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hey,
I am doing double major in Chemical Engineering and Economics and thinking seriously of doing math minor. What do u guys think about that ? How would i be able to use it after i get done from school, hopefully soon. do u guys think it's a waste of time to do this since econ and chem e are mostly unrelated. need some advice on that plz. thanks a lot.

By Kwtortoise (Kwtortoise) on Saturday, June 26, 2004 - 07:27 pm: Edit

It may take extra time (actually, probably) because they are different majors and have different requirements.

By Sfahad (Sfahad) on Saturday, June 26, 2004 - 08:00 pm: Edit

i will be hopefully done in 4 yrs, that's not a problem for me . I just want to know my career options. I will be mostly likely done with 85 credits by 2005 spring (my sophomore yr). I will most likely be at some ivy league after I transfer from rutgers school of engineering and my cumulative gpa is about 3.81 . i just want some insight on what i would be able to do and what should i do ? thx

By Tenisghs (Tenisghs) on Saturday, June 26, 2004 - 08:33 pm: Edit

Why are double majors more popular than just getting a major and minor?

By Kyle8744 (Kyle8744) on Sunday, June 27, 2004 - 06:55 pm: Edit

cuz minors are useless.

By Sfahad (Sfahad) on Sunday, June 27, 2004 - 07:04 pm: Edit

i really need advice on this from guys who are already out in the field working or from those who have some idea about this. Since i m an engineering student i would go upto calc4 and take intro to linear algebra as my technical elective. do u guys think that it's going to be waste of time to go for minor in math, which would require me to take about 3/4 more math classes. I m doing chem e and econ as mentioned above. I know this for sure that doing minor in math would put lot of stress on me. Do u guys think that it's worthy to do something like this when i am already doing engineering and econ and it's most likely a given that i should be strong in math. Plz give me some advices on this . I would really appreciate it and how can i use my double major in the long run , i was thinking that it will help me get a management kind of job by doing double major . I have intentions of doing Mba after three yrs of work experience after doing my double major. thx.

By Edmoney (Edmoney) on Sunday, June 27, 2004 - 07:21 pm: Edit

i will be very impressed if you can pull off a double major, with one of them being chemical engineering, in four years. The combination of engineering and economics does make sense, but i think you should talk to a Student Advisor about requirements and workload before you start.

By Ariesathena (Ariesathena) on Sunday, June 27, 2004 - 07:49 pm: Edit

I did chem-e and classics. With that, I could not manage the minor in math - would have come up two courses short. No other electives, far too many courses each semseter, and summer classes.

My opinion: the math minor won't add much at all to chem-e and econ. They are heavily math-based anyway. Minors really don't mean much of anything in the "real world" or even in grad school amdissions. Enjoy your time at college and take a few more electives instead. Employers might be more impressed if you took substantial English or philosophy courses and learned to write well, rather than almost redundant math courses. The extra math would not teach you much of anything new, and certainly would not be another skill.

I thought of being a math minor in addition to chem-e, then realized that it was absurd. I wasn't learning anything new - just more ways to solve equations. You are better off developing thinking, writing, and presentation skills.

Engineering and econ might help you with management, but the MBA would do that so much more. Work as an engineer for a few years - many people believe that managers of engineering firms should be engineers themselves.

By Markm2004 (Markm2004) on Sunday, June 27, 2004 - 08:29 pm: Edit

Hey Sfahad,

A major in chemical enginerring and economics is great, as we have discussed, especially since several of your math requirements for economics will be fulfilled. Perhaps you can start a company that deals with chemical engineering in the long run?

By Vulcano (Vulcano) on Sunday, June 27, 2004 - 08:31 pm: Edit

Im doubling in Econ and Finance with a possible minor in History. Just thought I'd say...

By Sfahad (Sfahad) on Sunday, June 27, 2004 - 09:08 pm: Edit

thx guys,I am not going to do minor in math anymore, i realized that it's going to be a waste of time. i am pretty sure that i will be able to pull off my double major in 4 yrs with the way i m going right now. although it's very stressful but i believe that since i procastinate a lot and am still able to do good in classes , it is not impossible. it is very challenging and sometimes disheartening as well. I will be taking 20 credits in fall and 15 in spring that will add up to 85 credits overall by the end of my spring semester of my sophmore yr and since i m really getting exhausted by taking so many classes, i would try to get some kind of job in summer of next yr. I will be applying to Upenn and some other ivy league school after next yr. hopefully i will get in. thx a lot for ur advices guys

By Sfahad (Sfahad) on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 11:33 pm: Edit

ariesathana? what are u doing as a Chem E and how are u using all the things that u leanred in undergrad b/c it seems like that we learn so much stuff.I really think that i m not going to remember anything so what are engineers going to do in the real world and what are they usually appointed for? especially chem e's ? b/c i already forgot calc3 pretty much that i took last semester. Although i do good in classes but i really don't see a difference btw me who usually gets A's and some one who gets a C b/c u usually forget everything really fast, except for the fact that i m motivated and i take pride in what i do. What's your say on that? thx.

By Ariesathena (Ariesathena) on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 - 12:52 am: Edit

Sfahad:

I'm currently working as an engineer in a research and development firm near Boston. In some ways, I'm a bad example: most of my research is in nanotech, biotech, and materials science, not straight chem-e. Some of it is great to know (like organic and physical chem). Unit ops is useless for what I do. The thing about "real world" engineering is that if you don't know something, you know where to look it up. You don't solve equations all the time - the methodology is the most important thing. You'll use a lot of the concepts that you learn, but not in the means in which they are presented. Honestly, I was psyched when someone asked me to solve an Arrenhius (sorry about the spelling) equation - finally came into use. How well you retain general concepts and your ability to find answers will probably be the most helpful things in engineering. I have a CRC, which is indispensible. A lot of what I do allows you to read up on things that you forget, or ask someone who specializes in that area. I've retained a bunch of orgo and polymers from doing chemical reactions and working with polymers, even learned things along the way, but certainly have little use for the vast majority of what I learned.

By the way, I'm heading to law school in August.

Best of luck, both in your majors and transferring.

By Sfahad (Sfahad) on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 - 10:13 pm: Edit

thx a lot . i really appreciate it.