Should I choose Engineering over Physics?

[PantheraC]

One could do both, or one with a minor in the other. If possible, do as much physics as one is able.

Most engineering disciplines involved normal scales from mm to m to km is various systems. The m to km scale would apply to transportation and energy distribution systems.

With microelectronics, we moved down to the micron level, and now with nano-technology, we're concerned about nanometer scale. There have been areas where we've been concerned about the picometer scale (and even fm) in terms of relating atoms and sub-atomic structure to metals, alloys, molecules and compounds.

These days, we tackle a broad range of scales from subatomic to km.

Engineering is more or less applied physics, and one has to determine the balance of theory and application in which one wishes to practice.

In the first place I was trying to figure out how to study as much Physics as I could and then I get recommended to study Engineering, because Physics wasn't the correct answer. One thing that I don't know is that could you study Applied Physics for all type of Engineering by once?

I've been reading about nanotechnology and other scales technology and found it to be amazing how our technology is improving and what we can expect to see in the future!

 

[PantheraC]

PantheraC,
Pick Engineering. Do the required Mathematics courses early or along the way. A program in Engineering (or any "major" field) will have some required "CORE" courses which every student must study. Pick electives as you see or find interest. This means, along with required Math and Physics courses, you enroll in and study specified core Engineering courses. You do not do every course all at once. You take certain courses in a sequence, term by term. You should find in the university or college catalog for the section on your Engineering program, a listing of what is suggested for each sequence of semesters. This would naturally be a listing of what you could enroll in during each semester. The listing will cover four or five years.

That would be the obvious thing to do if I choose Engineering as my study, because it would be harder to manage time if continue on finishing every Engineering field (4 if I choose Engineering to be the subject I will study).

 

[Student100]

You're still stuck on this idea that you can do everything.

That would be the obvious thing to do if I choose Engineering as my study, because it would be harder to manage time if continue on finishing every Engineering field (4 if I choose Engineering to be the subject I will study).

I think you're confused, you don't ever finish a "engineering field." Can you take 12~ or so years out of your life to get every type of engineering degree possible? Sure, if you can find a university that will let you do that and are independent wealthy. Does this mean you've now mastered 4~ fields of engineering? Not even close. By the time you finish the last, the first degree will be worthless because of advances in the field and atrophy from not using your degree in industry. The degree itself only certifies a basic understanding of the underlying concepts and ability to enter the work force as an entry level engineer.

 

[Student100]

In the first place I was trying to figure out how to study as much Physics as I could and then I get recommended to study Engineering, because Physics wasn't the correct answer. One thing that I don't know is that could you study Applied Physics for all type of Engineering by once?

I've been reading about nanotechnology and other scales technology and found it to be amazing how our technology is improving and what we can expect to see in the future!

Physics is more or less divorced from applications related to the basic research that goes on in academia. So no, what you listed you wanted to do is not physics. Further, applied physics is not a certain physics subject, or series of courses married to a certain engineering discipline. So saying, "study applied physics for all types of engineering" doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

In the US applied physics is a fancy name given to engineering students (most every program I looked at are offered by the engineering department) in a program that gives students more theory (physics) and a broader set of engineering subjects to choose from. This results in a knowledge base that is supposedly broader - yet at the same time shallower - than either a physics student or an engineering student given a specific specialization. The degree program is the closest to the jack of all trades you want to be, but you will not master (or even study!) every field by any means.

 

[PantheraC]

You're still stuck on this idea that you can do everything.
I think you're confused, you don't ever finish a "engineering field." Can you take 12~ or so years out of your life to get every type of engineering degree possible? Sure, if you can find a university that will let you do that and are independent wealthy. Does this mean you've now mastered 4~ fields of engineering? Not even close. By the time you finish the last, the first degree will be worthless because of advances in the field and atrophy from not using your degree in industry. The degree itself only certifies a basic understanding of the underlying concepts and ability to enter the work force as an entry level engineer.

Physics is more or less divorced from applications related to the basic research that goes on in academia. So no, what you listed you wanted to do is not physics. Further, applied physics is not a certain physics subject, or series of courses married to a certain engineering discipline. So saying, "study applied physics for all types of engineering" doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

In the US applied physics is a fancy name given to engineering students (most every program I looked at are offered by the engineering department) in a program that gives students more theory (physics) and a broader set of engineering subjects to choose from. This results in a knowledge base that is supposedly broader - yet at the same time shallower - than either a physics student or an engineering student given a specific specialization. The degree program is the closest to the jack of all trades you want to be, but you will not master (or even study!) every field by any means.

Yeah that's true, I have this idea stuck in my mind because that's what I am dreaming of doing in my life! Well, at least you saved my life and told me that, thanks! Now I am planning on studying only to majors in Engineering and these are Mechanical & Electrical Engineering! Thanks once again everyone for everything you've done for me and I will never forget how you helped me out figuring what I should do when I was stuck with the mindset of finishing every Engineering field as fast as possible and get out with PhD in everything (craziest dang someone could come up with!).