I am starting this new thread to talk about a different issue. My eldest son wants to be a Chemical Engineer. However, I have apprehension about it. I think it is a very difficult major but a little advantage in salary versus other engineering field. As some are saying, a number of students change major in the middle of the game and it could be costly – time and money.
As parents, is it our decision to what major our child should be taking, or is it his/her? I guess this is when it comes to a point that you don’t agree with each other.
Chemical engineer is an excellent major with wonderful job prospects. I am not sure how you came up with the salary issue. CE can be used for anything–pharmaceuticals, oil, plastics, electronics, etc. Honestly with so many majoring in nonsense degrees you ought to be proud.
I think it is reasonable to discuss a child’s potential major, but, ultimately I believe it is the child’s decision to make. Chemical Engineering is an excellent major and yes, it is rigorous.
ChemE has a somewhat higher expected salary than other majors, save Petroleum engineering. Civil engineering and mechanical engineering generally pay much less.
Aptitude for chemistry and math will be useful for that major.
Plus, your son can change majors - encourage him to take other classes and see what else is available.
As for decide/influence, I’d say maybe decide not certain majors at certain expensive schools, that is, if my son wanted to major in Fine Arts or Music, I’d probably override the most expensive schools and only pay for a cheaper school.
Influence, why not if the parents have a good relationship with the child?
@dad3sons
Please remember this…your kids will be going to college…not you.
Please let them choose their own college major.
Of course petroleum engineering job and pay prospects are closely tied to oil prices, which can be very volatile. The OP probably knows how jobs and pay in the oil industry can fluctuate.
I think you talk to your child about his strengths. For instance, a kid who struggles with math but loves computers, decides to major in CS. I see nothing wrong with talking to the kid about his past difficulties and suggest he might be better suited for something else. However, in the end, it is up to the student. I think the student has the right to try.
I thought this was going to be another thread about Musical Theater.
Unless your kid wants to pursue Petroleum Engineering (scary now) now or Biomedical (engineering lite), I wouldn’t worry about what engineering type.
Chem E majors do just fine. I would say NO, you should not be deciding. It is your son’s life, and it isn’t like he is picking a major that has no employment potential at all. I am quite sure that even if he switches to something else, he will do just fine in the working world.
http://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/majors-that-pay-you-back/bachelors
I think its open for family discussion but I wouldn’t force my child. I would want to know my kid was realistic in his/her skillset necessary for success in a given major and I’d hope my child was choosing a major for other reasons than just getting a fat starting paycheck.
I think major is something that should be discussed with a child if the parent thinks that the student is choosing a major for which he is ill suited for or for which job prospects are poor, or something along those lines. I don’t think the parent should choose the major, but I see nothing wrong in discussing it and providing some guidance and an alternate viewpoint.
Mine are too young for me to give anything other than a hypothetical based on my parenting style and our relationship. Generally, I’d give opinions but not make the decision. Generally, they listen to my opinion and it has weight.
In your case, I wouldn’t overly worry at this point. My understanding is that it generally isn’t too difficult to switch out of engineering and into something else. But it can be difficult to switch out of something else and into engineering. And that the first year or so of engineering classes are more general engineering. So, if he does fantastic his first year and still wants to go for it, great. If he does well but hates it, he can switch. If he doesn’t do well, maybe he’d be more willing to look at other options.
One thing I would try to make sure of is that he isn’t going for chemical engineering just because it pays well, even though he really isn’t that interested in it. I think it’s a tough major to succeed at if you are only in it for the money.
My principle in life is that a person will earn more if his/her career/work uses his/her natural talent (and physical built) as main skill.
For example, if a person wants to be a professional basketball player and he/she is naturally talented and has that physical ability (height/agility), then for all reason, pursue basketball. If naturally good in singing, pursue singing.
My son is really good in theory when it comes to chemistry and also math or, do chemistry equation, etc. However, I haven’t seen him interested in mixing stuff, or experimenting using chemicals, etc. I am not sure that he really understand what its like to be a Chemical Engineer. I admit, I also don’t.
I see his potential as a lawyer because he likes debates and he is a member of his HS debate team. He places in some competitions, etc. He asks me a lot about politics, issues of life like racism, gender, segregation of people into communities, etc. Last night I discussed with him about Historically Black Colleges and the opportunity for full-ride scholarships. Instead, he discussed why people segregate naturally (i.e. HB Colleges).
My theory is that kids work MUCH harder in a major they want and that they picked themselves. And hard work usually leads to success. And honestly, right now law school is a pretty lousy investment. Unless he goes to a tippy top law schools, it is tough to get a top paying job. And given how expensive law school is, that is a problem. The recession knocked the stuffing out of the legal market, and it hasn’t really recovered.
That said, what year is your kid? If he is just finishing junior year, maybe he could try a summer program or something to let him see what he thinks about engineering. For example, Rose Hulman has Operation Catapult (one of my kids attended, and decided she did NOT want to be an engineer as a result – but that in itself was worthwhile). They are still taking applications if you Google it. One great thing they do is have presentations on a lot of kinds of engineering, which helps kids see what types of engineering they might be interested in. So if that is affordable, it would be a good idea.
I think one way to increase the chances of a student changing majors and increasing money and time spent on/in college is to force a kid to major in something he/she doesn’t want to.
Why don’t you see if he can shadow a chemE at work for a day. Fwiw, my husband and oldest son are both ChemEs and neither have ever mixed stuff or experimented with chemicals for their jobs. Most chemEs work in manufacturing keeping processes functioning within product specs or manage operations.
My brother-in-law majored in chemical engineering and now works with semiconductor chips. Let’s just say he does quite well - he told his kids they could go to any college they wanted, and cost wasn’t a problem.
@Mom2aphysicsgeek Does one needs to be a Chemical Engineer to become a Manufacturing Manager? I think there is a major specific to that.
The chemical industry is cyclical like the petroleum industry, but on the OPPOSITE side. When oil (the raw ingredient) prices are low, the chemical & petroleum refining industry make out like bandits. With fracking technology turning the US into a bigger oil producer than Saudi Arabia, global oil supply is projected to be in a glut situation for good.
ChemE would seem to be a good bet.
I’ll be honest, I nearly threw up when one of my kids left engineering and transferred to a non-STEM major, but I calmly asked her what her plans were (we were also in the middle of Downtown Disney so not exactly the most ideal place to discuss in depth…), and she gave me an excellent plan of attack. She is tenacious, bright, and hard working, and threw herself into her new major. She had done her research, created a great team of resources, and focused on her goals. And now, a couple of years since that talk, she has an impressive resume, and will be in a career she adores. So no, I didn’t influence or decide her major, but she knows me well enough that she had thoroughly investigated and prepared what she needed to do to be successful in the major and what she needed to do to be competitive in a job search, and presented that to me. She would have been miserable in engineering, and now she has found something that she thrives in.