<p>First of let me say that I am a sophomore in High School. </p>
<p>So I've been thinking about which major I will pursue and have been stuck on engineering and business. I am just wondering which one would be better and better yet, if it were engineering which specific field would be best. For engineering, I am taking honors alg 2 and with an A average for the year (at a very competitive private school in New England) and am planning on taking BC calc in my senior year. I am also taking Honors chemistry, with a A- average. I do like both these courses, and math is my favorite class in general, so I thought perhaps I should go into the engineering field. But I also love money, and business in general. I would like to take micro and macro economics at some point in the next two years but that leads me to my dilemma. I am split 50/50 on which field I want to pursue in college, and I want to make up my mind before my junior year, so that I can sacrifice a few courses in the subject which I will not pursue and free up more time for the other. However I do not know which one to choose. I am asking for someone to tell me with which degree I would find more success after college and I have also heard that for engineering experience is more vital than a graduate degree, and I would like some clarification on why this is or if it is true. Thanks beforehand and would really appreciate if some engineers or business grads could elaborate on anything that is useful.</p>
<p>just a clarification, when I was asking for which engineering field offers more success after college, I mean, which one has better pay, which one is in more demand/available, with which degrees will it be easier to find work etc.</p>
<p>Sophomore year doesn’t tell you much about which major you’ll enjoy most, who knows how you’ll feel about math when you hit calculus. I wouldn’t worry so much about how to organize your high school classes, they only mean so much anyways, and it would probably be better for you if you took both an econ class and a calculus/physics class to help you decide which you would enjoy most.</p>
<p>Money is great and all, but to be honest, if you’re smart, you’ll earn plenty with either field. All major branches of engineering have a starting salary ~+70k, and while the aerospace industry is a bit slow currently that probably won’t last forever. All engineering majors are in demand and well-paying.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestion. Btw one more question, in addition to math, which science class would be the best choice? I see you suggested physics but would chemistry or bio work? and how about comp science as I will be taking that next year.</p>
<p>Not for engineering. Physics is on pretty much every college’s required class list. If you really don’t want to take physics AP Chem would be a better choice than any bio.</p>
<p>Not sure about Physics. I’m taking Honors Physics next year so I will see if I like it, then I can take AP Physics in 12 grade. But I’m still wondering whether engineering will be a better career then business. I’m kinda leaning on engineering as there are way to many business grads, but I’m not sure.</p>
<p>Well that depends on if you’d be most interested in physics, chem, or bio based engineering.</p>
<p>Although I suggest you take a physics class, as engineering is generally a calculus/physics based field, if you have a strong interest in chemical or biomedical engineering, it wouldn’t really set you back to not take a physics class immediately, even if you changed your mind later.</p>
<p>If you want to go into business but enjoy math and are good at it, doing something like a combination of math/statistics/economics/CS may be the best way to prepare for quantitative finance and actuarial jobs, as well as being reasonably attractive for those looking for computer software developers. Recruiting for quantitative finance jobs typically skips most business majors, who do not have sufficient math background, and goes for math, statistics, economics (with lots of math), physics, and engineering majors who do have stronger math skills.</p>
<p>Haha just in general? Thats like picking between chocolate, strawberry or vanilla ice cream</p>
<p>Which field really depends on you specifically. I’m in computer engineering because I found out I have a knack for computer science, but I still love science and elec/mech engineering.</p>
<p>And lastly, engineering fields are very closely related, and for the most part work together no matter where you go with your career. You can be a mechanical engineer that works on a project for an airplane, or a computer engineer that works in the aerospace industry, or an aerospace engineer that works on cars’ aerodynamics. And chem engineers are just in everything.</p>
<p>If your still split 50/50 and really have no idea in a couple years when you have to decide I would recommend engineering over business. It’s easier to switch from engineering into business later than business to engineering. Also an engineering degree gives you technical skills that require a formal education. A business degree will help you in the business field, but you don’t necessarily need a business degree to be good at business. It seems like one of those things that your either good at or not whether or not you have a degree. That’s just how I feel about it.</p>
<p>ziggy actually has a very good point. Its becoming more common that engineering majors are hired into accounting and business/economy for high-end math jobs because engineers have the logic/problem-solving skills some business graduates don’t have.</p>
<p>Go for engineering as undergrad and get a MBA as graduate, it’s a great combination. Don’t worry much about pay, either field can earn the same salary.</p>