13 answers
Naziyat
Student
Dhaka, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh
6
Questions
Asked
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What is better to read in MATH or ENGINEERING?
which subject is better math or engineering to study in university? Both subjects are the subjects I love but I cant choose between them. So can you write the PROS and CONS about it?
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13 answers
Arup Sarkar
Solution Engineering
4
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Arup’s Answer
Math is fundamental to learning Engineering (any discipline) so if you are strong in Math, engineering will be fun. I would advise to learn the fundamental of math very well. That will build your foundation.
The same fundamental principle will help you in your interviews and problem solving skills.
The same fundamental principle will help you in your interviews and problem solving skills.
Tina Kemp
Manager of Pre-Sales Architects
1
Answer
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Tina’s Answer
I majored in math after debating this decision, so can only give you one side of the equation, but here were some factors in my choice and how it played out. You may have different preferences, but maybe this will help give you some.
tl;dr - It depends on what you want. If you want to be an engineer, study engineering. If you don't, choose what interests you more and then figure out how to translate that into a career path.
The longer answer of specific things to reflect on:
1. Your preferences: Do you like the abstract reasoning or do you like to get hands on? For me, I loved being at a whiteboard manipulating symbols and trying to work out the puzzles within proofs. I found physics labs really frustrating because instruments had to be calibrated perfectly. At the time, being in the theoretical rather than the practical was my preference.
2. Your career goals: Do you want to be an engineer or work in an engineering adjacent field? If so, you usually need an engineering degree to break into that field. Math degrees are going to either point you towards research, teaching, or doing something that requires proof you can handle technical disciplines/college but aren't necessarily going to equip you directly for jobs outside of academia or education. I wanted to be a math researcher until I did a summer research experience and learned I hated it. I broke into the software industry in a really lucky way, but I almost never see Mathematics as a desired course of study in job postings, and currently lean a lot more heavily into my work experience to prove my technical ability.
3. Your preferred school's options: Not all schools will offer equally good programs in these two disciplines, so if you feel strongly about one or the other, factor that into your choice of school. I picked a school based on liking the overall school and earning a scholarship, but they didn't offer an engineering degree, so that would have meant a 3-2 program, where I did the first three years at the college and then transferred to a university for 2 years to complete the engineering-specific courses. My scholarship wouldn't have covered the last two years and I didn't want to extend undergrad, so that was a pretty signifiant motivation to choose math. I don't regret that at all - entering the job market without student debt honestly had a bigger impact on my career development than what I studied in college. But if I had really wanted to be an engineer, choosing the college before the major would have been an issue.
4. Other skills you get out of your degree program: I went to a college with a heavy emphasis on communication even in hard disciplines, so being able to handle technical topics and learn technical skills throughout my career while also being effective at communications has given me a lot of options throughout my career in the software industry. Being really good at math and not having the extra time of labs allowed me to handle German as a second major, take several comp sci classes, and round things out with some extra-curriculars, so even though I had a less useful major on the job market, I had a portfolio of skills that opened up additional options. (Full disclosure: I also have a master's degree, and the research I did there is what landed me my first job in the software industry for really strange reasons that aren't germane to this question.)
tl;dr - It depends on what you want. If you want to be an engineer, study engineering. If you don't, choose what interests you more and then figure out how to translate that into a career path.
The longer answer of specific things to reflect on:
1. Your preferences: Do you like the abstract reasoning or do you like to get hands on? For me, I loved being at a whiteboard manipulating symbols and trying to work out the puzzles within proofs. I found physics labs really frustrating because instruments had to be calibrated perfectly. At the time, being in the theoretical rather than the practical was my preference.
2. Your career goals: Do you want to be an engineer or work in an engineering adjacent field? If so, you usually need an engineering degree to break into that field. Math degrees are going to either point you towards research, teaching, or doing something that requires proof you can handle technical disciplines/college but aren't necessarily going to equip you directly for jobs outside of academia or education. I wanted to be a math researcher until I did a summer research experience and learned I hated it. I broke into the software industry in a really lucky way, but I almost never see Mathematics as a desired course of study in job postings, and currently lean a lot more heavily into my work experience to prove my technical ability.
3. Your preferred school's options: Not all schools will offer equally good programs in these two disciplines, so if you feel strongly about one or the other, factor that into your choice of school. I picked a school based on liking the overall school and earning a scholarship, but they didn't offer an engineering degree, so that would have meant a 3-2 program, where I did the first three years at the college and then transferred to a university for 2 years to complete the engineering-specific courses. My scholarship wouldn't have covered the last two years and I didn't want to extend undergrad, so that was a pretty signifiant motivation to choose math. I don't regret that at all - entering the job market without student debt honestly had a bigger impact on my career development than what I studied in college. But if I had really wanted to be an engineer, choosing the college before the major would have been an issue.
4. Other skills you get out of your degree program: I went to a college with a heavy emphasis on communication even in hard disciplines, so being able to handle technical topics and learn technical skills throughout my career while also being effective at communications has given me a lot of options throughout my career in the software industry. Being really good at math and not having the extra time of labs allowed me to handle German as a second major, take several comp sci classes, and round things out with some extra-curriculars, so even though I had a less useful major on the job market, I had a portfolio of skills that opened up additional options. (Full disclosure: I also have a master's degree, and the research I did there is what landed me my first job in the software industry for really strange reasons that aren't germane to this question.)
Thanks a lot!!! You really took so much time to write that. I appreciate you.
Naziyat
Sid Bansal
Marketing / Sales
3
Answers
South Barrington, IL
Updated
Sid’s Answer
I maybe biased but whatever you have passion in. Math is a component of Engineering
Stephen Deese
Platform Consultant
2
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Stephen’s Answer
Engineering all the way. Engineering is taking math and doing something useful with it. I studied engineering in university and had over a dozen offers upon graduation. Math majors are often limited to teaching (math) jobs. I've vary rarely seen Math majors in engineering roles.
Mike Gresley, PSM, PSPO
Strategist/Architect/Programmer/Leader
3
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Mike’s Answer
The most important way to answer this question is to ask yourself a question first: what is it that you would like to do with math and/or engineering? Being honest about your answer will help set your direction.
That said, math is a critical skill in being successful in engineering. So the former is required for the latter.
Career-wise, there are many more opportunities for engineering majors than there are for math majors. That's not to say that math gives no opportunities! But the majority of these for math majors will either be in research, teaching, or deep analytics. Both of my in-laws are retired math professors and both had satisfying, successful careers.
Engineering, however, has many fields of study from which to choose (e.g., chemical, mechanical, aeronautical, industrial), as well as many related speciality fields (e.g., supply chain, industrial design, optimization). And, there is high demand for engineers in thousands of companies across dozens of lines of business. For instance, my wife is a chemical engineer (in the energy industry), but also shifted to supply chain management over the past few years, and has greatly enjoyed both things. My father is a retired mechanical engineer (primarily a design engineer in the automotive industry), but he also did electrical engineering work to refine battery design in electric vehicles.
So, if you want to spend your time doing math, and want most of this to be theoretical and/or teaching, consider being a math major. If you want to apply math to make/fix/optimize things, then you should focus on being an engineering major.
That said, math is a critical skill in being successful in engineering. So the former is required for the latter.
Career-wise, there are many more opportunities for engineering majors than there are for math majors. That's not to say that math gives no opportunities! But the majority of these for math majors will either be in research, teaching, or deep analytics. Both of my in-laws are retired math professors and both had satisfying, successful careers.
Engineering, however, has many fields of study from which to choose (e.g., chemical, mechanical, aeronautical, industrial), as well as many related speciality fields (e.g., supply chain, industrial design, optimization). And, there is high demand for engineers in thousands of companies across dozens of lines of business. For instance, my wife is a chemical engineer (in the energy industry), but also shifted to supply chain management over the past few years, and has greatly enjoyed both things. My father is a retired mechanical engineer (primarily a design engineer in the automotive industry), but he also did electrical engineering work to refine battery design in electric vehicles.
So, if you want to spend your time doing math, and want most of this to be theoretical and/or teaching, consider being a math major. If you want to apply math to make/fix/optimize things, then you should focus on being an engineering major.
I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question.
Naziyat
Jackie Bright
CSR Manager
6
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Jackie’s Answer
To make your decision more actionable, follow these steps:
1. Identify your strengths and interests within the fields of mathematics and engineering, as this will help you determine which career path you are more passionate about and suited for.
2. Conduct a thorough research on potential careers for both math and engineering degrees. Use reputable resources, such as professional associations, university career centers, and job search websites to gather information.
3. Compare the salary prospects and job stability for the careers you've researched in both fields. This will give you an understanding of which path could be more lucrative and secure.
4. Reach out to professionals in both fields, either through informational interviews, networking events, or online platforms like LinkedIn, to gain insight into their daily work and advice for pursuing a career in their respective fields.
5. Investigate the curriculum differences between math and engineering programs in the schools you are considering. This will help you identify the courses that align with your interests and determine the level of difficulty of the programs.
6. Research and compare financial aid packages available at the schools you're interested in, considering scholarships, grants, and loans. This will help you identify the most cost-effective and financially viable option for your education.
7. Based on your research, evaluate your options and make a well-informed decision about your future educational and career path in either mathematics or engineering.
By following these steps, you'll have a clearer understanding of the possibilities and advantages of each field and be able to make a more informed decision. Good luck!
1. Identify your strengths and interests within the fields of mathematics and engineering, as this will help you determine which career path you are more passionate about and suited for.
2. Conduct a thorough research on potential careers for both math and engineering degrees. Use reputable resources, such as professional associations, university career centers, and job search websites to gather information.
3. Compare the salary prospects and job stability for the careers you've researched in both fields. This will give you an understanding of which path could be more lucrative and secure.
4. Reach out to professionals in both fields, either through informational interviews, networking events, or online platforms like LinkedIn, to gain insight into their daily work and advice for pursuing a career in their respective fields.
5. Investigate the curriculum differences between math and engineering programs in the schools you are considering. This will help you identify the courses that align with your interests and determine the level of difficulty of the programs.
6. Research and compare financial aid packages available at the schools you're interested in, considering scholarships, grants, and loans. This will help you identify the most cost-effective and financially viable option for your education.
7. Based on your research, evaluate your options and make a well-informed decision about your future educational and career path in either mathematics or engineering.
By following these steps, you'll have a clearer understanding of the possibilities and advantages of each field and be able to make a more informed decision. Good luck!
Thanks for taking time to write the answer but I am still in 6th grade so I dont think I will research for Jobs, salary because it can change through time. Thanks for your encouragement!
Naziyat
Josh Klein
Technical Architect
3
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Josh’s Answer
It really depends on what you want to pursue in your career. Math will open lots of doors in R & D, finance, etc., but it generally requires more years of university education to apply it in industry (i.e. Masters or PhD level). Engineering requires a thorough understanding of math, so you'll use it plenty and build your skills, but you'll also be able to begin applying your skills in the workforce sooner.
It was not much but you really pointed a important point that is Math requires more time in university. I dont want to have a PhD in any field because it will take much more time. One last thing I want to know is having a Bachelors degree in Engineering good or i have to level that skill up by having a Masters? Reading all the answer I think I am pretty confident about having Engineering as my career.
Naziyat
Mark Berquist
Actuary
4
Answers
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Updated
Mark’s Answer
That's fantastic that you enjoy Math! If you're passionate about it, becoming an Actuary could be an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling career choice for you. I've personally discovered it to be a truly remarkable profession. I highly recommend checking out this link for more valuable information and guidance: https://www.beanactuary.org/
Andy St. Fort
Technical account manager
1
Answer
Austin, Texas
Updated
Andy’s Answer
You're off to a fantastic start on your engineering journey, thanks to the strong foundation you've built in mathematics! Embracing your proficiency in math will open up countless opportunities for a rewarding and well-paying career in engineering or any other math-related field. Your passion and dedication are bound to make a significant impact on your chosen path. So, believe in yourself and continue to excel in the subject you love, and you'll undoubtedly achieve great success. Wishing you the very best in all your future endeavors!
Thank you so much, Andy!
Naziyat
Mesfin Negash
partner solution consultant, Sr.
3
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Mesfin’s Answer
Math is an incredibly powerful tool that unlocks the doors to a world of exciting opportunities, particularly within the realms of science and engineering. When you discover something you're truly passionate about, like engineering, you'll realize that math can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. By exploring math, you're also opening up countless doors to potential careers, like actuarial science, biostatistics, and many more - not to mention empowering your creativity! Embrace the fascinating journey before you, and watch as your newfound math skills take your passion and success to new heights.
Gabriela Borthwick
Tax
7
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Gabriela’s Answer
Hi Naziat! Your major doesn't quite matter in college. It's more about the experience and activities that you are involved in that back you up. When interviewing, people want to see that you are a bright candidate who's knowledgeable in the field and passionate about the subject area.
I'd look at it from the lens of: where do you see yourself in four years?
I'd look at it from the lens of: where do you see yourself in four years?
Prem Ram
Sales
3
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Prem’s Answer
You might want to consider exploring Engineering, as it naturally incorporates Math within its various fields. Plus, it's worth mentioning that some of the highest paying Engineering jobs include exciting areas like Computer Science, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering, among others. Give it a try, and who knows – you may just find your passion in one of these fascinating fields! 😊
Senthil Ramachandiran
Architect
3
Answers
Fairfax, Virginia
Updated
Senthil’s Answer
In my opinion, choosing engineering is a fantastic decision! Not only will you have the chance to dive into fascinating topics like physics, science, and computer science, but you'll also be opening up a whole universe of job possibilities in different fields. No matter where your passion lies, there's a good chance that you'll find plenty of exciting options. Best of luck!
Thank you for the advice.
Naziyat