<p>Ever since I started the college search process, I have been mulling over what I should major in. My parents have been pushing me in the direction engineering as they are both engineers themselves. However, I am more interested in R&D. Specifically, engineering new drugs to cure diseases. My parents tell me that it is very difficult to find a job as a researcher and engineering positions are much more widely avaliable. Is this true? More so, is there really that much difference between research and engineering? If so can you elaborate on the differences to help me make a better choice. I know that this is my life we are talking about but I should respect my family's opinion.</p>
<p>I don't know beans about the relative merits of the two majors but I will advise you to follow the course that closes the fewest doors and has the greatest academic rigor until you decide what you want to do.</p>
<p>If you want a research position as an undergrad you may be better off in a LAC environment.</p>
<p>College should be a time of exploration --both of academic fields and of yourself. If you are torn in two directions, take courses in both areas , talk to professors about their respective fields and don't commit yourself absolutely until at least Junior year. Jobs are easier to find if you excel in your field and you are more likely to excel in the area where your true passion lies.</p>
<p>Purdue has exactly the program that you are looking for. It's through it's Pharmacy program. We went to an information session. I can't remember all the details but it sounded like the graduates had a great placement rate.</p>
<p>Ah, squarehead, married to an engineer here. Wonderful man, but boy do these engineers tend to suffer from one-track thinking. As I've said elsewhere on this forum, his view has always been that S should major in
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absolutely whatever he wants; whatever type of engineering that is :cool:
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That said, H, S and I all agreed that a college/uni with full A&S as well as Engineering is the best choice (S IS actually planning on engineering), so that S can be free to change his mind without having to transfer out of a purely tech institute.</p>
<p>I totally agree with others here that you should follow YOUR interests. But here are a few specific points which may help:[ul][<em>]You may not need to resolve this issue now (I hope you don't, in fact). Look for schools that offer everything you MIGHT want, and postpone the major decision until further down the line. [</em>] S is going to Tulane and when we attended Engineering Scholar Days, I was most excited by faculty discussions of what they are doing in the BioMedical Engineering field - exploring new methods of delivering drugs, etc. Programs like this, or the one deb922 mentioned at Purdue, might interest you. There must be several/many. [<em>]Students considering an Engineering major do have to consider that the curricula are not set up to allow much exploration in the first year or so. Most info sessions we attended recommended that, if you are even considering Engineering, you should start out in that program because it is easier to switch out than in. You certainly can start out "undeclared" or in another field, but if you decide to switch into engineering, you may not be able to complete the BA/BS in 4 years. [</em>]Many (most?) unis ask you to check which school/college you're applying to on the application (A&S, Engineering, Architecture...). You'll have to figure out how you're going to handle that.[/ul] I think your best approach right now is just what you are doing: information gathering. I'd recommend identifying schools of interest based on other criteria (size, location, culture, etc). Then, search their materials and websites for programs in the area that interests you (drug research, biomed engineering etc.) You might luck into a program that is what you want which also fits Mom and Dad's idea.</p>
<p>Biochemical Engineering would leave virtually all doors open. Chemical engineering at the right schools might leave them open too, especially if a biochemistry major or minor is an option.</p>
<p>pyewacket: That was what I had planned to do (stay open until junior year) but Cal Poly requires you to declare major on entrance. I cant really afford a private school so I m looking at state schools. I think UCs require you to declare your intended major on the app too.</p>
<p>deb922: I m planning to apply to purdue. I have kept up communications with the school since winter 2004-2005. Their college representative at the local college fair informed me of the merits of ther engineering and science programs.</p>
<p>jmmon: Thanks for all the suggestions. I m primarily looking at state schools right now. UCSD and UCD have good programs in both fields so they, along with Cal Poly, are my top choices right now. Berkeley also has great programs but it is a reach for me.</p>
<p>Thanks again everyone. My BIG problem is that many state schools required you to declare major on their app. If you guys could suggest any schools that are both cheap and have good programs in both fields, it will be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>squarehead - I agree with audiophile. You are not at all locked into a major based on the box(es) you check on the applic. Furthermore, you are not even locked into the "School" you check. At every university we visited, there is a separate College of Engineering/ School of Architecture/School of Business/ College of Arts & Sciences. The applications always require you to choose <em>one</em>. However, even that is not a lock-in. We inquired specifically at every info session and, in every case, one can transfer between colleges/schools. It usually required a sign-off by a faculty member in the incoming and outgoing divisions, but we were assured that it is pretty pro-forma.</p>
<p>That said, v. important to check re the UCs, in particular, since I believe some schools are oversubscribed, even tougher to get into and may not allow this type of transfer (eg UCB Engineering?) or not nearly as easily as some other univs.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice ppl. I have a friend who goes to Cal Poly and he says it is very difficult to switch majors between colleges/schools. Are you guys sure that inter-college/school transfer is feasible because engineering and science research are almost always seperate colleges/schools.</p>
<p>The ease of transfer depends on the college. At most larger state schools, it will probably be harder to transfer than at a smaller, private school.</p>
<p>Regarding your major, I'm not a parent, but here's my $0.02. Have you looked into a pure Chemistry or a Biochemistry major? I worked in a research lab in a college's Chemistry department last summer, and some of their students were going to work or intern at pharmaceutical companies. From what you said you want to do, I don't see much engineering behind it. From what I've read, BME's normally work with things like artificial tissues and drug delivery, not actually developing drugs. If you're going to do engineering, ChemE's seem to work in an area closer to what you want to do, but again, it seems like the engineers are not the ones actually developing new medicines, but rather the ones figuring out how to mass produce it etc.</p>
<p>Keep as many options possible for as long as possible. Then, when it becomes absolutely necessary to make a decision -- the point of no return--consider this. Do you want to choose a field you don't like because it will be easy to get a job that you won't like or are you a gambler who will risk everything on the chance of doing what you want?</p>
<p>Best wishes -- and what you want may change in the upcoming months. Be open to the possibility of change. When adults tell you to keep options open, we also want you to keep your mind open.</p>
<p>I don't really know anything about engineering or R&D, but it seems that the posters have given you some options that cover both territories.</p>
<p>"My parents tell me that it is very difficult to find a job as a researcher and engineering positions are much more widely avaliable."
Have your parents watch Lou Dobbs lately? Job as an engineer is going to pretty much disappear, most will be outsourced to third world countries.
That said, you should study what you want. I switched from Accounting to Engineering and had no problem, but this is outdated info, it has been 25+years now.
Also another point is that engineering field composes of a large sprectrum of area/subfield such as Mechanical, Electronic, Electrical, Civil, Chemical, etc..., engineering is a very broad term, job's situation will depend on the field, etc..My guess right now is biomed engi and chemical engineering is hot.
However, I don't have any suggestions for you as far as what field in engineering.</p>
<p>You sound very mature and capable. You will make the right decision when the time comes. Until then, keep your options open, hear your parents input (don't necessarily believe it is reality) and follow your interests. If you are the slighest bit passionate about something, follow it. Success and fulfillment will come from doing something you love.</p>