elite pro cheese-eater

so some general tips about trying to find what you like: i’m not sure what year you are in college and this is definitely the later part of the academic year, but if you’re closer to the start and have some time to kill, i would take an introductory or class for nonmajors from a field you could be interested in!! these are low pressure classes you can take to see if you can handle the academic subject matter and rigor while you get rid of your prereqs! if your university has the option, you can even take it pass/not pass! this is actually how i found my degree!!

if you’re later on in your academic career, something that you could do is read some course descriptions for upper level classes and see if that piques your interest!! i would also recommend getting in touch with a peer advisor from that department/school, as they generally have good advice on the floor level and perspective that school counselors and advisors can’t give from where they’re sitting!

as for stem degrees (sans electrical/mech/civil engineers) something you should consider is if you want to work in some kind of lab environment! since u are considering chem engineering, this may be something u want to consider! i currently work in a lab, and i really enjoy it! but i know some people find bench work very tedious! the best way to get a feel for if you would like it is to try to work in a lab at least once! this can be for credits through an apprenticeship (some universities will offer this as independent study) or a paid side job! unfortunately sometimes it is unpaid :(. also, this is not a be all end all and will make or break your degree! it’ll just help you think about the career path you’ll want to move forward with! 

as for me, i work as a clinical lab tech, which is the entry level job for a lot of lab related career paths! personally, i really enjoy the structure and the opportunity to work with really current and relevant technologies, and since i am part of a clinical lab, i appreciate the opportunity to contribute to patient care!! something that should be noted for capitalism though: lab tech pay varies from state to state and company to company, but usually is on the lower side for a stem career, with advanced degrees and certifications being the main vehicle for obtaining large raises in pay! 

that being said, i do like the “level up” structure with multiple options for career advancement, and the benefit of being in a company full of scientists and clinicians is that learning is encouraged and nurtured. there are plenty of opportunities for advancement just by working with what you’re given! also, many of my coworkers are continuing their education on half the company dime and you’ll find that a lot of companies like this do have some kind of reimbursed education benefit!!!