<p>My career goal is to either research the similarities between computers and the brain or to engineer prosthetics that interact with the nervous system. I feel like the best paths to reach my goals are to earn my Bachelor's degree in bioengineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or secondarily computer science. I plan to continue on to graduate school to study at the MIT Media Lab in neuroengineering or biomechatronics or to study neuroscience at UC San Diego. I have been accepted into UC San Diego for bioengineering (biotechnology), UT Austin for electrical engineering, and have the option to be put on the priority waitlist at Carnegie Mellon for computer science or mechanical engineering.</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon:
-Distinguished computer science program and great mechanical engineering.
-Pittsburgh is apparently not the best place to live.
-Transferring to electrical/computer engineering from within the school is "virtually impossible" according to CMU.
-I know a few people who will go to CMU.</p>
<p>UCSD:
-Best Location
-3rd ranked bioengineering program.
-Will be close to my brother.
-Top rated graduate neuroscience program.
-Considering attempting a double major in BME and Comp Sci.</p>
<p>UT:
-Best Student Life
-Highly rated in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, and mechanical engineering.
-Super cheap (I'm from Texas).
-I have good friends at UT.
-Will attempt to double major in two out of EE, ME, or Comp Sci.</p>
<p>Considerations:
-I have tons of college credit (will have 75 hours by end of year). UT Austin takes 100%, UC San Diego takes almost all of my credits, and I am not certain that CMU will take my credits.
-I love programming and electronics but the bioengineering courses at UCSD seem to emphasize biology/chemistry/medicine much more than programming or electronics.
-The scientists who research at the MIT Media Lab or who engineer prosthetics at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (two institutions that hit what I want to do on the head) major primarily in bioengineering or mechanical engineering and a few major in electrical engineering and physics.
-I am very interested in robotics or neuroscience research and I am not sure about the research opportunities at each school for undergraduates.
-My current plan is to be put on the Priority Waitlist for CS at CMU. While I'm waiting to hear back, I'll decide where I would like to go out of UT or UCSD.</p>
<p>Your thoughts?</p>