12th Grade student, looking to do engineering

[Fifty]

I have applied to various universities in Canada for mechanical engineering. That is, I applied to general engineering, but all of the schools require supplementary applications on which you specify which type of engineering you want to pursue. At the University of Waterloo in Ontario, they offer mechanical engineering, nanotechnology engineering and electrical engineering as an undergrad. I think I am most interested in mechanical engineering (with which I could pursue post-grad education in aerospace, which is what I have loved since I was a kid!) but it seems like electrical engineering and ESPECIALLY nanotechnology would have more career options (not that mechanical engineering would have few, but it seems like there would be more careers with more potential in nano and electrical).

Nano-tech is by far the hardest to get into, followed by mech, then electrical. On the application, you specify in order, your preference. Electrical is the easiest to get into so I'm putting that third.

Edit: Sorry for the long post, I had no idea how long it was until I looked at it! Thanks for reading and thanks for the advice!

I don't know which to put first and second. If I put nano in first, then mech second, I might not get into nano and get secondary consideration for mech since I put that second and not get into either of them! But if I put mech in first, I'll be much more likely to get into mech but much less likely to get into nano.

I want to know a) whether which one you put first affects your admission to the program and b) your opinion on which is a wiser career path. I love physics (based on my high school education in classical mechanics, electromagnetism, special relativity and introductory quanum mechanics) in general at least as much as I love airplanes, so I do not think I will enjoy a career in aerospace THAT much more than I would in nanotechnology, but again, I think there is more potential in nano-tech. Is this true and if so, what would you recommend?

 

[R.Mesri]

It's ultimately up to you to decide which program to prioritize, as it really comes down to what kind of career you want to pursue and which field interests you the most. With regards to which path is wiser, it really depends on your own preferences and goals. All three fields are growing, and offer a variety of different career paths. Mechanical engineering will typically involve more design work, while electrical engineering focuses on circuits and electronics, and nanotechnology engineering revolves around materials science and nanoscale structures. You should consider all these factors when deciding which one to prioritize. Ultimately, choose the program that best fits your interests and ambitions.