<p>How does the outlook look(haha) for these jobs? I know on those government websites its says "the average of other related careers" or whatever but what do you think? Ive been told it is a dead specialty of engineering but doesn't everything need materials to be produced? I think it might be an interesting major but would going into ChemE then going to graduate school for MatSi be easier? Is doing MatSi first dumb?Gah I am so confused, any tips that you could leave would be nice for me, because as of right now I am enrolled in Iowa States Department of MatSi in fall 09'. Post here or mail me por favor.</p>
<p>Dead specialty? Are you serious? Materials science has only existed for the past 30 years or so. It's one of the newest and fastest growing engineering disciplines out there. Silica aerogels, carbon fiber, all sorts of nanostructures...there's a lot of innovation. The outlook is EXTREMELY good.</p>
<p>If you think the degree sounds interesting, it won't hurt to try it as I see it. The first 1 1/2-2 years of Engineering degrees are mostly the same (math, Physics, Chemistry), so you can use that time to find out more about Material Science/Engineering and then decide if that's the path for you.</p>
<p>The options with a technical degree are many: an engineering job, graduate school, law school (patent law, especially), or medical school. So you aren't making an irreversible decision at this point.</p>