Engineering or science?

[nexion]

I am at a sort of crossroads now, and it concerns what I plan on going to college for.

I have, throughout my high school years, always styled myself as going into the field of science as a career. Lately, however, I've been having doubts. I love all of the three major branches of science (physics, biology, and chemistry), but lately, I've also become heavily interested in math (and I actually appear to be good at it). So, this made me wonder, is engineering a better choice for me? I know science deals with a good bit of math too, but for me, who is interested in learning math that may not even apply to science (outside of something such as quantum and theoretical physics or similar), I am thinking that engineering might be my better option. I assume that I will either major in science with a minor in math, or major in engineering with a minor in either science or math. I'm also greatly interested in philosophy (math, science, and philosophy are my three academic interests that have never left me), but I certainly don't think I would consider going to school for it.

I suppose that, there should be a question somewhere in this thread, from which the answers give me more insight, so here it is: what are the major differences between engineering and (research) science? I know that engineers use a great deal more math, but I am talking more of the nuances between the two. For example, I had always thought that research scientists are the people who came up with the principle while engineers are the people who put said principle into practical use. However, I'm not particularly good at practicalities, and I think I would much rather deal with theoretical than... well, I think you get it I'm saying (at least, I hope you do...)

Thoughts?

 

[EvilScientist Trainee]

My thoughts are that engineering is a broad field indeed. Of course, science is a broad field as well, but as you claim to have an interest in math, engineering seems to be the more likely path to me too, as you'll have to deal with math to perform tasks more frequently.

I'd suggest doing some engineering major with a minor in physics. As with it you'll have a good base of understanding along your math and engineering skills.

As you said, research science does come up with the principles. Engineering is a field focused on problem solving. But as far as engineering goes, problems are really diverse, and you'll have to find ways to deal with them.

Research science, on other hand, makes you deal with theory to the point you have to find faults to them and propose more accurate theories to suit reality. But in my opinion, the scientific method seems to annoy me a bit. Of course, without it, we wouldn't have replayability of results, but those procedures annoy me.

I'm not saying that engineering doesn't have it's own rules and methods, but you can be more open ended, i believe. But in the end, the choice is the following: Do you enjoy problem solving more than theory exploring or the opposite?

Just my two cents here.

 

[nexion]

I think I would have to agree with you about the scientific method. Not that it isn't a great thing, but it just seems a bit too rigorous for me to work with it for a great majority of my life.

Problem solving or theory, hm? I think I actually like both about equally, but I see no reason that I can't employ theory and experimentation in engineering as well.

I also think you're right about engineering and physics. The two go great together.

Thanks. Just that post helps me greatly.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

For example, I had always thought that research scientists are the people who came up with the principle while engineers are the people who put said principle into practical use. However, I'm not particularly good at practicalities, and I think I would much rather deal with theoretical than... well, I think you get it I'm saying (at least, I hope you do...)

Thoughts?

Both have their theoretical and practical sides.

For engineering, theory is the research, conception, and designing of systems. Practical science, as you know, is the realization of concepts that is technology.