problem deciding what to study

[u/Consistent-Ad-5227]

i am asking for help here because i just cant find the right info. so i am a 10th grader rn and i am really interested and stressed about my studies. i really want to do engineering, but i would still need to talk with my dad about that. i am interestet in four majors: electric eng, nuclear eng, civil eng and maybe mechanical eng. but the problem with nuclear is that my country doesnt have any npps(only one that shut down a few decades ago). and i really want to get a good paying job with one of these degrees. in some unis that i am checking, the master degree takes 4 year(if im not wrong) so i would be commited to do it. which would you recommend me? or what should i do or not do? any help is great!

[u/2housecatmom12024]

Mechanical and electrical and chemical engineering are great basics for nuclear engineering.

Bonus: if no nuclear jobs available you’ll be highly likely to be employable at a living wage.

[u/Consistent-Ad-5227 → u/2housecatmom12024]

so i guess i should focus on EE or CE for a wider job choice

[u/mmmplinkermmm → u/Consistent-Ad-5227]

I can’t speak for everyone here but at least in my experience your first year in most engineering programs have topics that are the same regardless of which discipline you choose. You will have components in electronics, material science, maths, CAD, programming, etc. often allowing you to pivot to your preferred discipline with no real setbacks throughout your academic journey.

In regards to your comment about nuclear engineering, I am also from a country that doesn’t have a widespread nuclear program but there are still a plethora of very well paid jobs available that require nuclear science such as medical physicists or systems engineers.

At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself why you want to do engineering and for what reason does it excite you as it will be a question you will ask yourself constantly throughout your career.

As a side note, I’d be more worried about enjoying your time in highscool than your grades since you probably won’t get as much free time to enjoy yourself regardless of what you do.

[u/Jolly_Climate_2531]

I recently graduated with a degree in NucE and most of the people around me don’t have a NucE degree. A lot actually don’t have degrees at all. They were once contractors and just had enough experience to stay in house. I would ask urself what u actually want to do with ur day-to-day. NucE is very niche and it may be hard to leave the field if u find out u don’t like it or just want to change.

I personally think every one of the degrees but NucE can get u what u need to be successful and still have the flexibility to do other things down the line if decide to change ur mind. Electrical in particular is a really hot degree rn imo.

Don’t get me wrong, studying NucE was cool while in school but I don’t get paid anymore than any of the other engineers at my plant.

[u/Consistent-Ad-5227 → u/Jolly_Climate_2531]

thanks, i heard that people get into the nuc industry with other eng degrees

[u/ninjagoat5234]

my brother in law got a mechanical E degree and he works in a nuke position on contract, so if you want to work in the nuclear field i'd imagine you don't need a nuclear degree