<p>Hello all, I'm an incoming transfer for undergrad Chemical Engineering. I love the chemistry, and the upper division classes such as heat, mass transfer, thermodynamics and kinetics seem immensely interesting, but recently, I'm falling in love with the wizardry and applications of mechanical engineering. So I am now at a crossroads =|, and not sure which discipline to major in, but I want to do both. I think the best solution is to do undergrad in one major and post grad in the other major. My question is which order would be the easier to transition. CHE to ME or ME to CHE and why? </p>
<p>Mechanical engineers do most of the things you mentioned you like as much or more than chemical engineers with the exception of reaction rates, so you can keep pursuing most of those simply by following more of a thermofluids track within mechanical engineering.</p>
<p>Aside from that, I have a couple things to say about your plan. First, don’t just assume that you will be going to graduate school when you finish. Given, I don’t know how far along you are in your studies so far, but it sounds like you have at least a few years left, so you don’t even know if you will be interested in continuing with more school when you finish (most people aren’t), let along if you will be able to get into a decent graduate program. I encourage having a plan, but make sure you select a major course of study that allows you to have a career that you would be happy with assuming you go straight into industry after your bachelor’s degree.</p>
<p>Finally, graduate degrees are meant to be specialization degrees, not generalization degrees. Doing your graduate degree in something other than the field in which you did your bachelor’s doesn’t mean you want to broaden your qualifications to do both types of jobs. Doing that should mean that the new course of study is better suited toward the topic you wish to study in greater detail. In general, the goal is to specialize.</p>
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<p>I have put some thought into this. My original plan was to pursue BioE, because I was intrigued by DNA, and after taking a molecular bio course, I was extremely thrilled with the topics, such as using viruses as vectors to rewrite genetic material. However, after further research into the BioE field, I found that BioE is a very new industry and there are not alot of jobs available, and the jobs available in the field are actually going to ChEs, MEs and EEs. </p>
<p>After more research, I found that ChE would open more doors in that field, all while I had a versatile degree, which could get me into the door of a lot of different industries. Furthering my research, I am finding that ME’s and ChE’s have a lot of overlap as well. But it seems ME’s have the edge as they actually build things (I’m not sure if the same is true for ChE’s, but from what I understand ChE is more concerned with process engineering and mass production rather than building something new). I like the idea of having the knowledge of building my own things, personally modifying my devices. </p>
<p>Because there is such overlap, I feel either path can lead me to the goal, which is why the decision is difficult. </p>
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<p>I hope so. I intend to join the Bourns College of Engineering in Riverside this upcoming. While not the most prestigious name around, It’s ABET accredited, the best engineering school for its size and with a small student to professor ratio, I feel I would learn the most there and have better opportunities to metaphorically “shine” there. </p>
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<p>I understand. If I go to graduate school, I should gain more skills to better my profitability. However, as I read, undergrad majors lay better foundations than others. For example, I’ve read if someone truly wants to do BioE, then they should undergrad as one of the disciplines mentioned above and then do BioE as a postgrad. And while it is possible to do the converse, its not recommended because BioE in general doesn’t have the same foundation its sister disciplines have. </p>
<p>Is the same true when crossing disciplines between ChE or ME? </p>
<p>Additionally, if I may ask, what kind of engineer are you? And would you be able to share your experiences, via pm, or whichever medium you are most comfortable with? </p>
<p>I did mechanical engineering as an undergraduate and am just finishing up my PhD in aerospace studying fluid dynamics.</p>
<p>What in trying to say is that mechanical and chemical engineering are both broad and will give you a good basis for jobs and graduate school. Choose the one that is more applicable to a BS-level job you’d be happy to have in case graduate school doesn’t work out for whatever reason. Then choose your graduate program (if you end up doing it) based on your research/career aspiration at that point.</p>
<p>They can be similar. Heat and mass transfer is a course for both majors. The difference will be perspective. </p>
<p>In general, chemical</p>
<p>what is the @xinzin? your post is a fragment…</p>
<p>Ah, sorry. Mechanical and chemical both do heat and mass transfer. You will be learning very closely similar stuff. The difference is perspective. With your career goal, stick with chemical. Mechanics you can still work with medical doctors, but not in the manner you’re thinking of</p>
<p>@boneh3ad I’m just curious, but why did you deside to study fluid dynamics? Is there in other practical use of this apart from Aerospace engineering? </p>
<p>@Frankie33
Fluid mechanics applies to just about everything. It keeps your plane in the air, it facilitates combustion in your car’s engine, it governs how the sun fluctuates, it determines how destructive a bomb can be, it cools down and heats up your house, it can cook your food exceptionally fast, it governs how beaches and riverbanks erode over time, it is how you can hear things, it determines whether or not a mold can be filled properly in injection molding, it plays a large role in your circulatory system, the weather and climate are governed almost entirely by fluid dynamic and thermodynamic phenomena, and many more applications…</p>
<p>Fluid mechanics has a very, very wide array of applications. That is why chemical engineers study it, mechanical engineers study it, aerospace engineers study it, applied mathematicians study it and physicists study it. I find it fascinating, so I kept studying it.</p>
<p>You could have stuck with Bioengineering. I just got a paid internship/co-op with a company that does injection molding for Toyota and Lexus components. And I’m a BE student, go figure. They don’t care as much about the title of your degree as they do the skills you’ve acquired during your education and past work.</p>
<p>He’s better off in Chemical engineering. Chemical engineers can do everything a bioengineer can and more. In terms of versatility, mechanical is only one that can beat it</p>
<p>Thank you for your responses. I’m going to stick to ChE. It sounds like it will open a lot of doors. </p>