I have no idea what kind of engineering major I want to go into. It would give me some piece of mind for colleges that admit directly into a major and make it difficult to transfer,
My true love is math. Everything math. I could do it for hours a day every day for the rest of my life. I love chemistry as well though. Not stem, but I love french and all 17th century literature. I would really like to make a positive impact in the world (okay typical millennial I know). For a long time I was obsessed with aerospace engineering, (I’m a huge Trekkie) and I do think about biomedical engineering but I know most go on to medical school and i’m really just not that in to that.
Anyone have any advice of what major I should apply into?
I’m not the best one to reply to this, but since it’s still hanging I’ll let you know what a retired JPL guy told my son.
First do you care if what you work on has a tangible result that you can see an feel? If so, that leaves ME and Civil. Of those, do you care if it moves? If so, ME. If not, Civil.
Now that’s a GROSS oversimplification of the problem, but dealing with electrons, chemicals and code is a bit different. It’s more abstract.
Have you considered majoring in math? If you did math in a liberal arts environment, you would have more flexibility to take literature and French and other liberal arts classes than you will have in an engineering program. You would still be required to take science classes also. And, at least at some (maybe most?) places, you could do a concentration in Applied Math.
I agree with mechanical or electrical. But honestly it seems like you don’t have all that much info to really support what you want to do and that you should spend your first year exploring the majors and figuring it out from there. Or ask more specific questions.
Applied Mathematics and Data Science/Analytics are pretty good fields for jobs too. However if you want to build things, then an engineering discipline is better.
Look at conference proceedings online from professional societies for each major (ASME for Mech, IEEE for EE, AIA for Aerospace, etc.) and see what kind of work is done. For example, Aerospace engineering is largely Defense/space jobs and requires citizenship and a security clearance, Biomedical is a blended major and could lead to medical device development, Chem E often ends up in large factories and petroleum production facilities, Civil E can be soils and irrigation or can be roads and buildings.
In the end, if you do not like it, you can switch for your MS, and re-tool that way, even if you cannot switch in your BS (you likely actually will be able to). A good solid basis in core subjects will give you a foundation to switch disciplines down the road. Also, try to go to a school that is not so strict on switching, perhaps?
You should study math and why not do a minor in French? Northwestern, Harvey Mudd, Williams would love that.
Engineering is very sequential and has few slots for electives so combining all your interests would be tough.
Of course there’s also Georgia Tech and their program in France and Tufts, a great engineering program that differs a bit from the usual. Harvey Mudd and MIT also have more than usual “non-tech/non-stem” requirements. Finally there’s Bryn Mawr’s program (superb for math and French, possibility to take a couple classes at Penn and then move on to Penn for a Master’s in Engineering, this is called a 4+1 program).
"My true love is math. Everything math. I could do it for hours a day every day for the rest of my life. " - Can you give some examples of what you like? That may help us advise.
and Tufts, a great engineering program that differs a bit from the usual. Harvey Mudd and MIT also have more than usual “non-tech/non-stem” requirements. Finally there’s Bryn Mawr’s program (superb for math and French, possibility to take a couple classes at Penn and then move on to Penn for a Master’s in Engineering, this is called a 4+1 program).