<p>And why?</p>
<p>Please give honest answers, all input are REALLY appreciated!! </p>
<p>Or if you know someone who is in CoC, could you answer too and let me know if they would come back to Berkeley for Chemistry?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>it’s one of the best in the world, the instruction you find here is top-notch. that being said, it’s a public university, meaning you’re going to have to fight with other students to get access to that instruction.</p>
<p>Yes, most definitely…but depends on what other options are available.<br>
It was best for my situation, which isn’t the same as everyone else.</p>
<p>I was very satisfied with my education.</p>
<p>Er, to be honest, if I could choose again I would probably go with the other major I was considering while I was entering college – IEOR (right now I need to settle for a minor since I can’t switch). ChemE is hard…it’s gotten to a point where I feel like I cannot truly internalize the knowledge, so I’ve developed a sort of senioritis attitude towards my ChemE classes (I’m a 2nd-year). I studied consistently, put in the effort, and got an A in ChemE 140. Now in ChemE 141, 150A, I’m less motivated… I just want to finish this. Hearing graduates say that their ChemE curriculum isn’t really used in their actual job also serves to slacken my motivation in ChemE courses. Classes feel like some arbitrary hurdle to me now. Most of what you need for your job will be learned on the job.<br>
Not to mention I’m more attracted to the flexibility of IEOR/Applied Math application. On the other hand, if you do ChemE, you can do IEOR, though your career path may be a bit more convoluted. (And if I want to do IEOR, why am I putting myself through a harder major?)<br>
I’ll be interning at Intel this summer as a Process Engineer, so I’ll see firsthand if classroom knowledge is important or not. </p>
<p>Er, not sure if this was exactly what you were looking for, but there’s my current experience/feelings of ChemE CoC for you. I think as an incoming freshman, I did not realize what I really wanted to do with my life. Chemistry is cool and all, but I do not want to be that person in a lab 8 hours per day trying to synthesize something.
If I were set on ChemE, I would choose CoC again. Get a 3.0 or above here, and you’ll be good for getting a job (as long as you have decent extra-curricular experience working with people and preferably research experience, which isn’t hard to gain). What exactly are your plans for life, randomnessness?</p>
<p>icesplendor, whats IEOR?</p>
<p>^ Industrial Engineering and Operations Research.</p>
<p>I understand what you’re saying, icesplendor. Do I use the Navier Stokes equations in my everyday work? Hell no! IEOR is probably more practical because companies are always looking to improve efficiencies.</p>
<p>I will say that the rigor of ChemE has opened some doors. Certain industries only hire ChemEs. </p>
<p>I suggest finishing your ChemE studies and then try to pursue an MBA with an operations focus. I took a couple classes in my MBA program that were essentially “IEOR light”. </p>
<p>Congrats on your internship! Intel is a top flight company and that will be a fantastic experience.</p>
<p>Thanks SO MUCH for all your answers!</p>
<p>I guess I’m still pretty undecided on what I want to major in. I got in as a Chemical Biology major at Berkeley, but I might switch to ChemE, as I feel that it would have better job prospects. Ideally, I’m looking for Chemical engineering, with a bio focus. </p>
<p>I also got in to Johns Hopkins U where they DO have a Chemical and Biomolecular engineering major. However, its a little hard to turn down the fact that Berkeley’s Chemistry is #1, so i asked this question :P</p>
<p>If you’re interested in biology, the Chemical Engineering program here has a Biotechnology concentration–one of the more popular options. Concentrations are listed in our Announcement, see page 15: <a href=“http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/student_info/undergrad_info/publications/chem_10_11.pdf[/url]”>http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/student_info/undergrad_info/publications/chem_10_11.pdf</a>
Most people would agree that ChemE has better job prospects. It will be easy for your to switch to ChemE, too, since you’re already in CoC. You basically just fill out a form (assuming that you’re not totally failing your classes, of course). </p>
<p>UCBChemEGrad, are details of your career trajectory posted anywhere? I’d be very interested in hearing your story. (Thanks for the congratulations–it’s no exaggeration to say that I tried all school year to land a summer internship as a 2nd year. I’m glad I finally got something in the end.)</p>
<p>how is berkeley ieor?</p>