If you are just starting university, then you are going to be dropped into a whole new, unfamiliar situation. To be honest with you, the amount of information that is going to be pushed at you in these first few weeks is going to be immense! For this reason, I thought that instead of another entry about the wondrous fun of being a student, I would take this opportunity to show some initiative and responsibility!!!
You will be assigned a tutor when you arrive at university. Most of us interpret these people to be there only when we have a problem, but actually they are a great ‘tool’ in terms of getting things done and enhancing your education during your course. They are able to advise on matters such as internships, department protocol, who to go to with specific problems, and are there just for you to pop in once a fortnight and take a moment to reflect of your course. The truth is, for me, being able to sit with an academic member of staff and be able to discuss things outside of Chemical Engineering is both valuable and insightful; before talking to them I had never even considered the possibility of becoming a lecturer one day!
The Student’s Union also has a stereotypical perception; the people who help you have fun (and get a hangover!) The truth is in fact, that this community spend most of their time looking after the welfare of students, and in many different areas e.g. financial, counselling, legal matters, accommodation, among many others.
It’s just worth understanding these things as I took quite a while to realise the benefits. No matter what issues you have, whether to do with your studies or personal matters, there is a world of people ready to help out! Hope you settle in well and enjoy your Freshers’ Weeks!!!
For those of you about to embark on the magical degree of Chemical Engineering, I thought that I would share a few thoughts over my first week of university life with you. For those of you who are not on your way to university, or to partake in an engineering degree, I hope it still makes interesting reading!
I remember arriving on my first day at the university, and after registering I was given a key with a map to my living quarters (actually, make that a 4x4 cell!) which was to become my humble abode for the next 9 months. This first adventure was quite something, not only did I move into a room that I had to get used to, but there were suddenly 12 strange faces that I had to put names to in only 1 hour before the inaugural ceremony of Freshers’ Week!
The first night I remember being at a beach party, that’s right, end of September, 10°C, wet, and we all trumped round campus for a night out dressed as lifeguards, Hawaiian lea girls, surfers - anything but appropriate clothing was donned! The following two evenings saw the end of the first weekend in similar fashion, a game of Pub Golf, followed by a Toga Party! As luck would have it though, that first fateful Monday morning was when the Department of Chemical Engineering held their introduction day, and didn’t I feel rotten!?!
I went to uni with the pretence that the Freshers’ Week celebrations were a direct, uninterrupted party for 7 days. Nobody seemed to mention that there was work involved also! (Don’t worry necessarily, this is subject to university!) But it turned out okay; I jumped in the shower, downed a pot-and-a-half of coffee and warily strolled into the department. It was great actually, a really informal meeting between staff and us newbies, but unfortunately I had to pass on the wine/beer reception and stick to the soft beverages! Ah…not a piece of maths in sight.
By the end of that week though I had met loads of people, most who I now term friend, but a few as foe I suppose. You won’t believe how fast the time goes after that first week. It really is a chance for you to gain a great foundation in the university life and I would thoroughly recommend you all on doing this. Also, make the most of it while you can, the next thing you know lecturers will be pouring potion into your ears introducing terms such as fugacity, PID control systems, and loads of other jargon!
Well, enjoy the time and who knows, you may actually enjoy yourself enough to remain enrolled past the first week! Have a good one!
If any of you decide to read Chemical Engineering it is very easy after a while to start thinking “Is there any fun involved?”, or “What is the incentive for doing this course?”
Most people will finally come to realise the answer to both of these questions (not saying that other courses don’t think of these also) but let’s face it, most students are concerned over finances etc so it would be nice to know of what you get out of it. Well, I thought that I may be able to give you a few ideas of answers to both of these questions. Remember that if there are any specific questions you need answering you can leave a comment for the post!
Anyway, let’s first look at the former question The Fun Stuff. Obviously if there are any interests or hobbies that you specifically have then there is usually a society or group at your university dedicated to this, and if there isn’t then you can easily start one. But I’m going to explain just the Chemical Engineering side of things. Depending on the university that you’re involved with will ultimately determine the how involved you can become with certain social events. The biggest one is FRANK MORTON’S – for those of you who haven’t heard of this it is a day where chemical engineers from universities and industrial companies do a giant sports day/drinking session, and if this isn’t for you or you can’t make it then you usually get the day off. Everyone’s a winner!
As an advocate for FM’s, this is a fantastic day with great things to do. This year just gone (Feb 2005) it was held in Newcastle where the home football ground of St James’ Park was used for certain events, even a Ferrari F1 simulator supplied by Shell. There’s also non-sporty activities such as a pub quiz, darts and pool for those who don’t want to do anything demanding, and of course a little tipple! All-in-all, it’s a fantastic day that I would recommend to anyone.
Now the latter questions What I Get Out Of It. Some of you may have read the Times league tables at the end of May giving the average starting salaries according to degree discipline. If you didn’t then I’ll let you know that Chemical Engineering graduates are third only to medical and dentistry students, out of 61 taught disciplines. This means that the average Chem Eng graduate salary sits at £21,049 (HESA 2002/3). Depending on the part of industry that you wish to work in - as not all graduates remain doing Chemical Engineering - the majority of people I have spoke to started jobs in excess of this!
So you see, there are lots of benefits of Chemical Engineering and for me to be an ambassador of it is quite easily actually!
