<p>I am a Chinese student currently studying in an American boarding school. Junior, pretty good stats, no outstanding ECs. But I have a true passion for engineering.</p>
<p>My initial interest was aeronautical engineering, but I gave it up because most jobs in the U.S. are not open to foreigners. The job prospect for aeronautics in China is also not good. Now, I am hesitating among mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering. I have a huge interest in mechanics, structures more specifically, but the job prospect and salary for electrical is much better. My father discourages me from civil cuz civil engineers are viewed inferior in China (not sure if in the U.S). </p>
<p>So, I am kind of leaning to mechanical engineering now, but I want to listen to more advice.</p>
<p>Also, is it good not to declare which engineering major when applying? Does it hurt my chance to get into some schools like UCB, Carnegie Mellon, Northwestern, and Cornell?</p>
<p>Btw, I am doing independent study with my physics teacher next year. I've finished both AP Physics C. Any suggestions according to my interest in these majors?</p>
<p>Mechanical Engineering is a good, general choice. You can go in numerous directions with that degree. You can be a structural engineer as a civil or mechanical so that is a wash. Clearly, electrical is quite a bit different.</p>
<p>Whether it is a negative to not declare a major depends on the university but i don’t think it should be a big problem since the first year courses are more or less the same for all engineering majors.</p>
<p>Besides the issues you have identified around security and clearance, aerospace/aeronautical engineering tends not to be terribly scalable. That is, you are really looking at a few key (but really awesome) employers in the field. </p>
<p>I think similar (but different) analysis could be found in say structural engineering (where wind dynamics/deflection) are hugely important and yet employment in structural engineering is quite ubiquitous. That is, each major city will have many top structural engineering firms whereas aerospace/aeronautics will be limited to certain areas. I agree though that aerospace engineering is really cool and fasicinating (and wildly difficult as well). </p>
<p>You need to investigate each school’s policies on declaring or changing major to an engineering major after enrolling.</p>
<p>For example, at Berkeley, if you enter as undeclared in the College of Engineering, then you can freely declare any College of Engineering major in your first year. But if you are undeclared in a different division, like the College of Letters and Science, changing to a College of Engineering major is very difficult. But also note that undeclared in the College of Engineering may be more selective for frosh admission than many declared College of Engineering majors.</p>