Question: What does it take to be an engineer?

Charlie Ryan answered on 23 Mar 2011:

hi thegirlwholovesscience – great name by the way!
Well accademically you need to do science A levels and maths. I studied maths, physics and chemistry at A level and got three B’s – not brilliant but it was enough to get me onto a bachelors course in aerospace engineering at Southampton uni. I studied there for 4 years and got a masters in the end.
So really to be an engineer you have to study the sciences at A level, and then do an engineering or possibly physics course at uni. This isn’t too hard tho – and dont worry if you don’t do too great a A level or GCSE! I didn’t do too well and i still managed it. May unis do foundtion years, which you can apply to do if your A level marks don’t work out. This also helps you out at uni, because when it comes to the first year of the undergraduate course, you already know your way around! My friend did one and she says it was great!
I would reccomend studying engineering at university – its a nice mix of science, and pratical stuff. Also there is considerably less maths than if you studied a pure science subject subject at uni.
Hope that helps – any further Q’s please ask!