Engineering Major for the Future

<p>Well. Where do I start?</p>

<p>If you look at the post I've just posted in the College Selection panel, you'd see that I'm choosing schools for final acceptance RIGHT NOW! The thing that comes after is choosing the major(s).</p>

<p>On my applications, I have constantly put Mechanical Engineering as my first choice, out of my understanding of what it is and my "impression" that it involves some sort of designing which I might like. I've always been skeptical of entering Electrical or CompSci fields due to the fact that I've never touched any programming material officially (I was offered many chances at school, but just ended up taking all other courses...), despite my father's urging. He thought EE/CS guarantees better jobs.</p>

<p>Besides ME, I thought I would choose a second major, engineering or not. Well, and I was just thinking back at: what was my dream job when I was younger? It turned out that I had been thinking of being an "agent!" What? Well, I guess I used to find those agents in movies live very exciting job experiences. For now, my closet connection to what I used to like is: some sort of analytic position. I was looking into Operations Research/Industrial some time just now, but after my dad completely trashed it and claiming that such major lacks really a specific engineering focus, I'm not sure what else I may do. I do sort of want something to complement with my ME major if that's where I end up to be.</p>

<p>I guess I am sort of the person that likes to think, do prefer to think. Granted, EE/CS jobs are mostly of thinking (well, that's my impression: writing programs, testing programs... right?), again, I'm not familiar with the subject. Is it too late to catch up in college, seeing that every other 21th Century kid now knows how to program. Anyways, I was also looking at some Information Systems stuff, and is that helpful toward making me some sort of analyst or consultant? I mean, CIA actually pays alright high for its technical analysts and some other officers. </p>

<p>You know, all this talk about analyzing data and stuff really makes me look like an applied mathematics fanatic, but truth is I am exactly that natural with numbers. Even though I am taking high level math already (Diff. Eq./Lin. Alg) as a senior, I don't think I'm going to have any good time if I continue to stick myself with numbers. So, while I am looking for find similar experiences that are combined to something about physics, a subject I've loved since young.</p>

<p>I'm sorry if I lose you somewhere early with my ramble, but I'd really love you if you can provide some insights into what's some hot engineering majors for future demand, and what are some majors that may help me end up as some sort of analyst/consultant.</p>

<p>P.S. But I may very well just end up getting an MBA degree and work in office, as my father did. That seems safe, but not as adventurous, I guess. Oh, and I'm likely to attend UMich if you did not visit my other post. You may shape your response around this information.</p>

<p>Choice 1: Combination of optimization (operations research) + actuarial mathematics followed by graduate study in financial engineering. </p>

<p>Choice 2: BME with genetics & tissue engineering</p>

<p>Choice 3: New product/service development (ME) + entrepreneurship (eng)</p>

<p>Choice 4: Economic mathematical modeling (econ + math) + critical thinking (philosophy) + personal financial management</p>

<p>Choice 5: A combination of design (electro- mechanical) with computer science.</p>