<p>Hey guys,</p>
<p>I was recently accepted into the UCSD undergraduate program for Bioengineering: Bioinformatics at Warren College. This, however, was my alternate major, and my primary choice was Bioengineering: Biotechnology. I really wanted to get biotech, but it didn't happen but Bioengineering is impacted at UCSD so I don't think I can switch the biotech any time soon. I don't mind bioinformatics as it is rising rapidly, but if I really wanted biotech would it be better to go to another UC or even Umich Ann Arbor (I got accepted) and switch the UCSD for grad school if I get in?</p>
<p>Also...I'm not completely sure but are you allowed to switch WITHIN an impacted major like bioengineering? From Bioinformatics to Biotechnology perhaps?</p>
<p>Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Pranav S</p>
<p>@pranav96 congratulations. My S is also in a similar position. He is OOS from NJ.</p>
<p>Accepted Bioengineering:Bioinformatics - Revelle (he wants to do premed)
Accepted UMich - Engineering (u cannot select majors on entry)
Accepted USC Viterbi - BME (Biochem track) + premed track -
Accepted UCI - BME+premed+invited for Samueli scholarhip
Accepted UCD - BME
Accepted UCSC - Bioinformatics (very strong program but school is very low rank)</p>
<p>Waiting: Hopkins, Vanderbilt, UCB for BME, UCSB for CCS Biology/Bioengineering.</p>
<p>I am a PhD in Biomedical Engineering, so can share some perspective. If you are interested more in experimental, cellular biology based BME then biotech would be good. If you are more fascinated by confluence of biology and computer science and applications to genetics, big data etc bioinformatics is for you. With Bioinformatics you get a wider range of skill sets that can be applied to other industries that need data scientist skills. </p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>@BiomedFather Thank you so much for your insight! I actually really wanted to be on the experimental side as I was able to intern for a while at Genentech and saw them develop various treatments and I was extremely inspired to join the biotech side. I also enjoy computer science and modeling as well so I am a bit indecisive between the two majors (still leaning a bit towards biotech). </p>
<p>I was wondering if you knew how the job prospects for each of the majors was? Especially in a place like the Silicon Valley (where I live). </p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>I am in similar situation. Any insight is appreciated. Accepted into bioengineering-bioinformatics. First choice was bioengineering. If I want to go to graduate school in bioengineering focusing on device or stem cell/tissue regeneration, will having a BS in bioengineering bioinformatics work?</p>
<p>Would be challenging. The core courses for graduate work are very different for devices/tissue engineering vs bioinformatics.</p>
<p>Son also trying to decipher differences; accepted to Bioengineering: Biosystems.</p>
<p>I know back when the biology majors were impacted you were allowed to switch within those impacted majors in the biology department, and I believe it’s a similar situation for the CSE impacted majors. I couldn’t find anything on the bioengineering website about switching between impacted majors, but it’s worth contacting the department to see if they allow students to switch from one impacted major to another.</p>