<p>Hey, I am looking for a good double major that gives me a broad base in science and engineering so that I can choose to go into research or industry. Would a double major in ChemE/Physics @ MIT be best, or would a different combination be better? Say... MechE/Chem or Bio/ChemE?</p>
<p>Thanks,
Jarek</p>
<p>i would say EE/CS and bio/chem. if that makes sense.
so the options i suggest are
EE and bio
EE and chem
CS and bio
CS and chem</p>
<p>but really, any two engineering majors will look awesome.
good luck and to be cliche, do what you love</p>
<p>Double majors are generally a waste of precious time.</p>
<p>I was given the same impression. Sounds nicer than they are practical.</p>
<p>Double majors are not going to make you twice as qualified as a single major. In fact, they may very well not make you any more qualified at all. In some limited conditions it might be advantageous to have a specific minor or second major, but for a vast majority of jobs it simply doesn’t matter. If you are set on getting a second degree a much, much better choice would be to get it in something that truly interests you as opposed to one you perceive as having some kind of job hunting value.</p>
<p>I am not going exactly say not do a double major because I would be kind of hypocritical, but I would opt for more of a “dual-major” in which you take courses that are bridges both departments IF you like that type of material.</p>
<p>I was basically a Math/CS major but that was by design. I did not care much for the theoretical topics of Abstract Algebra or Topology or Geometry. I did not care much for the hardware aspects of CS, BUT I have always like the computational aspects of both Math and CS along with the math that applies to CS like Combinatorics, Graph Theory and Numerical/Computational type courses.</p>
<p>…so I ended basically completing a Math degree and about 90% of the CS program. At some schools (when comparing CS programs), I actually completed a CS program.</p>
<p>I’m not really talking about job opportunity here, more research potential. I simply figured a solid understanding of both chem and physics would be better than just physics, also that it would be good to understand engineering. Industry would be my fall back if I decide research is not for me, in which case I think it would be good to have engineering under my belt. I’m sorry if I worded my question poorly.</p>
<p>so on the previous post, why do you think that say, EE/Bio would be better than ChemE/Physics?</p>
<p>I have to apologize for not being able to give you an answer on WHICH combo because I do not know which specialties of each major you plan to do research and/or industry BUT…</p>
<p>I DO think your plan of having a “plan B” is good and that would be a very good reason to double or dual-major.</p>
<p>I went initially for mathematician jobs and used CS/I.T. as the back plan. I had to eventually use my backup plan.</p>
<p>What makes sense is how well you can bridge them together.
Some people can use what they learn and make something impressive, and become a billionaire. Not rare.</p>
<p>I personally think ChemE and CS might be more beneficial. But if you want to be like me going toward quantum computing, by all means do what makes sense to you. I receive no objection from any one of my engineering / physics professor.</p>
<p>PS: If you are a freshman, then you don’t have to make your final decision until you reach upper sophomore year.</p>
<p>i know one person who is doing chem/chemeng. This will prob be the easiest thing to do if you want to double major with ChemE because you usually have to take 3-4 higher level chem classes already. Anything else would be very hard and a waste of time and money.</p>
<p>Double majors are generally little to no help in grad school. Graduate research is so specific that realistically only a couple of senior-level courses will even apply - that being the case, the rest of that second major is essentially wasted. You can do as well by taking a single major and taking a couple of extra courses or a minor.</p>
<p>There are a few disadvantages with a double major - extra credits can mean lower gpa or research time, and while double majors can look good if they reinforce a single specific interest (like physics/EE for wave propagation) they can look undecided otherwise (like philosophy/ME or physics/EE when applying to control systems).</p>
<p>In my experience, the big advantage of a double major is in industry - companies like people with broad knowledge, and if it reinforces their line of work, even better. But grad school cares little about breadth, just depth in a field so narrow that only a handful of people in the whole world are ever likely to read your dissertation.</p>
<p>What about a double major like Chem/ChemE?</p>
<p>Or ChemE/Buisness?</p>
<p>the people here seem to be saying double major=not a great option…</p>
<p>Chem/Chem E: Why? Go Chem E and take some extra upper-level Chem classes, and/or do some research in hardcord chemistry. The double major adds little for you here.</p>
<p>Chem E/Business: What do you want to do with your life? If you want to do technical management then this might be a good route, but a better route would be Chem E to MBA. The double major will really only help you for a few job roles in companies, and if you are thinking the entrepreneurial route then you should really think in terms of graduate school - an MS and/or MBA.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice.</p>