Which Engineering major should I choose?

[Jimmy.C]

I just finished my university year 1. I was admitted into the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department. Now I have to choose my major between Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, and Chemical and Environmental Engineering. I am considering the salary and ease of finding a job. My University is located in a city based on the Economic and Business industry. So in the future, I may want to work in USA, Australia, Germany or Japan. Please give me any suggestion on which major you guys recommend

 

[3DDave]

Ask your placement office if they have any contacts with companies doing those types of work and see if you can arrange to talk with engineers there to better understand what those jobs entail.

I worked with a guy who was far into a Civil Engineering degree. He was so happy to get a summer job on an actual Civil engineering job site until he found out that in the summer the day starts out hot, the ground if often thick mud, and various insects want to feed themselves on human flesh. He then transferred into the Physics degree program and never wanted to work outside again.

 

[GregLocock]

My prejudice would be to ignore the enviro one. Traditionally Chem Eng is the highest paid.

Although it is likely as an experienced engineer that you will be able to work in any country of your choosing, as a graduate you won't.

The rules about points based visas for Australia are changing soon, don't be surprised if your speciality gets dropped from the list.


Cheers

Greg Locock


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[rb1957]

do whichever turns your crank the most ... the jobs and salary will fit a job you enjoy.

"Hoffen wir mal, dass alles gut geht !"
General Paulus, Nov 1942, outside Stalingrad after the launch of Operation Uranus.

 

[IRstuff]

You need to find what makes you want to get up in the morning; doing something you hate because of salary will make you a sour person and unsuccessful. If you are enthusiastic and good at something, the salary will follow.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
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[Jimmy.C]

I know some of you guys want me to do the "job I like" But the ideal job for me is actually become a doctor or dentist, Engineering is my second option. I would say I have an equal interest in both engineering majors. Personality I don't want to work far away from the city and have enough free time, cz I pay more attention to work-life balance. I got a pretty high grade in Chemistry and biology ,and equal interest, that's why it's so hard for me to make a choice. I want to know more about my future career of bioengineering and Chemical engineering(btw the "bioengineering" isn't Biomedical or Biotech, it study both of then but less professional)

 

[LittleInch]

Thee is no clear path here that anyone can tell you.

Chemical Engineering offers probably the widest path to a job and a career in industry and could apply to many different roles, but if you're interested in the bio eng or environment route, then this could preclude this or in terms fo your first job(s) you would stand more chance with a bio eng or chem plus env major.

Really up to you - no one is going to tell you what to do as it's your life.

Just be careful when taking your first job as once you're two to three years in, what major you did becomes irrelevant - you become what you've done, not always what you want to do.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[lucky-guesser]

Just be careful when taking your first job as once you're two to three years in, what major you did becomes irrelevant - you become what you've done, not always what you want to do.

Lol, I am living that out right now. I'm only a couple years past graduating and my drafting degree is already becoming highly irrelevant.

 

[Gr8blu]

Usually, "bioengineering" is a mix of chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineering disciplines with additional emphasis on physics, chemistry, and biology. Did I mention there is often a LOT of math involved?

Bioengineering could lead you to developing new strains of crops or fertilizers - or it could result in advances in prosthetics and "mechanical replacements" for bodily functions. It could also lend itself to those "ergonomic" studies we used to see back in the day. Chemical engineering will - most likely - lead to process development and/or process control in an industrial setting.

If you really want the work/life balance ... why not go a pure science route instead of engineering?

The jobs will be where the industry is located - which could be anywhere. My brother, for example, worked at a location nearly 125 km (80 miles) from where he lived - and commuted every day. Why? So his wife could have a much shorter (30 km = 20 mile) commute. And so their kids could attend a good school.

Converting energy to motion for more than half a century

 

[IRstuff]

But the ideal job for me is actually become a doctor or dentist,

So, what's stopping you? I've met at least a couple of doctors that started out as engineers and switched later, which is not necessarily ideal from a career perspective. You might just find that your "second option" isn't anything you thought it might be.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
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[rb1957]

equal interest in several topics ... pick one, it really doesn't matter which since there seems to be a large overlap.

the worst thing you can do is agonize over this, stress yourself, and not make a decision (or second guess yourself).

"Hoffen wir mal, dass alles gut geht !"
General Paulus, Nov 1942, outside Stalingrad after the launch of Operation Uranus.