Repeating advice given to me more than 30 years ago: "If you want to go into Engineering, but don't know which one, then go into Mechanical."
Reasons:
- ME is the broadest of all Engineering fields. With an ME degree, you can branch out into other fields because you have the fundamental skills that an Engineering curriculum teaches you: "how to solve problems."
- The first two years of most Engineering curricula is essentially the same. Two years is plenty of time to ask, learn, experiment, and then determine which direction your boat is pointed.
"Sitting at a desk all day." that depends on what job you have. I know people who do that, pushing stacks of paper, and are seemingly at peace with the world. The thought of doing that makes me want to blow my head off. I went into the lesser-paid field of Manufacturing Engineering and have as much fun running around factories, getting dirty, doing cool stuff, as anybody. I also worked at a desk for extended periods of time. It all depends on the circumstances. But later in life, with kids at home and other life issues in full swing, I longed to simply sit at a desk sometimes.
"...salary..." I've never recommended going into Engineering if you thought it was a path to riches. A path to a comfortable, above-average life, but not riches. Unless you become an entrepreneur, CEO, or some such. Then you use your problem-solving skills to solve other kinds of problems and you hire Engineers to solve Engineering problems.
It is not realistic to expect a "job" to be joyful and pleasant and fun all the time. I teach at a University now and there seems to be cultural belief in the younger generation that believes a happy life is due them because they exist. I assure you that is simply not the case. There will be times when you are bored out of your mind, feeling threatened and fearful with job loss and loss of livelihood, and frustrated and angry to the point of considering homicide. But then will be are plenty of episodes when you go home with a sense of accomplishment and pride that proves that all is right in God's world.
"Mechanical / Civil / Nuclear" A last thought, closing with an old industry joke: "ME's build weapons, CE's build targets." I worked in the nuke industry building power plants long ago. Some of it was interesting, most of it boring & paper-pushing to meet regulations to ensure we didn't create another Three Mile Island (and later, Chernobyl). Specific skills, limited opportunities, highly paid. The US Navy would love love love to talk to you if you get a BSNE.
