A Checklist for Students

Engineering in general

• You understand that you will be learning for the rest of your life.
• You like to apply scientific principles, not just to reasearch them.
• What you learn next will build on concepts you've learned before.
• You like the fact that business and economics play an important rolein your career.
• You like mathematics.

Biology/Chemical Engineering

• You enjoy both biology and chemistry.
• You are interested in pharmaceutical and/or biochemical processes used in industry.
• You would be interested in commercializing substances and making them available to the general public, rather than simply distiling biologically usable compounds.
• You would prefer to work in an office, laboratory, or plant, rather than with medical patients.
• You are interested in exploring and solving biochemical and chemical problems from a technical or economic point of view.
• You're not terrified by technology and instruction, such as computer modeling and reaction design equipment.

Biology/Environmental Engineering

• You like field work.
• You're interested in environmental work with an emphasis on ecological life systems and/or effects upon human or animal life.
• You would be interested in learning about law and governmental regulations.
• You would not mind working with people and communities.
• You strongly believe that abuse of the environment has to be dealt with here and now.
• You would not be afraid of the possibility of friction, debate, and controversy in making decisions involving conflicts of interest between environmental advocates and corporations, governments, or communities.

Chemistry/Chemical Engineering

• You love chemistry; not just lab work or research, but the idea of bringing a chemical product to industry or people.
• You like hands-on work like designing, creating, and evaluating chemical processes. You are interested in the business of chemistry and production.
• You're not terrified of computers.
• You are interested in the interaction of control systems and machinery to actuate or monitor the creation, processing, or transition of chemicals.

Chemistry/Environmental Engineering

• You want to match your strong interest in chemistry with an interest in applying it to undo, change, or reduce chemicals' effects on the environment.
• You are interested in handling or rem ing soil, water, or hazardous materials.
• You believe the application of chemistry is useful in conjunction with environmental consulting or processing.
• You would like a balance between field work and office or lab work.
• You think the impact of chemistry on the environment is very important, and are willing to come up with strategies or products for bettering the environment.

Computer Science/Computer Engineering

• You eat, sleep and breathe computers both software and hardware. For you, programming is not enough: you want to understand the relationships among hardware development, system design, and software.
• You are interested in developing new hardware and operating systems, as well as large-scale software.
• You don't mind working long hours.
• You see yourself as a member of a development team, a consultant, or a specialist in computers and systems for a company.
• You like electronics almost as much as doing things with computers and their technologies.
• You spend your spare time reading technical journals and computer books and magazines.

Computer Science/Electrical Engineering

• You believe a computer is a piece of hardware that should be integrated into other machines, and you want to help develop, create, and con ure new uses of computer-centered hardware.
• You find customizing hardware more fun than programming (although you enjoy both).
• You see computers and electronic devices as the future of controlling signal processes, from cable to radar to image processing to wireless transmissions.
• You believe the computer's value lies in its function as a controller, processor, an er, transmitter, or director, and that electronic devicesfunction according to the type and nature of their computer components.

Computer Science/Mechanical Engineering

• You understand the role of the computer as an automation and control system for a larger mechanism, and prefer its applications.
• You enjoy working on machinery, from design to supervision of construction.
• You are more interested in functional machines on a human scale and their physical properties than purely theoretical or switching technologies.
• You want to explore and improve the real world use of technology, as well as study the in tion between physical factors (e.g. friction or noise) and the machine.

Mathematics/Computer Engineering

• You seek to understand computer programs and components as relationships expressible through mathematics.
• You are interested in reformulating algorithms, creating or integrating encryption and security, and transmitting data.
• You'd like to work in research and development.
• You grasp concepts and understand mathematics almost intuitively.

Mathematics/Electrical Engineering

• You want to understand the mathematical methods behind circuits, circuit board component design, and signal transmissions.
• You would be happy to use mathematics every day in designing and implementing electrical engineering jobs.
• You are willing to apply your mathematical knowledge creatively, and plan to keep up to date on new research in applied mathematics through journals and symposia.
• You would not mind using computer tools such as CAD in your work.

Mathematics/Mechanical Engineering

• You want to use math in the measurements and specifications of mechanical parts, including the development or use of instruction for testing, monitoring, and an ing the physical properties, in tions, and function of mechanisms.
• You know that stresses and energy con sion require math equations to understand their effects on machinery.
• You would like to expand your knowledge of mathematical and computer based problem solving tools.
• You would like to work in industry, mantaining, development, consulting, or aerospace.

Physics/Civil Engineering

• You're interested in structures, civil works, and/or infrastructure.
• You like field work.
• You want to work in construction or maintenance, and are willing to work for the government.
• You recognize that as a student, using physics later will be more important than getting a good grade now.
• You understand that safety and a great deal of money will be dependent on your skills.
• You would like to become familiar and comfortable with computer design and modeling.

Physics/Electrical Engineering

• You like mathematics because it helps create models and expresses circuits and systems theory, but your primary interest is physics, where these models and theories are applied.
• You believe that theory is something to be applied.
• You are interested in designing or exploring advanced electrical, electronic, control, or communications systems.

Physics/Mechanical Engineering

• You see physics as the skill behind better, smaller, and more efficient mechanical systems.
• You're interested in research and development, advanced systems for the automotive industry, industrial manufacturing, or processing/control systems.
• You are willing to use CAD/CAM applications almost daily.
• You are versatile enough to switch from highly computerizsed modeling, designing, and designing of prototypes to planning maintenance or improvement strategies.
• You understand that you will be learning for the rest of your life.
• You like to apply scientific principles, not just research them.What you learn next will build upon concepts you've learned before.
• You like the fact that business and economics play an important role in your career.
• You like mathematics.