Hi guys, I’m a high school senior. For college, I’m deciding between a chemical engineering or biochemistry major.
My question is that if I want to get into a medical school, which of the two mentioned majors would be good for me? Also, incase I don’t get in right away/decide to switch paths, which major would offer better jobs?
Some background: My favorite subjects are chemistry and math. I have taken AP chem and enjoyed it. I do also like biology (I’m taking ap bio this year), but not as much as I like chem and I’m not as natural in it as I’m in chem or math. I really like doing research; I spent my 11th grade summer doing biology and chemistry related research with a professor at a local college, and I really liked doing it.
Biochemistry is easier to fit pre-med course work into (because it covers almost all of the science courses for pre-med and leaves more electives to choose GPA padding courses), but has worse career prospects for the great majority of pre-meds who do not get into medical school, compared to chemical engineering.
Chemical Engineering is far more physics based than chemistry based. You will have general chemistry 1 and 2, a biochem course most likely and organic chemistry. Chemical engineering courses will be Thermodynamics, Fluid mechanics, Heat and Mass Transfer, Reactions, Separations and others I don’t remember. You will also be taking far more math than would be required of a biochem major. None of those courses will be useful to a pre-medical school applicant and on the whole are considered very challenging courses. Since a high GPA is considered important for admission to medical school it can be more challenging to to achieve the grades necessary for med school consideration.
On the other hand Chem E may provide more career avenues. Chemical Engineers can work in the pharmaceutical industry, oleo chemicals, biochemicals, and many more. They can do research and if you do well the medical fields may still be available to you. Good luck in your decision.
I see, thanks guys. Here’s the thing, I’m not 100% sure whether I want to go to the medical field or towards a more research-based field. I guess I’ll do biochemistry because I’m already taking AP physical science classes in high school to prepare for it.
Depends on what you want to do with it. For getting into med school, biochemistry or chemistry would be fine. For getting a job straight out of college, ChemE.
Chem eng is brutal, if your ACT is 29 and your math subscore is 29, you might well find admission a stretch to competitive programs, let alone keeping your head above water and avoiding weed out, and the death of med school options.
@Sybylla Well that was my act first try. I didn’t really study, so I’m going to study and try again. Also, the reason for 29 math is that I had only taken up till integrated 3 last year. This year I’m taking pre calc and I will be taking calculus courses and physics in college- that’s my plan. @CU123 Let’s say I had to pick between biochemistry and chemistry. What would be the better option for having backup careers out of the 2?
You are a senior, your time is running out, it isn’t an abstract notion any more. Some schools won’t take scores past a certain date, especially for scholarships. Make sure you know what your options are for when you decide to really study. When is your test date?