<p>Like I have said many times before: No one can tell you what is right for you. You have to do what makes you happy. If you don’t like ChemE, by all means, do NOT do it – find something that is right.</p>
<p>Although I must stay that not all courses in your major are going to be lovable – some of them are going to be hard, tedious and alot of work. This is true for all majors. However, if you find that you are feeling this way about nearly all of your classes, you are probably in the wrong field. </p>
<p>Also, while money is of course a factor that should be considered in the job selection process, please do not let it dictate your future. Some students in the US are known for going the “I want to be a Doctor because I can make 300k a year” route.</p>
<p>Yes, graduate schools tend to look at cumulative research time. If you have some summers of research, and maybe 2-3 semesters, you should be ahead of the game.</p>