The UConn Chemical Engineering Challenge

  Hello everyone, Patt here.

Attending a University is always a very challenging and rewarding experience. Choosing a major is one of the most important decisions a student can make. Most people have an idea of what they want to be when they come to college. If not there are more than enough opportunities to think about. For those of you who may be more science and mathematically inclined, engineering might be a great option. One of the more important and valuable disciplines in engineering is chemical engineering.

The chemical engineering is a bit of a misnomer. CHEG (chemical engineering) has little to do with chemicals as it does with process design. A quintessential example of what a CHEG may do is plant (factory) building. Say, for example someone makes a cure for some major disease. This cure needs to be manufactured on a large scale.  A CHEG’s job might be to design the plant, including fluid flows and the correct temperatures and pressures to get optimal equilibrium for drug production. Sound confusing yet?

It is a challenging field to get into. There is a lot of work and you will be pushed but in the end it is all worth it. CHEG majors land great jobs at all different kinds of companies. These companies also span every different field of work imaginable. When we choose a major the ultimate goal is getting a job. Chemical engineering offers two advantages over other majors when it comes to careers: job security and a wide open field.

One of the best reasons to be a chemical engineer is to options available at graduation. Currently, I am planning on going to law school to study intellectual property and patent law. If I decide to take a few years off I can work in almost any field. Every company has a use for a chemical engineer which is great because that means that the abilities and skills are always going to be needed.

If chemical engineering is not the perfect fit, there are different types of engineering. At UConn alone there are 12 different engineering majors. All of which will provide students with a excess of opportunities as an undergrad and in a career. While engineering may be more difficult than other majors one can be, it is also more rewarding. Engineering gives people the ability to work in any field and make life better for people. Thus it is rewarding both financially and morally.

One of my favorite engineering quotes sums up how important engineers in general are. “The world will always need two kinds of people: lawyers and engineers”.