<p>Hi. I'm a rising senior, and I was wondering how possible it is to double-major in unrelated fields. Right now I'm planning on applying to the College of Engineering, and probably major in Electrical engineering or aerospace or something like that. How realistic is it to pursue a double-major in a field like biology? Would it make it any easier if it were a double major in biological/biomedical engineering, or is the difference of the subject matter so large that it wouldn't make a difference?</p>
<p>I ask because I love both EE and biology/medicine, although right now I'm leaning slightly to EE. If it helps, I know I'll enter with 8 social studies credits (AP gov, euro hist), 8 credits for calc, 5 credits for chemistry, 8 credits for French language, and 3 credits for the AP English language exam. I'm also planning on taking Calc 3 at UM next semester (dual-enrollment), so I think I'll get credit for that as well (assuming I don't fail).</p>
<p>After senior year, if my AP scores are what I project, I should also have 10 more credits (Physics and Biology) and probably 3 more credits for AP Literature.</p>
<p>so, how realistic would it be for me to pursue a double-major in EE or something similar and biology and something similar, and still graduate in 4 years? I think my ability to handle the coursework is fine - maybe I won't have a 4.0 but I think I can pass classes.</p>
<p>I’m not an engineer but I know that its a tough program and double majoring would probably make it alot tougher. If you want to go to med school, I would say stick to the academic plan that will get you the highest gpa. Many freshman come in with the same high ambitions of double majoring in two difficult fields but soon discover that it is an exorbitant amount of work to handle. I think this would be especially true in CoE. CoE is considered by most to be the toughest on campus. The grading scale is more difficult and the course material is obviously tough. I would assume that graduating in 4 years is doable if you take 18 credits every semester and study aggresively.</p>
<p>Thanks for the quick response I’m not interested in med school at all - my interest in medicine is more in medical research. Things like finding the cure to cancer. any other opinions on the matter?</p>
Simple answer is no (IMHO). If you look at the major requirement for BME, other than the basic science class that nearly everyone that is majoring in science takes, there is little biology classes left. Pretty much what’s left is pretty much true BME: tissue engineering, learning how to use biotechnology, etc. So really pass the basic science clases (bio, biochem, chem, physics) there is nothing from CoE that is going to help dramatically for Bio and vice versa. BME is really really different from Bio itself, you learn about biology from an engineering perspective so you pretty much try to find ways to help cure something, rather than learning solely the molecular function of life as in biology. There are many related topics, it’s just that it is different because the topics are taught differently.</p>
I’m not interested in med school at all - my interest in medicine is more in medical research. Things like finding the cure to cancer. 
any other opinions on the matter?</p>