<p>Hello, I've been looking around online and have found that many people have taken the path to medical school via a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering. This is something I'm seriously considering doing, as it will give me plenty of options after college (if I decide not to pursue medicine, I have a solid job to fall back on). The only thing that worries me is that also during my search online, I found many people labeling this move "med school suicide" because of the difficulties of maintaining a good GPA in college.</p>
<p>So I guess my real question is - how hard is it to maintain an excellent GPA with an Engineering major? I've heard that the problem area for most people comes with math, but that's something I don't see happening with me, as I've always thought math to be incredibly easy. Also, I've heard that medical school's reliance on GPA is very exaggerated, and that even with a mid-range GPA one can get into med school with good MCAT scores.</p>
<p>I would disagree that "math" is the reason why engineering is so hard. It is the depth and quantity of material that makes it difficult. While it is very mathematical, it's not difficulties in math that give people trouble. You also have to remember that your peers in an engineering program were also very good at math coming in. </p>
<p>It takes a pretty significant level of effort and dedication, and more importantly, time management, to do well in engineering. The problem is also what is considered a good GPA. In a rigorous engineering program, a 3.5 GPA would be pretty good. Premeds in easier undergrad programs might be getting 3.8-3.9s. It's not totally hopeless, since I'm sure most medical school admission committees understand that you are coming from a more difficult program. It would certainly give you an edge over someone who did an "easy" undergrad major, as long as you do well. The problem is that if you don't do well (get a 3.0 or less), then you might be in a serious hole. With engineering, getting below a 3.0 is a serious threat.</p>
<p>"Premeds in easier undergrad programs might be getting 3.8-3.9s. It's not totally hopeless, since I'm sure most medical school admission committees understand that you are coming from a more difficult program. It would certainly give you an edge over someone who did an "easy" undergrad major, as long as you do well."</p>
<p>Probably not. Med school almost don't care about your major, as long as you get a high GPA. A 3.8 in art or music will probably be much better than a 3.5 in ChemE, even though ChemE may be a lot harder. (it's unfair, I know, but life is not fair)</p>
<p>yea, i think what w&c said is pretty much true. if i were you i would ONLY major in chem eng. if you were truly interested in the subject...i would not major in it if you think it will boost your med school app, or you just want a guaranteed career if med school doesn't work out.
about the gpa thing, the truth is that you WILL have to work harder than straight bio majors, which consequently may inhibit you from doing more ECs, volunteering, research etc. that would look good for med school. but, if you're really willing to put in the effort, then you will probably get a decent GPA and be okay.</p>
<p>If you're determined that you want to go to medical school, you'll get there no matter what major you choose for your undergrad. If you are not 100% sure that you will go to medical school and become a doctor for the rest of your life, then you made a good choice by choosing a major other than the traditional premed majors for undergrad. Whether you will like chemical engineering enough to stick with it, you'll find out as you take classes and go through the curriculum.</p>
<p>its not a matter of how hard or can you do it.... its a matter of will you do it. it's cliche, but if you want to go to med school you'll be able to with any major if you put in the work required to reach your goal</p>
<p>Sorry to disagree but NO ONE can be 100% sure to end up in medical school. Even puting a lot of efforts will not guarantee that killer LOR from the PI, will not guarantee an MCAT>30. Besides, by no way does a 4.0 GPA 36 MCAT who had clinical experience,...etc is guaranteed to end in medical school. Just look at the statistics of those who were rejected to give you an idea how much medical application is a crapshoot. The interview, once again will play the final role in rejecting potential candidates.</p>
<p>I continually see on CC, how people feel that engineering / science are harder majors than other majors and are concerned with gpa's relative to other majors for getting into med school etc. I would wonder why somebody would major in engineering and be thinking about medical school. I would urge those who find engineering, science or math "harder" than the humanities to reconsider the field that they are choosing. With > 35 years experience in science and high tech engineering, I have found that those who are successful find engineering significantly easier than the humanities and math comes almost naturally to them. Those who struggle with these courses in school are in for a rude awakening in the job market.</p>
<p>Fact of the matter is chemical engineering is easily one of the most difficult undergraduate majors. As a chemical engineer, if choosing a bio-type option, you cover literally all aspects of science within your coursework at most universities, giving you not only a far greater breadth of material covered as an undergrad, but also a more in depth coverage of certain scientific principles in your major chemical engineering courses. Medical schools respect Chem E’s because they’re aware of the amount of work that has to be put in to succeed in such a rigorous major. I DO agree it is by no means an easy task to come out of undergrad with an unscathed GPA; however, if you can put in the work and succeed you stand a FAR better chance against others with similar looking applications. From personal experience as a 6th semester standing Chem E with a 3.95, I can assure you that your undergraduate days will be spent putting in work week in and week out in order to maintain a high GPA. Fact is most people are not nearly dedicated enough, but if you are, I say go Chem E. Learning the material for the MCAT, aside from verbal reasoning, is a breeze if you have even a halfway decent memory of the material covered in your major science courses. Finally, worse case scenario you have one of the highest paid undergraduate majors to fall back on as a career choice. In my personal opinion there really isn’t another major, besides Bio-E, that gives you the most options upon graduating in addition to preparing you for the MCAT and giving you an edge on your med school application.</p>
<p>From what I’ve researched, for many ChemE programs, even with bio-type options, it seems difficult to fit in the required bio courses, 2nd semester organic labs and sometimes biochemistry because the program has too many other ChemE requirements. </p>
<p>Can you recommend some ChemE programs with bio-type options where doing both premed and ChemE is more pallatable?</p>
<p>@ClassicRockerDad, I hope I can answer some of your questions. I’m a current chemE student at UC Berkeley with an emphasis on biotech. So far I’ve been able to incorporate all the bio-options you’ve listed without any difficulties. I’ve had two semesters of organic chemistry with lab, a semester of biochemistry, a semester of immunology, as well as all the other required chem/chemE classes. All the premed prerequisites are basically already a part of the chemE program. </p>
<p>However, the courses required for the chemE program are the more difficult versions of the premed prerequisites, so your GPA would be much harder to maintain than if you were a bio major taking the regular ochem or regular physics courses. </p>
<p>ChemE and EECS majors are by far the two most challenging majors at any university. However, they provide the most options after school and offer great satisfaction if you succeed at it. If premed doesn’t work out, you still got an engineering degree to fall back on.</p>
<p>Actually, the courses that chemical engineering majors take are the regular ones (that students majoring in the subjects take); the biology majors and pre-meds take the easier “organic chemistry for biology majors” and “physics for biology majors” versions of the courses.</p>
<p>Is that not what I said? I said the chemE majors take the more difficult versions of the classes than what premed prereq requires, eg physics 7 vs 8 or chem 3a/b vs 112a/b.</p>
<p>My sister majored in biomedical engineering and did pre-med as well. Now she’s in med school. I’m not sure if this can be generalized, but she said that the med schools were impressed that she took on a hard major.
I think it’s a really good idea, if you’re interested, to do Engineering so you have a back up if med school doesn’t work out. My sister’s friend was pre-med, didn’t get into med school, but also did biomedical engineering and she is now happily employed.</p>
<p>You described the easier pre-med versions (Chemistry 1/3, Physics 8), instead of the versions for majors (Chemistry 4/112, Physics 7), as the “regular” versions.</p>