Best career

[RDB]

Hello! I'll start my career and my university offers these options:

B.S. Chemistry and Nanotechnology Engineering
B.S. Mechanical Engineering with minor in Industrial Engineering
B.S. Biomedical Engineering

I really like the three options, so I'd like to know which one of them has the best future. My first options would be Nanotechnology and Biomedical, since I've read they are the future of science. But which is your opinion?

Also, I'm from Mexico and I'd like to know if it is possible to foreigners to work in the US or Germany. Unfortunately, these professions are very poorly paid in my country so it would be good if I could leave. I have a great level of English and a B1 in German (which I'm planning to keep studying).

[Dave Jensen]

Of course, work permits are available for both the USA and Germany, with the USA in transition now politically and Germany not a subject I can comment on (others can?). However, you'll end up with a marketable degree whatever direction you go.

The engineering degree will ALWAYS be one that leads you to work. There is never an end to the need for engineers in the work force. There are needs for scientists, as well, but as you can tell if you read the forum, it's much more "niche specific."

Nanotechnology is an over-stated part of our future (in my opinion.) Yes, there will be jobs, but they sure aren't in large supply now. So that's the biggest risk of the three. Could pay off handsomely, but still -- large risk at this point. You could end up a chemist doing QC work in a pharmaceutical plant on the border -- and NOT doing intriguing "nanotech R&D" work.

The Biomedical engineering degree will lead you to the medical device area. A booming business, but again -- very niche specific and I'm not sure this forum addresses those niches as we are more of a life sciences forum. I'm sure that Biomedical engineering would start you off well, but you'd need a graduate degree to do your own independent work. Which brings up the subject of, "What is it you WANT to do?"

Dave

[Rich Lemert]

I would echo Dave's last point - what is it you want to do? The three areas you list are very different, each requiring its own distinctive set of skills and abilities, and each having a different set of goals. What little overlap there may be is mostly due to how people in what area might need to access products produced by someone in another field.

This forum can provide you with information about each field, but until you know what it is about them that you want to do we can't help you decide which one's right for you.

(Regarding your first option - chemistry and nanotech - contact me off-line. I can point you to someone working in the area who would be worth getting to know.)

[D.X.]

Hi RDB,

Regarding the question on Germany, having competency in the German language is good step, I recommend being able to Show proficiency at the B2 Level as that will be required should you work in a German speaking Environment.

Regarding work Permit, as you are a non-EU, and as Mexico is not a European Economic Area (EEA) or signatory to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), nor a Schengen member, then you ability to secure a work Permit dependent on you having an offer of employement from a Company. In more simple Terms, you Need a Job offer.

Best,

DX