Anyone familiar w/ BME, EECE, computer science, or econ?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
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<p>Crossposted from the Duke section. Below I've outlined my waffling over potential majors and while I know the general consensus for pre-med is that your major doesn't matter, I'd like some advice on the majors themselves and peoples' experience w/ the major and the pre-med track. </p>

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<p>Hey, I'm going to be matriculating this fall for my freshman year at Duke and am having some difficulty picking majors. I know I don't technically need to decide until my sophomore year, but because I'm doing the pre-med track, I'd like to get in as many relevant classes ASAP.</p>

<p>The aforementioned majors in the title are the ones I'm having difficulty over (am also considering the typical pre-med major of bio but find it boring). I like that engineering provides a lot flexibility career-wise so that in case medicine is not for me, I could continue w/ engineering or go into finance. I think BME would be easier to do w/ a pre-med track, however, I feel more drawn to computery stuff hence EECE and computer science. That said, I have no experience with any of it and so I wanted to hear your opinions about what would suit me.</p>

<p>Skill level, I feel weak in the math/science areas. In high school, I struggled a bit w/ calculus AB (but got an A) and never took physics. I feel like my struggles in the math/science area stem from having trouble picturing things spatially; it takes me a while but once I get it, I get it.</p>

<p>I'd really appreciate if you could provide any tips about the majors themselves, what skills they require, and where you think I would fit best. For instance, I'm still confused about the difference between EECE and computer science because I've been told that programming is done by both majors and that in finance at least, it's by people w/ engineering degrees.</p>

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<p>First, nobody should have any trouble with math. it is just another language, that is used in science. The problem is that there are not that many teachers who can teach math. So, do not look into your own ability, look for a good tutor at this point (maybe even before going to college). However, if you feel that you are not good at math/science, Computer Science field would be ideal. There are no math/science in Computer science. On the other hand, Computer Science major is NOT good at all if you are planning to go to Med. School. It is very time consuming. I have been Computer Programmer (there are various names of many positions that I have hold at 9 companies in various industries, but Programmer is Programmer - I am writing new software as well as updating existing one). I have gone to CC, got Programming positions and employers paid for my BS and MBA. The amount of time I have spent at CC in computer lab was ridiculous, but I have managed to survive first quarter of programming class, while 70% of my classmates did not. I do not want to scare you off. I love what I do. I just would not recommend it for one who is gong to be extremely busy trying to maintain very high GPA needed for Med. School application, doing all kind of medically related EC’s…and being Compute Science major, I just do not see it. Way too much on one plate. I am very well aware of pre-med requirements. My D. is starting at Med. School in few weeks. She was very busy in UG. She had unrelated minor in music, but this was easy for her, it was her R&R. Computer lab assignments will not be R&R.
Best wishes in whatever you decided to pursue.</p>

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<p>Actually, I disagree with Miami. A good math teacher can make a huge difference in how well you learn the topic. D1 has tutored math at both high school and community college. The problem is that many math teachers not only teach the material poorly; some teach stuff that is factually incorrect. It’s very easy to develop poor foundational skills which makes your later math classes hell. </p>

<p>If you struggled in Calc 1, be cautious when you start college. Consider re-taking Calc 1 to strengthen your foundations and increase your comfort level. Calc 2 is much more difficult and probably the most often flunked course in college. D1 and D2 (both math majors) said that Calc 3 is much easier than Calc 2 and Calc 2 is a killer.</p>

<p>The ability to visualize/ engage your spatial reasoning is important in higher level math (Calc and up), physics and organic chemistry. While not necessary and sufficient, it will make things go smoother. I’m not sure that spatial visualization skills are something you can be taught. I used to hate my DH because he could just look at an equation and see it. I never could. It’s probably the reason why I have a lit degree and not a science degree.</p>

<p>I was an English major (have a grad degree in it too), but picked up programming during grad school at my future husband’s behest to "do something useful’ with my summer. (Only non science /engineering student in a class of 200 grad students at UIUC in introductory Fortran programming. Got an A.)</p>

<p>I went on take more programming classes including assembler language and advanced data structures. I taught myself web programming 10 years ago. To me programming is more logic and grammar (syntax?) than mathematics. Kinda like a crossword puzzle. </p>

<p>I believe the major difference between EECE and CS is the emphasis. While both majors learn how to program, the emphasis is different. EECE focusses on the structure and circuitry of the computer design w/r/t to how programs work. How to best lay out the circuit design for 3-D programmable computer chips, for example. More circuits, less math theory. CS focusses more on either the more theoretical or more pragmatic aspects of programming. Is this particular data format the most efficient way to handle a particular data set? More emphasis on math theory and linguistic theory.</p>

<p>As far being a pre med goes—neither EECE or CS are particularly compatible with pre med ambitions. There is very little crossover with requirements and your schedule in those majors will be very full and quite structured, leaving little room to squeeze in the 4 semesters of extra lab sciences required by med schools. (You’ll be taking gen chem and physics, but will need bio and OChem.) Additionally, if you feel like math is your weakness, any engineering major (EECE, BME, CS) is going to hit with tons of math requirements–which can pull down your GPA. </p>

<p>Of all the majors you’re proposing, BME is best compromise for someone wanting to go pre med. Whether it’s the best for you—that’s up to you to decide.</p>