More Uni Questions
Discussion
I have the choice of going to either Newcastle or Sunderland University; of course Newcastle has the better reputation. However I prefer the course at Sunderland, so what I was thinking of doing is going to Sunderland and getting a BEng in Automotive Engineering, and then once I have that degree, go to Newcastle and get an MSc in Mechanical Engineering.
So the question is, would it matter to employers that I had gone to Sunderland and then to Newcastle, instead of just going straight to Newcastle i.e. the Universities reputation and the MSc vs. MEng?
Also one more thing, I have the choice of living at uni or staying at home, is the experience and the expense really worth it considering it’s only about an hours drive to uni?
Cheers, Paul.
So the question is, would it matter to employers that I had gone to Sunderland and then to Newcastle, instead of just going straight to Newcastle i.e. the Universities reputation and the MSc vs. MEng?
Also one more thing, I have the choice of living at uni or staying at home, is the experience and the expense really worth it considering it’s only about an hours drive to uni?
Cheers, Paul.
In my experience employers won't know which courses are better and will judge your degree entirely on which university you went to, assuming the degree title isn't completely mickey mouse, and you're not looking for jobs that specifically require that course.
If I were you I'd move out and incur the cost, it's not that expensive and you will have a much better time if you live away from home.
If in doubt, at least spend the first year in halls. It's an experience not to be missed, you'll make friends for life and after that you won't even consider moving back home.
If I were you I'd move out and incur the cost, it's not that expensive and you will have a much better time if you live away from home.
If in doubt, at least spend the first year in halls. It's an experience not to be missed, you'll make friends for life and after that you won't even consider moving back home.
That obviously depends on the employer.
If you go for a job in an unrelated industry, then they probably won't care either way.
Ask yourself, if you were recruiting for your potential job, would you care which university out of those two the candidate went to?
Six years after graduating, my boss was surprised when I answered a French person in French, despite the fact that I have a degree in it!
If you go for a job in an unrelated industry, then they probably won't care either way.
Ask yourself, if you were recruiting for your potential job, would you care which university out of those two the candidate went to?
Six years after graduating, my boss was surprised when I answered a French person in French, despite the fact that I have a degree in it!
First - don't live at home - you won't get the full experience doing that.
Secondly, unless you are very clear what you want to in the future and you put that first(in which case the course to go on is the one which has the best final destination figures - where the graduates go after university - for that job/industry) I advise doing the course which interests you most. I say this because you are likely to perform better on a course which you enjoy.
Secondly, unless you are very clear what you want to in the future and you put that first(in which case the course to go on is the one which has the best final destination figures - where the graduates go after university - for that job/industry) I advise doing the course which interests you most. I say this because you are likely to perform better on a course which you enjoy.
Edited by Prof Beard on Monday 24th November 20:19
Prof Beard said:
First - don't live at home - you won't get the full experience doing that.
Secondly, unless you are very clear what you want to in the future and you put that first(in which case the course to go on is the one which has the best final destination figures - where the graduates go after university - for that job/industry) I advise doing the course which interests you most. I say this because you are likely to perform better on a course which enjoy.
I'll second that!Secondly, unless you are very clear what you want to in the future and you put that first(in which case the course to go on is the one which has the best final destination figures - where the graduates go after university - for that job/industry) I advise doing the course which interests you most. I say this because you are likely to perform better on a course which enjoy.
Firstly: Don't live at home - especially not the first year 
Secondly: Go to Bath
Out of interest, why are those your only two choices? (If it's personal, that's fine, you don't have to answer that one!!)
Thirdly: I'd imagine from an employers point of view, Newcastle for the whole course would be better, however, I'm not sure and it depends what you want to go into. Have you tried emailing a few possible companies that you might want to work for when you graduate - they may be able to give you an answer. But as said above, if you enjoy the course, you're more likely to do well in it!
Secondly: Go to Bath
Out of interest, why are those your only two choices? (If it's personal, that's fine, you don't have to answer that one!!)Thirdly: I'd imagine from an employers point of view, Newcastle for the whole course would be better, however, I'm not sure and it depends what you want to go into. Have you tried emailing a few possible companies that you might want to work for when you graduate - they may be able to give you an answer. But as said above, if you enjoy the course, you're more likely to do well in it!
people are superficial - Newcastle is Russell group - bestows some cred... I reckon MEng there. A strong first degree (1st/2i) from good School counts. Also likely to be stronger class/peers and that is good for learning and yes don't stay at home....common denominator I see if Mummy's boys at Uni. a right pain if they say on the be Post grads.
Well those are the two local universities that do Automotive Engineering, and I would like to go to a local one so that I at least have the choice to live at home or not, plus I would have to give up racing if I went to a non local uni. I could get into most universities with ABB (predicited) in Maths, Physics, and Product Design. But that's the reasoning, and quite a few of my friends already/are going to those universities, even though I know that shouldn't effect my university choice, it makes more appealing.
But good idea on asking companies for their oppinion, will have a try at that.
But good idea on asking companies for their oppinion, will have a try at that.
intrepid44 said:
Well those are the two local universities that do Automotive Engineering, and I would like to go to a local one so that I at least have the choice to live at home or not, plus I would have to give up racing if I went to a non local uni. I could get into most universities with ABB (predicited) in Maths, Physics, and Product Design. But that's the reasoning, and quite a few of my friends already/are going to those universities, even though I know that shouldn't effect my university choice, it makes more appealing.
But good idea on asking companies for their oppinion, will have a try at that.
Talking to companies is a good idea. But good idea on asking companies for their oppinion, will have a try at that.
I posted this link on the other thread, if you tick those two institutions, you can compare their results in key areas - there is quite a difference - it depends if that's more, or less important to you than your geographic location.
http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/stug/universitygui...
Maybe have a look at the sector skills council would help too: http://www.semta.org.uk/
OP - as somebody who has worked for a large OEM as an Engineer firstly I think you need to consider another career because the pay is poor and what little of the industry is left is disappearing or being offshored.
But if you still choose to ignore me I would recommend a pure Mech Eng course and not Automotive, and the more impressive a place you go to the better.
For somebody who read Mech Eng and wanted to join an automotive company my somewhat prejudiced way of looking at Unis would be to rank them roughly as follows based on their general usefulness as a graduate:
Cambridge
Imperial
UCL
Loughborough
Manchester
Birmingham
Coventry
Hatfield
Bristol
Newcastle
Bath
Southampton
I think that with your predicted grades you should go straight to Newcastle.
Sunderland may be OK but in an industry where there is a fair amount of competition for jobs I just don't think you'd get a look in at interview.
But if you still choose to ignore me I would recommend a pure Mech Eng course and not Automotive, and the more impressive a place you go to the better.
For somebody who read Mech Eng and wanted to join an automotive company my somewhat prejudiced way of looking at Unis would be to rank them roughly as follows based on their general usefulness as a graduate:
Cambridge
Imperial
UCL
Loughborough
Manchester
Birmingham
Coventry
Hatfield
Bristol
Newcastle
Bath
Southampton
I think that with your predicted grades you should go straight to Newcastle.
Sunderland may be OK but in an industry where there is a fair amount of competition for jobs I just don't think you'd get a look in at interview.
Yep, do mech eng and do it at Newcastle.
I started automotive at newcastle in 2004 and ended up transferring to Oxford Brookes.
Anyway, based purely on course and uni reputation I ended up doing Mech at Liverpool in 2005. Currently doing my MEng still in Liverpool.
Oh, don't even think about living at home!
I started automotive at newcastle in 2004 and ended up transferring to Oxford Brookes.
Anyway, based purely on course and uni reputation I ended up doing Mech at Liverpool in 2005. Currently doing my MEng still in Liverpool.
Oh, don't even think about living at home!
Firstly DO NOT LIVE AT HOME! Everyone I know who did that didn't get half as much out of Uni. The course you do is only half of what it is about. It is a time to really grow up and get your independence. You will regret it so much if you dont go out on your own.
By the same token, dont limit your choice by location. If you genuinely like one of those university's fine but if there is a better one further away go for it.
With regards to which one to choose go for the one with the best course for you. When future employers talk to you they will prefer to talk to someone who genuinely enjoyed their course and did well becasue really Uni reputations don't count for much - unless of course it's between oxbridge and ex poly.
See uni as an opportunity to spend three (or more) years studying something you are passionate about. Do that and you have made the right decision.
By the same token, dont limit your choice by location. If you genuinely like one of those university's fine but if there is a better one further away go for it.
With regards to which one to choose go for the one with the best course for you. When future employers talk to you they will prefer to talk to someone who genuinely enjoyed their course and did well becasue really Uni reputations don't count for much - unless of course it's between oxbridge and ex poly.
See uni as an opportunity to spend three (or more) years studying something you are passionate about. Do that and you have made the right decision.
GavinPearson said:
OP - as somebody who has worked for a large OEM as an Engineer firstly I think you need to consider another career because the pay is poor and what little of the industry is left is disappearing or being offshored.
But if you still choose to ignore me I would recommend a pure Mech Eng course and not Automotive, and the more impressive a place you go to the better.
For somebody who read Mech Eng and wanted to join an automotive company my somewhat prejudiced way of looking at Unis would be to rank them roughly as follows based on their general usefulness as a graduate:
Cambridge
Imperial
UCL
Loughborough
Manchester
Birmingham
Coventry
Hatfield
Bristol
Newcastle
Bath
Southampton
I think that with your predicted grades you should go straight to Newcastle.
Sunderland may be OK but in an industry where there is a fair amount of competition for jobs I just don't think you'd get a look in at interview.
No Leeds in that list??But if you still choose to ignore me I would recommend a pure Mech Eng course and not Automotive, and the more impressive a place you go to the better.
For somebody who read Mech Eng and wanted to join an automotive company my somewhat prejudiced way of looking at Unis would be to rank them roughly as follows based on their general usefulness as a graduate:
Cambridge
Imperial
UCL
Loughborough
Manchester
Birmingham
Coventry
Hatfield
Bristol
Newcastle
Bath
Southampton
I think that with your predicted grades you should go straight to Newcastle.
Sunderland may be OK but in an industry where there is a fair amount of competition for jobs I just don't think you'd get a look in at interview.
Oh and don't live at home.
Davey111 said:
Firstly DO NOT LIVE AT HOME! Everyone I know who did that didn't get half as much out of Uni. The course you do is only half of what it is about. It is a time to really grow up and get your independence. You will regret it so much if you dont go out on your own.
By the same token, dont limit your choice by location. If you genuinely like one of those university's fine but if there is a better one further away go for it.
With regards to which one to choose go for the one with the best course for you. When future employers talk to you they will prefer to talk to someone who genuinely enjoyed their course and did well becasue really Uni reputations don't count for much - unless of course it's between oxbridge and ex poly.
See uni as an opportunity to spend three (or more) years studying something you are passionate about. Do that and you have made the right decision.
+1 for "don't live at home". Uni may well put you on the right road for your career, but its also where you learn to live. -You learn this in your first rented room(s), the supermarket, the bank, the kitchen, the pub, etc etc.By the same token, dont limit your choice by location. If you genuinely like one of those university's fine but if there is a better one further away go for it.
With regards to which one to choose go for the one with the best course for you. When future employers talk to you they will prefer to talk to someone who genuinely enjoyed their course and did well becasue really Uni reputations don't count for much - unless of course it's between oxbridge and ex poly.
See uni as an opportunity to spend three (or more) years studying something you are passionate about. Do that and you have made the right decision.
Also, (assuming you get a job post-graduation) 2-3 years after you leave Uni, employers will be much more interested in what your achievements have been in the world of work. -What are you capable of, what have you experienced, extent to which you are a 'safe pair of hands' etc. Your choice of Uni will increasingly make little difference as the experience piles on.
As above don't live at home you'll miss out on so much.
Secondly i would go for a uni away from your friends. You'll make a whole new set of friends at uni plus you get the benefit of going to visit different universities to see your current friends. I know a number of people who went to the same university as a number of their school friends and ended up just hanging around with them instead of meeting new people and i think it limits the experience.
Secondly i would go for a uni away from your friends. You'll make a whole new set of friends at uni plus you get the benefit of going to visit different universities to see your current friends. I know a number of people who went to the same university as a number of their school friends and ended up just hanging around with them instead of meeting new people and i think it limits the experience.
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff