It’s getting close to the time where I have to actually choose my major for good. I can’t decide. I took an engineering course where we worked with the NASA HUNCH program. I loved it. So I have really been interested in the Aerospace industry for the longest time. The school I want to attend doesn’t offer an Aerospace Engineering degree however, so I have decided a Mechanical Engineering degree would be the closest thing. I have also been super interested in physics, which is what got me interested in the degree in Engineering Physics. Which degree would pay off more after college as far as career wise? Would one be better than the other just because of the content?
They’re both good. The good news is, you don’t need to decide yet. Just start in ME. It’s easier to switch out of engineering than in. You’ll get the full blown introductory physics sequence just as if you were a physics major. If you just love the physics and the rest is meh, then switch. If not stay in ME. Others can chime in, but it’s probably easier to get a job and one that will pay higher if you choose ME vs. physics assuming you do a BS only. Good luck!
The drop outs from mechanical engineering often end up with a physics degree. There is a reason that only a small percentage of people with a physics degree can get a job in their major. Get the mechanical engineering degree with a bio mechanical add on. The job market is good. Having taught many engineers and hired many engineers, the ME degree is a great start. One company where I was the chief engineer was one of the biggest companies in America. Their hiring policy was any engineering hire had to have either a mechanical, electrical or chemical engineering degree to qualify for hire.
Having hired and taught many engineers, you are absolutely right on the mark for getting a job. Another big consideration is going to an engineering school that’s ranked in the top 100. The people who make the decisions to hire know the difference.
That isn’t true. They much more commonly drop into business or economics, not something that is essentially a lateral move (or even a bit more difficult) like physics.
This is also not true. [In fact, the unemployment for those with a physics degree is generally nearly identical or even insignificantly lower than that of engineers.](http://knowmore.washingtonpost.com/2015/02/27/the-college-majors-with-the-highest-unemployment-rates/)
Why would he do this if his goal is to end up working in the aerospace industry? Did you even read his post?
I’d have to say this is probably some good advice, especially when it comes to mechanical engineering, which is often an impacted major at many schools. The curricula will be nearly the same for the first few semesters so you have a little bit of extra time to explore.
Another big consideration is going to an engineering school that’s ranked in the top 100. The people who make the decisions to hire know the difference. Is that true?
My son is a ME major and wants to design cars. His 4 choices are Ole Miss ( emphasis in manufacturing), Miss St, U of Alabama, and U of Arkansas because they will pay a lot for his school and he does like each one. If your above statement is true than which school would or should be his choice? Thks
When I got my degree in mechanical engineering from LSU that was the degree you got if you wanted to be a nuclear engineer, aerospace engineer or a biomechanical engineer you still got a mechanical engineering degree. You just took your post grad 9 credit hours in the specialty of choice. When I was in school you had two chances at any course and if you bounced twice you were out of the program. When I took dynamics, 144 people finished the course and 20 people passed. As mechanical engineers you go on to take multiple courses in advanced dynamics. Vibrations is another tough course. When I was taking statics, I happened to hear a student talking to the professor about how poorly he was doing in the course. He told the professor that both of his parents were PhD’s. The professor asked him in what field they held their advanced degrees in and he replied psychology. The professor told him to tell his parents that getting through statics was harder than getting a PhD in psychology. The guy ended up getting his degree in physics which was much easier. Many of the people that dropped out of ME went to civil and if they didn’t make that they went to business or something else. My brother was a good example. He dropped out of ME and got his civil degree. Since I’m now retired I can tell you that as the chief engineer at various large industrial factories at very large companies, one such company would not allow the hire of any engineer unless they had their engineering degree in ME, CHEME, or EE. I retired as the executive VP of a large defense contracting company.
I’m a retired ME and automotive engineering is what he should go after. Much easier degree to get and probably more appropriate for his desire to work in the job you mentioned. Most people don’t know what mechanics means in the world of physics.