Natwerk Designs

Should I major in mechanical or chemical engineering?

I'm trying to decide my major and I have to do it within the next few days! At this point I've taken both intro to mechanical and chemical engineering classes, but I still don't know which one I like better. Sometimes I like mechanics better, sometimes I like chemistry better. However, if I chose chemical I'd be a little behind because I have to catch up on organic chemistry, whereas with mechanical I am right on track already. Since I've taken more mechanics-related courses, going into chemical engineering would be stepping out of my current "comfort zone" in terms of the subject matter (although in high school I used to think I liked chemistry better after taking one year of it, then I took so many physics-type courses that now I am more comfortable with physics). Part of the reason I want to switch to chemical is that I think the field is a newer emerging field, with more opportunities for innovation, while I've heard some say that mechanical engineering has all been done--most of the jobs are repetitively tweaking little aspects of designs like turbine blades, etc. At the same time, there are still lots of different kinds of mechanical engineering jobs out there since it's so broad, so I'm sure it can't be all repetitive. I think the product design, robotics, aerospace, biomechanical (designing surgical tools, replacement joints), and "Disney-imagineering" aspects of it are very neat. I'm also interested in the environmental, medical, and material/substance development part of chemical engineering, not so much the process control part (which, if my understanding is correct, is controlling the flow of chemicals through pipes in the factory plant, etc.), even though I do enjoy the mathematical work associated with heat/mass transfer. One of my dilemmas is that most of my current "support group" is in the mechanical engineering department--the professors I know, the people and students I am friends with, etc. I think it's really important to have people you can rely on when you need help, companionship, or people to work together. I'm afraid that if I go into chemical, I am going to really have a hard time because I don't have anyone to collaborate with or talk to. Although of course I know I'd eventually make friends, I think at least for this next semester it would be rather difficult and I'd be mostly on my own. I would really miss the people that I've become good friends with. Every time I think I've made up my mind to switch to chemical, then I see people from my mechanical classes and realize how much I would miss them all. Also, I don't know how specialized chemical engineering is. Is it possible to work in a more mechanical-related industry with a degree in chemical engineering, or is it possible to work in a more chemical-related industry with a degree in mechanical engineering? Still, it's really tempting because I feel like chemical engineering might be a subject I'd really enjoy, once I got caught up in the curricula, plus it has a lot of new opportunities and research. Sometimes I get tired of the same old forces and vectors and moments routine. As a side note, I don't know if I'll continue to permanently work in an industry. Actually, I've always been interested in becoming either a teacher or a professor. I have no clue what to decide! Any suggestions? Thanks for reading this long post!

Public Comments

1. Of the engineers I have known in these fields, the chemical engineers made more money but were far more dissatisfied with their jobs and employers than were mechanical engineers. The chemical engineers were far more likely to want to change professions.
2. if you enjoy them both, then DO them both. It'll take you a couple more years but you'll have two ass-kickin' degrees in fields that you enjoy, and twice as many opportunities. I'm guessing you're plenty young so go for it. I'm doing both Mechanical and Civil....all this on the heels of a Biochemistry degree. O-chem RULES!
3. Good god that's a long description! Drop engineering and join FTT!
4. choose to do what you think you would like the most, engineering in general is a small group and you will still see many students from both chemical and mechanical engineering. For jobs, chemical engineers make more than mechanical engineers usually, but the job locations for chemical engineers are sometimes more isolated because manufacturing plants are not in big cities.
5. In all honesty, MEs and ChEs can both do most of each other's jobs. However, the knowledge of chemistry is a pretty good advantage. The only time there might be minimal value in the knowing chem is if you specialize in machine design. Anyone who tries to tell you that a ChE has fewer options on location has no clue. There is also no difference in industries. Just knowing chem "separates the men from the boys"; you can pick up a lot of chem OTJ or in personal study, but what have you lost or given up? ChE is generally recognized as the most challenging degree to get. If you start to wash out of ChE, you can always change to ME, but it's harder to do the converse.