Comment by Gonzobean7 on 05/11/2014 at 18:55 UTC

1463 upvotes, 26 direct replies (showing 25)

View submission: Bill Nye, UNDENIABLY back. AMA.

Hey Bill! Im a huge fan and currently an undeclared freshman in college because I cant decide between a mechanical engineering degree or something in a more general science, such as physics or biology. Got any advice on what I should do?

Replies

Comment by sundialbill at 05/11/2014 at 19:02 UTC

2328 upvotes, 23 direct replies

If you are a tinkerer, consider mechanical engineering.

If you experience the joy of discovery, look into something called engineering physics.

With that said, I love it all!

As a freshmen, I'm sure you don't have to decide yet. Take some courses and see what you think.

Comment by IICooKiiEII at 05/11/2014 at 20:37 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

If you like aspects of multiple classes of science, try mixing then. Bio, physics, and engineering would suit a biomedical engineer perfectly. You would learn all of the bio and physics it would take to engineer something like a prosthetic organ, or new drug delivery systems. But if you shoot straight for sciences, you probably won't get too much of an engineering experience

Comment by BTCbob at 06/11/2014 at 02:09 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Hi Gonzobean7. I had the exact feelings as you when I was undergrad. My advice would be: take as much math and physics as you can! The other tinkering stuff will come naturally and just be fun, but will often be based on a solid foundation of math and physics. I ended up going Bachelor in Mech Eng, taking a year of undergrad to do quantum physics and biochemistry, Master's in nanotechnology with optics specialty, and now am doing a PhD in biophysics. So if you're interested in things, you'll find a way to apply yourself. All of the experience comes in handy at times, I just wish I had taken some more fundamental physics a bit earlier, and maybe some more engineering mathematics. Other than that: follow your nose and keep your options open! Good luck!

Comment by aerovistae at 06/11/2014 at 01:07 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Dude, I started off undeclared engineering then changed majors 5 times, going through the following progress:

Biomedical Eng. -> Aerospace Eng. -> Mechanical Eng. -> Electrical Eng. -> Computer Science (graduated with the comp. sci. degree)

Going in I had no idea comp.sci. was even an option, had never written a line of code in my life. Stumbled onto it because I had to take one class in it along the way while I was an EE. You never know where you might end up.

In all that time I kept changing majors because I kept getting bored. I could handle the classes, but I was bored solving equations all day. It didn't interest me. Even though I knew that the classes and the actual work after graduation for engineering are quite different.

My friends were physics majors and bio majors and chem majors. I spent a lot of time with them and am quite familiar with their fields through my own studies. They love their fields but they all had a much harder time than me finding a job, and even once they found one, they don't get paid very much. But their work fascinates them.

Meanwhile, I find jobs with ease, but I always hate them. I hate working in an office. Feels like I'm making a joke of my life.

But I know a lot of other engineers and comp.sci. majors who love what they do.

It's about passion, man. Find what really interests you. There's a lot of niche jobs out there if you do a lot of research down atypical avenues. I know this one bio major who travels the world building planetariums, of all things. The fuck? And she loves it.

Comment by Neuronzap at 05/11/2014 at 22:13 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

You just...got student advised by Bill Nye. (Maybe if you ask nicely, he'll write you a letter of recommendation for grad school.)

Comment by bigmike827 at 05/11/2014 at 21:47 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

If you want to make the most out of college/ guarantee a great job after graduation, you should consider a double major or major+minor in physics and computer science. I'm currently in the middle of my 3rd year at GT as a Nuclear Engineer. I came in loving physics and wanted a job in the energy sector, but with a double degree in those two subjects, you could get a job anywhere from Wallstreet to Lockheed.

Edit: Wallstreet hires physicists because some of the models physicists use are extremely similar to stock market prediction models.

Comment by [deleted] at 05/11/2014 at 21:38 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Jobs in biology mostly involve research (cellular, ecological, functional or behaviour are biggest), educational (e.g. highschool, public education) or for organisations that deal with specific biological stuff (think of something like WWF, rangers in national parks, maintaining *enter random animal-group* at a zoo). The last one is the one where the most fun stuff is, but you'll need to be lucky and your speech level needs to be high enough to unlock these side-quests.

Comment by r0botdevil at 05/11/2014 at 20:49 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

As someone currently finishing a master's in biology, I'd say avoid biology unless you're planning on med school or you just *really love* biology. Most of the jobs don't pay too well, and they're fairly competitive because the science world is saturated with biologists (because let's be honest, it's one of the easiest sciences there is). It's worth it if you love it but if not, I'd recommend a career in a different science field.

Comment by giubaloo at 05/11/2014 at 22:16 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Getting a degree in Mechanical Engineering (assuming you do well) will land you far more job prospects after graduation than a more "general" degree like Physics, Chemistry etc. Many students in those degrees end up pursuing a Master's, and eventually a PhD in that subject. A mechanical engineering student, however, can easily find a job right out of undergrad and have a very decent starting salary.

Something to consider!

Comment by dont__hate at 05/11/2014 at 23:34 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Hey man, I was in the same predicament. I went mechanical engineering and DO NOT regret it. You learn the same stuff until a point. Then you either learn how to apply it, or go deep into the theory rabbit hole. Either way you can stay in academia or research, if you please. I think you'll have many more options if you go the engineering route. Just my 2 cents.

Comment by phoenix382 at 06/11/2014 at 02:27 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Here's some advice: get some friends in different majors, and sit in on some of their classes. Not gen ed classes, but higher level courses (3000 - 4000 level type stuff).

This is my third year in college, and I just now did this. I feel pretty dumb for just now doing it, probably would have saved me a good amount of time and money.

Comment by VpowerZ at 05/11/2014 at 23:02 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Also, why not both (later). there is physics research in biology which means it is studying processes in nature from a physics. Replicating the good stuff in new materials, products or studying the fundamentals which might be published into Nature magazine (or something). For this, physics can get you here.

Comment by [deleted] at 05/11/2014 at 22:48 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Bill's answer is fairly accurate. Just something to keep in mind is that engineers do indeed perform research, and scientists do indeed build stuff. Just that most of your work will focus on building, as an engineer, over research/discovery, as a scientist.

Source: Mechanical Engineer.

Comment by fordtempwn at 05/11/2014 at 20:43 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Got Mechanical Engineering degree because I felt it offered the broadest opportunities. I'm a project engineer now. I wanted to leave my options as open as possible because at 18-22 I didn't think I could trust myself to know exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Comment by ledgreplin at 05/11/2014 at 21:08 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Nye gave you good advice. Let me rephrase it a little. Engineering is particularly suitable for people who want to solve a puzzle and come up with a solution that works. General science is for people who want to solve a puzzle and get the right answer.

Comment by HollyWood45 at 05/11/2014 at 22:42 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Just my 2¢ here but general science degrees are it tough to land decent jobs outside of college unless you specialize in something.

Ultimately do what makes you happy, my dad always said if you love what you do, you'll never spend a day "working"

Comment by Chemistrykitty at 06/11/2014 at 09:17 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Biology and plant science is gross. Do chemistry. Organic if you like living in the lab, theoretical/physical if you like maths and computers, Biochemistry if you want to jump into the industry or love abrevs., and kinetics if you're insane.

Comment by [deleted] at 05/11/2014 at 21:44 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Mech E here, be one of us.

Comment by [deleted] at 05/11/2014 at 23:50 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

How about science teacher? Theres lots of jobs and its such a rewarding career. I switched over from engineering when i realized engineering was more office politics than building things.

Comment by bigmike42o at 06/11/2014 at 23:54 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I was an ME for my first 2 years but i just switched to EE and i like it a lot more. It will definitely be easier to get a job with a degree in engineering than physics

Comment by Moss_Grande at 05/11/2014 at 23:31 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

There's a good demand for mechanical engineers at the moment so if your biggest concern is getting a job in your field afterwards, that's probably the way to go.

Comment by Hkauffman at 06/11/2014 at 15:56 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Engineering all the way. You want to learn how science works or how to work science?