Oregon State University, Chemistry or Chemical Engineering?

[PaulMo]

TLDR: I got chemistry and chemical engineering acceptances at OSU. which=better?

 

I have a diverse educational background, I've taken a lot of physics (electrodynamics/quantum etc...), applied mathematics(calc 1-4, diff eq, linear alg), computer science (projects in C/Python/LabVIEW, arduino, C# data structures/algorithms, parallel programming, SQL), Physical chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry. I think I generally do well in computational environments but I also enjoy working in a lab sometimes (maybe not always, it feels like 50/50... sometimes I really enjoy it but sometimes I get sick of it). I worked as an instrumentation aid for the ICP-MS, AA spec, Ion Chromatograph and I have hands on experience with GC-MS, NMR, UV-VIS, FTIR spec and probably more I'm forgetting. I've done a lot of random stuff.

Anyway, I really like Oregon State University and I've found some faculty in a few different departments that seem like a good fit. I applied to the chemistry department and the chemical engineering department. I was accepted to the chemistry department recently and I was told by the faculty in the chemical engineering department that I'm on the highest tier list to be accepted. Good news right? However, now I have a decision to make. I figured (since I've previously been denied) that I might get one acceptance and I would just choose that one. I'm trying to make the most informed decision that I can so I'm emailing people I know, asking friends at OSU, current professors, sending out smoke signals, asking people's dogs, waving down complete strangers. Now I'm here.

I'm hopeful that someone maybe with some experience in chemistry and chemical engineering departments could shed some light or maybe someone who went to OSU. Right now the biggest problem is I know a ton of chemists and no chemical engineers. I like chemistry, I like working in a lab sometimes but I think I would be okay if I didn't work in a lab again, I also really like programming and mathematics and physics.

As far as research goes. The professor in the chem department is doing very similar work as the professor in the chemE department (nanoporous solid adsorption stuff), I think the subject is fascinating and I think the topic would be interesting to me whichever I choose. 

 

Thanks folks!