<p>Coming into college, I decided that I wanted to be a Chemical Engineer. I was a bit doubtful of it, but after my first semester, I felt that I had made the right decision. I've met a lot of great people, gotten involved with organizations that allowed me to see what upper level Chem Engs are doing, and getting a chance to work with real world projects. I was very busy, but I didn't mind it that much.</p>
<p>After going through my second semester, I had the opposite feeling, the same feeling I had when I was coming into college for the first time. For the last few months since I've been on break, I've had this feeling that I don't want to be a Chemical Engineer. I feel like I'm doing it more for job security and money rather than doing something that I will find happiness in. I understand that I might enjoy it more later, but that's a big risk to wait that long.</p>
<p>However, my other options lead me down a road that looks more unstable. I really love English, and I love writing. I've gotten involved with the college's newspaper and the editors liked my work. Some of my friends and teachers told me that I should find a major with those, but I know that if I were to change to another major, the chances of getting a good job, or a job, are more slim. </p>
<p>Now with the weeks dwindling down to the fall semester, I'm stuck deciding if I want to continue to pursue a degree as a Chem Eng or switch majors to something I know will bring happiness to me. Would it be wrong to keep pursuing a degree in Chem Eng if you have so much doubt with it?</p>
<p>You can always do writing and still have a technical career. I know one person who is a software developer and is the author of a few books that sell fairly well. My Uncle is also a math professor but writes plays, musicals and novels and makes good money for all that. You can still write even if you don’t major in it and find success and happiness.</p>
<p>“Do what you love and the money will follow” Maybe true for some but I have found it to be mostly BS. </p>
<p>I don’t care how much you love writing, if you find yourself, unemployed after graduation, with the same amount of loans as an engineer would, you can write all day, all night, you are not going to be happy.</p>
<p>On the other hand, doing something you hate just for the money sucks just as a bad. Based on my experiences, I have found that jobs are going to suck, 98% of the time, so working with something you at least care about will make your life easier.</p>
<p>Honestly, I have never had a job I could say I have really enjoyed, even when I was working with something I cared about, work is going to suck most of the time. </p>
<p>Are there any other fields of Engineering you may be interested in? I think switching from ChemE to English is not a very smart choice but that is just my personal opinion.</p>
<p>If you have any inkling in your mind that you still might enjoy Chemical Engineering, go with that. When you’re young, it’s really easy to snub your nose at “selling out” and choose the job that sounds fun rather than the job that pays…but trust me, it’s not a smart decision.</p>
<p>I’ve worked as a server in a restaurant for years, and 75% of my co-workers have had at least one degree. Common majors were English, drama, anthropology, psychology, biology, and sometimes law (yes, they went through all of law school and serving was still the best-paid option).</p>
<p>So, my advice? Pursue the job that pays. You may be disappointed in yourself now, but you will be even more disappointed when you’re waiting tables or doing some other kind of menial work (30k a year in what is essentially a secretarial position) for years after you graduate. Writing is something you can pursue on the side, as a hobby, or even consider devoting yourself to after some years in Engineering when you have a hefty nest egg to keep you afloat. As a major and career path? I hope you have a backup plan for employment.</p>
<p>A battle between brain and heart - brain wants to make a logical decision, but heart wants to lead a more exciting life. How about get rid of both and go with your gut? Regenerate your heart and brain from gut just like a worm…hope youd be able to make a decision easier.</p>
<p>Seriously I think everyones different and there is no fortune teller here. At the end, by studying English you could be a teacher, novelist, etc. and make a lot impact to the world. You could also achieve the same goal with ChemE by researching and producing new products. Which one you should go? ChemE will let you control your destiny better albeit with a “newly minted” heart.</p>
<p>Watch it from start to end. Those 20 minutes will help you understand why you shouldn’t major in some fields</p>
<p>You do NOT need a English degree to write. Look work hard now in college and then graduate and enjoy the rest of your life. If you don’t like chemical engineering, try CS, ME, EE. They can be fun too depending on your interests. If you switch to english you might regret it for the rest of your life. The classes are fun but at the same time, useless</p>
<p>Also, I was going to say, if you like to write, you could probably take a couple writing classes at a local community college at night or even at the university you go to. Now as far as spending 4 years studying English, I think it is a waste of time and money.</p>
<p>Just because you like English, writing, and the like, doesn’t mean that it’s a good choice for a major. Pick a stable enough major that will help you find a job, and you can choose not to do that job.
It’s not like you even dislike ChemE - you just like something else more. Majors shouldn’t change on a whim like that. However, you can always take classes that interest you.</p>
<p>If you major in English, the classes might not even be fun. My son is a gifted musician, but he never considered majoring in. One reason was the difficulty finding work. But the other reason was that it studying music seriously would tend to take the joy out of his passionate outlet. </p>
<p>I did a mech eng degree with Technical Communications concentration. That has worked well for me.</p>
<p>How about minoring in English? I have a cousin who’s a mechE but minored in history just because he loved it, but a history degree itself is useless for a career. Why not go that route?</p>
<p>To add to Hyperion’s post, even if you can’t get fit a minor in your schedule or you don’t like some of the formal requirements, use you elective slots to take classes you enjoy (that’s what I’m doing).</p>