Which degree should I choose?

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I have a background in straight Science, but I love animals and animal handling (re Animal and Vet BioScience). would love to put the boots and overalls on, dissect dogs and do projects on wildlife. However, I think I might get bored with the applied science in the degree. They'll give me credit for the chemistry I've already done though, which would be a gift.

I was good at most things (except social studies) at school, and was extended a lot in mathematics, which I think is my forte. I loved Quantum Physics, which relies largely on abstract maths and I see myself as an 'abstract' sort of person. Not so concerned with everyday details.

Engineering wouldn't have been my first choice but starting salaries in this country are higher than straight Science degrees and I do really like biomolecular science and biochemistry. Couldn't see myself in a chemical factory but this degree would have apps in nanotechnology which sounds great to me.

well a lot of people have jobs they hate just because they need the money. It sounds like you've luckily got a choice here so I would suggest that, considering you're most likely only going to get 1 chance at life, how would you most like to spend that precious time? The only person that can answer that is you

I would go for the sciences, especially if you're an abstract sort of person. There are a lot of research opportunities, many of them better-paying than engineering jobs, for people with quantitative and computing backgrounds. Especially if you choose to apply your interests in math to problems in biology, which you seemed to indicate also interested you.

I'd say start off in Chemical Engineering, especially if you're interested in nanotechnology and Quantum Physics (the grad-level Thermo class I'm taking right now is pure QP), and it does require a lot of abstract thinking for understanding the math and solving the problems you'll be facing. Take the first year of courses to see if you like it, if not, just switch your major. From Chemical Engineering, you can split off into pretty much any other major you've listed as late as your junior year without putting yourself behind schedule for graduation (the other way around isn't very easy). If you like the biological side, you can go off into Bioengineering (the classes between BioE and ChE are identical here until the Junior year), and from there you can switch easily enough over to Biological/Veterinary studies. Again, the money in engineering is fantastic (you'll make more money during an internship during the summer before/after your junior year than most Bachelor of Science Chemists and Physicists make starting off), but that shouldn't be your deciding factor, especially if the job/field makes you miserable.

Another option you might look into is Environmental Engineering. If you get in with a consulting company, you'd be spending a lot of time outdoors studying the impacts of waste products on nature, and figuring out ways to fix it. There was a company recruiting engineers here a few years back to send them to Australia to fix the messes the oil companies there have spent decades creating.

hey, thanks, guys, I really appreciate it. I understand that only I can really decide such a thing, and do so according to what comes naturally and what I love - it's just that while waiting for offers to come in I've spent 3 weeks obsessing and gradually muddied my decision making ability, he he.

It's really important to me not to waste time, as I'm mature age now and really feel like I don't have time to waste! My life so far has been quite a mess in some ways and this my chance to make good - it's so important.

Don't think I could do environmental engineering (invariably I favour subjects like biochem, and activities like maths because they provide a different world too live in; this one scares me too much), although the rest of your post was very helpful, thanks again.

I may just go with the engineering, as the specialist subjects there are almost the same as the mainstream science (eg the computing units, chem) even though it means I don't get to do physics until later it would mean changing to another degree is possible after the first year.
I would really love to specialise with maths. If I can do a combined degree I will.
Planning to quiz the associate dean asap this week.

You probably would really enjoy Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering. Bioengineering lies more heavily on Biochemistry (surprise) and the functions of the body (artificial organs are one of my favorite subjects in this field), and Chemical Engineering lies more heavily on Physics (you get to do plenty of this your Junior year, along with the regular lineup of Math and Physics classes your Freshman and Sophomore year). The Junior year was always when we had the most people switch from ChE to BioE, simply because they couldn't handle the Math and Physics.

Thanks Orwell, I've just seen your post again. It is a useful suggestion that makes sense. Combining maths an bio is specifically something that has been re-occuring as interesting to pursue - there's more applications for it as time goes on, it seems.

@ DNForrest - the first year of the chem/bio engineering course only has chem, maths, eng. computing & an engineering intro, interestingly. Presumably the engineering intro counts as a physics subject, though strictly speaking it is not. It has samples of civil, mechatronic & chemical subjects though.

Personally, right now I'm thinking well why not enrol in the engineering, possibly with an enrolment variation (from chem) to physics in first semester (it's possible to enrol in summer school chem). Possibly an extra half-unit bio stat maths - wala! a course that can easily convert to Science, even majoring in nanotech/biological nanotech if the necessity arises.