I am currently a waitlisted potential undergraduate for UChicago.
I love UChicago and would love to go, but I was wondering how beneficial would this school be if I wanted to be an engineering major?
I know that UChicago does not have an engineering program and creating such program goes against their purpose, (Wanting to teach students not a particular field of study but rather teaching them the way to think and work in life). I love this way of thinking and how it emphasizes that life isn’t about only work and securing your future but rather you go to UChicago to learn and experience and be prepared. But at the same time, although I am not completely decided on my major, I feel inclined towards engineering. I wanted to major in engineering while considering taking minor in philosophy.
I also know that the Molecular Engineering Department is newly created but not completely reliable as an engineering program. I heard this new Molecular Engineering Department was soley created for the school to emphasize its strength within philosophy, math and the physics aspects, but lacks in other engineering components like learning hands-on or can lack learning in depth for a possible engineering major.
So the overall question is: How beneficial is it go to UChicago as a likely engineer major? What exactly does Molecular Engineering do and does it help secure my future? (Any current Molecular Engineer students at UChicago?)
(Sorry if this seems repetitive, I’ve seen similar posts online but I needed a more specified answer.)
Daughter is currently a molecular engineering major at UChicago. I am an engineer and have looked over the UChicago engineering program and guess what? Its very similar to all engineering programs, same basic courses, same types of advanced courses. The only limitation with UChicago is the number of engineering majors which to me look like Bio, Chem, and Quantum engineering (all under the molecular engineering umbrella). Other than that you will not find anything substantially different from any other university that offers engineering.
BTW…lacks hands on research…have you ever heard of the Argonne and Fermi Labs run by UChicago for the Dept of Energy?
I also want to mention that the reason I am considering UChicago despite my interest in engineering is due to my interest in philosophy and UChicago is a school with a strong basis on helping students have a strong and more reflective way of thinking.
@CU123 Thank you for the more positive and different response! Similar post had the same response that everyone said for an engineering major they should go to a different school. Based on your response, UChicago has hands-on learning and a strong engineering program that is very identical to other schools. But as I major in molecular engineering, does it help with obtaining a degree in engineering and creating a strong “engineering identity”? I heard that molecular engineering is not a popular major among jobs yet, so does this help in ensuring a strong future after college or more specifically obtaining a job?
Do you want to do mechanical engineering? Aeronautical engineering? Electrical engineering? Civil engineering? Literally any kind of engineering other than Molecular Engineering? Then go to a school that has a program in that.
Want to specifically do molecular engineering? Have specific ideas of what you want to get out of Molecular Engineering beyond a vague idea about creating a “strong engineering identity” (I’ll admit I don’t even know what that means). Then sure, come.
Don’t expect the IME to be a replacement for a proper accredited broad engineering program. Otherwise, you are in for a very nasty surprise when it comes to trying to get engineering jobs outside of molecular engineering or applying to engineering grad school. There are people here that wish they were doing EE, MechE, Aero, or whatever and tried to compensate with other majors and classes and realized too late that no engineering means no engineering. Save yourself the trouble and go to a school that has engineering unless you are really, specifically interested in molecular engineering (which it doesn’t sound like you are).
No disrespect but @HydeSnark is not an engineer and I doubt has any interest in it. Engineering is not some magical degree where only a few can learn it or teach it. Fundamentally it is simply the application of science and math to solve real world problems. UChicago has a very good reputation in both math and science. A degree in engineering from UChicago will carry the same weight as most other universities (and probably a little bit more just because of its reputation in science and math). @HydeSnark only valid point is the lack of other engineering majors, but one of the more interesting things about engineering is the cross-pollination that occurs in engineering whereas ANY engineering degree opens a lot of engineering doors, My other DD is a chemical engineer and currently works in silicon valley writing code for automating biochem processes although she had very limited coding courses in college. This is where experience tends to come in and dominate the field you eventually end up in. Now back to what @HydeSnark says about grad school, this is the where he veers off the road. For grad school, unlike the social sciences they are more interested what kind of engineering experience you have for any particular field. IOW, like the business school, having an undergrad in business may not be helpful in getting into a graduate business school. Now some people will say that the ABET accreditation is important for engineering and it is for anything to do with infrastructure, as the government likes to have accreditations to point to when things go wrong (like when a bridge collapses they can always point to the fact they used accredited engineers, which by no means says they used the best engineers). However, for cutting edge programs, even Stanford and MIT forego ABET accreditation for those engineering programs, as the technology is moving too fast to worry about accreditation. Having said all that it is important to understand that UChicago does not offer mechanical, electrical and other engineering majors so if you want those particular majors then you need to go elsewhere.
@CU123 I personally know people that are currently trying to transition from molecular engineering to non-chem/bio engineering (mostly mech or aero/astro) and are having a lot of trouble. Maybe you know something they don’t about getting engineering jobs and getting into engineering grad school, but most of them seem to strongly regret it. I’m sure you’re right that the IME is fine if you are interested in chem, bio, materials engineering (heck, that’s who they are catering to!) - but OP said in another post that they want to do MechE (which I suspected, due to no real professed interested in molecular engineering or even similar subjects here), and seems to fit right into the profile of regret that I’ve personally seen here: someone looking for a general engineering education with lots of flexibility and thinks UChicago will be a great choice because the school is prestigious, we do have at least some kind of engineering, we’ve got the core so we’re all about general education. These are all bad assumptions - UChicago’s engineering program is great if you are specifically interested in molecular engineering and not so great if you aren’t.
So my advice stands: go to a school with a broad engineering program. UChicago does not have what you are looking for.
A minor in Phil. is really cool. You might be able to do that at a university with a standard College of Engineering as well but it’s probably “easier” to accomplish at UChicago because the College makes it possible to study more than one discipline. Both will be very rigorous, to say the least.
@HydeSnark I agree that the particular transition you are talking about is difficult, especially chem to aero, as aero is a subset of mechanical and a VERY specific industry. However it can be done but will most likely require a masters (and you will regret it if a masters was not in your plan), and as I noted, IF the OP wants mech, electrical, or aero I advise a different university (one that actually offers it). Personally I have worked with particle physics graduates on complex aerodynamic simulations where their degree wasn’t that relevant, but like all majors, the rigor of the education is inherently germane to solving complex problems. That is why STEM graduates are highly sought after in all industries.
@CU123 thanks for the more detailed information. To add onto @HydeSnark I do have an interest in molecular engineering. Although I also have an interest in mechanical engineering as well. Like you said I would prefer a general engineer education so that I can try out all the various fields of engineering so that I can be more confident in what I like… But that doesn’t necessarily mean I would need it. Because I am interested in molecular engineer as much as I am with mechanical engineering.
Yes I am aiming for at least a master’s degree and quite possibly a PhD but it’s too early to tell
But what I am confused about is how @CU123 and @HydeSnark are saying 2 different things. One says the ABET accreditation are important for getting a job while the other elaborated that the expansion of engineering in general doesn’t make one require it. Also one says that uchicago offers a strong engineering for molecular.
After some intake my biggest conflict is that uchicago seems to offer a decent molecular engineering program (according to @CU123) and even without abet accreditation getting jobs afterwards is not difficult. Whereas if I were to go. If my interest shifts or I find out I want to try something else… I would have no opportunity to do other engineering (like mechanical / aerospace)
As an engineer and believer in UChicago’s life of mind commitment I tend to agree with @HydeSnark.
I believe UChicago is a good option, but I can list 30 better options if you want to be an engineer. Engineering schools have infinitely more engineering clubs to participate in playing with your future career field. As a Purdue grad, the campus revolves around the engineering major. Every job fair has hundreds of big name firms there solely recruiting engineers. Places like Purdue have that infrastructure and network well oiled and running and they have for over 100 years.
If you love the life of mind idea nothing stops you from being that person where ever you go. You will also find others like you.
My answer would be different if you said you weren’t sure what you wanted to do, maybe engineering?
Are you sure you want to be an engineer? Many people pursue that field without really knowing what they want to do. I did and sometimes regret it. I was good at math and science and my GC told me I should be an engineer. I think if I would have started in a great LAC I may have found a field I was more passionate about.
Let me ask you a rhetorical question that I’m sure breaks down, but I think you’ll get my point. If being a professional basketball player was your dream and you were gifted enough to chase that dream, but you loved UChicago’s Life of Mind concept, would you choose UChicago? UChicago is competitive in DIII basketball and the school is investing in athletics.
Thanks @BrianBoiler. Your explanation was clear to help resolve my dilemma. So although I believe uchicago’s way of life… I can still find that at whatever school I will go and it would be better for me to go to a school for engineering.
I’m not 100% confident in my decision as an engineer but I believe it’s my best major option. I love science and math and excel at math. I’ve had small experiences with engineering but nothing big enough for me to be confident. Yet I’ve had a love for science continuously and I’ve always been fascinated in future technology.
@cpark252 What do you think an engineer does? I know many people who thought that they will spend their career well you know designing and manufacturing stuff. But most of the time we project manage and oversee teams. I’ve not used math higher than basic statistics since college. I’ve never had to use the dynamics I learned. Computers do most of that stuff now.
If you love math and science, then UChicago may be for you. My answer was if your heart was set on being an engineer. If you could see yourself board not making the body of knowledge greater or discovering a new way of using science, then research science may be more rewarding. If that is the case, then I can think of few better places then UChicago.
@BrianBoiler the last post was on point. So many potential engineers think they will be researching, working in a lab, solving new problems, and creating new inventions when that is far from the truth.
While I agree with @CU123 point that the thought processes and rigor inherent in Math and Science are transferrable to engineering, I just don’t see UChicago as having any brand in traditional engineering eg electrical,mechanical etc. I say this as one who has recruited engineers for 20+ years on campus and UChicago would not be on the list of places to visit.
I also agree with @BrianBoiler that many select engineering without a full knowledge of what it entails (other than the starting salaries are high). In Electrical Engg (my specialty) you basically becomes obsolete in 5-10 years so you move into management or are replaced by cheaper and younger labor. Much harder now than when I started 40 years ago with all the computer driven change…
In light of @Tiglathpileser and @CU123 and @BrianBoiler 's responses here is what I love and where I can see myself. I love discovering new things and fighting to figure out the better truth, and so I love pushing the boundaries of the known scientific facts and also making the impossible, possible (why I love philosophy). I also love discussing subjects like theoretical physics and I want to combine my expertise of math with science. At this point I have not mentioned engineering because this interest has been more consistent and shown through my behaviors is aspects beyond a regular academic situation.
When it comes to engineering, I believe that one should take the knowledge that (let’s say) I have discovered from the theoretical physics and making something out of it. I want to push it forward from the mind to the world. I have always loved tinkering with things and I do enjoy aspects of building. My biggest experience in engineering would be MESA (Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement Club) where there are competitions to compete in where you have to perform a certain task. When doing so, yes, I am stressed, angry at my teammates but although at times it’s not enjoyable I feel like I could keep working for hours. For me, based on my limited experience, I see engineering as a puzzle, using the knowledge of theoretical physics and research science to solve a puzzle and making something work in real life rather than just the mind.
I know I may be ignorant to what engineering really is so please correct me on my faults. Based on what you’ve read what do you think would be the best major for me? My conclusions were engineering and this is why I chose engineering as my major as well as wanting to study philosophy and if possible, theoretical physics in college. (this is also why I applied to UChicago knowing the school isnt known for engineering, I also am afraid of changing majors halfway through college as I feel conflicted.) I know my interest and love but I cannot connect it to a single major but I felt that engineering encompasses as much of it as possible. (PLEASE correct me if I am wrong so that I may start college on a more proper path)
@cpark252 I think really one way of looking at it. It is not meant to be negative towards engineering. Engineering is where Science and Marketing meet. Your job as an engineer will be to take somebody else’s scientific breakthrough and make it commercial. You may get to be involved in the discovery of that breakthrough, but it will very rarely, if ever be your breakthrough. You will spend a large amount of your time talking to, either directly or through marketing, customers and identifying their desires in a product. You will then begin to look for ways to make that possible at a cost that will allow a company to get a gross profit.
It can be a very rewarding, both monetarily and in terms of self-fulfillment. Most of the time you will at best be making incremental improvements to existing products and sometimes those “improvements” will not be a better product in the eyes of the customer, but a more profitable product in the eyes of your employer.
You most likely will spend much less of your time engineering then you would even in the club you mentioned. As time has moved on, it feels (yeah, no objective evidence) that engineers are spending less time engineering then they were 25 years ago.
All this is from first and second hand experience, first as an engineer, and second as a senior leader for companies that hire a ton of engineers.
I only have second hand knowledge on research scientists. Hope that helps.