<p>I'm a high school senior interested in studying engineering at a highly selective school (hopefully). I do not really have my heart set on engineering, but I am pretty sure it is what I want to do because I like math and science. I know some colleges make it very easy to switch between majors and schools within the college while it is almost impossible at others. Should this be a major factor in my decisions where to apply? If it should, what are some selective to very selective colleges that make it easy to switch between majors?</p>
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Liking math and science means that you may make it thru your college education. It does not mean you’ll like being an engineer. The training and the job are completely different. If this is why you think you are “pretty sure” then my hunch is you are mistaken.</p>
<p>In college you’ll spend a lot of time learning the math underlying the engineering principles and the principles themselves. As an engineer your job will be to apply those principles, not laboriously solve applied calculus problems (there is software in industry to do the calculations). I strongly suggest you speak with some engineers to find out what their job is like, and spend some time thinking if it is right for you, before you start down this path. </p>
<p>Most Engineering programs are very competitive. To cover the bases, you might want to apply to an Engineering major and if it is not to your liking, you can switch. It is much easier to switch out an Engineering major than to switch into one.</p>
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<p>The difference between science and engineering is that scientists study how things are and act, while engineers solve design problems. Of course, scientists use the things that engineers design (computers, telescopes, particle colliders, etc.) and engineers use the principles discovered by scientists to come up with designs that work.</p>
<p>Which would you prefer to do in school and as a career? (But note that many science graduates end up in jobs and careers that are not really science – e.g. math and physics graduates going into finance.)</p>