Bioengineering (Possible Pre-med)... Mid-college Crisis.

[xxchromosome]

<p>So, I don't know what I want to do anymore.</p>

<p>I'm taking BE 100 right now and I realized that BioE really isn't something I enjoy that much. I really like the life sciences, and BE is just so. much. math. To the point where I don't even care anymore what I'm studying. I'm not interested!</p>

<p>I guess I really didn't realize it until now... but it's not making me happy. The problem is, I did bioE as a "backup" to in case I didn't get into med school.. but now it's more like it's preventing me from getting in to med school. My GPA is at 3.47 right now which is meh, "decent" for an engineer; but I definitely don't think I can maintain that through the next 2 years of engineering. So I'm highly considering switching out of my major so that I can be more happy and raise my GPA. I do very well in life science classes but my engineering ones just kill me. -_-</p>

<p>I just have a few conflicts though.. because I have no idea what I want to do. Bioengineering is a great major because it has so much potential, but I really don't know if it's what I want to do. I don't want to be stuck with processing data in a biotech company. I'm not really huge on physics and designing machinery. I guess I just never realized and fully thought about what I myself actually wanted to do... I just followed what my parents pushed me to do.</p>

<p>I really want to be involved in healthcare, somehow. But what if I don't get into medical school? What can I do with a life science major? I like biotech, and I like medicine... I'm thinking of switching to MCDB? PhySci?</p>

<p>Gah. It sucks because I'm already stuck with 20 series chem, 1 series physics, and I already surpassed the math requirement for life science majors (currently taking 33A, which, mind you, is so *****ing conceptual and is completely unnecessary in my pursuits to be a healthcare professional).</p>

<p>I just need help. Counseling. Guidance. :(</p>

[TiaWNPP]

<p>The MCDB website has this nice long list of careers for life science majors:
[UCLA</a> Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology – Undergraduate - Commencement](<a href=“http://www.mcdb.ucla.edu/undergraduate/careers.php]UCLA”>http://www.mcdb.ucla.edu/undergraduate/careers.php)</p>

<p>Also if you’re feeling weird about having taken so much physical science prep, then there’s this major:
[Computational</a> and Systems Biology: Home Page](<a href=“http://www.cs.ucla.edu/C&SB/]Computational”>http://www.cs.ucla.edu/C&SB/)
It’s in the college of letters and science as opposed to engineering. I don’t really know much else about it though, so I can’t really tell you how it differs from BioE in your areas of concern.</p>

[Jinobi]

<p>There are a couple of UCLA BioE majors in my medical school class now. One friend experienced severe grade deflation (just because the engineering classes are so hard) - he got a M.S. in BioE to make up for it, but the low undergrad GPA still hurt him. Even his graduate adviser said that job prospects for M.S. BioE graduates were pretty bleak. </p>

<p>Most importantly, I wouldn’t do BioE as an alternative in case you don’t get into med school - it sounds like you don’t even like your major. If you have your mind set on med school, try switching to an applicable major like PhySci (psychobio if you want a more chill courseload, but again, make sure you like psychology classes). With PhySci, you’re gonna be learning the same topics you’ll have to cover in medical school - might as well see if you really have a knack for them now. </p>

<p>Also another important point: have you shadowed any physicians? You need to see if it’s the kind of lifestyle you want.</p>