<p>Is there a quiz that can help me decide on that? At the moment, I'm only interested in chemical engineering. However, I don't know as much about the other engineering disciplines as I would like to. I did some research already and I still don't think much of the other disciplines. Can anyone help me a bit on that?</p>
<p>A lot of people going in have only a vague idea of what they are really interested in, or what the various engineering disciplines are really about.</p>
<p>What happens is during the first two years you have to take survey ciourses in many of the various engineering disciplines. After you take these courses you will have a better idea.</p>
<p>you've come a long way in narrowing it down to engineering, I mean.. most of my friends don't even have a clue what they want to do in college.. and it's their last year already(highschool).</p>
<p>hi, well im an international student and in (most) universities here (UK) you have to decide your specific engineering major before entering itself - so you don't really get exposure to other fields of engineering. So if anyone knows, I too would appreciate it if someone could suggest ways of deciding on a particular field. Right now im confused between electronic and chemical engineering.</p>
<p>Thing about chemical engineering is the specialized chem courses so if that's what you're thinking about look it up. See what they do. I'm a chemical engineering major so if you have any more specific questions just pm me. There are a few more chemEs on the board here so just try and narrow down what your asking. Just say why you picked chemE and I could probably tell you if it's a good enough reason and what will be required of you. There are pros and cons to every engineering major so it just matters what fits you. There is really no best one.</p>
<p>I picked chemical engineering because chemistry is my strongest subject. It's one of the only courses that I don't even to study at all. I just get it. I've thought about mechanical/computer/electrical engineering as my other choices, but I'm not particularly strong and interested in physics. However, I took a computer science course last year and I didn't have to study much (BTW we programmed in java). </p>
<p>I also want to do something that is multidisciplinary so I can learn many different things. I'm not doing engineering just because of the pay. I've always been interested in science (esp. chemistry and robotics I would think).</p>
<p>well its strange...im much better at chemistry than physics (but not as good as i am at maths) and find it much more interesting. In fact, i don't really find many areas of physics interesting (other than cosmology etc.), and i quite dislike electronics. However, in spite of this, i am considering doing EE, because i've always "seen" myself working in hi-tech, silicon valley typey jobs (can't quite explain it) and feel that EE is the best way to do this. I know you can go into EE with ChemE, but wouldn't simply be easier with an EE degree itself? (inspite of the fact that I don't particulalry like electronics). Having said that, chemE seems to be much more about "processes" than, say, designing advanced materials which i would find interestin, and also seems to be more about "optimising" production levels etc. Hope this explains my confusion
Oh - and if it helps, i'll probably do an MBA later in my career and go into management related jobs</p>
<p>Well benderunit don't think because you dont have to study in high school means that college will be the same way. A lot of people that are coming in will have been the top of their class in those subjects at their hgih schools as well. It sucks not only for you but for you to watch people who used to be so smart, not be able to manage it anymore. I think chemical engineering is the most multi-disciplinary engineering. With ChemE you have to be serious right away.</p>
<p>MR_JR chemE is about processes but they can design to since they have a lot of chemical know-how. My chemE prof is working with single-walled carbon nanotubes, which are 30x stronger than steel and way lighter, and if perfected they can be used for about anything: From biosensors (small scale) all the way up to space as the space elevator (large scale) and even is being thought about as an anti-tumor treatment (that was Stanford [another biggie in nanotube work] though). Anyways see SWNT slide when placed together so they have to find someway to place a polymer on them to stick them together and strong enough that it will be able to carry the same capabilities they have naturally. So there is design work out there but probably not as common or as studied (until higher levels of graduate school I'm sure). So I was just stating the main point but there are other aspects.</p>
<p>i see...but i'm not sure if i would really want to get a Phd..and even if i did, it would meant that i would have to spend all my undergrad years doing things i'm not interested in like designing more efficient oil reefineries or w/e. Like benderunit im not in it for the money - i love science but would rather not do a pure science degree - it's the applications of science that interest me more.</p>
<p>I'm also particularly interested in nanotech. Would ChemE give me a big start if I ever were to focus on nanotech?</p>
<p>I think ME, EE, and MaterialsE are the best way to get into the nanotech industry, not ChemE</p>
<p>Just to warn you, there is a LOT more physics in ChemE then you probably realize. Your high school chem class has little relevance in terms of what you will see at the college level</p>
<p>or would materials science be more appropriate for that?</p>
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I think ME, EE, and MaterialsE are the best way to get into the nanotech industry, not ChemE
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<p>Personally, I think that ChemE is closer to nanotech than ME is. </p>
<p>However, I agree that materials science is probably the closest of all. </p>
<p>I know that Berkeley offers a specially integrated double-major in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, illustrating the close connection that ChemE has with MatSci.</p>
<p>i would do materials science, but ive heard from many that it's somewhat too specialised and the career opportunities aren't great. is there any basis for this?</p>