<p>If I hardcore want to do BE research/study, what undergrad. option is best for me at caltech? What have current students done?</p>
<p>ChE on the biomolecular track is probably the most common choice right now (which I'm a senior completing). There's also E&AS available, which is much more free-form. </p>
<p>I'm mostly applying to BioE grad programs and feel like I'm in good shape. If you look at the math/phys requirements for BioE grad programs, you'll find that core already is sufficient (lulz while I was filling out the Stanford BioE form last night for specific courses and saw only 5 spaces for math courses).</p>
<p>You'll soon realize that the option is not as important as the research you do. In that respect, your option may be useful since you'll become more familiar with profs you want to work with during your time here. At the moment, the BioE profs are pretty spread apart though, so it can actually be hard to find the profs whose work you are interested in. There's Pierce in ACM, Elowitz in Aph, Arnold/Smolke/Tirrell in ChE, others in chemistry/bio, etc. There seems to be talk of making BioE as an option for undergrads. The list here seems reasonably inclusive, although there are other people you could consider: Bioengineering</a> :: People</p>
<p>Choose ChE if you like/want to work hard for most of your time at Caltech; this major contains the most required courses (see table on page 1 of <a href="http://registrar.caltech.edu/Undergraduate%20Option%20Requirements%202006.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://registrar.caltech.edu/Undergraduate%20Option%20Requirements%202006.pdf</a>.</p>
<p>The rumors here are that there's going to be a BE option next year.......</p>
<p>There are also Gharib/Dabiri, who are bioengineering - fluid mechanics crossovers.</p>
<p>thanks peepz, very helpful</p>