Erin AddedSunday, November 26, 2017 at 7:01 PM Engineering or Science? Hello! I am a senior in high school in the midst of college applications. I've always loved my science and math classes, and have known that I wanted to go into a STEM field. The majority of schools that I'm applying to require me to apply to a specific college within the university, including Arts and Sciences or Engineering. I've been struggling for a few months on trying to decide which one to apply to, since I like both. I really enjoy science and theory, in particular chemistry. But I do also love physical applications of theory, which compels me to engineering. In my heart I feel like I want to major in a science, but then I'm afraid that I'll have to commit to getting my PhD, whereas with engineering I could probably make more money and get a job after graduation, without needing to go to grad school per se. Would engineering have enough science to satiate me? Could I still perform research related to science as an engineering? What should I do? Related to Choosing a Degree, Math & Science Reset Sort By Default Margaret Byron , Penn State University Answered Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 8:04 AM Hi Erin, Tough call! There are some key differences between what you will learn as an undergraduate in a science major (like biology or chemistry) or an engineering major (like bioengineering or chemical engineering). You're right that engineering has more of a focus on application. But there is definitely room for both, even if you don't get a PhD. As an undergraduate, I took courses in all kinds of topics outside engineering, including a couple in ecology and evolutionary biology (even though my major was mechanical engineering). I was really interested in the physics of swimming, and I did my undergraduate thesis on the hydrodynamics of manta rays. That spurred me on to get a PhD in Civil and Environmental engineering with a strong focus on biology, and some additional training on pure biology and even some ocean science. Today, I would consider myself to be a scientist as well as an engineer. My research has a hefty dose of biology in it, and I regularly meet up with my pure-science buddies to talk about cool problems on both science and engineering. There's more overlap than you might think! As for the job market question, you may be better positioned with a degree in engineering, but remember that an engineering degree doesn't mean you have to get a job in traditional engineering industries. You could work for a nonprofit, or for a consulting company that tackles a variety of problems. A science degree might be a little less flexible, but if you work hard and do well, I think you will find that many career paths are open to you. Summary: majoring in engineering doesn't lock you out of science! There are lots of opportunities to do science as an engineer.