How to determine the hardest engineering branch?

I've always been told that engineering is notoriously difficult, but I'm wondering - what's considered the 'hardest' engineering branch? I know it's somewhat subjective and depends on individual strengths, but what do people usually consider the most challenging and why?

Sure! As you rightly pointed out, the perception of "difficulty" can indeed be very subjective, and it truly depends on a person's individual strengths, aptitudes, and interests. That being said, there are a few engineering disciplines that often come up in these discussions due to their rigorous coursework and demanding nature.

Chemical Engineering: Many consider Chemical Engineering to be one of the most challenging branches. It merges principles from chemistry, physics, and biology and applies them to designing and developing new processes and materials. Students in this field need to be proficient in a wide range of topics, including organic and physical chemistry, heat and mass transfer, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and process control.

Electrical Engineering: This discipline might be challenging because it involves complex topics such as circuits, electromagnetic fields, computer systems, and signal processing. It also heavily depends on advanced math, including differential equations and complex analysis. Analysis and understanding of abstract concepts are key in this field.

Aerospace Engineering: Recognized as another demanding branch, Aerospace Engineering involves designing aircraft and spacecraft. It requires a solid grasp of a variety of concepts including fluid dynamics, material science, structural analysis, propulsion, and aerodynamics.

Biomedical Engineering: This discipline intersects medicine, biology, and engineering and thus needs proficiency not only in engineering principles but also in life sciences. Coursework can be quite extensive, covering subjects from bioinformatics to biomechanics to medical imaging.

In summary, the "hardest" engineering branch can vary greatly depending on a student's specific interests and strengths. For instance, someone who excels in biology might find biomedical engineering more manageable than electrical engineering, and vice versa. Before deciding on a major in engineering, it's best to thoroughly research each discipline and potentially speak with professionals or professors in those fields to get a better understanding of what coursework and future work will involve.