Advising Questions
A collection of frequently asked question by advisees. Please feel free to contact me to discuss further.
Contents
General Questions
Should I major in chemical engineering? Chemical engineering is one of the most versatile engineering degrees you can get. It really is one of the few degrees that has a chemistry emphasis, so any industry that relies on chemistry likely has chemical engineers working in it. For instance, chemical engineers work in many different sectors: energy (oil, biofuels, batteries, coal, gas, gasoline, etc.), plastics, food/drink, pharmaceuticals, health care products, electronics, textiles, fine chemical production, environmental, etc. Many chemical engineers go on to law, medical, or graduate school. Chemical engineering is one of the more challenging degrees so you will have to work hard. But the payoff is very good. It is one of the highest paid engineering professions; the median salary was $97,000 in 2015 according to government statistics.
How do I know if I'm going to graduate? Review your degree audit! This report is generated by Registrar's office and lists what classes you still need to complete. Instructions can be found here.
Should I overload? It depends. If you are doing well (lots of A's) then you could consider overloading. But if you are struggling in your courses, overloading is usually a bad idea. Especially if you NR'd a course and want to make it up by overloading; I don't recommend this approach. Better to take it slower and do well with the standard three courses per term, than risk doing poorly in four courses.
Should I double major? My advice is to take it step by step. The degree requirements for chemical engineering are tough, and just getting through the program can be considered a significant accomplishment. Likely to double major you will need to overload several terms or take summer courses. Plus you need to have an MQP that fulfills your chemical engineering and the other degree requirements, which can sometimes be tricky. Double majoring can get you a small boost in your career prospects, but if you have a choice between good grades in chemical engineering and ok grades in two majors, I would pick the good grades. But if you are doing very well in your courses and think you can double major, then try it, but don't be afraid to switch to one major if things get too tough.
Should I complete a concentration? Concentrations are a great way to focus on a particular topic. If you are interested in a certain topic (biology, energy, environment, or materials), then go for it. Just be aware that it may require you to take extra courses beyond the minimum electives, which may mean overloading or summer courses depending on what you've already taken. But taking courses in something you like is usually a good idea.
What about getting a minor? Minors are similar to concentrations, in that they show you have taken extra courses in a particular area. But a minor usually requires more work than concentration, since not as many courses may double-count towards your chemical engineering degree. See the undergraduate catalog for available minors.
What advice do you have on doing well in chemical engineering? Go to class. Do the work. Don't procrastinate until last minute - work early and often on your homework. Keep up with the work. Don't be lazy. Ask questions if something doesn't make sense. Your instructors and TAs love to help, as well as your fellow students. Find people to work with on the homework. Don't cheat or do anything stupid.
What do you think about the AIChE chapter here at WPI? It's awesome! They provide lots of benefits, including homework sessions where you can meet with other students to work on homework. Plus they often give free food. :) You'd be crazy not to join and attend their events! Get more information here
Any advice on interns, co-ops, or summer research programs (like REUs)? Try often, try early. These can really boost your career, since they show you have done some engineering work in the 'real-world'.
What about letters of recommendation? You'll need these for applying for scholarships, graduate school, IQPs, summer research programs, and many others. Try to get the best recommends you can get. Usually this means someone who can write about you personally, rather than in generic terms. This is often someone who has worked closely for you, such as an IQP advisor or Great Problems instructor. Professors love to right recommends, but it can be hard if all we know about you is a grade from a class of 100 people. Anything you can do to make a good impression on a professor or personally demonstrate your abilities to him/her helps the professor write a better recommend. If you never really got to know your professor and ask for a recommend, this can be difficult. Try to find people who can really vouch for you.
What are potential employers looking for? Good grades! Experience (through an internship, co-op, or research work). Good communication skills (written and verbal). Abilities beyond math/science/engineering (like leadership, teamwork, etc.), which you can often demonstrate through extra-curricular activities or your WPI projects.
Course Questions
What courses should I take? You can get a full description of the degree requirements here . Page 2 has a sample schedule.
How many core courses do I need to take? 12 of the 14 core courses, which must include CHE 4404 or 4410 (unless you have a design aspect of your MQP which is pretty rare).
What about engineering electives? You need to take three electives (all above 2000 level with the exception of CHE 1011). At least one must be engineering course outside chemical engineering. The other two electives can be from any department.
How many Advanced Chemistry and Natural Science courses do I need to take? Five courses above 2000 level, including three chemistry courses above 2000 level. CH 1040 is a special course in that it may count as Advanced Science, but it doesn't count as Advanced Chemistry. So if you if you do take CH 1040, you still need three chemistry courses above 2000 level plus one more science course above 2000.
What about ID2050? This course is required for students going offsite for IQP. You are required to take two social science courses, and this course will fill one of them.
How do I plan my schedule for next year? Look at the course schedule on the Registrar's website to see what courses are offered next year and at what times. The WPI Scheduler is also a neat site that will help you fit your schedule together.
What are the requirements for a concentration? See details on this document . You'll need 6 classes (2 units) plus an MQP in the concentration area. You can double-count these courses towards your chemical engineering degree, so getting a concentration often may only mean a few extra courses.
Research-Related Questions
What about doing some research at WPI? Getting involved doing research with a WPI professor is a great way to improve your resume, while learning more about chemical engineering. Research however can be time-consuming, and many students stop doing research shortly after starting. They don't realize the time commitment, which competes with their courses. Also, often professors don't have funds to pay student researchers. Another option is to register for independent study credits and do research. This will provide some elective credits towards your degree. If you are on work study, you can also work in a professor's laboratory as part of the work study. In summary, if you have good time management skills, then consider doing some research. Usually the best way to get started is to contact a professor whose research looks interesting and discuss the possibilities. I'm always looking for bright, hard working students! :)
How do I find an MQP? Our department doesn't have a formal method for finding an MQP. The AIChE chapter usually has an information session to highlight different professors' research interests and available options. But really finding a project is up to you. Typically students will contact professors to ask about MQPs or propose an MQP.If you contact a professor by yourself, the professor may work with you on a solo MQP or assign you to a team. Often students will form a team on their own, and contact a professor about the team working on a MQP.
Graduate School Questions
I'm interested in the BS/MS program. Should I apply? It depends on what you want to do for your career. If you want to get a slight edge over the BS degree, learn professional skills, are interested in management, or want a pay boost, than a masters degree may be a good choice for you.
Further details on the BS/MS program can be found at my BS/MS page.
What about a PhD? If you like research (like the IQP or MQP), then a PhD could be a great career move. It will certainly open doors, such as into senior research positions, or even upper management. It will also give you a good pay boost compared to the BS degree. The good thing about all reasonable PhD programs is that they give you a stipend and pay your tuition while in school. Typical stipends are about $30,000 per year. It's not as much money compared to what you'd make at a company working, but while you're getting your PhD (usually 4-5 years) you won't starve. It's a few year sacrifice to increase your long-term job prospects.
