<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I have been accepted to Pitt in their school of Arts and Science for the premed track (what I applied for). My intention is to go to Medical school, but I want to take biomedical engineering as my major. Can I take that as my major in the school of arts and science, or do I have to re apply to the school of Engineering?</p>
<p>Will they just allow me to switch schools?</p>
<p>Please let me know asap whoever knows anything about this stuff.</p>
<p>Thank You</p>
<p>Call Pitt. If you want to do engineering, you will need to start those classes the first semester.</p>
<p>I believe that you do have to “apply” to the engineering school. Bioengineering can’t be taken in Arts & Sciences. Typically, people try to switch in 2nd semester. You will be about 4 classes behind if you worse comes to worse. I would take MD Mom’s advice and call to see how the process works. Once you figure it out, you may want to email an engineering advisor or the Freshmen Engineering program. They’re good with this kind of stuff.</p>
<p>However, as a person who is in BioE, has thought about doing pre-med, and has plenty of friends who are pre-med in BioE, I suggest that you think wisely about your decision. I won’t sugar coat it - BioE is very difficult. Heck, engineering is difficult altogether. Med schools are very competitive, and nowadays a 3.5 GPA (some argue a 3.7 to get into “good” schools) is standard. GPA is a big thing with med school (along with MCATs of course), or so I have been told by almost every advisor I have spoken to. So to keep a GPA of 3.5 or better in BioE is very very hard.</p>
<p>I say this to ask a question - do you want to become a doctor or an engineer? Some people have a heavy passion to be doctors, and honestly don’t have a passion for engineering. However, they pick BioE anyway, because it sounds better or sounds more prestigious. I believe that this is a mistake - if you really do want to be a general practitioner, I would take the “easier” route and be an art & sciences major instead. You’ll have a higher GPA and it’ll be easier for you to maintain good grades.</p>
<p>Now before you start changing your mind, ask yourself why you want to do BioE in the first place. Some people do want to be doctors AND engineers at the same time. It is perfectly fine to do both. Have you researched BioE enough to know what all the options are? Will it help you in what you want to do? Does it interest you enough that you will stick with it, no matter what it takes? If the answer is yes, go for it. </p>
<p>If not, do a little more research. BioE is something you really have to have a passion for- it is not for everyone, and some pre-med students regret choosing it because they realize their heart isn’t in it. You have to love both sides- engineering and medicine - completely.</p>
<p>Now, this isn’t to say that being pre-med and BioE doesn’t have its advantages. Most of the classes you see in BioE will be stuff you’ll see in med-school (such as biochemistry and advanced biology) that you won’t cover by picking a simple biology major. Also, the rigor of the curriculum in BioE prepares you well for the rigor of med school. Most BioEs who get into med school do very well, simply because they are mentally prepared.</p>
<p>I know I have probably confused the heck out of you, and this may even be quite off topic, but I thought it would be good to know. Really, it all boils down to the question “Do you really want to be involved in Bioengineering?” Does the idea of growing body parts, stem cells, building prosthetics, and designing medical devices make you super excited? Or does it simply “sound cool”? </p>
<p>Please don’t get too nervous about it - plenty of people switch majors in the long run (some, a little too late), so its good that you are contemplating options… even before school starts! And it’s February - plentttty of time. I just like to dive in when I hear BioE since I have been experiencing it, and I have seen both sides to a lot of situations.</p>
<p>Hope I answered your question… and then some. I’ll shut up now. :X</p>