can't decide between electrical or mechanical

<p>I've got like 8 months left to decide but I've been through all the ohysics at my school, so I guess here's the place to ask.</p>

<p>Does any of the engineers work with problems and mathematics in the classic way with a calcululator and paper or is all done on computer? I kind of like working with pen and paper.</p>

<p>I am kind of anti-social nerd so I'd like to do some work on my own. I really enjoy working with physics and mathematics on my own. Are there any possibilities for this in mechanical or electrical engineering?, or is all teamwork? Just by looking at job descriptions now I think that structural engineers have exciting jobs in a way that they analyse structures and figure out how much force something can take. Does structural engineers have the possibilite to work a lot on their own and focus on their problems in peace?</p>

<p>This is maybe a little dumb question, but which of them do you guys think gives the best understanding of the world?</p>

<p>Now share your wisdom please! :D</p>

<p>engineering usually entails working with computers and in teams. I recommend you stick to physics</p>

<p>If you want to be an engineer, you better get used to working in groups.</p>

<p>Almost all engineering classes/jobs require teamwork.</p>

<p>In fact almost all jobs require team work. I guess going after a phd of some sort and becoming a professor (if you say your an antisocial super nerd) would work out for you.</p>

<p>Btw nuclear engineering also requires lots of math and physics</p>

<p>Yes, the path to a PhD is pretty anti-social. I've worked with PhD students in my department before, and they all work on their own (although there is social interaction among themselves). You can also "understand the world" by doing a PhD. After all, you're uncovering something new on your own.</p>

<p>Thank you very much for answering me, altough I did not like the answers!:(</p>

<p>But I just want to get something clear. Let's say your job is to look at a structure and analyze it. How much cooperation is really needed here?
Or let's say you take a master degree in computational mechanics, can this education only be used for teamwork?</p>

<p>Like all the other posters said, most engineering jobs are team collaboration. But, you do work independently and then share ideas/recommendations for project approval. </p>

<p>Becoming a professor would be tough...if you're antisocial, how do you teach a class or present a research paper in front of colleagues? </p>

<p>You need to overcome your anti-socialness to succeed.</p>

<p>In regards to your question concerning mechanical or electrical engineering, I would say do whatever you're most interested in. However, mechanical engineering, I believe, is easier for some because you can more easily visualize the concepts versus electrical engineering.</p>

<p>don't worry, most engineers are anti-social nerds like you. And there is a lot of teamwork but nerds get along well...I would pick EE</p>

<p>I don't know why my reply message avoided this...</p>

<p>I agree with UCBChemEGrad. You should overcome the "anti-socialness"</p>

<p>Yeah I know I should overcome it, but it is extremely difficult.
And going for a professor job is out of the question. If I do become one, one day, that would be great. But that is not something I would aim for since I very easily could get disappointed.</p>

<p>But what about applied science like applied mechanics, how do these people work?</p>

<p>"Like all the other posters said, most engineering jobs are team collaboration. But, you do work independently and then share ideas/recommendations for project approval."</p>

<p>Interesting, I mean that doesn't sound so bad. Is this a common way to work? Is it like 50-50 work alone and then talk, or more cooperation than this?</p>

<p>AndyG89 take a look at this thread:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=368652%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=368652&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>^ It depends on the job and workplace environment. </p>

<p>Are you in college yet? Don't worry about the anti-social stuff. You will grow and overcome those fears in college.</p>

<p>Pick an engineering major that interests you.</p>

<p>"Yeah I know I should overcome it, but it is extremely difficult."</p>

<p>The easiest way to never overcome anti-social tendencies is to feed those tendencies. The only way you will EVER change and make progress is if you force yourself outside of your comfort zones (otherwise, you will remain exactly as you are in your 'natural state'). This is a basic, governing principle of life. </p>

<p>P.S. PLEASE do not become a professor. The last thing this world needs is yet another teacher... who does not like to teach.</p>

<p>I have family members in civil, mechanical, aeronautical and academia. All require collaboration with other engineers or departments. Getting tenure and working in management required a lot of social skills. Still, while they all can work successfully in groups, they all do have that ability to be happy working independently (yes, in a cube!).</p>

<p>Bait&Switch: I actually like to share knowloedge with people at school so in a way I do like to teach, but I don't know if the communications skills are that good. But lets just forget the professor thing cause I don't want to go into university with the plans of being a professor since only a few people can become one. But the social advice was good, thanks!</p>

<p>I know I shouldn't worry too much about this but I am really afraid of not beeing able to get a job when I'm done.</p>

<p>At the university you can choose a lot of profiles. But I just wonder, what would suit people like me best. There has to be a lot of jobs in mechanical engineering, but some has to be more individual than others. I mean if you choose the profile structural integrity(which focuses on looking looking at different strains on structures, like mechanical, chemical and thermical) in stead of choosing a profile that focuses less on mathematics would that be better i you'd like to work alone? Basically does an engineer that choose subjects that involves a lot of mathematical modelling work more or less than others in teams?</p>