<p>Both. The funny thing is, like konzer says it has little to do with chemistry once you actually work. Very basic chemistry stuff, otherwise you focus more on math and physics working as a chemical engineer.</p>
<p>i found thermo so confusing…</p>
<p>i knew a guy who had a 3.96’ish GPA and his only B was in thermodynamics…</p>
<p>just be on top of your stuff. DONT procrastinate. LISTEN in class…very carefully (this is the hardest part…well at least for me). Struggle through the homework on your own and go to a TA if you cant figure it out. I think most of it has to do with how much you liek the subject…if you really love it, you’ll more than likely be very motivated and you’ll do well. If you find the material boring (i did) you wont do so great…</p>
<p>I liked thermo. Never liked fluid mechanics. I really liked reactor design, but could never get higher than a B+ in the class (undergrad and grad). Process controls was weird. Separations was boring. Transport was amazing (except fluids, screw fluids).</p>
<p>No engineering is “easy” (IMO).
For the most part, all engr disciplines have the same prereq’s. The main difference between Chem and other engr disciplines is simply the amount of chemistry classes you have to take; ask yourself if you enjoy and/or have an aptitude for chemistry classes.</p>
<p>I am a third-year chemical engineering student. Let me tell you how to succeed in chemical engineering:</p>
<p>1) Have a good work ethic.
2) Make sure that chemical engineering includes – above ALL else – the type of work that makes you happy.</p>
<p>I say this because I am not happy. I found out that my passion is writing, philosophy and law. I’m sticking through with my ChemE major, though, because I cannot convince myself to drop it completely. It is too useful and I am too far in. EVEN with this said – my lack of passion – I do relatively well. I have about a 3.2 GPA, and the coursework is actually very enlightening. The fact of the matter is that I just cannot handle the math and science anymore because it’s not what keeps me going, it’s not my passion - it just doesn’t make me happy. I thought to myself, “Hey, you CAN DO IT… you proved that in high school (AP Chem with an A, etc.). So deal with the major and graduate so you can make some money.” Let me tell you, this is a mistake. Money is no longer of prime importance; happiness is. I am still glad I made the mistake because I will have a powerful degree behind my belt upon graduation (I plan on going to law school in the long run), but my utmost advice is that you check out the material and not ask yourself, “Can I do this,” but ask yourself, “Do I really enjoy doing this? Does simply working these problems make me truly happy?” There are people like this, I promise you. These people love engineering and that’s what they are meant to do. If you’re not one of these people, find what makes you happy and follow that - period. But if the answers to the latter two questions are yes, the go get yourself a chemical engineering education! The study is not bad and there is usually great camaraderie among students within most engineering programs if you’re willing to be a comrade. In my personal opinion, chemical engineering is the best of the engineering majors, and going through the curriculum you will become a better person if you enjoy it!</p>
<p>I hope this helped. </p>
<p>Best of luck,</p>
<p>Cody</p>
<p>I am a 3rd year chem E student, headed into my spring quarter. CHEM E is hard, but its also very interesting. if you’re not a chemistry fan, its still chill cause chem e is mainly physics ( thermo, fluids, heat transfer, mass transfer,etc )and math ( Calc- ODE and PDE, and stats- hypothesis testing, Error analysis). you do need to take a lot of chem classes though, like gen chem, ochem and the dreaded( P-chem). At my college’s program you get to take technical electives aka specialization , which ranges from EE classes ( signals and process) to ME classes( vibrations, CAD) to Chem E Classes( Biochem engineering, drug delivery , materials,polymers ). So yea its hard, i have a 2.82, but its sure damn worth it cause you can go into a lot of industries with a Chem E degree.</p>
<p>amby, it is so funny how different people see things differently. I enjoyed P Chem.</p>
<p>P Chem is also our dreaded course. It’s a common joke around our school: Oh, yeah? Well I made a D in P Chem! Luckily for us, P Chem is an upper level elective.</p>
<p>I took P Chem as a req. for teacher certification and certainly relate to the ACS’s bumper sticker that says “Honk If You Passed P-Chem!”</p>
<p>When discussing P-Chem with my high school students, I compare it to going to the dentist, in that both are not fun while they are going on, but we do it because it is good for us. After P-chem, you really understand why molecules do what they do as a result of the laws of physics.</p>
<p>(Got a B+ and totaly happy with it)</p>
<p>Chemical engineering=> pretty much math + physics. little chemistry</p>
<p>and yeah, you just need to make sure you 1) don’t fall behind and 2) you have good study habits when u have the time to study</p>
<p>being OCD about making sure you know what you’re supposed to know helps</p>
<p>At Accepted Students Day last Friday at UMass-Amherst, we were told by the chemical engineering people that chemical engineers take gen chem, orgo, and pchem. </p>
<p>Sounds like a decent amount of chem to me.</p>
<p>Sagert meant when you ACTUALLY worked a chemical engineer. Despite the amount of chemistry classes we take in college, in real chemical engineering work you only touch the basic chemistry for the most part.</p>
<p>some fundamental concepts of chemical engineering:</p>
<p>mass/energy transfer
separation processes
process design/control
reactor design</p>
<p>There is also research and development. Those usually require higher degrees like an MS. And the chemistry is very important here.</p>
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<p>I hate thermo. the more I learn, the more confused I get. I still don’t understand what the hell gibbs free energy is suppose to be. I can’t visualize the differences between A, U and H. Maxwell’s Eqns blleeeehhh. </p>
<p>btw. isn’t transport basically fluid mechanics?</p>
<p>You better love chemistry or Chemical engineering is going to hurt. Me, I hate it so I stayed away from it.</p>
<p>(Disclaimer: I work for an oil company, I work on project sides not process side - I wanted to go into project management as it bolstered my application to MBA school)</p>
<p>How much chemistry does one need to know for an actual chemical engineering job (industry)? I would say basics, you won’t need Schroedinger’s equation, ATP/Krebs cycle or why SN2 cleaves this. You will need to know why reactions proceed and why equilibrium occurs (thermodynamics basics is huge). </p>
<p>Your reactor design is going to be the heaviest chemistry class. You usually talk about selectivity, yield, and unwanted reactions. It’s the bread and butter of a ChemE (you drive reactions to your desired product). You will want to do well in this class.</p>
<p>Separations is another class you want to do well in. It’s a tough class as many times, you won’t see an actual distillation column/stripper or what reflux ratio is and how a reboiler works. Understand the basics on why things separate.</p>
<p>Fluid dynamics/transport (hence known as BSL) and thermodynamics are very theoretical. It’s good to know the basics (especially heat transfer) behind them but in industry, you really don’t care about laminar flow (everything is turbulent because you want it to mix or pump fast).</p>
<p>To quote one of the department chairs of a ChemE Deptartment, “Nobody understands thermodynamics… wait, nobody understands thermodynamics completely!”</p>
<p>Hi Cody,</p>
<p>I read your post on Chemical Engineering-</p>
<p>As a senior in high school, I have always been strong in math and science but never as good as the genius level. I received 36 on Math ACT and 750 on Math SAT/SAT II Subject Tests, and 4s on the BC Calc and AP Chemistry. </p>
<p>Chemical Engineering has been my interest as I really want to do law or business and possibly join the FBI/CIA where I know engineers are popular. Presidents of chemical companies that I know insist that friends they have who are outstanding investment bankers, lawyers, and businessmen were all engineers (mostly chemical). Their critical thinking skills and technical backgrounds were invaluable in the workplace, and they would have degrees to fall back on.</p>
<p>I know that you are clearly good at math/science but are not happy as an engineer. I believe that I would be the same way gradewise as well, but would be doing engineering not for the money but for the experience which could be used in my future career not involving working as an engineer. Would this be worth it to you? My main constraint would be if I could not get into a good school or would lose my scholarship if my GPA suffered from all these rigorous, curve-based classes. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Thanks a lot. I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>Ryan</p>
<p>Tentative colleges: (Pitt, Miami OH, Case, Penn, Villanova)</p>
<p>In my experience ChemE classes were never that bad, they tend to be very theoretical in the upper level classes (Transport, Thermo) and it usually comes down to being able to use the fundamental equations properly and keep track of your mass and energy balances. Knowing your basics and having a rudimentary method of applying the proper equations and making correct assumptions is really all it takes, granted sometimes that is easier said than done. </p>
<p>To do well in ChemE classes takes above all patience, but having a solid foundation in calculus helps a lot as well, especially in transport. In my experience I found that the chemistry classes, especially OChem were much more difficult and time consuming as it required you to think on a abstract level as well as commit a lot of useless knowledge to memory. My ChemE classes tended be either open book or open note tests, though this may vary from school to school.</p>
<p>It is not that hard. Be prepare to put work and get frustrated a lot. I would recommend mechanical engineering though, just because it is more versatile.</p>
<p>DarkPassenger,</p>
<p>I have come to believe that anyone can be outstanding in any field. What it all boils down to is your work ethic and your passion. Pick any major you want and for all the right reasons, and then give it your all. I admit, I could have higher than a 3.2 if I came into college knowing what it meant to give my all. High school just doesn’t prepare you for chemical engineering, especially where I come from. I grew up in an uneducated family who didn’t really instill any work ethic in me, and so this college experience has been one wild ride. I’m doing well and have changed a lot, but I think that’s what college is supposed to be about. I would say that if you are interested in chemical engineering, go ahead and major in it. I don’t think your economic outcomes will be in jeopardy as long as you keep your wits about you and work harder than those around you with a keen eye on your future. Many in chemical engineering are ready to call it quits after they get their bachelor’s degree (settling in a comfortable chemical engineering lifestyle). But I know a handful who are looking at further horizons. I guess what I am trying to say is that though it is very hard and is its own profession, the education can also be a stepping stone for greater things. It’s all up to you.</p>
<p>LaBarrister,</p>
<p>Thank you very much for your time. Honestly, what you said definitely is what I feel resonating within me and I definitely concur. Best of luck in the field! Appreciate the advice.</p>
<p>DP</p>