My future career
I am currently working with a senior metallurgist with over 40 years of experience. He has just about every qualification under the sun and I would love to be in his position some day. The degree that I have opened the right doors for me to get the job in the first place, and taught me the relevant skills to progress in my career. When I was hired, I was told that theory wise I am only at the very start of what there is to know. However, one of the reasons I was hired is that getting a degree teaches you how to research and how to learn, which is arguably more important than what you actually know. So my Loughborough degree has given me the skills that I need to think outside the box, research where I need to to fill the gaps in my knowledge, and how to ask questions when I am not sure on things. My job strongly relies on accuracy, if you are not sure you cannot just guess or you might pass something that should have failed. So, being able to research and seek guidance is invaluable for this.
My advice to anyone thinking about studying this course at Loughborough is to be open minded with your optional choices. The mutual first year of the course really helps with this as it lets you find your feet before you commit to anything, so use this time to find out what you enjoy. Of course, what you learn at uni is key to a career, but you will learn so much throughout your career that you can afford to spend some of your time at uni just figuring out what it is that you enjoy. There are so many optional modules that you can tailor your course to what it is you want to learn. Another thing I would say is ask all the questions you can. The materials department is full of passionate people with massive brains who specialise in almost everything, so make the most of this. You get to spend 3/4 years in the biggest collective of brain power there is so make the most of it!