I actually want to do engineering, but I am a bit stuck about something. I want to be an engineer because I am i both enjoy and am very strong in math, especially Calc and differential equations. However, I consider myself to be both weak at and very easily frustrated with physics. I do enjoy physics, but most of the time I can find it overwhelmingly difficult(especially E&M) and get frustrated very easily. With math, I enjoy it much more and am also much better at it. I do also enjoy chemistry, quite a bit, and am also very good at it. Because of this, I thought about doing Chemical Engineering as I thought it would be a great fit, but I heard that it pretty much is a degree on fluids and thermodynamics. Because Calc and diffEQ are both my strongest and most enjoyed subjects, I thought about doing applied math. But I found out that any math major, including applied, is working with lots of proofs. And I DEFINITELY enjoy the applied side of math and science rather than the theoretical side. So yeah, what would be a good major for me? I do think engineering would be the best overall, as I also really enjoy learning how things work and how to make them, but I still am not completely ure.
@jt1055 What do you find difficult/overwhelming about physics? Physics and engineering are simply applied math, which you say you enjoy, and you sound like you have a strong aptitude for math.
I just have lots of trouble understanding concepts and setting up the problems in physics. I took my first physics class as a junior in high school and I am now a sophomore in college and I am still having the same problem. This is nowhere near as big of an issue for me in calculus, differential equations, or chemistry classes. I can still study hard in a physics class and get a decent grade, but it doesn’t happen as naturally as with other science and math classes.
You are correct in your assumption that Chemical Engineering deals with a lot of physics. Personally, I HATE kinematics and E&M, but don’t mind thermo, so ChE isn’t a problem (you deal with thermo/fluids, which isn’t anything like your basic physics I kinematics class, but a LOT harder than your thermo unit in any general physics course).
Aerospace is said to be very math heavy, though I’m not sure exactly what types of physics it deals with other than fluid dynamics. I find it very interesting, but my uni doesn’t offer it as a major. You could try looking into Material Science for the chemistry side, though I’m not sure how much physics is involved. MechE is just physics.
I might see if your uni has a career counseling center and set up an appointment with them, or try talking to a professor or two (ones with a friendly reputation) to see if they think you’d be a good fit in that department.
In Electrical Engineering, you have to take a newtonian physics class, but after that you move on to electricity and magnetism…EE is very much applied math.