<p>We just got back from FACET, where my daughter registered for classes toward a biomedical engineering degree. After hearing the official presentation, we got a couple of Off comments about the program. These included a rising sophomore who just switched out due to unsupportive professors and the actual person who helped her register. He said all his BMED friends had switched out. D is going to start with classes toward major and assess. Anyone have any thoughts or advice?</p>
<p>DS started as a freshman BME major last year. He took the first intro BME class last fall. After talking to a lot of people he decided it would be better to have his UG in something else. I think the professors were fine. Basically it came down to future employment possibilities with just a UG degree. He still is considering getting a masters in BME. </p>
<p>Thanks MG, she is quite uncertain about her eventual major, but loved everything about her GT orientation.</p>
<p>I don’t know if anything about the specifics -but my D says the same thing that MichiganGeorgia’s S says. That many people switch out of it, that it is a ton of work for not as good job prospects. I understand that it is not a good choice for premed either (too hard to make good grades) </p>
<p>In my experience (and I speak on STEM in college admissions) Biomed Engineering is the “hot” major and the one most high school seniors say they want to major in when I ask for a showing of hands; however I think that is because many students believe they will be either making a lot of money in that field like the Silicon bio companies are doing or they think it is the major that will lead to med school. Once they get into it they realized it is not the major that they think it is so there are a lot of students who transfer out of it. Until your daughter gets into it and decides it is the major for her I wouldn’t worry too much. </p>
<p>From the info that I have gathered and some interviews BioMed Eng is more of a field driven by people with graduate degrees. With a BS your options will be limited on would like to recruit you. Basically you need to prepare yourself to at least a MS degree to get your dream job. </p>
<p>We visited some graduate labs with S1 and it was interesting to see that depending of the school and their research field they will have more mechanical, electrical, or chemical eng graduate students. I remember one BioMed graduate student introducing us to the lab and referring to the other students as our expert in mech eng, electrical or chem engineers, etc. </p>
<p>A better plan could be the field in Biomed that is your passion and align with one the primary engineering fields and get a Biomed minor with your BS.</p>