<p>I'm currently in high school and I was researching universities and came across several BME programs. I've searched around for opinions on taking BME for pre-med, but I'm getting mixed answers. Some saying that BME is a really hard major, some saying lots of BME majors get into medical school, and the most confusing thing, some people are saying it has plenty of biology courses and others are saying it barely has any. If I were to keep my GPA high enough, say a 3.7, would I be prepared for MCAT or medical school? Just to be clear, my long term goal is to become a cardiologist, but I'd like to apply engineering knowledge to my work, maybe even do research in that area.</p>
<p>some saying lots of BME majors get into medical school,</p>
<p>I think many people wrongly think that BME is a sexy major which Med School Admissions people are going to be oh-so-impressed with. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, some kid will choose a school just because it offers BME, which isn’t some free ticket to med school.</p>
<p>BME programs are different at different schools. Some focus on the biological aspect; some focus on chem/mechanical engineering aspects; some focus on industrial processes. You need to look carefully at the requirements for the degree at each school.</p>
<p>BME is very rigid major (all engineering programs are) which will leave time to explore outside of required coursework.</p>
<p>You may want to consider that starting Jan 2015, the MCAT will have more biological sciences included (biochem, genetics, cell & molecular bio) plus there will be a new section devoted entirely to social sciences and humanities. Does your BME program have enough schedule space to allow you to take the new course requirements?</p>
<p>Thanks guys, but can I get some statistics on how viable a BME major is for medical school?</p>
<p>Engineering is tough everywhere. Eng/BME offers no real plus factor to admission to med school. For what little data exists, look at MIT’s acceptance stats to med school. Arguably the most competitive science/eng school in the world, MIT’s grads still need a higher-than-average gpa for acceptance. (If Eng was a plus factor, their gpa for acceptance would be lower…)</p>
<p>Major in engineering if you enjoy it, but know that it can hurt your gpa.</p>
<p>*BME is very rigid major (all engineering programs are) which will leave time to explore outside of required coursework.</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>I think WOWmom accidentally left out the word “less”…as in… will leave “less” tie to explore outside of required coursework.</p>
<p>*but can I get some statistics on how viable a BME major is for medical school? *</p>
<p>I could be wrong, but I don’t think the stats breakdown to that level. I think all engineers are grouped into one stat. </p>
<p>My concern about the BME major is that it is sooo limiting. With some other E majors (like EE, ME, etc) if you decide against med school, then a BS can usually get you hired. But, getting hired with just a BS BME is a lot tougher.</p>
<p>And from what I’ve heard, someone with a ME, EE, ChemE can go to grad school in BioMed if desired…so more options.</p>
<p>Oops! Thanks for correction. I did mean LESS time to explore outside your major. (I totally blame my typo on all the cold meds I’ve been taking…)</p>
<p>The AAMC data doesn’t break down the numbers that finely so you can see how well BME fare in admissions. In fact, engineering majors aren’t even give their own grouping in the data. It’s not clear if engineering majors are included under Physical Science majors or under Other. </p>
<p><a href=“https://www.aamc.org/download/161692/data/table18-facts2010mcatgpabymaj1-web.pdf.pdf[/url]”>https://www.aamc.org/download/161692/data/table18-facts2010mcatgpabymaj1-web.pdf.pdf</a></p>
<p>“My concern about the BME major is that it is sooo limiting. With some other E majors (like EE, ME, etc) if you decide against med school, then a BS can usually get you hired. But, getting hired with just a BS BME is a lot tougher.”</p>
<p>-??? Do you have statistics? I do not think that it is harder to find a job with BME than with any other Engineering major. My opinion is based on anecdotal evidence though, I have never researched it. In addition, no engineering majors are limiting, engineers can easily stepped out of their comfort zone and retrain themselves at their job. I am not talking about mechanical going into electrical (even though I can see that it is very possible), but I imagine that BME can be easlity re-trained into electrical/electronincs engineer…Engineering is much more set of mind and certain way of thinking than specific knowledge. Everybody will have to get trained at any job within field or outside anyway. Well, my prospective reflects my engineering background. I did not like engineering field all together and after 11 years working in a field swithced to Computer science, which I love. But my H. loves it and many others love it. I do not believe that Engineering would be included in Physical Science majors. Engineering is so different and so much harder than any Science major.</p>
<p>The problem with BME is that until fairly recently (last 10 years) it was graduate-only level program and many BME entry level jobs still require a MS.</p>