Hi, I’m a second-year Chemical Engineering co-op student in Canada, about to start my first co-op this May. Although I’m currently in ChemE, my original intent was Electrical Engineering. I now have the GPA required to switch, but I’m unsure whether I should.
I don’t dislike ChemE, but switching would likely extend my degree by another year (already 5 years due to co-op), and with my co-op starting soon, this feels like my last realistic chance to make the change.
My main concern is long-term career fit. I’ve been told ChemE tends to have higher early-career pay, but a more limited range of roles and more exposure to industry cycles, whereas EE may earn slightly less at the start (still well-paid) but offers a much broader range of careers and stronger long-term flexibility.
Another factor is extracurriculars and projects. As a ChemE, I’ve found it difficult to contribute meaningfully to engineering clubs, since many are MecE/EE-focused and I’ve been explicitly told ChemE skills don’t apply. As a result, I’ve had to learn EE/MecE skills outside my coursework, which has made it harder to build relevant project experience for my portfolio.
Personally, I find EE topics more interesting, while ChemE coursework has felt more manageable. I also enjoy doing hands-on/home projects, which seem more naturally aligned with EE skills.
I've been struggling to decide, any advice or perspectives would be greatly appreciated.
I also have few a questions:
* Are you happy with the way your career has turned out in ChemE? To follow up, If you had to choice to go back and change your discepline, would you?
* Do you feel the flexibility vs specialization trade-off is real?
* If you were in my position, would you switch before first co-op or stick it out?
Thank you