Hi patrick, I am not from RP but from NTU MSE (mat. sci). I am
currently doing an undergrad course in material science, so I guess
my experiences may be relevant to you....
MSE is a new branch of study that marries both engineering,
applied chemistry and physics into one field. The current materials
available in the industries can no longer satisfy the increasing
speciality needs of various industrial designs. Therefore, hybrid
materials of metals, ceramics, polymers are created to satisfy this
need. Material science also looks into the structure of materials
at the nano-scale. How strength, hardness, toughness and other
physical properties are heavily dependent on the arrangement of
atoms at nano-scale. Instruments used to study these materials at
atomic lvls are eg. XRD, SEM, TEM, STM, AFM...........
For ntu, I have many friends that took the poly route to uni. So
I think the prospects are gd for u. Besides, the semi-con industry
also need alot of MSE ppls, same with the new player on the block,
life-science. For MSE, my exp is that the maths is less
demanding as compared to other engineering courses. But
great emphasis placed on theorectical understanding of how
things work at atomic lvl. I'm not so sure for u how is it like, so
u got to go and exp on ur own. Besides, MSE also opens the door to
many research opportunities.....