Thank You everyone for all of your replies. I appreciate everyone's input.
Now, you have all made me think of some more questions, lol.
· So, about the whole PhD, if I were to go that route shouldn't I just major in a pure science like chemistry or whatever. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't it be more beneficial if I wanted to do research in an area if I went just in the life sciences. Or maybe it depends on college teaching the chemical engineering program. I just feel if I was to go with the Ph.D in chemical as opposed to a pure science then I wouldn't be doing the medicine/pharmaceutical research. I really don't think LSU focuses on that really in their curriculum. I think it is more of the usual refining/material/alternative fuel sources type of stuff. Like for example, at LSU you select a formal concentration in: Bioengineering, Environmental, or Materials.
· Now speaking of strictly chemistry they offer concentrations in: Biological Chemistry, Chemical physics, Chemistry (lol, no joke), environmental chemistry, materials, and polymers.
· I think my biggest problem is the fact that I like just about everything. I like all the sciences the biology, chemistry, physics, geology, everything. I like math(well, I'm good at math, but sometimes when I'm doing it, I'm like yeah, I can do this, I can spit out the answer, but what the hell is this used for?). I like knowing the why, what, when, where.
· Here is the deal, I've always been fascinated by the science of everything, why that works, or why is that the way it is, or let me take that apart and analyze it. I was planning on majoring in engineering for those reasons, but I fear I might be more interested in the science than the engineering itself, if that makes any sense. I wanted to do engineering because I want to befit the world, help mankind, explore and if that fits engineering or science I really have no clue. If someone could explain the differences to me that would be great.
· The simple fact is I would like to develop/research/study things, but it seems to me that the way chemical engineering is geared here it is more of a management of a plant or supervisory type of position thing. For example, I know a guy who graduated just last year from LSU and he's doing chemical engineering work and he is supervising projects and stuff like that at a plant. I really don't find that interesting at all. One guy I talked to said that the way they teach chemical engineering here at LSU it is like your are a "Glorified Plummer." Which correlates with the Oil Field refining aspect since this is Louisiana.
· The fact is, I couldn't see myself in a management position just managing processes. My mind is stimulated by learning things about the universe, organisms, life itself, all the good stuff. To support my case, sometimes, when I have time, after class, I'll spend a good 30 -45 mins discussing random science topics with one of my professors, the subjects include anything from medical ailments, the makeup of living creatures, the universe's origin, theoretical physics, I mean you name it. I can do that all day long no joke, seriously. I'll keep asking questions and he'll keep answering.
· So here is the deal, am I thinking engineering is something is not? Am I better suited going into pure science curriculum? You know, I could see myself doing a academic type of setting researching or teaching a class, or something of that nature.
· The bottom line is, if my mind is not receiving all of this interesting information. I am not a happy camper. Pure math doesn't interest me, or even come close to the way I feel when I am in a biology, chemistry class, or something of that nature. I respect math, I'm good at solving equations, and it feels good when I solve a problem, it's just sometimes I don't see the point. All though physics I can see the point, just like the other sciences. I guess when something has an application then I like it. Like I know for my biology 2 class in high school, I haven't taken a biology in college yet, but I'm sure its no different, just way more in depth. I passed that with a 4.0 every quarter, made A+'s on every test, and I could listen to my teacher talk like there was no tomorrow. There was not a point in time where I was bored, I was constantly fascinated. Same with physics and chemistry. Physics kept me interested not because of the problems or math in them, but what you could study or do with them, same with chemistry.
· Now in a math class I can drift off into the abyssal plane, I understand what is coming out of the teachers mouth, but do I care all that much, I would have to say NO. It just doesn't catch my attention like everything else does.
· Medical School and becoming a doctor I think for me at least would be very satisfying. Always learning something new, especially since it's everything that interests me in science. Especially since I want to help people. Also, more specifically help in the areas that have affected my family greatly. I would like to do cardiology, Ophthalmology/Cancer research, or immunology/allergies/ENT type of stuff, Neurology also interests me. I have no problem with blood. I'm not squeamish or anything. I do have one weakness though, and it is smell. If something smells horrible, like terribly sour, I have to stop myself from gagging, lol. I don't know if you encounter any horrendous smells in med school, but I know that wouldn't be good for me, lol. It would have to be very, very bad though for it to affect me.
So, due to the details I have presented, what would you that are going into med school, and others that are chemical engineers say to me, am I justifying myself in doing engineering or am I cheating myself out of something. The thing is, since I haven't gotten into the upper level chemical engineering courses I have no idea what I would be studying. I know my interest will be sustained in science, but I really don't know enough about engineering. I mean I'm only a freshman, I think I am now more confused than ever, lol.
I will tell you this, every engineer I've talked to does management, which if I wanted to do management, or just fixes problems with machines or things in a plant, which god forbid if I wanted to manage things I would major in business, which I rather pull my nose hairs out with my bare hands. Tell me straight up how it is, and what you think I should do.