[SteveJanesch]

Hi Brandon,

In addition to seeing what's available at your school's counseling office now, I suggest going to a few universities with ECE or ME departments and talking to people there. Most universities have open houses several times a year, but to really get a handle on things, call the main phone number for the department in question and say "Hi, I'm interested in studying [something] at [your college] and would like to talk to someone in the department about your program." It's a great way to learn about the school, the major, and how you might fit.

While doing this for my own kids over the last three years, I learned that (as others have said) the things you've described are probably a good fit for the Computer Engineering department, if it's separate from the EE department (assuming there's no Mechatronics or Robotics program). One challenging thing about controlling things with software is that it helps to know about the mechanical properties of the things you're controlling, the electromechanical properties of the sensors and actuators, and the electrical behavior of the controller, and the math that ties it all together. It does smear into ME and EE programs a little, but you'll probably find that the math and physics foundations are the same.

Since you're staying local this fall, you've got more time to explore your options before deciding on a university. It sounds like you enjoy a variety of things and that's great. The most important thing is to find something you enjoy doing in an environment where you're comfortable. And even after you've made your initial choice, you're always free to change majors. I took a non-traditional route - I started out as an ME, switched to EE, then transferred schools, later on worked for a semester, and graduated in five years. I've been doing circuit design for the last 25 years, I think it turned out okay.

Really, talk to people in the departments of the schools that interest you. You'll learn a lot.

Cheers,
Steve