Biomedical Engineering ->> Medical School

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
1

<p>Does Northwestern University really accommodate this path?
I'm afraid that its biomedical engineering course rigor could really hurt my GPA and then adversely affect my admission chances to Medical School. (Any input from current or past Biomed students would be greatly appreciated).</p>

2

<p>yeah it does, bme has a pre-med track and a non-pre-med track.</p>

3

<p>see here:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.bme.northwestern.edu/docs/current/undergraduate/09_10_BME_Worksheet.pdf[/url]”>http://www.bme.northwestern.edu/docs/current/undergraduate/09_10_BME_Worksheet.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://www.bme.northwestern.edu/docs/current/undergraduate/BMERegularCurriculum09-10.pdf[/url]”>http://www.bme.northwestern.edu/docs/current/undergraduate/BMERegularCurriculum09-10.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>there are a lot of people who do bme for premed. in fact, the only bme majors i know are premed.</p>

5

<p>Why does BME only require one quarter of orgo and one quarter of bio? This doesn’t seem right…pre-meds have to do more right? So we have to use our electives to fulfill the premed requirements?</p>

6

<p>because BME classes focus more on bio relationships. for premed you need to take all the orgo, don’t you?</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.bme.northwestern.edu/docs/current/undergraduate/BMECurriculum-suggested-pathway-pre-med1.pdf[/url]”>http://www.bme.northwestern.edu/docs/current/undergraduate/BMECurriculum-suggested-pathway-pre-med1.pdf&lt;/a&gt; sample but its old</p>

7

<p>Yes it does. The BME courseload offers the most comprehensive premedical preparation at NU in my opinion. The classes offered are supposed to be the closest thing to a med school class offered for undergrads at NU (i.e. physiology sequence - learn different body systems, and illnesses/diagnosis). Yes it’s hard, but if you can make it through, I’ve heard that it prepares you so that you will have no problem in med school. GPA will definitely be affected, but then again med schools will take into consideration that your course load is harder when they are considering your application. You won’t need a >3.7 to be competitive (doesn’t mean you can screw up though, try not to go below 3.3). I would say each year there are about 60 BME’s and like 2/3 of them are premed. Last year I think 25-30 got into med school (and most at pretty decent institutions, not island schools or in the sticks or something), so those stats are pretty good. </p>

<p>The major itself requires one quarter orgo and one quarter bio; you would need to cover two more quarters of orgo and one more quarter of bio (the third quarter of bio covers physiology, which would be fulfilled by the BME physiology sequence). A lot of people take the three non-major required premed courses at other institutions over the summer where it’s known to be easier to boost their application.</p>

<p>Current BME premed student (sophomore), hope this helps. And don’t be too intimidated by orgo</p>

8

<p>Major in what you love as a premed. My sister’s advisor at NU gave her that advice and she ended up with a history major as a pre-med. Went on to medical school and residency and intership at Yale/Cornell. She is a history geek. Says it was the best advice ever given, as do other students that have done the same. Go with what you love and you will do well in class and enjoy your studies. You will get plenty of sciences in med school. However if you think you would truly enjoy and are fascinated by Biomed engineering than go for it.</p>