<p>As many of you probably know, premed prereqs are intense (if you didn't, now you know). Many people in fact recommend not going into engineering because it is very difficult to maintain a high GPA in it, but I think that I want to just because its a great backup plan in case medical school doesn't work out my first couple tries, and I'll have an excellent background in the sciences.</p>
<p>I am mainly interested in Computer/Electrical Engineering (becuase I like learn about computers, programming, etc), Mechanical Engineering (primarly because I think it would be fun to work for mercedes or BMW especially with employee discounts on their cars :p), or Aerospace Engineering (who doesn't want to say, "yeah my job actually is rocket science"). I also probably know that your thinking, "the answer is obvious: Biomedical Engineering! But honestly, I don't think I would like to get into that field because there is virtually no money in it unless you get very lucky (and I never play against percentages. Also, as a side note, to me, only 150k-200k is a decent salary). So out of those 3, and even others, what might be the best choice for a premed given rigor, and salary potential/job security? </p>
<p>my doctor did mechanical engineering for undergrad. yeah definitely don't do biomedical. there are actually alot of medical applications with mechanical engineering so i suggest mechanical.</p>
<p>The rigor for ee/cs, me and especially aerospace are all pretty intense so be prepared if you really want to maintain that premed GPA. It's true that the average salary of biomedical engineers isn't as much as electrical or mechanical engineers but don't let that discourage you if you are truly interested in both medicine and engineering. If you are coming from a top school the pay and job security will be very good, especially with a graduate degree.</p>
<p>biomedical is actually on the rise...sure, new medicines come out of chemistry or chem eng, but what about prothesis, artificial organs, the machines needed to make all of these things, ect, is in high demand, and thats exactly what biomed engineering is...
however, i think EE is your best bet, because you can work on anything from building medical machines to becoming a cardiologist...however, mechanical engineers could definently play a role, and maybe even AE...systems engineering would actually be a good one also, because in medicine you need to be able to see the broad scope of things from start to finish, and systemsE focuses on that...materials engineering also would be good for say prothesis, articificial tissue, dermatology, ect....but, id pick a major you WANT to study, not just for a salary or what looks the best on paper
however, dont underestimate engineering...youre GPA will not be as high as say a bio or chem major, and sure, everyone says "plenty of people get 3.5+ in engineering", but in reality, the average of most top engineering schools hovers around or just above a 3.0...plan to work extra hard, and keep options and possible changes open, because you may find you will want to drop premed or engineering, because although you may say "sure ill get to college and work and study and go to every class blahblahblah", but lets be honest, we all make mistakes and forget a homework assignment, or sleep through an 8am, or just dont study enough...
so, to sum my advice up: go for a major youd enjoy, especially since premed and engineering together will be tough...but, also start to think about which major you would want more, because you may find it to be tough</p>
<p>Any of those engineering fields are fine. The real issue for someone pre-med, besides getting a high GPA which is more difficult in engineering than other majors, is meeting the pre-med requirements while also trying to complete the engineering requirements (large numbers of hours). The easiest way, scheduling-wise, is to do chemical or bio engineering because a number of your pre-med requirements, like organic chemistry, are also courses that can be taken as part of those majors. The result is that you can still meet the pre-med requirements and the major requirements in four years. With something like electrical engineering, which often requires no more than one course in basic chemistry, your pre-med requirements are electives you have to pick up when you find time while trying to meet the 16 to 17 credit hours per semester in other courses required for the EE major.</p>
<p>I think if your goal is medicine, you will never be fulfilled working as an engineer. You should do whatever it takes to meet that goal and that means getting the best grades possible. </p>
<p>Like we talked about in other posts, I think there is this myth that people cannot achieve very good grades in engineering. This is simply not true. If you have the proper aptitude for the physical sciences and work hard enough, you can get top grades in engineering. </p>
<p>On the other hand a career in medicine involves an aptitude for the life sciences and if this is where your skills lay, then I think a degree in biology, physiology, biochemistry is more suited. </p>
<p>It is somewhat delusional to think that if a career in medicine does not work out, you will undertake rocket engineering etc. If you are committed to the very noble goal of medicine only this will satisfy your career ambitions.</p>
<p>engineers may not make the most, but they have the highest starting pay. it also depends on the region where you work. i know southern california has higher paid engineers than most anywhere else.</p>
<p>Starting pay is a narrow parameter in my view. Here in Ontario, there is a severe oversupply of engineers with devastating impact on salaries and career prospects. Engineers tend to be a commodity and laid off with a vengeance after age 45 with few prospects for meaningful reemployment. </p>
<p>Obtaining a medical degree in such a climate is gold offering a very high income and amazing job security - something engineering degrees cannot match.</p>
<p>engineers who work as a engineers don't make the highest pay, correct. But neither do Liberal Arts students who majored in lets say Art History who work as "Art Historians" or something to that effect.</p>
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Also, as a side note, to me, only 150k-200k is a decent salary
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<p>ONLY 150k-200k. You make it sound so easy. You are not going to make that kind of money without some serious hard work. The average annual wage for a person in the US is $37,870 (source: US Bureau of Labor Stats). There are only 3.17% of HOUSEHOLDS that make $150-200k a year (source: US Cenesus Bureau). There is a reason so few people make that much.</p>
<p>I don't mean to denigrate or offend, but I do want to make clear that high income comes only with hard work. With that said, if you have a vested interest in computers, Computer Hardware Engineers are the highest paid engineering specialty apart of niche specialties like Nuclear or Petroleum engineering (source: US BLS).</p>
<p>Not to sound cocky or arrogant but the "pre-med" requirements aren't intense by any means--its usually a few more semesters of Biology/Anatomy, labs and the Organic Chemistry staple. </p>
<p>I say this from experience but these classes are typically Freshman/Sophomore weed outs and are no where as difficult as your advanced engineering classes. </p>
<p>I am a strong proponent that an engineering degree is a wonderful degree for those who haven't found their "passion" or want a stable foundation. Look, most of the MCAT is Physics/Chemistry/Math anyway and as an engineer it'll be 2nd nature to you...</p>
<p>Also it seems many people are under the assumption that as soon as you get an M.D you are handled 200k a year. Though undergraduate isn't--Medical School/Residencies are brutal and your future career/pay hinges upon your academic success in securing a specialty. Sure, Surgeons, Dermatologists, Allergists and Cardiologists might make top dollar but thats only because the represent the absolute top of their class (GPA matters) and earned it through hard work.</p>
<p>I agree with morfinx completely--you are going to have to work hard to earn that "decent" salary.</p>
<p>nshah, I completely agree with your post. I got both of my EE degrees (BSE, MSE) to provide me with a good foundation because I really was not sure of what I wanted to do, but knew I could go any direction I decided to after obtaining this degree (got the Masters because work paid for it). </p>
<p>Now I have found what I want to do, which is goto Med school (similar to what the threadstarter wants to do), I just didn't know if I had the motivation for the schooling. However, after working 3 years in industry doing a job that really doesn't interest me, I'm willing to put up with the extra schooling.</p>
<p>To the threadstarter: All you need to do is take an additional year on top of what your Engineering degree will require and take the prereqs for med school (something that I will be doing next year). You should be set with the MCAT after your engineering education (except for the verbal portion, you may need to study for that).</p>
<p>So, if they do that, wouldn't you assume they are very HARD, and not easy, like the poster suggested? Perhaps I am not understand something, but if they weed out people, then they would have to be tough. Or, the other possibility could be that they are easy, and that the people that are weeded out don't leave because of difficulty, but because they find out that they don't like the subject...So, just to be clear, which one is it?</p>
<p>Weed out classes are usually lower level classes with a harsh curve or difficult course material for the primary purpose of thinning out the number of students in a particular discipline.</p>