<p>Hello,</p>
<p>This is partly related to the college I go to, but it also encompasses job opportunities, nature of the work, job security, and innovation in the career. Thus, I put this into both the college forum and the jobs forum so I can get as much feedback as possible.</p>
<p>First, a look at my personality, so you can determine if I’m in the right field or not. If any of my predisposed notions are wrong, PLEASE CORRECT ME. I want to get a realistic picture of what I’m facing.</p>
<p>My personality:
Since I took Biology as a freshman, I have always wanted to do something with Genetics. I first thought of becoming a researcher, but then I realized that it wasn’t something I wanted to do: long hours, days, months, even years, of not making breakthroughs, slogging away in a lab for comparatively little pay. Around this time I started having an interest in Engineering, and then learned about Genetic Engineering, which actually worked with nanotech, genome mapping, etc. in order to solve people’s problems - with substantially better pay! The concept of the manipulation of people’s genes in order to fix their problems was an exciting venture for me.
Eventually, I thought-processed that I would need to go into biomedical engineering in order to realize my dreams of genetic engineering, since GE is a subset of BME. However, once I did my research on the fields, I also opened up the idea of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, creating materials that work in the human body for implantable essential machines such as prosthetics and pacemakers, etc. I also had the notion of doing research into anti-aging fields.
When college admissions rolled around, I eventually ended up with two options: Purdue Engineering (Biomedical or Chemical Engineering) or KU (Chemical ENG with a Biomedical concentration). I kept on doing more research and found out about Purdue’s Pharmaceutical Engineering program. It seemed interesting to me, the concept of drug delivery mechanisms, actually creating the medicines that could be used to help people. So that got added into the picture. But now, with research, I am scared of job opportunities and the cost of college. I was thinking about switching into Chemical - Premedical concentration at KU and then pursue medical school. I would want to go into Neurology, or some genetics-related doctor field if that happened. And that’s where I am now.</p>
<p>I’ve also always been a computer geek, but even though I would have loved to pursue programming, the sheer amount of time and frustration just made me back out. I am however, very good with visual-based things such as graphic design, visual workflow design, and visual project management tools.</p>
<p>Oh and I do want to go to grad school if I do engineering.</p>
<p>Nature of the work: First and foremost, what exactly do these engineers do? If there are any current Chem/Pharma/Biomed Engineers out there right now, your input is GREATLY appreciated: What types of projects do you do? Do you actually create new stuff, or work with a hospital for consulting, etc.? Do you work in a lab, or in an office, or on a computer, etc.? How long and demanding is this work? Do you have time for friends and family, and your own pursuits?
Also for doctors: I don’t know much about the nature of work of highly specialized doctors. I want to go into a field such as cardiology, neurology, genetics. Are there any doctors like that who would care to share their knowledge of this? Same question of time and effort involved into keeping a job in this field.</p>
<p>Job Opportunities: Well everyone says Purdue has a highly reputable program, but I have yet to hear from a person who is in the same situation as me. I want to have a medical focus no matter what program I’m in, even if it’s CHE. How are job opportunities for this small section of people like me? I know there are jobs for CHE in petroleum and non-medical related fields, but are there any CHEngineers out there who do medical work, and have a good pool of jobs to find? Same goes with Pharmaceutical and Biomedical: how are job opportunities in those fields? What’s your job’s average level of pay? I know the statistics on the U.S. Labor bureau website, but I want real data from real people. I know that Pharmacy is a stable field: what about pharma engineering? And second, if you are from Purdue and pursuing these fields, how good of a job prospect are you looking at?</p>
<p>I know that there are tons of computer jobs, but I want to know for WHAT fields?
I already outlined my computer interests: graphics, proj. management, visual-based things. However, I do have some interest in programming. Do you guys think there would be jobs for me?
The same questions for KU: I know that it’s ranking is almost like 70 places below Purdue, but I also know that ranking in Engineering is kinda skewed: how good of job opportunities are you people with same conditions as mine doing?
Although I know that if I want to become a doctor, I will pursue chemical engineering at KU with a premedical concentration.
also, how is computer science/software/related engineering fields at these places?</p>
<p>Job Security: Yeah, how secure is your job? I know that CSE companies apparently did poorly last quarter or something, so how are THESE engineering fields doing?</p>
<p>Who recruits, and where: Who can I expect to be working for? Are there any known-name people in these fields, like GE, etc. that would hire chem/pharma/bio - medical people like me? And where would these jobs be found?</p>
<p>Salary: My career goals for pay are to start off with at least 50-70k. I want to work my way up past the 100k mark, if I can. However, I know that with a doctor specialization you can make much more, which is a factor, nonetheless. Believe me, I’m not in these fields for the money. I just don’t want to have too little, because I know that I was not able to get all of the comforts of my peers all the time while I was growing up. Maybe some of these are superficial, such as Video games and other electronics. It’s just that I only ever got a few in my lifespan, and then I see my friends with multiple consoles and huge game libraries (I’m not in a rich neighborhood by any means!) and so I want to basically provide the same for my kids, and also not have to struggle financially.
HOWEVER, I realize that with higher pay means a lot more time and effort, downgrading my social life. I’m a social person, I want to have time for my hobbies and relaxation. If it comes to that, then I will gladly take less money for more time.</p>
<p>Innovation: I want to be on the cutting-edge of technology. That’s mainly a reason I chose engineering over medical. Would there be time for innovation, helping others create new prosthetics, etc.? Or would it just be a series of small specific projects for a specific purpose and a specific company?
I do know, however, that innovation can still happen if you are a doctor, as I’ve heard of one that created a new prosthetic design that’s highly successful. I want to know if that’s still possible if I become a doctor.
Same with CSE, although I know there’s always innovation in this field</p>
<p>Social life: two components: college and life after college
College: I know that Purdue’s courses are really difficult
I don’t want to enshroud myself in my work. Would I be doing that if I became a med-related engineer / doctor / computer guy? I know that computer geeks are stereotyped as being really unsocial; is that really true? Would I have time for other stuff, such as arts, gaming, music, etc.?
Also, highly-specialized doctors: I know about the long road to becoming a doctor: you usually don’t finish until you’re 35 or something, right? Would everything be okay with the rest of your life socially, like marriage?
Also, engineers. It’s been stereotyped that they’re not really social: is that really true? I know the trend is going down in favor of team players and enthusiastic people.</p>
<p>Phew! These are just all the questions I had. If you have ANY answers to ANY of these questions, please give me your feedback and advice! I just want to have as much information and data as I possibly can before I make a decision on some of the most important things of my life: the college I go to, and what I could be doing for 40+ years.</p>
<p>Thank you so much in advance! I appreciate all constructive answers!</p>