Mechanical or Materials Engineering?

<p>I'm going to a senior in high school this year, and I've narrowed down my potential majors to between mechanical engineering and materials science/engineering and I can't decide at this point. I was hoping somebody would be able to give me a little more insight.</p>

<p>Here are some things I would like to do for a career: building robot-type devices, working with alternative energy sources, creating new and more efficient materials (the definition of materials science, basically), or developing new forms of defense or security. </p>

<p>As you can see, I'm open to quite a few things. I feel like mechanical engineering would be good because it's so broad and I can do a lot with it, but I also know that, in terms of college applications and admissions, mechanically engineering tends to be really competitive. I don't have nearly as much experience for a lot of other applicants might (mainly just some competitions that I've done through school in science and math. I don't have many opportunities at school for engineering itself, since my school doesn't offer any clubs for it and I don't believe my community does either). </p>

<p>Would it be reasonable to get into some good schools as a mechanical engineering major? And if so, how should I choose between mechanical and materials engineering?</p>

<p>Mechatronics is the mechanical engineering (ME) version of robotics. It usually calls for a few extra classes within ME to get that distinction. My son did that and enjoys his work. He had to take a couple of materials classes as part of his degree requirements for ME and that satisfied his curiosity for the subject. Look at some college catalogs to see what is required (and how long it may take) for the various options you are considering to get a feel of what area is for you. </p>

<p>My daughter just recently got her degree in ME with a minor in materials. I don’t normally like to see two majors or even a minor unless they are closely related. But ME and materials can be close enough to consider it. That might also be a good option for you.</p>

<p>Remember that at this point you see all kinds of opportunities in front of you. That is a good thing but once you start working you will need to make decisions as to which field to specialize in. Some fields do combine several areas of engineering. Doing ME with mechatronics AND materials might be a little much and not really focusing in on a realistic career path (i.e. you would probably have to choose one area to combine with the general ME path).</p>

<p>My recommendation would be to start in ME as it is most general and gives you the most options. You can then add classes in other fields to complete your background as an upperclassman when you have more knowledge as to where you want to direct your career.</p>

<p>Since the first-year engineering requirements at many schools cover the foundation for each of the traditional engineering disciplines, you wouldn’t be compelled to choose your major right away anyway. Therefore, you can make the decision on ME or MatSci after you have a few foundation courses under your belt. Not true of every engineering school, but quite a few do it this way.</p>

<p>@HPuck35‌ Thanks! That’s what I was thinking I should do. Do you happen to know how competitive admissions is for ME majors? Like I said, I don’t have as much experience in engineering as I would like, so my chances may not be as good as some others.</p>

<p>@LakeWashington‌ I have heard that as well. However, it seems that at many schools, especially more selective ones, they want you to decide on a major during the application process. Which is why I’m debating it now.</p>

<p>As LakeWashington says, try for a college that doesn’t admit you to a specific department but to the college in general. That way you can decide later and admissions aren’t dependent of your choice of departments. Many California colleges make you choose while the east coast schools I am familiar with typically don’t make you choose. </p>

<p>If you have to choose a major; ME is usually a large department while other branches of engineering are typically smaller. More apply to ME so it’s hard to say in general whether ME would be more selective than other departments. In some cases the school website can help shed light on this by looking at their freshman admit statistics.</p>

<p>You don’t have to have engineering experience in high school to go into engineering in college. In fact, if be surprised if more than like 3% of incoming freshmen had any sort of engineering experience. Most just like math, science, computers or some combination.</p>

<p>“I don’t have nearly as much experience for a lot of other applicants might (mainly just some competitions that I’ve done through school in science and math.” - That should be plenty.</p>

<p>It beats the Engineering experience that DS had in hs… nada. But he was very strong in math/science (and other IB subjects) and had great stats. He was accepted at some top engineering schools and has done very well in his college studies. </p>