<p>Just wondering what major is better if I want to do something related to use of solar energy in the future?</p>
<p>Should I take engineering major or just chemistry? physics?</p>
<p>My friend told me that environmental engineering may be a good choice, and I am interested in material engineering also. </p>
<p>Actually, right now my major is electrical engineering, and I am a junior now, but I don't feel that it is related to solar energy that much, or maybe electrical engineering is still a good choice?</p>
<p>I am planning to go to graduate school when I finish my undergraduate degree, so, do you guys have any suggestion about the graduate school, which is more proficient/advanced with use of solar energy? </p>
<p>I have heard that Germany and Japan are really advanced on use of solar power, so maybe I should consider schools there? </p>
<p>Alright, I just have too many ideas and get confused. Actually right now I don't have too much knowledge on solar energy, that's why I am so confused.</p>
<p>Can you give some advice, please?
Leave a comment if you have any idea/feeling/news/knowledge/rumor about solar energy, I am collecting information now. ^_^</p>
<p>You should start by looking at something like UW-Madison’s Solar Energy Lab ([UW-Madison</a> | Solar Energy Laboratory Homepage](<a href=“http://sel.me.wisc.edu/]UW-Madison”>http://sel.me.wisc.edu/)), which leads to degrees in MechE or ChemE with a solar energy focus (obviously) and is probably exactly what you’re looking for. </p>
<p>You’re already a junior, so if I were you I would stick with electrical for now unless you think you can switch and still graduate in a timely manner. Your specific engineering background isn’t really that important in grad school applications, just that you HAVE an engineering background (or related, such as math and physics). Get some research experience if you haven’t already. If nobody is doing solar research at your school, this might be a good opportunity to start your own project. Even if you were just doing really basic stuff, it would look fantastic on your grad school application because it shows both dedicated interest and initiative, which adcoms tend to love.</p>
<p>If by solar power, we’re talking photovoltaic solar power, then useful majors would be electrical engineering (semiconductors), physics (condensed matter), materials science, and also ME and ChemE and NanoE and others. I have heard that environmental engineering is not good for alternative energy.</p>
<p>My advice: stick with EE and specialize in semiconductors. Photovoltaic solar cells are just PN junctions.</p>