Should I finish off EE?

College Majors Engineering Majors
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<p>In the next couple of weeks I will be entering my Junior year of college. Coming in as a freshman, I had AP credits that placed me out of the beginning Calculus, Physics, and Chemistry courses as well as "transfer credit" that allowed me start my freshman year as a sophomore engineer. However, throughout the past couple of years my interests with respect to the job market has made me realize that even though I have enjoyed classes in EE I do not want to work as an engineer. As a result I have begun contemplating changing my major to Math while minoring in EE and physics. </p>

<p>Despite this, I am still hesitant about making the change because I had been also been considering doing the engineering ---> work --> MBA/financial engineering thing. Also, by changing major I will not be able to study abroad next fall and GPA will not look as well. Currently I have 3.3 (could enough for Engr honors), but even if I were to do really well the rest of the way that won't look nearly as well as a math major. Essentially, the classes I had to take in ME (which I blew off) are coming back to bite.</p>

<p>Several things I am considering for the advantages and disadvantages of switching majors (in Pro/con format).</p>

<h2>Pros</h2>

<p>1) Will be taking more courses which I have a great deal of interest in (looking ahead in EE, there are some I am not interested in)</p>

<p>2) Won't have to do projects I hate/am not interested in. (as is the case with any engineering curriculum)</p>

<p>3) Will be more applicable to my career goals</p>

<h2>Cons</h2>

<p>1) Can't study abroad. (but does this matter outside of business majors? still wasn't sure if I was going to do it anyway)</p>

<p>2) Will have a lower GPA than my peers who are majoring in Math, won't be able to graduate with honors.</p>

<p>3) Will now have to take classes in a foreign language (Engineers were exempt at my school, and have no interest in any of them).</p>

<p>4) An engineering degree will get more respect than a math degree when applying to graduate business schools</p>

<p>After taking all of this into consideration, what would you guys recommend I do?</p>

2

<p>bump…</p>

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<p>I personally would advise you to stick with engineering. From my experience, the people I have known with math and physics degrees seem to have a harder time landing well paying positions. This seems to leave them with little option besides entering graduate school, not a bad thing, but many seem poised for academia. I am sure there are lots of counter examples to the few I have known, however, to me it seems fairly easy to do whatever you want with an engineering degree. You mentioned the MBA route, which is a popular choice… and truthfully you are not barred by hardly any BS qualification with an engineering degree in the business world.</p>

<p>On top of this - what would a Mathematics degree with minors in Physics and EE do for you that an engineering degree wouldn’t?… If it’s just the material that you are trying to avoid, I don’t think it’s worth it. If it’s professionally, I don’t see the advantage.</p>

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<p>i had the same plan as you once upon a time, i changed to math…and then i realized that i could just continue with an engineering degree and do the same thing. (changed back into college of engineering after 1 year)</p>

<p>theres no reason we both can’t complete our engineering degrees, work in industry if we want, get an MBA or fin. eng. degree and go from there.</p>

<p>(and the avoidance of curriculum in your school as you mentioned…can’t be avoided! if you change to liberal arts college, you just get even more boring foreign language courses…same at my school)</p>