<p>So, since HS, I have always had a problem with my major, either E.Eng or C.Eng....well I guess I can figure that one out since They are closely related. However, my new problem is this
Since my work experience, I have become interested and considered Materials Science and Engineering and Environmental Engineering. I decided I have to study them, one way or another ( mostly because due to the vital problem facing the world at the time which is global warming, these two have high potential to attracted employers....an environmental engineer told me this). Therefore, at this time, I have fours courses I want to study. Sincerely, I feel abnormal in a way since I can't narrow down to maybe two. I need some advice on what to do, because I feel it is possible for me to study all four though one or two might not get full attention but at least some study in each. How do I do this? Do I double major and minor in one? Pls I need advice on how to plan my colleges years academically?? Pls!!! Any advice is much appreciated!!! Also which schools do you think would be most comfortable for me, even if it is to study three or it means graduating in 5 years??? E.g. I heard Duke allows triple majors..... Pls I need advice.... I don't want any of my interests left behind</p>
<p>You can study whatever you want on your own time. You also get electives for studying what you like.
As far as coursework, I suggest you stick to what interests you the most. Even if you have multiple interests, I’m sure you have a favorite.</p>
<p>I have had a similar problem as you, where I have many interests and wish I could major in them all. However, my recommendation for you is based off my own choice, which follows a few steps:</p>
<ol>
<li>Figure out the major you enjoy the most and major in that.</li>
<li>Figure out what area you like next that also could be valuable towards your major and try to minor in it.</li>
<li>For the rest, you will need to resort to buying some textbooks or checking some out at the school library about topics you are interested in so you can learn about them for the heck of it.</li>
</ol>
<p>This is the plan I have basically taken so I can graduate on time without looking like a jack of all trades and still have the satisfaction of learning various things I am interested in that I won’t get the chance to learn about otherwise.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. Well, I am most interested in Computer, Electrical. I think I can shed environmental… However, I still want to have something on Materials… I heard C.Eng and E.Eng are very similar so maybe, I can take a BS in EE and Materials and take some classes from computer engineering and even computer science… Right? Btw suggesting I stick to most interesting due to coursework… It means doing these majors require totally different courses?.. I thought some courses overlapped.</p>
<p>If I were you, I would get a Bachelors in EE and a material science minor, and maybe study up on some CE topics of interest on your own time or via some technical electives if you have time. I have been told getting double majors isn’t the best idea. However, if u have the money and desire to go after that much education, then go for it!</p>
<p>I had a similar problem. I would suggest: BS in EE, minor in CE (maybe), Masters in Materials. Even better if you can do an accelerated program. I really wouldn’t bother with Environmental Eng., the other 3 are much better employment wise.</p>
<p>The key question is: what do you want to do as a career?
Forget pure academic interest. Hell, I’m “interested” in philosophy, psychology, sociology, statistics, business, electrical engineering, and computer science. But I’m certainly not majoring in every single one of those fields. I’m doing computer science because that’s my academic AND career interest, and maybe I’ll take 1 class in each of those other fields. And you know what, in my free time and after college I’ll read one or two books on psychology and business and statistics and philosophy. And I won’t be super stressed about tests and writing essays for those areas. In two years after college, I could easily read 20+ books on all those subjects.</p>
<p>Do you want to write software? Do you want to design electronics? Do you want to build solar panels, wind mills? etc. etc. etc.</p>
<p>If you don’t know this, then your best bet is during your freshman year, take a CS class, take an EE class, take an Env.Eng. class, and take a Materials class. Spread this over the entire year (two of these classes per semester). Get an internship/research position in the field that interests you the most out of the 4 (typically you have to start looking for internships at the beginning of the 2nd semester, though). By the beginning of sophomore year you will have had a taste of every academic interest and you will also have had a chance to confirm whether or not you actually are interested in the field you interned in.</p>
<p>Then and only then decide what to do.</p>
<p>For the love of god, do not triple major. I would highly advise not double majoring where both majors are engineering majors, since I’m assuming you actually want to be happy in college (and in life).</p>
<p>Thanks a great deal @terenc for the info… Especially that last paragraph… So what you’re saying is I should take some classes from each major, doing this throughout freshman yr… And which ever interests me most, I take an internship or research position in it to be sure of my interest?
Btw, what do you think about a minor… Suppose EE is my true interest but CS still got a place in my heart (lol!) can I EE major with a CS minor? That’s okay? Or I should just take a few classes in CS?</p>
<p>You could get the CS minor with the EE degree if you chose, as long as you make sure you have the time before graduation to finish it.</p>
<p>Minors are OK.</p>
<p>What I’m saying is take a class in each major during freshman year. the problem is that you typically need to start looking for internships around February thru April, so that means you need to decide on what area to intern/do lab research in even if you haven’t yet been exposed to every area yet (you haven’t yet taken classes in all 4 majors). In that case you would just have to make a judgment call about which area interests you the most.</p>