Josuan:

Something people don’t take into account is where they’ll be working and how to get to the opportunities they’re looking for. Don’t expect to get a degree and be working in robotics anywhere – that field is too specific and doesn’t have applications everywhere. So, my recommendation for you is – look at this backwards. Where do you want to work? What specific companies do you want to work with robotics? Think of more than two companies you can see yourself working with – but look for companies.

Then, look at what majors those companies are looking for, when they look for robotics. They probably want mechanical engineering, but then, do they also hire electrical engineers? Maybe industrial engineers?

Look for a school that has a good background with robotics, a good robotics lab, maybe a mechatronics or controls laboratory, that has what you want. Look at the field of engineering it falls under. For some reason, robotics fell under the industrial engineering department at my school. Maybe you could consider electrical engineering, although robotics is best understood with mechanical engineering, because they have an extensive knowledge of machinery, a robot is nothing other than a machine.

Don’t cross mechanical engineering out because it is too popular. Not many people I know go into mechanical engineering to work in robotics, they want to work in the automobile industry or aerospace or maybe even pharmacy, doing everything but robotics. Especially after taking basic courses such as mechanical controls and electronics, two of the more difficult courses, they cross that out of their interests, unless they really like it.