Engineering guidance (rethinking concentration)

[crr14]

Hey guys, looking for some advice from some more experienced engineers and students.

I'm currently a junior in the Mechanical Engineering program at my university, but I've recently begun to think that this may have been the wrong choice.

I don't know if this is how it is in other programs, but I was required to take the introductory classes for all the main concentrations (statics, dynamics, circuits , mass balances and energy balances, etc). With the exception of statics I thought they were all pretty interesting, so I ended up choosing mechanical because it seemed like the most versatile, and ultimately I want to work with renewable/alternative energy (which I've heard is largely ME).

Now that I'm taking the upper level classes, I've found that I love the thermo and fluids classes I'm taking...but I hate my mechanics of materials class. I'm afraid that getting a job doing that type of work would be more typical of a mechanical engineer, and I don't want to end up hating the rest of my solids courses if I stick with it. So basically, I'm just looking for any advice as to whether the subject matter of mechanics of materials is the most important thing in ME or if I can get a job that focuses mostly on the thermo side of things?

My other alternative is to switch concentrations as it would only add another semester or maybe year at this point. I know that the ChemE's at my school take a lot of thermo and heat transfer type classes as well, is it approached in the same way as in ME? That's the other concentration I'm looking at mainly now, but I'd be worried because I struggled with organic chemistry (an elective I took).

So maybe switch concentrations? Stick it out and specialize in grad school or something? I'm just doubting my choice at this point. Thanks for any advice that can be offered! I just don't want to end up hating my job after graduation.

 

[crr14]

I'll try condensing this a little, as I'm not sure if I'm phrasing the questions right exactly...

- Are the types of topics covered in a mechanics of materials class, the meat of mechanical engineering? I keep hearing that the fundamental question ME's deal with is "will it bend or break?" Or is it possible to get a job focusing on more the thermo and energy side of things?


- What would the meat of a typical chemical engineering job be? Process control? How much chemistry is actually used on the job? If I struggle with chemistry, but enjoy the ChemE type engineering material, is that enough?


- Which one deals with more abstract and theoretical concepts?


- Is there a type of engineering that kind of combines both of them? Nuclear? Materials science?

 

[fss]

I don't know if this is how it is in other programs, but I was required to take the introductory classes for all the main concentrations (statics, dynamics, circuits , mass balances and energy balances, etc).

Seems pretty standard.

So basically, I'm just looking for any advice as to whether the subject matter of mechanics of materials is the most important thing in ME or if I can get a job that focuses mostly on the thermo side of things?

You can get a job in either. Thermodynamics is a very rich field in terms of mechanical engineering "relevance."

I know that the ChemE's at my school take a lot of thermo and heat transfer type classes as well, is it approached in the same way as in ME?

You'd have to look up the particulars for your institution, but my guess is they're fairly different. Keep in mind I'm no expert in either, but the Chemical engineering brand of thermodynamics usually has a reaction or chemical process context (unsurprisingly). For mechanical engineers you'd be dealing with things like engines, exhaust systems, cooling methods, more macro-scale issues.