Is Chemical Engineering a good choice as a major?

Question

I'm a junior now in high school and wish to pursue a career in Chemical or Nuclear engineering. I do well in all subjects and take all the possible Honors/AP Courses at my school , and I have received all A's. I was wondering if Chemical Engineering is a good choice as a major. I like Chemistry and Math and have a good work ethic. Please tell me of your experience as a student or as an engineer ( study habits, like your job, pay, etc. ) Thanks

Answer 1

Yes, because I'm a chemical engineer. Pays good too and you can choose the industry you want to be involved in. You can go to oil and gas industry which is in high demand, if you get bored you can jump into manufacturing, the possibilities are really endless.
The down side is that it is not an easy degree. Lots of sleepless nights re exams plus depends on the university your going to, the design was really tough but interesting.
Whatever your choice maybe, good luck!

Answer 2

Absolutely.

Chemical engineers are very well paid (Chemical Engineering is one of the best paid engineering professions) and they are always in demand. It is also not boring as there so many industries that they can work in.

The biggest demand for Nuclear engineers is in the power industry, in nuclear power plants. After a few years this work can become boring, or else they teach. If you don't go into the Navy and get your Nuclear training and education there you will always be competing with those engineers and many of the managers are ex navy also so I would imagine that that would make for some pretty stiff competition for the non navy eng'rs.

Answer 3

First off, Chemical Engineering has little to do with chemistry. Chemical Engineers design manufacturing plants and develop products based on chemical ideas. For example, I did research on hot and cold packs and how to improve them. Also, another emphasis of chemical engineering to make chemical manufacturing (processes) safer and cheaper. Essentially it is the money side of chemistry. A typical chemical engineering curriculum involves tons of math, thermodynamics, physics, and of course chemistry. Be prepared to study like crazy and lose lots of sleep. Fresh out of college you can easy make 50K and you can get internships while you are in school (during the summer) making 18/hr. Chemical engineers can be employed in manufacturing, food, oil, energy and education to name a few.

I majored in chemical engineering, but originally considered nuclear engineering. I decided against nuclear due to the limited number of schools offering it and also the limited number of jobs. However, if nuclear is your passion, you can do it with a chemical degree. I have a friend that graduated with a chemical degree and now is employed at a nuclear power plant.

Answer 4

There are many factors to consider when choosing a college. What is the weather like in both cities? Indiana doesn't have the harsh winters that Minnesota has. Purdue has a great chemical engineering program. But ask for a view book from both schools so you can read about the graduates and where they work. The city of Lafayette provides many opportunities for socializing. My best friend's son graduated from Purdue. He recommends the college to anyone who is a serious scholar. One thing I like...there is a community college campus in Lafayette. If a student doesn't meet the standards for PU, he or she can attend the community college, earn credits in gen ed with high grades, and re-apply to Purdue. The community college has an articulation agreement with Purdue. Bottom line is no one can make that decision for you. Only you know what you are looking for in a college. You can transfer if you find you don't like your first choice. Best of luck.

Answer 5

well, as a 4th year chemical engineering student, I can say that it really has it's share of ups and downs (although, more downs for me, haha). if you do wish to major in chem eng, make sure you have a strong background in chem, physics and math. you should also make sure that it's not just because you're getting good grades that you like those subjects but that you have a genuine interest in learning them (i.e. you're not going to be just plugging in numbers into formulas all the time, you might be expected to derive complex mathematical models, involving lots and lots of calculus. I've probably seen more Greek letters and variables than actual numbers.). i really don't and that's one of the reasons i've found the past 4 years to be extremely tough. Also, unlike some other engineering disciplines like civil or industrial, expect to spend LOTS of time doing laboratory work and reports. while your civil engineering friends are at the pub, chillin' with a cold brewski, you'll be spending eight hours in one day (no lunch break) monitoring a distillation column and continually taking samples (that was one of my lab assignments last year). so, i might not be giving the most unbiased opinion but that's my experience. of course, lots of other people in my class love chem eng and really enjoy the research and are really into it. it's all up to you. choose a major that you expect to really enjoy learning about, not just because of potential income.

Answer 6

yeah, if your up for the tough challenge. my pastor got his Ph.D. in chemical engineering. then got his MDiv.

good luck

Answer 7

yes, you will make from 60,000 to 150,000 a year. good choice.