<p>I'm currently a freshman in college, and I was hoping to get some advice from the older and wiser parents on this board. </p>
<p>I matriculated to the engineering school, thinking that I'd probably major in operations research or environmental engineering. I started fall semester with the general engineering requirements (multivariable, mechanics, yada yada). While I'm not doing horribly in these classes, I'm not doing particularly that well either. However, the issue is that I'm' not enjoying them that much. Now I don't know if its because they're hard and I'm getting discouraged because I'm just lazy or if it's because I just don't enjoy engineering. </p>
<p>I guess the initial reason I picked engineering was because I had always been good at math/science in high school, and my dad is an engineer. The things that engineering can do is amazing. For operations research, the research that they work on (transportation, efficiency, systems) is fascinating. Engineering something that's familiar that I know I'm not horrible at, with decent job prospects after graduation. </p>
<p>This semester, as one of my humanities electives, I chose to take a sociology class on sociological economics. I enjoyed this class immensely, and while there were a ton of readings, I did them all because I liked the subject. This coupled with my less-than-ideal experience with my engineering pre-reqs, has made me want to switch out of the engineering school and into this department. I know I like reading more than problem sets. Though, I'm not a fan of writing papers because I hate subjectivity. </p>
<p>To sum up:
I don't have to pick a specific major now (engineers declare at the end of freshman year, non-engineers declare sometime in sophomore year), but it'd be wise to pick whether I'm going to stick with engineering or not. I'm worried that the only reason I'm liking sociology so much is because it's "new" to me and that if I delved into it I'd end up not liking.</p>
<p>So... I guess I don't have any specific question, but thoughts and advice anyone?</p>
<p>I think you should investigate career options in engineering. There are many engineers whose jobs are not as math, physics, math all day, and perhaps if you could picture a few possible careers in engineering that you know you would really enjoy, you would become more enthused with your engineering classes.</p>
<p>I think you might enjoy majoring in sociology or psychology and minoring in math, taking as many math electives as possible, and then getting a master's degree in statistics, applied statistics, or biostatistics. I think you might enjoy being able to use your abilities in math and logic to help figure things out.</p>
<p>Not sure what kind of engineer your Dad is, but as someone with a masters in plastics enginering I can tell you I use very little math in my everyday work life. Yes, I am involved in lots of testing of plastics and there is math involved in some of the calculations I do, but nothing like what I did in school. </p>
<p>My experience in college was that they try to weed out a large population of the eng major kids the first year or two. Then you move onto the "fun" classes, like most majors. My suggestion is to stick it out another year and if you really want then change majors, then do it. I got my undergrad in chemistry and a masters in plastics engineering. I still remember being pregnant with my first and up very, very late Sunday nights working on homework. It was not fun. I envied those who majored in other fields. It is a lot of work, but you will be rewarded when you graduate. Engineering majors start off making much more money that those in the "soft sciences". While money isn't everything, it sure makes life easier. </p>
<p>I work with a lot of engineers that go on to get masters in business or law degrees while working. From my perspective, you can do more with a degree in engineering than some of the other sciences and I suggest sticking with it. If after starting work with an undergrad in engineering you want to change go back and get a masters in the field of your choice. </p>
<p>I have a son in 1oth grade who is really good at math and science, but loves, loves, loves history. I would love to have him continue in college doing something with math and science, but it doesn't look like he is going to follow that career path. </p>
<p>Sociological economics is not a typical sociology course. It's not a typical economics course, either.</p>
<p>You might have a different view of sociology if you took a more typical course in that field, and you might also benefit from taking an economics course as well. Economics might be to your taste because it involves math, which is one of your strengths (although it does also involve plenty of problem sets -- my daughter, an economics major, is almost always working on at least one or two).</p>
<p>I know that engineering students have little room in their schedule for electives, but I wonder whether it is really a good idea to change majors on the basis of a single course. </p>
<p>Would it be possible for you to attend a summer session this coming summer -- either at your regular college or at a college near home. If you could take another sociology course and an economics course in a summer session, you might have a better idea of whether one of these fields is really for you, and you could return to school for the fall semester with a better idea of whether you want to change majors.</p>
<p>I suggest you consider your freshman year a time to check out a few options. Take another sociology class....see how 2nd semester goes in Engineering....etc. Right now, you have too little data to make an informed decision (which you certainly want this one to be). good luck</p>
<p>Yea, I guess it is a little rash to change my major completely just based on one class. I will be taking an econ class next semester, so I'll see how I like that.</p>
<p>Engineering is not suppose to be easy, if it was then everyone would be doing it and starting salaries wouldn't be so high. On the flip side, just because you did well in a sociology course it doesn't mean you have certain gift for it. The reason you did well is because it's an easier course. My daughter as a math and economics major is struggling with math (got her first B in math this semester), but got an easy A in gender studies. Is she going to change her majors from math or econ to gender studies? No. The difference between having a BA in math/econ and BS in engineering is with a BA there are more options when it comes to jobs in the future. You could certainly get a non-engineering job with a BS, but it would be harder and less lucrative. My 2 cents worth is try to decide if you want to be an engineer in the future. If not, I would try to get a BA in math/econ or science, have a minor in humanities. People that are good in math/science are valued by employers, don't throw that gift away.</p>
<p>I agree with avoidingwork-
Take some more classes and see where our heart goes.Also, are ou at a school where you cn double major or take a major and a minor? A double major is not easy with engineering, but perhaps the major/minor is do-able. My s just graduated last spring with a ME degree (with additional concentration in Physics and managerial studies) and had 4 job offers within the first semester of his senior year. The job market is much softer now, but engineers are hot commodoties!</p>
<p>I suggest staying in your engineering classes for now. Take as many sociology classes as you can fit in (or take some at a CC in the summer). You might consider majoring in industrial engineering, as it is the most people-oriented engineering discipline. You could get a masters in sociology if you like it Ith an engineering undergrad & a soc grad degree, you would have a great background for an interesting career.</p>