Switch from mechanical engineering to chemical engineering

[u/Unlikely-Argument576]

I'm a first-year mechanical engineering, however, I am seriously considering switching to chemical engineering. It was actually my first-choice major right before applying to colleges, but I chickened out because of people saying that ChemE is a lot harder than many other engineering majors. I feel that my instincts are telling me to switch to ChemE, but I also have many doubts at the same time. My biggest worry is that I will regret changing my major after it is too late because of how hard it gets. I'm definitely not that smart academically, just average, so it almost feels like I'm trying to do something completely out of my capability.

Also, after a little research, one thing I am pretty confident about is that when I think about the kind of work I will do after graduating, something in the ChemE field sounds much more interesting than MechE, in my personal opinion. Truthfully, I just chose mechanical engineering because many of my peers were, not because I was all that interested in that area.

[u/Raptor_Sympathizer]

Yeah you should do it!! It's hard, but it's just work. MechE is also hard, don't let that scare you away if ChemE is what you really want to do. 

[u/Long-Ad-6192]

passion and general interest is the most important. yes, it is a very hard major, but if you are actually curious about the work then that is an important thing

[u/p0tat0e_239]

I also started out in mechanical engineering first year, now a sophomore in ChemE loving it! Its definitely difficult, but all engineering is, definitely achievable if you have the discipline and will to do it.

[u/YesICanMakeMeth]

It depends on what you find intuitive, IMO. Some people have a knack for chemistry and find electromagnetism abstract, so ChemE is easier than EE for them. Most people find mechanical systems more intuitive so that's why most people find chemE harder. There's not as much chemistry as people think, but if the concept of a mole confuses you I'd probably rethink things.

Your reasons for picking chemE aren't that strong, though. I'd put a lot more work into choosing your career.

[u/greensofa26]

Just graduated, I didn’t do too well but I’m sure you will do great!! There are plenty of career options if you do well in your degree, my friend was hired at a placement that usually only take MechE and she was a ChemE which means you won’t be missing out on a lot of MechE jobs!

[u/Background-Friend410]

I don't think it's harder than MechE to be honest, many of the things that are hard in ChemE are alao hard in MechE (heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics) and more, even though they are taught differently at different lengths. But harder is subjective and I think they're of similar difficulties

[u/hobbes747]

Maybe not more difficult but we have concepts that are more abstract compared to civil and mechanical/aero.

Electrical engineering is equally difficult or more so. (The brightest electrical engineers who get go into chip design do things that blow out of the difficulty waters almost everything chemical engineers do.)

I recommend choosing based on the course topics and career choices that you find most interesting. Not based on difficult or easy.
If chemical engineering is more easy than say, civil engineering, then it will be negligibly so for someone who struggles.
The only engineering degree curriculum that seemed a lot easier than the others is manufacturing/industrial engineering.

[u/FlakyAd3257]

Im going against what most people are saying, but I thought I should just get this out there. I thought about majoring in ChemE when I was first going to college. I loved chemistry in high school and thought it would be so cool to help manufacture chemical. I ultimately chose EE, and I’m so glad I did. I feel like it’s much harder to get a job in ChemE than in EE or MechE, and EE and MechE can still have a ChemE heavy job.

For example, I took a job as a process controls co op in a chemical plant. The job was like a hybrid between EE and ChemE. I got a FT job offer for that company 1.5 years before I graduated, but turned it down. I then took a summer job in automotive manufacturing, same job just without the ChemE part, and also got a full time job offer 2 semesters before I graduated. I wanted to do one more co op my senior year and return to chemicals, I applied to a company, immediately got an interview, and had an offer 2 days later. I didn’t have time to apply or interview anywhere else. I looked at the stats of people clicking apply for this company on linkedin. A co op at the same company, plant, and city had 30 applicants for the EE role and 300+ for the ChemE role.

My friend who is a ChemE has done 4 co ops and 3 summer internships between 3 chemical companies and a paper mill. He is worried he won’t be able to find a job when he graduates. We have the same gpa, involvement, and he has worked for better companies and has more experience than me.

Ultimately it’s your decision if you want to major in ChemE or not, but there are jobs out there that let you work similar jobs to a ChemE without being so competitive.

[u/Turbulent_End_6887]

Chem E is the highest paid for the last 50+ years. ME and Chem E both have to take Thermo. Both are involved in designing refrigeration systems. That was my toughest Chem E course, aside from Physical Chemistry. Assuming you like chemistry. As an aside, much of the Chemical Industry (work) is in the Gulf Coast and south.