Hi everyone,
I’m hoping to get some advice from older students, alumni, or anyone who has navigated a similar situation.
I’m currently a sophomore in ECE (came in through ENGRUD). Over the last year, I’ve realized my true passion lies in the physical, structural, and materials side of engineering rather than internal electronics. I took statics and absolutely loved it, whereas circuits really wasn't my thing. Through my engineering clubs, I’ve been actively building up my hands-on skills, getting a lot of experience with the machine shop, CAD, and FEA. I also have direct experience on the mechanical side outside of class, including an industry internship building automated machinery and a research analyst role focusing on biomimetics and CAD. My long-term goal is to work on structural components and physical product innovation (aerospace, automotive, or biomechanics).
Because of this shift in interest, I applied to switch my major to ME (my top choice) or CIV. I just found out I was rejected from both, which is definitely a bummer, but now I’m trying to figure out the most logical next step. I see three main paths forward and would really value your thoughts on them:
- Stay at UW and finish my ECE degree. Is it realistic to pivot into mechanical/structural roles with an ECE degree if I build a strong portfolio outside of class? I'm willing to put in the work, but I don't want to be automatically screened out of ME jobs just because of my degree title.
- Stay at UW, take ME prerequisites, and reapply next year. This feels like the riskiest option. I’d be taking non-ECE classes for a year, and if I don't get in next cycle, I'll have lost a lot of time.
- Transfer to another university (like WSU) for ME. I really like UW, but transferring would guarantee that I actually get to study the exact field I want to work in.
Has anyone been in a similar boat, or does anyone working in the industry have insight into how much the specific degree matters here? I want to make sure I'm making a smart choice for my career, so any guidance or reality checks you have would be incredibly appreciated!
Thanks so much for your time.