panicmode1 · 26/01/2022 11:47

Thanks @Errolthedragon...helpful advice. Will suggest that to him.

TizerorFizz · 26/01/2022 13:23

@Panicmode1
The other possibility is ask if he can work shadow at an engineering consultancy. Often these are quite small but might have links with his school. Have a look via Google and see what he can find.

Panicmode1 · 26/01/2022 13:41

[quote TizerorFizz]@Panicmode1
The other possibility is ask if he can work shadow at an engineering consultancy. Often these are quite small but might have links with his school. Have a look via Google and see what he can find.[/quote]
It is a great idea, but not sure he will have time. He has planned every day of his holiday from the day his exams finish until mid Sept (given that STEM degrees don't like gap years if you are just travelling)!

TizerorFizz · 27/01/2022 08:24

So what is he doing then? Making contact with possible employers or sponsors would be fairly high up on my list in the circumstances.

Panicmode1 · 27/01/2022 08:51

@TizerorFizz What circumstances? He's finishing his A Levels, having a 'mini gap year summer' and then going to Cambridge in September (if he gets the grades). I think he needs a break after 3 years of hideous stress and pressure before he starts his degree - plenty of time for work experience (some of which he has already done through friends with engineering firms), so on my list, he's doing fine!

TizerorFizz · 27/01/2022 09:19

@Panicmode1

I am so sorry!!! That should all have been directed to the OP!!! What was I thinking of!

It was just ideas for a Dc who cannot make up his mind about what type of engineering! Not one who is in y13! Apologies!

Panicmode1 · 27/01/2022 10:00

Sorry, didn't mean to sound snippy. Was just a bit incredulous he should be doing even MORE stuff!! 🤣

TizerorFizz · 27/01/2022 10:34

@Panicmode1
Ha! Obviously not! Apologies again!

However for a DC that needs to explore what type of engineering, looking around locally and getting in touch with consultancies can be worthwhile! The op did ask about choosing the discipline.

For what it’s worth, DH spent most of his holidays from uni working with engineers. Didn’t join them after leaving uni (wanted something in London and a bit more glamorous!) but the boss from there asked him to be his partner a few years later when DH was 25 and CEng. DH never looked back and from 2 engineers, they grew into a consultancy of over 100 employees. So whatever his ambitions are, and whatever university they go to, networking and putting yourself out there is often worthwhile!