<p>Since so many are interested in this BME situation, post the back and forth here, please.</p>
<p>In terms of the general field what does research entail? Or what kind of techniques/equipment do you use?</p>
<p>The research will vary <em>greatly</em> depending on how you specialize… it could be work with cell culture, genetics, tissue engineering, or modeling the dynamics of a particular organ system, or designing medical equipment and implantable devices. You can really focus on what interests you most of the different aspects of BME - biology, mechanical, electrical, etc.</p>
<p>Is there a particular area that’s of interest to you? I’d be glad to go into more detail on any of them. You’ll often see that a BME department will lean more heavily toward either the biology/cellular/tissue engineering side of BME, or the mechanical/electrical/device design side, and so the research opportunities will too.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE=laurezer]
You’ll often see that a BME department will lean more heavily toward either the biology/cellular/tissue engineering side of BME, or the mechanical/electrical/device design side, and so the research opportunities will too.
[/quote]
One thing about this: at WashU, you’ll find that the mechanical/electrical areas are more visible at the undergrad campus (as in, at the BME building), while biology/cellular/tissue engineering has a larger presence at the medical school, which is on a separate campus at the other side of Forest Park. You might want to keep that in mind when visiting WashU’s BME department or looking for professors for research opportunities.</p>
<p>I acutally feel that there isn’t much BME research at WashU on the more mechanical/electrical/device side of things - but this also changes as the department grows</p>
<p>Does anyone have answers to these questions or know of WashU web pages that might have them?
- Percent and/or numbers of WashU BME graduates that apply to grad school? Percent and/or numbers that get accepted to grad school?
- What grad schools do WashU BME graduates apply to and get accepted at?</p>
<p>Spenier, I’m not sure on the exacts, but I thought it was the same as national percents- approximately 1/3 go to med school, 1/3 go to grad school, and 1/3 go right into working (either research or industry) after undergrad.</p>
<p>Spenier - The BME department at Wash U should have those stats. Don’t be afraid to ask, it is something they should be proud of and open with sharing I would think.</p>
<p>@laurezer
I’m kind of interested in “Bioelectrical Systems Track” among the 4 tracks–maybe 5 if considering the “Non-Track Option”-- offered at Wash U BME. Can you give some more brief details considering this part of the major? I acquainted myself to some degree looking at the research & lab page, but I would like to know what you and the other students feel as current Wash U BME majors.
Thank you very much for all the information!</p>
<p>what’s the average GPA of BME students?</p>
<p>Any WashU BME students or alumni have comments in response to maak’s post #9?</p>
<p>PS. Good luck on finals!</p>
<p>Oops, sorry I completely missed that. I actually don’t know much about the bioelectrical systems track, they didn’t have the tracks when I first started in the department. I wouldn’t worry too much about choosing one freshman year, I think you’ll get a feel for what interests you after you’ve taken BME140 (please please don’t let this open up another argument…), BME240 and some of the intro courses from the other majors (ESE 230, etc).</p>
<p>What I do strongly recommend is choosing a track, or if you can’t, concentrating your engineering electives in one area. The best and worst thing about BME is how broad it is. There are so many interesting courses and areas of research, but it’s really easy to try a little of each and graduate without in-depth knowledge of any particular area.</p>
<p>As laurezer said, you really won’t know about tracks until after 140 and sophomore year (with the two classes then).
As a rising sophomore, I pretty much know which one I want to do but I know plenty of people who still have no idea.</p>
<p>You really have plenty of time.</p>
<p>what’s the average GPA of BME students? </p>
<p>I am going to guess somewhere between 3.33 and 3.5.</p>