When I was a freshman, and long before I entered the hallowed halls of Texas A&M, I convinced myself that I was going to study mechanical engineering when I went to college. Little did I know that I had to wait a whole year before I even entered into my major of choice, and that wasn’t even considering the process of Entry to a Major. Yet if it wasn’t for that “gap year,” I wouldn’t have ended up in the major I am in now, a major I didn’t even know existed until halfway through the spring semester of my freshman year.
Upon entering Texas A&M, we students already have a good understanding of most engineering majors available here, but what about the majors that are lesser-known? We can all list mechanical, civil and chemical engineering off the top of our heads, but there are more options available. Events like DI Saturday, department BBQs and the College of Engineering Tailgate are great ways to see the many departments in TAMU’s Engineering program.
If it weren’t for the many events being hosted, I would have been left in the dark about all that is available here.
With that in mind, I highly encourage you to keep an open mind when it comes to choosing your major. There are a lot of great options out there that are always looking for new engineers and don’t receive the attention they deserve. These are the majors that many usually put as their second and even third choice for ETAM.
Just because the major is small does not mean the field doesn’t have a lot to offer. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Oftentimes fields that have small numbers are just starting to make their mark on the world. After all, mechanical and civil engineering didn’t become popular overnight, they had to start somewhere, and these pioneers were willing to go outside of the norm and build from the ground up.
Choosing a major in engineering can be a difficult process, and if you still haven’t figured it out that’s okay! The point of getting an education is not just academic in nature, but also figuring out who we are. To those of you who have figured out what major you want to pursue, I wish you luck on your journey to complete your bachelor’s and move onwards, but for those who are still navigating the labyrinth, I highly recommend looking at fields that are outside the norm. Fields like agricultural, nuclear and ocean engineering may be small, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a big impact in those fields.
Want to learn about the degree programs Texas A&M Engineering offers?
The College of Engineering provides a wide variety of opportunities to delve into what interests you. Search programs by department and type to find the perfect fit for you.
