ChemE or MechE? This is the final question!

Jda2k3
Sun, 22 Oct 2006 14:04:12 +0000

Which has a lighter course load in college? which has a higher starting salary? Which one will grant me more career stability in the future? Which one is more interesting overall?

I didn’t like chemistry in H.S. and i never took physics but I loved reading books on physics, astrophysics, and quantum physics. Note, they were just books about the general ideas of these subjects, not like textbooks with problems and all that, but I think i’d enjoy physics. I’m loving AP calculus, Ap environmental science and elementary functions this year (i’m a h.s. senior). I just know that I love science and I am starting to have an affinity for mathematics, especially when the math becomes more difficult.

BUT, I am also really good with psychology, philosophy and I am one hell of a writer (atleast that’s what I’m told). However, both my ap english teachers told me not to pursue English as a major and countless people tell me about the lack of jobs in philosophy and psychology due to the influx of people majoring in these fields. Plus, there aren’t as many opportunities as say an engineering major in these those types of fields.

Now, I wanted to be an Chemical Engineer solely because it’s supposedly “the universal engineer” but my bad experience with H.S. Chem is kind of discouraging me… I don’t know if college level chemistry classes get much more engaging or atleast somewhat entertaining, but for now I see chemistry as a boring subject. I heard that MechE can also e considered the “universal” engineer BUT how does it compare with ChemE? Note, I always loved playing with motors, wires, lights, pulleys, and any other kind of machine as a kid, like taking them apart and all that. So is Mechanical Eng better for me?

GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, i’m so confused!

edit

I know some of the answers to my questions can be found in google but I keep getting all these websites with mixed numbers… Some have Chem E starting salary at like $70,000 and mechE at $55,000-$60,000 and vice versa, so I have no idea which is more lucrative. I also keep reading different stories about what ChemEs and MechEs do.