<p>ok, I really need good advise on this question
I am a biochemistry major in a semi-prestigious school but I really want to do engineering for graduate school...I have been told by many people that this isn't possible but I also get mixed responses. I am a math minor...I would have differential equations by senior year and may two more math classes-stats and hopefully financial math...but if anyone has experience crossing over please tell me about it</p>
<p>Simply, you lack too much engineering fundamentals to do well in graduate as one. The math minor doesn't mean much, and most engineering student finish differential equation as a freshmen. </p>
<p>Why not just jump into something like biochemical engineering? Its a combination of biochemistry and chemical engineering, and with your strong background in biochemistry you can focus the rest of your undergraduate career on the engineering stuff.</p>
<p>don't get but in btw my school doesn't have an engineering department. I have seen chemistry students in my school go to caltech for engineering PhDs but only in environmental engineering...also what schools offer biochemical engineering if there are any?</p>
<p>U.C. Davis, U.C.LA, UC San Diego, etc. There are tons of schools out there with biochemical/biological engineering programs. I don't know what environmental engineers studies, but as a chemical engineer you need a very strong background in the three fundamental areas: thermodynamics, reaction engineering, and transport phenomena (mass,heat, and fluid). These three areas are impossible enough as an undergraduate, and even more so as a graduate.</p>
<p>I can't speak about ChemE but with regard to EnvironE, I disagree with alot of what some of the other posters said. I think you will be fine and actually may be at an advantage when it comes to Environmental Engineering. </p>
<p>Most environmental engineering programs are part of departments of civil and environmental engineering. As such a large amount of the students matriculating to grad school in environmental engineering have wasted time in structures and transportation classes. Environmental Engineering is very chemistry/biology based, and students coming from a traditional civil engineering background aren't particularly strong at these fundamentals (myself included). I would say if you are interested in Haz Waste remediation, water & wastewater treatment, or just water chemistry, Environmental Engineering would be a great degree to pursue. Environmental engineering is also fairly lucrative for students leaving grad school with a MS Environmental Engineering. Salaries tend to start around mid 60k.</p>
<p>disclaimer: I am a civil engineering student at Virginia Tech and have been accepted to VT, Texas, UIUC, and MIT for environmental engineering and I wish I had a better chem/bio background.</p>
<p>thanks canty. I actually want a PhD and I would really like environmental engineering. i know someone in my school’s chem department years back went to caltech to study environmental engineering and finished in 4 years…so I know it is feasible…if i might ask did you have a ridiculously high GPA to get into those school…also did you get funding for the masters…I am poor so I dont think i can pay for a masters. Also I am an international student</p>
<p>Semi Prestigious???
LOL</p>