r/ChemicalEngineering • u/Commercial_Effect_25 • May 16 '25
Student Chem vs Chem Eng.
I’m currently a Junior in highschool, and I have a college counselor. He told me he doesn’t think I’m ready for chemical engineering in college bc I don’t have AP Physcisc or AP Calc BC (I currently have Calc AB And Chem this year, AP Stats 4 and AP Precalc 5 last yr). I will take AP Physics C and BC in senior year, but he said that is a bad idea bc I will be under pressure when uni gives me conditional offer. Anyway, he is basically telling me that teenagers like me hoping to apply for Chem E are taking much much more harder classes than me and I shouldn’t apply or else I won’t get in. He suggested me to apply for Chemistry instead… He also told me I should stay away from math related majors ( prob bc he saw that I got a C+ in AP Stats but got a 4) and prob thinks I’m rly dumb and just delusional for wanting to apply for chem Eng. But I can think of any reason WHY I want to apply for Chemistry? I like chemistry, but just chemistry as a Uni major … I don’t rly want to. I know Chem E is mostly thermo and physics, and I’m willing to learn. What should I do?
Update: thanks for everyone’s advice. It rly gave me confidence. I’ll try my best to get into Chem E programs.
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u/JonF1 May 17 '25
Most Chemistry grads probably wish they did chemical engineering instead.
The problem with a BS in Chemistry is that it often requires a masters degree to get a job - or a long time grinding it out in fairly low pay lab roles.
A word of warning though - Don't make something your career just because your passion. Your interests and repositories will and should change in life.
Remember that a job is something your primarily get to pay your bills. If you enjoy your work - that is a nice bonus. However, you won't enjoy it that much if it's unstable, can't pay your bills, is working you to the bone, etc.
Chemical Engienering isn't necessarily like that. I'm just giving you a heads up about working life.