<p>I read online that biomedical engineers only held 7,600 jobs in the entire US in 2005, and the only reason I would go to Duke is for biomed (#2 prog. in nation). So exactly what is the point of going in for biomed if jobs are sooo scare when I can major in software engineering, which has many many many more jobs openings and which has higher future prospects. Does a Duke degree in biomed ensure me a biomedical engineering job after I graduate? How hard will it be to get one with so few jobs? Do employers realize that a Duke degree in biomed is amazing? Is it worth it, especially since software engineers make more on average? DukeEgr, I need your help!!</p>
<p>LOL - here's the thing - an accredited engineering degree in pretty much any department here and really pretty much any accredited school will open a lot of doors. Not sure how the 7600 jobs number came into being, really, but if you ask our career center folks, BMEs can generally get the kind of job they want doing all kinds of things. It is certainly true that BME, as a young discipline, has fewer jobs that are "BME ONLY!!!" but given that most BME departments sprang from either EE or ME departments, many BMEs get jobs in fields that, I would imagine, are "labeled" as EE or ME.</p>
<p>Long story short - employers realize that engineering degrees are amazing and that Duke is one of the many schools that have undergraduates whose pursuit and completion of a degree make them highly employable.</p>
<p>As always, the key is to do as much as possible to find your passion and have your undergraduate career serve as a springboard for pursuing it. For me - I <em>really</em> enjoyed the practical mathematics, and I found that I loved how mechanical systems and electrical systems shared the same root models <em>but</em> behaved in fundamentally different ways. So I went ME/EE. And now my EE students have to suffer with mechanical examples and my ME students have to suffer with electrical ones. (and, of course, the BMEs and CEs just suffer together).</p>
<p>SO - almost the main thing - do you like applied math and physics and science, and do you think you will like how mechanical, fluid, electrical, and other systems apply to biological organisms (most especially people)? Because if so - go BME. If you aren't sure, try BME and keep your courses as flexible as possible.</p>
<p>Main thing - pursue joy, not a paycheck. Sure, there are a lot of considerations with joy, one of which is doing something that will make sure you earn enough money for yourself and, if you are responsible for others, for them. But don't give up something you love for the potential of a few bucks...</p>
<p>the ultimate goal of obtaining a liberal arts education is to expand your intellectual horizons, or in layman terms, make you a more educated person in general. don't start worrying about your future paycheck until you reach grad school. the undergrad college experience is too precious to throw away as some sort of springboard into your future career. you really can't tell right now what you're going to end up doing anyway.</p>
<p>See the thing is, I don't really have time to "play around with different majors" and see what I like since Duke's cost of attendance is $46k per year and rising. I don't want to "waste" time (I couldn't think of a better word) experimenting with majors when I am paying serious money each year and already adding on to my $80,000 debt. I was really concerned about the 7,600 jobs last year because that is not many jobs AT ALL, and I don't want to end up jobless after DUKE. So maybe is EE or ME the way to go, since is already encompasses BME and is broader?</p>
<p>It seems to me like BME is growing at a considerable rate. According to the OOH, there were 9700 jobs in BME in 2004. The average salary for a BS in BME was $48,503 and a MS in BME was $59,667.<br>
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<p>
[quote]
Electrical engineers should have favorable employment opportunities. The number of job openings resulting from employment growth and from the need to replace electrical engineers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force is expected to be in rough balance with the supply of graduates. Employment of electrical engineers is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. Although international competition and the use of engineering services performed in other countries may limit employment growth, strong demand for electrical devices such as giant electric power generators or wireless phone transmitters should boost growth. Prospects should be particularly good for electrical engineers working in engineering services firms providing technical expertise to other companies on specific projects.
[/quote]
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<p>
[quote]
Mechanical engineers are projected to have an average rate of employment growth through 2014. Although total employment in manufacturing industriesin which employment of mechanical engineers is concentratedis expected to decline, employment of mechanical engineers in manufacturing should increase as the demand for improved machinery and machine tools grows and as industrial machinery and processes become increasingly complex. Also, emerging technologies in biotechnology, materials science, and nanotechnology will create new job opportunities for mechanical engineers. Additional opportunities for mechanical engineers will arise because the skills acquired through earning a degree in mechanical engineering often can be applied in other engineering specialties.
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<p>DukEgr, do you know about the BME 5-year program? If so, can it be completed in a shorter time, say 4 - 4.5 years if I have AP credit in Calculus BC, History, English, and I take classes over the summer at other schools (like a local, MUCH cheaper college) to fulfill some of the requirements. I am trying as hard as possible to reduce the amount of debt I will have, so I want to stay for as few years as possible. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>UF - do you mean the five year program for getting a bachelors and masters? You can possibly finish undergrad in 3 or 3.5 and then tack on the masters in a year - to do that, though, you take some grad classes in your last undergraduate semester, so you would be piling up the courseload something fierce. Also, note that Duke will only take up to 4 transfer credits (this does not include APs, IBs, or "Duke In ..." study abroad programs) and that the grades for those credits do not count in your GPA.</p>
<p>More info at <a href="http://www.bme.duke.edu/undergrads/bs_ms.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.bme.duke.edu/undergrads/bs_ms.php</a></p>
<p>How much is 1 credit? Is it like a one semester course?</p>
<p>Yes, as a general rule, one credit = standard semester course.</p>
<p>I'm also very interested in this topic. I'm taking a slightly different approach to BME though. I plan to do medicine, and I feel that BME will prepare me well and give me a good shot at a good med school. BME also interests me greatly. However, if during the course of my hs career, I happen to not like medicine, I can have a good chance of finding work.</p>
<p>So what does 12 credit hours mean?</p>
<p>For undergraduates, Duke counts courses only - most students take 4 courses in a semester, with the occasional 5. Each course is <em>generally</em> listed as being 3 credit hours, though the translation from a Duke Course Credit to credit hour isn't perfect. </p>
<p>For <em>graduate students</em> Duke goes by credit hours, so 12 credit hours in a masters program generally means 4 courses. You can also sign up for "research," generally in increments of 3 credit hours per "research course" per semester.</p>
<p>Hi DukeEgr93 ... will Duke accept four transfer courses for undergrads? On the registrar's website, it says only two. Is Pratt different than Trinity? And what if you take summer courses at a university that is on the quarter system?</p>
<p>deuxenfants - you are correct; Pratt will take up to 4, Trinity up to 2</p>