Chemical Engineering or Economics?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So either I study:</p>

<ol>
<li>Chemical engineering at University of Kentucky</li>
<li>Economics at Centre College</li>
</ol>

<p>Centre isn't quite ivy league, but it is somewhat prestigious. That's what keeps me reconsidering it. At this point I'm leaning towards UK. I co-op at a large chemical plant, and I simply like the whole chemical scene. And I love AP calculus, which got me thinking about engineering, but apparently economics has a lot of calculus too.</p>

<p>I think Economics at Centre would be an easier/better bridge to graduate work. I've heard many people say that economics is a great major for pre-law, but I've also heard people say engineering is too. Engineering would be harder to keep a good GPA, though. And I probably wouldn't get an MBA/JD if I couldn't get in a top 15 school.</p>

<p>Which do you all suggest? I haven't gotten scholarship information back, or financial aid. My parents make a combined ~69k, so we're kind of in the middle... Centre is about 43k total costs, whereas UK is around 18k...</p>

<p>And by the way - I think I'm genuinely interested in both engineering and economics. I'm just thinking costs and job prospects right now. Would economics set me up for a higher salary mid career (After grad work)? I'm just so over middle class life :P Just kidding, I'm not a complainer.</p>

2

<p>get a ChE degree</p>

<p>then later on, after working a while</p>

<p>get an MBA</p>

3

<p>One option if you are interested in both subjects:</p>

<ul>
<li>Major in chemical engineering.</li>
<li>Use some of your breadth courses for economics, including the intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics courses (choose the math-intensive ones since you will have the math anyway).</li>
</ul>

<p>However, if you want to go to graduate school in economics, you may have to take additional courses in math (e.g. real analysis), statistics, and economics (e.g. econometrics).</p>

<p>MBA or JD programs do not have any specific undergraduate course or major requirements. MBA programs do prefer those who have good work experience after bachelor’s degree.</p>

4

<p>Both make some serious money.</p>

<p>I find that Engineers are better off working alone and Economists better in a group. Depends if you are independent or prefer to work in groups.</p>

5

<p>Prestige doesn’t matter that much for engineering. As long as you can get recruited from the school, prestige won’t matter. If the costs are that big of a difference, I think you should go with UK.</p>