Alternatives to engineering major?

[Anonymous]

Student answers “engineering” whenever asked his preferred major, but I think it’s his default understanding of what one does if they’re good at math / physics. Can anyone suggest other majors such a student should consider?

[Anonymous]

What does he want to do after college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Student answers “engineering” whenever asked his preferred major, but I think it’s his default understanding of what one does if they’re good at math / physics. Can anyone suggest other majors such a student should consider?

There are a lot of types of engineering that are all very different. Have you looked into the options? Why do you want to steer them away from engineering?

Physics is a hard major because you really need a PhD and funding has been cut by the current administration and it's unclear if it will recover. The same applies for Chemistry and Biology-based majors (unless the goal is med school).

Math is another major, but probably most interesting for those who want to do more theory instead of application. Then you're into the less employable side of the field and need a PhD again. The applied math side doesn't have an advantage over engineering.

So what exactly is your goal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Student answers “engineering” whenever asked his preferred major, but I think it’s his default understanding of what one does if they’re good at math / physics. Can anyone suggest other majors such a student should consider?

Radiologist
Tech consulting
General tech industry (physics major)
Innovation technology: start a company
Medical research (MDphD for the top)
Stem research and development (phD if you want to run the research)
Scientist in industry, midlevel(MS needed)
Professor
Quantitive finance

[Anonymous]

General Contractor

[Anonymous]

Math
Physics
Data science
Statistics
Computer science
A quantitative social science
Chemistry
Geology

[Anonymous]

PP is correct that there are many different engineering degrees.

Further, each degree has multiple specializations. Colleague who is a MechE works on spacecraft thermals. Within EE there is a wide range from power to circuits to chip design to semiconductor materials to communications to information theory and beyond.

With Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or Math, if this is not pre-med, then most will need a graduate degree (often a PhD) to have many employment options.