I was admitted to WashU CAS, but since then I have started to think about doing BME instead.
Originally, I chose bio because of premed, and I know WashU has one of the best bio departments in the world. However, now I am thinking BME might be a more interesting, more beneficial major? I originally wanted to become an engineer, but my AP Physics B score scared me off. That was two years ago, and now I realized I actually did really well, I just didn’t study for the test at all.
I am still doing premed, but with BME. While I changed my mind about physics, I really no longer have interest in becoming an engineer, I want to be a doctor. However, I am interested in having engineering background as a doctor. I already know lots of BME kids at WashU are premed also. But I don’t know if I should make the switch (would be relatively easy to do, since it’s WashU). Any advice?
Why do you want to major in BME if you don’t want to be an engineer? Why do you feel the background will be helpful for you as a doctor? Also, medical schools look for high GPA, and don’t generally give you leeway for having a difficult major. Engineers tend to have deflated GPAs, which can hurt your odds of being accepted to medical school.
@AuraObscura Because I find it interesting. Also, it gives me another option if I change my mind about med school. BME is a popular alternative premed major for many. I guess I just believe BME would give me more opportunities, whereas a straight up bio major would be useless other than for med school. And I dont know, I just think that in the future, it may be beneficial to understand medical machines as they become more high tech to make better use of them, and even help develop some?
As most students who show up on day one of college as premed never get to point of actually applying to med schools, and of those who applied in last cycle, approx. 60% did not get into any med school (MD), it’s always a good idea for any premed to have a plan B. So if BME remains “another option” for you, then stick with it unless you have some other interest. It seems engineering majors can be GPA deflating which will not help you come applying to med school. You wont get bonus points for taking a more rigorous major such as engineering. Good luck.
Another thing to keep in mind, with regard to a backup, is that BME is one of those areas where one usually needs a Master’s for it to be useful. There isn’t much demand for Bachelor’s degrees in BME.