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How important is the type of Engineering?

I have been looking into engineering, particularly chemical, but my top school has a very strong mechanical program. How different are types of engineering?

engineering fall25 mechanical-engineering chemical-engineering
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Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer

Most engineering fields offer a great base in math, physics, design, logical thinking, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. Start by figuring out what you love, what you're good at, and what you want in a career. Then, pick the field that matches your interests. Chemical engineering is all about chemistry, designing processes, and understanding how molecules work, which is key in industries like chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and energy. On the other hand, mechanical engineering focuses on mechanics, dynamics, thermodynamics, and designing physical systems, useful in areas like cars, planes, robots, machines, and manufacturing. There's a lot of overlap between the two, as both use thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and problem-solving. This means skills in one area can often help in the other. If you're drawn to chemical engineering, it's important to feel confident in math, chemistry, and understanding how molecules behave.
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Yoav’s Answer

It is truly smart of you to be looking ahead not just at university prestige but also at how your chosen major will translate into job opportunities. While it is certainly understandable to be attracted to a school with a strong reputation, if your genuine interest lies in chemical engineering, it would be optimal to prioritize a degree program specifically in that discipline. The type of engineering you study is incredibly important because it dictates the highly specialized knowledge you acquire, and more critically, it shapes how potential employers evaluate your fit for a role. Though mechanical and chemical engineering share core foundational skills like physics and calculus, the specialized coursework is distinctly different, and when you begin looking for a job in chemical engineering, an employer's Human Resources department may find your mechanical engineering degree to be irrelevant. This is a common and often frustrating hurdle, as typical HR recruiters screening hundreds of applications may not recognize the existing overlap between the fields and could quickly dismiss your resume simply because it lacks the specific "Chemical Engineering" keyword, meaning you may not even be considered for the position. Therefore, while a high-ranking mechanical program is appealing, securing a degree that directly aligns with the career you want is the most straightforward and effective way to ensure you gain the necessary technical depth and open the right doors for your future. I hope this helps you clarify your priorities, and I wish you the best of luck with your decision.
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William’s Answer

Hi Audrey,
Thank you for this interesting question. As you may be aware, engineering is indeed a very wide field of study. The common ones include chemical, civil, mechanical, production, structural, electrical, biomedical and software engineering. Others include aerospace, automotive engineering, computer science and robotics.
Choices are influenced by many factors: natural gift, interest, love for what you do are the common ones. What one is able to do with a given qualification should be the ultimate goal: throughout the ages, engineering has always been about meeting human needs.
Chemical engineering gives you an opportunities to work in such industries as petrochemical, food and beverage, paper, textiles, pharmaceuticals etc.
Mechanical engineering, on the other hand, gives you a much wider range of options including all the above mentioned ones. Additionally, as a mechanical engineer, you can also get a chance to work in aerospace, automotive & equipment manufacture sectors.
From my experience, what you are exceptional at naturally is worth pursuing as an occupation. Besides, it's important for you to choose what you love so you can pursue it with passion.
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