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Mechanical vs Electrical engineering dilemna

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invertigo

Junior Member
I am a second year at UCI and am caught between these two majors. I am currently an EE but might want to transfer to mech. I know for sure I love mechanical engineering and physics, and hate circuits and programming. I have taken alot of EE courses and realized now, pretty far in that I hate electrical. You might describe me as a mechanical guy, I like to work on cars and learn how they work, etc.

My question is, is it worth it to forsake my EE classes that I have take and go with mech?
Which one is more lucrative? which one will it be easier to find a career in?

Please help. thank you for your time.
 
I was in the exact same position as you four years ago. I was an EE major and I decided that I'd like to do robotics. Most of the robotics faculty at my school were in ME and I nearly switched. However, I met with one of the ME professors who actually had a BS in ME but a Masters and PhD in EE. For something like robotics, which is interdiscplinary, your choice of major doesn't necessarily dictate your entire life's work. That professor actually ended up being my grad school advisor. So, I have a BS in EE and an MS in ME and I'm starting my first post-grad school job tomorrow in robotics.

Basically, it just boils down to what you are interested in doing once you start working. If you have any interest in going to grad school, a BS in one discpline does not preclude you from an advanced degree in another. Feel free to PM or bump if you have any specific questions.
 
So even if I take Mech in undergrad, I can take EE for grad in case i change my mind?

In that case I'm thinkin Mech for undergrad since i like it, and am better at it and thus can achieve higher grades, then EE for grad school.

would that plan work?
 
yeah, you could do mech e. for undergrad, and EE for grad.

I went the opposite direction. I was double majoring in Mech. E. & Comp. Sci. for a while (minoring in Robotics, which is where the overlap was), and eventually I had too many course conflicts, and had to drop the Mech E. degree 6 courses shy of finishing it.

Now? I'm still doing exactly what I wanted to be doing, and I am still mixing all the stuff I learned together.

Life can rock, you just need to make it that way 🙂
 
you can always do both. Actually, as I learned, that's usually a scheduling problem (and you need a sanity check too).
 
You made it pretty clear you like mechanical more--go for it. It is not worth picking a different major just because it's easier to find a career in. As an ME you can always take some courses in EE to stay well-rounded.
 
I was an EE for two years, then switched to ME. I can tell you that ME is incredibly boring. EE gets into new technology occaisionally, ME just rehashes old technology. I'd go EE if I were you.
 
yossarian, how do you feel about this :ME, for undergrad. EE possibly for grad.
would that work out?

radioouman, everyone has different tastes. I personally like physics i can see, as opposed to toying with instruments and analyzing circuits. I get terribly bored in every lab session.

can some experts confirm yossarian's claim about ME making no money? after all that was my initial worry.
 
Originally posted by: Yossarian
don't be a ME. you will never make any real money.
Click to expand...

What kind of a stupid comment is that? Like EE's get to 6 figures any sooner than an ME? The reality is, neither do! Not many companies pay engineers who AREN'T in a management position 6 figure salaries. :roll:

To the OP, if you want to be a ME, then be one. There's no giant difference in salaries between the two.
 
A co-worker with a undergrad and MS in ME told me if he could do it all over, he would get a dual degree in ME or EE (or an undergrad in ME and a MS in EE). He said in today's market, you don't find many pure ME projects .. most will involve both ME and EE.
 
Originally posted by: invertigo
not expecting 6 figures soon. However, does EE make significantly more money than an ME?
Click to expand...

It really all depends. You could move into management and make fix figures or you could get your PE in ME and do side projects for the goverment (while working another job) and make good money.
 
Originally posted by: invertigo
not expecting 6 figures soon. However, does EE make significantly more money than an ME?
Click to expand...

No, they don't. Just go look on any salary listing website. They're practically the same. If anything, ME is broader and will lead you towards a management position before an EE degree will, if that's what you want.
 
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