<p>So recently, I've been considering perhaps getting into chemical engineering management. I was considering doing EE because I like physics, but after remembering how much I hated the electrical unit in my physics class and recent struggles trying to understand circuits, I've been moving away from it already (lol, I'm so confused as to what I should do with myself). I thought Chem E would be good because I like Organic Chemistry and such, so would getting a BS in Chem E and then getting an MBA be a good way to make pretty good money? I was wondering on average how much people who do this usually earn? </p>
<p>EDIT: Although I dislike electronics, I do enjoy programming, so does designing things like BCI for brains or any other computer-generated prosthetic have any software or CS-type applications to it, and would that be perhaps a good way to make money?</p>
<p>Also, since I'll need work experience for my MBA anyways, can Chem E have any medicinal aspects to it? I think what would be a cool job while climbing the corporate ladder to have would be in helping build prosthetics that interact with the body, not just in bio-compatibility, but actually working with the tissues to accomplish a goal. Would Chem E be a good major for that?</p>
<p>I believe that chemical engineers have the highest starting salary out of engineers, and this has been true for some time now. Although petroleum engineers might be strong contenders, as far as I know, the two fields are strongly related. </p>
<p>As far as becoming and EE... well, if you have trouble understanding circuits... I think that speaks for itself lol. However, I have a good friend, whose father is a manager of some kind of artificial heart company.... he is an EE, and I do believe that they are QUITE rich, as in they have 2 Ferrari's, a house in Rhode Island and one in Tahoe as well.</p>
<p>On the other hand lol, I also know a guy, whose father is a CEO or something like it of some biotech company and is a chem eng. And I believe that seems to be the trend with a lot of chem engineers... the generally go into management after a few years in the field. </p>
<p>But hey, what the hell do I know lol, I'm just a hs student.</p>
<p>lol are you implying that I'm dumb because I'm having a hard time understanding the fine points of circuits lol? EE is one of the hardest majors, and is mostly circuits, and given that I haven't taken AP physics yet, I think its somewhat understandable that it will be a bit hard, especially since I'm self-teaching myself this stuff.</p>
<p>But anyways, as I've said many times, I'd really like to go into management, so would Chem E or EE be better as far as ease of getting into management?</p>
<p>Not implying that you are stupid at all, just saying that if you are having trouble with circuits... perhaps the most prevalent subject in EE, maybe the major is not right for you. However if you are willing to struggle your way past the difficulty I'd say go for it. As far as physics... I'm not even going to take it. I'm going to self study and take the C AP. I guess I'm a little biased in choosing between the 2, simply because I love chemistry. EE seems very interesting, but not to the extent of ChE.</p>
<p>Management: I don't know if you can simply go into straight out of college. What I'm guessing is that you have to prove yourself as a pretty competent employee in whatever the field of study u choose. I think ChE is angled a little more towards management simply because traditionally chem engineers were known to get jobs in improving production rates at factories. Working at this level requires an understanding of the big picture, and you are pretty much in charge.</p>
<p>Oh, and also one important thing to mention... you suck at life and you will never get into college!!! Na, jk. Don't always perceive ppl's advices as scorching criticism.</p>
<p>I'm currently enrolled in chemical engineering. We had to take one circuits course, and although I did better than most of my classmates, it is definitely not something I'd like to do again. It was harder than I expected, and there were times that I just didn't understand what was going on.</p>
<p>I am also considering getting an MBA afterwards if I decide that research is not my thing. An ideal career for me would be in R&D or in a corporate environment dealing with biotechnology, which would involve chemical engineering, biological/medical sciences, (bio)chemistry, etc.</p>
<p>If you enjoy programming, you can still continue doing it in chemical engineering. Process control is very important, and you'll do plenty of programming there. You'll also need to have a good understanding of statistics in this area as far as I know.</p>
<p>Chemical engineers are very involved in medical research nowadays. Biomedical engineering and bioprocessing are two major areas I can think of. I'm sure you have heard of tissue engineering and drug delivery, some of the most popular topics in chemical engineering research nowadays. Topics such as transport phenomena and polymer science are highly applicable to these two areas. Also, bioprocessing will mostly deal with food and drugs. If you want to make money, get into the pharmaceutical side. Food processing is just not that great.</p>
<p>you can not get an MBA without having significant work experience. The average MBA student has been hard at work in their perspective field of interest for 5-10 years before being accepted into an MBA program.</p>
<p>ChemE and EE are similar but different, and just as hard as the other. Personal preferences make one easier than the other, so if you like chemistry, go with ChemE, but if you like electricity (and you can be an EE without focusing on circuits, although you will do lots of circuits) and magnetism, go with EE. Some schools even offer blended programs or minors... like Materials Science ( [chemE+EE]/2, if I'm not mistaken), And if you like organic chemistry, why not biophysics? Or bioinformatics? Keep an open mind about your college major, as it doesn't necessarily have to have "engineering" in the title to be an engineering degree.</p>
<p>
[quote]
you can not get an MBA without having significant work experience. The average MBA student has been hard at work in their perspective field of interest for 5-10 years before being accepted into an MBA program.
[/quote]
Some will have more, some will have less, which is why it's an average. Plenty of people get into an MBA program right after graduation with no work experience or some experience through internships.</p>
<p>well biophysics would be pretty cool I'll admit, but both of those things don't deal with the stuff I'm interested in (I think) such as the prosthetics that interact with body and stuff like I mentioned, so yeah.</p>
<p>I dont see why everyone is saying "if you like chemistry, be a chemical engineer!", Chemical engineering doesn't really involve that much chemistry. As an undergrad, you're expected to take general chemistry and organic chemistry, usually in the first two years. Chemical Engineering is more based on physics.</p>
<p>I agree with Morning_Theft, all because you like Chemistry don't think you need to move into Chem E., it is not the same thing. I have a Chem E and 8+ years in the pharma/biotech world and while I have used some Chemistry it wasn't anything I really learned in college. Also, I am about to get my MBA and there is no way in hell I would ever go into Engineering Management, as an Engineer I know how little I like to be managed and that is rather across the board. Those who are Eng. Managers may have Engineering degrees (and I prefer mine to have one as they realize we hate management) but they generally tend to be very business oriented and leave the tech stuff to us. I you enjoy the O. Chem. then I suggest you do it.</p>
<p>As for wanting to work in prosthetics... I know a fellow Chem. E. in that realm, but they have a MS in Chem. E., and I think it would be required or ideal. Your other option; look into biochemistry, biochem. engineering, or biomedical engineering and get a BS. Get out of Academia, get a job doing some grunt work for a company like Striker of Geron and get a mentor, tell them what you want to do, and take their advice. MBA? Many lab managers and R&D Managers I work with don't have MBAs and really poor ppl skills. </p>
<p>Final Advice: Reasearch the position you want to have in 15 years, find someone who has it, and send them a letter asking for an Informational Interview, or attach a questionaire.</p>
<p>I said that, if you're choosing between ChemE and EE, then your relative preference for chemistry or E&M comes into play, which I believe is a self evident statement.</p>
<p>Like I said, I LOVE physics, so the fact that chemical engineering has not so much chem is good. Don't ask me how/why, but I actually don't really like general chem that much (I don't hate it, but I had a terrible teacher, so I literally learned next to nothing), its O-Chem that I like. Again, please, don't ask.</p>
<p>Also, I want to do management possibly because I really like business, and it could possibly allow me to start my own business if we can come up with a good idea in perhaps nano medicine or something (I hear Chem E and EE are great for nanotech, which is another cool field IMO), so there is $$$ to be made there also. Although admittedly, I'd rather work as an engineer than manager if they both paid the same, the fact is that they don't, and since I want to make some cash later on, thats why I want to do management.</p>