Hoping parents can help here. My youngest originally wanted to major in biology, with an eye toward a research career in genetics. Having read all of the horror stories about bio PhDs and the lack of jobs, he changed his mind and then considered doing a combination of bio and computer science, looking at numerical biology/bioinformatics. Many schools don’t have this as an undergrad major, so he would likely major in bio and either double major or minor in CS. However, late in the process he discovered biomedical engineering and decided that was what he wants to do (although bio-CS is not entirely off the table).
In reading up on this, it seems that most good entry level BME jobs require a masters degree. First question is whether that is true and if so are these usually one or two year programs? If that is the case, a private college or even OOS public, is likely off the table since paying for 5-6 years of private college is not possible, even if he took some loans and he gets some aid. Seems like public for UG and possibly private for masters (if he could get into a top program) would be the best option.
He is in at Rutgers Engineering and at TCNJ Biomed engineering. Advantage to Rutgers in name recognition, variety of professors, and an accelerated masters program. Advantage TCNJ on smaller size and ease of getting to know the professors, but that could turn into a disadvantage with so few professors and students if there is not a good fit. Rutgers also wins on ability to change majors more easily. But, of course, it is huge.
Any advice? Is there a big disadvantage to going to a very small engineering program at a state school? TCNJ is harder to get into, but definitely not known outside of NJ and has a good, but not great reputation. Thanks!!
Friends daughter started in bioengineering at Drexel. Once enrolled and doing well she found out she could stay in their same program but they let her additionally get her MS in bioengineering in the same amt of time. It was just filling out some paperwork and getting permission.
She graduated and is in the fast track program for her company making big bucks at age 23.
See if any such option exists at the schools your son is in.
Many schools allow good students to accelerate into a masters and finish in the same amt of time. Good luck.
Thanks Sax. I think Drexel is set up for a lot of the programs to take 5 years anyway. That may be why. All the others I saw required at least one extra year for the masters.
We looked at TCNJ when my dd was looking (last yr) with the intention of majoring in BioE (with interest in cellular/tissue engineering) - they didn’t have much research going on - bio labs focused on three things, worms, snakes and I think birds. I would look at what Rutgers has in research - I know it is much larger than that.
Rutgers all the way. In ten or twenty years TCNJ might prove to be a good idea but it is not the same quality school as Rutgers and doesn’t have the recognition or social life of Rutgers. It is an interesting idea but so far unproven in my opinion. I live in NJ.
My DD has a dual degree in bio-engineering and biology. Entry level jobs with a bachelors are not plentiful. My kid is going in a different direction than engineering altogether.
Thanks. Not sure he would choose that. But the engineering school is not all that big. The negative about Rutgers is the spread out campuses, but also means each campus is not gigantic.
Rutgers, definitely. I live in NJ and am a prof at one of the regional state unis (not TCNJ). These smaller places (mine included) simply don’t have the level of support and research necessary for a degree like Biomed Engrg. Rutgers campus is somewhat intimidating, but I do think the students get used to it, and by the time they’re sophomores and juniors, it will feel smaller. And there are so many other majors to choose from, in and out of engineering, if he chooses to change.