Month: June 2021

Hello again, students!

As promised, here is instalment 2 of our book recommendation series!

We hope you find the resource useful. We will be uploading a new blog covering a different subject each week.

For more undergraduate application advice and / or to enquire about tuition, please call us on 0208 133 6284 and we’ll be happy to help.

 

1. ‘Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air’ by David JC MacKay 
   This is perhaps a little out of date now, but provides an amazing view of how the world could completely transform its energy system. Aside from an interesting overview of various sources of green energy, this book is most useful for giving a guide to estimation. It has fully explained calculations of how to scale technologies up to a global scale, and gives budding engineers a masterclass on how to estimate quantities.

Recommended by Charlie (Studied Chemical Engineering via Engineering at University of Cambridge)

2. ‘The New Science of Strong Materials – or Why You Don’t Fall Through the Floor’ by JE Gordon 
   Materials don’t get as much attention in school as they should, so this book introduces the important properties of most common materials, and how engineers use these properties to make their designs more efficient and useful. The full range of atomic scale to the structure of cathedrals is explored, to show how microscopic changes in structure affect macroscopic material behaviour.

Recommended by Charlie (Studied Chemical Engineering via Engineering at University of Cambridge)

3. ‘Professor Povey’s Perplexing Problems’ by Thomas Povey 
   A great collection of maths and physics problems of the type that might come up in an Oxbridge interview, with detailed worked solutions. Not a book I’drecommend for cover-to-cover reading, but dipping into it for interesting problems, especially during the build-up to interview season is really helpful, as it can help you see how a problem can be developed in more and more detail and how your prior knowledge of maths and physics can be applied to more challenging situations. Working steadily through these questions in the six months or so preceding interview is the intellectual equivalent of training for a marathon! 

Recommended by Charlie (Studied Chemical Engineering via Engineering at University of Cambridge) and by Luke (Studied Engineering at University of Cambridge)

4. ‘How do wings work?’ by Holger Babinsky 

Excellent introduction to aerospace engineering by debunking the common misconceived explanation for generation of the lift force. Mock interview style question included, and wonderful fodder more generally for the personal statement.

 Recommended by Luke (Studied Engineering at University of Cambridge)

5. ‘To Engineer is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design’ by Henry Petroski 

Thought provoking explanation of the Tacoma Narrows bridge collapse, and a cautionary tale to remind students of the ethical responsibilities of professional engineers. 

Recommended by Luke (Studied Engineering at University of Cambridge)

The great British summer is finally here, and while everybody should enjoy the sunshine while it lasts, this is also an excellent opportunity to add to your CV and increase your future employment prospects.

You may not be looking for a job until next summer or beyond, but time flies, and starting to prepare early can help ensure that you stand out from the crowd. Between beaches and barbeques, give serious consideration to these five activities while you enjoy a summer break.

 

Virtual Internships

It’s a staggering fact that almost three-quarters of graduates joining the top investment banks have been recruited via internships. Moreover, at least half those offered graduate jobs at leading law firms, finance companies, and oil and energy businesses had completing relevant work experience.

Businesses willing to offer in-person internships or work experience are rather thin on the ground at the moment. We live in the digital age, though, and internships – like so many other aspects of 21^st Century life – are now virtual.

These virtual internships tend to be short and sharp, yet offer great insight into the activities which a full-time role constitutes and will make your CV more appealing.

 

Networking

LinkedIn research found that 80 percent of professionals consider networking to be important to career success!

Taking the opportunity to pick the brains of industry professionals will help you understand the current state of play in your chosen vocation.

Ask around your personal networks or use social media or professional networking sites like LinkedIn, to seeking out contacts who may be able to spare the time for a chat. Ask them about their careers – how they found their dream job, what made them successful, and how they have negotiated any obstacles in their path.

 

Volunteering

Do not fall into the trap of assuming that only industry-specific experience will impress an employer. Recruiters will always look favourably on an applicant that gives up their time to aid a charitable endeavour, and most non-profits are crying out for help right now.

Volunteer work is rewarding, offers the opportunity to make a real difference, and it will teach a range of transferrable skills that you can carry over to the workplace. For example, teamwork, time management, and communication are all honed by taking on a voluntary position.

 

Learn a New Skill

A CV can never boast too many additional skills. Use free online resources like Future Learn or edX to attend a huge variety of courses. Studying online can be done in your own time and will grant you skills that may come in helpful – both personally and professionally. Many of these platforms also provide digital, verifiable micro-credentials, so you have proof of the skills you’ve gained. Independent study will also show a potential employer that you take self-improvement seriously and seize any initiative.

 

Start a Blog

Did you know that Groupon and Huff Post started life as blogs?

Blogging is a significant element of any digital footprint. Many businesses use blogs for content marketing, so showing a flair for the written word boosts your chances of finding work. What’s more, blogging about a subject that interests you encourages research, which furthers knowledge.

A blog can also be a way to find new routes into a chosen industry. Gain enough traction, and professionals may approach you. Even if this is not the case, pointing people toward a blog is a great hook and conversation starter when you do make contact. Any employer will be impressed by independent thought and new ideas.

 

For more information, get in touch with us today on 0208 133 6284 to discuss how we can help.

Students!

This is the first entry in a series of undergraduate reading recommendations.

We asked our top tutors to recommend books and articles they either found useful when preparing for university admissions, or they realise would have been useful to explore, with hindsight.

These books aren’t just appropriate for Oxbridge applicants, but can be explored by anyone looking to get a feel for the subject at undergraduate level.

We hope you find the resource useful. We will be uploading a new blog covering a different subject each week.

For more undergraduate application advice and / or to enquire about tuition, please call us on 0208 133 6284 and we’ll be happy to help.

   

1. ‘What is History’ by E H Carr

This is a seminal book by a renowned historian. He asked some of the key questions about the subject that are often overlooked. Required reading for any applicant.

Recommended by George (Studied History at University of Oxford)

 

2. ‘The Idea of a University’ by J H Newman.

Cardinal Newman wrote this in the 1860s as the debate over universities raged. His redaction is erudite and thought provoking. His take on what a university should be will strike you as strange.

Recommended by George (Studied History at University of Oxford)

 

3. ‘War and Peace’ by Leo Tolstoy.

Great Man Theory; do individuals make history or do forces? That is a crucial historiographical battle to this day. Most people would say the true answer is both. However, you need to engage with Count Tolstoy’s unique perspective.

Recommended by George (Studied History at University of Oxford)

 

4. ‘The Tyranny of a Construct: Feudalism and Historians of Medieval Europe’ by Elizabeth AR Brown

The American Historical Review Vol. 79, No. 4 (Oct., 1974), pp. 1063-1088 (26 pages).

Medieval History

Introduction to an interesting debate around whether ‘feudalism’ actually existed in medieval Europe. Part of the problem with the word “feudalism” is that historians don’t have a single definition for what it means. Some even changed their definitions of feudalism over their historical careers (e.g. Georges Duby, and Joseph Strayer)! Lots more to read after this – e.g. work by Susan Reynolds.

Recommended by Sam (Studied History at Cambridge)

 

5. ‘Telling Feminist Stories’ by Claire Hemmings

Modern British sociocultural history

A great introduction to feminist history and dominant narratives of ‘waves’ of feminism. If of interest, see also Nancy Hewitt, ‘No Permanent Waves: Recasting Histories of US Feminism’. Overall an interesting topic to talk about at interview.

Recommended by Sam (Studied History at Cambridge)

 

6. ‘Explaining the gender gap: the Conservative Party and the women’s vote’ by Ina Zweiniger-Bargielowska.

See also:

• ‘The Labour Party, women, and the problem of gender, 1951-66’, by Amy Black and Stephen Brooke inJournal of British Studies 36 (1997);
• ‘Mrs Maggs and Betty: the Conservative appeal to women voters in the 1920s’ by David Jarvis, in Twentieth Century British History, Vol. 5.2 (1994).

Modern British political history

Why did women vote differently to men in the postwar period? A classic historical/historiographical debate that is easy to get to grips with, but has a surprising amount of depth to it.

Recommended by Sam (Studied History at Cambridge)