I am really worried and confused?

Question

I'm studying chemical engineering and I'm about to start my third year. I know this isn't what I really want, I don't like the curriculum and I know it doesn't satisfy me. I've been to my counselor a million times, and the only thing she says is: "You should wait until you take courses that are really chemical engineering courses". The problem is that I can't waste more time and money until I take those classes because I need to make a decision now, I can't wait any longer.

I know I'm a little late for this, but I'm thinking in switching majors. I thought about switching to a bachelor's degree in chemistry, but I don't know if it's the right thing. I don't really know what to study, I'm really confused and worried because I'm supposed to have pretty clear what I want to do instead of having all these doubts in my mind.

Can someone help me please?
(Serious answers only)

Answer 1

Yeah it's great to not be confused about what to study and to be very clear about it instead, but that wasn't the reality for many people who went through college, including myself. It's really confusing and worrisome but it's okay. If you stress about it too much you might end up making the wrong decision out of desperation.

The difficult thing about this is that you're the only one who can really figure out what makes you happy. So how about you write down a list of fields you think you're interested in majoring in, then google "what can I do with a chemistry/math/statistics/English etc. degree". Since chemistry is what you're considering right now, here's the one for chemistry:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=what+can+i+do+with+a+chemistry+degree%3F
Take the jobs that sound interesting to you and go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Handbook. It's here:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/
Type a position into the search box on the top right hand corner. It'll give you great information about the career, including job growth, salary, training and qualifications.

If you're not sure about chemistry and need help digging into yourself in order to figure out what might make you happy, you might want to try one of these books:
"I could do anything if I only knew what it was" by Barbara Sher:
http://www.amazon.com/Could-Anything-Only-Knew-What/dp/0440505003
Author's website:
http://www.barbarasher.com/icoulddo.htm
"What Color is Your Parachute? For Teens:
http://www.amazon.com/What-Color-Your-Parachute-Teens/dp/1580087132/ref=pd_sim_b_5/103-1355166-6131855?ie=UTF8&qid=1186084851&sr=1-1

At the end of the day, you have to do what makes you happy. Don't choose a major just because it'll let you graduate on time, as tempting as that is. Extra classes and graduating later than you'd planned for is much better, mentally and financially, than future career unhappiness.

Answer 2

If you have not taken any Chemical Engineering courses yet, how do you know this is not what you want? Since you are contemplating switching majors to Chemistry, I would suggest you take some Chem Eng courses to see if it is what you think. The courses could only help you if you do decide to switch. As one of the others said, don't decide on a degree just because it will let you graduate sooner, you have a lot of time ahead of you, use one more semester to think thing through.

Answer 3

It sounds like you're pretty sure that you don't want to be a chemical engineer. Switching to a chem major won't be too difficult at this point because a lot of the background's the same, and you're obviously interested in chemistry because you're only talking about quitting the engineering part.
Having a bachelor's degree in chemistry is pretty flexible, and you'd still be able to do stuff somewhat similar to things that you'd get to do as a chemical engineer. If that's what you want to do, you should totally go for it. Chem majors have even gone to seemingly unrelated places after getting their bachelor's degree; some have gone to business school, law school, medical school, and others have continued in chemistry or biochemistry and contributed to research in their fields.

Don't worry about being confused and worried. You don't have to know exactly what you want to do. In fact, in my opinion, it's not good to know exactly what you want to do too far ahead of time. It's okay to doubt and be unsure. No one's ever sure, even when they're already there. If you haven't actually taken any real chem engineering courses, though, you might want to hold out. Switching to a related major, even at that point, wouldn't be too hard.

Answer 4

Follow your heart and never look back. If job security is an issue for you, You can always earn a degree in chemical engineering (since you seem so close to graduating), get a decent paying job and work that job to support yourself while developing other interests in the meantime, eventually making that into a career. If you are really hellbent on changing your major, take a few minutes out of your schedule, sit down and seriously think about what you enjoy studying and how much longer it would take to earn that degree. If it's chemistry, by all means go for it. Don't be scared. We all have to take risks and be willing to trust the fall that leads us to happiness and success. I am not saying you will fail, but don't be scared of the unknown.

Answer 5

it's normal to second guess your decision for a major. i do it every day! my advice, if you're really not happy with it is just to switch and do something you care about. if it takes a little more time and money, it shouldn't matter. in the long run, you will be happier with your choice and be less likely to switch careers. (the average american adult changes careers 7 times in his or her lifetime.)

Answer 6

switch if you know that is what you want to do deep down. I lost the first two and half years in college because my counselor kept saying stick it out. i really regretted not going with my gut.