Engineering AND pre-med?

<p>As you can tell by my username, I want to be a doctor. However, especially as of late, engineering has invoked a lot of interest in me. This was magnified when I took Honors Latin I as a senior this year. As a part of the course, we were taught Roman history. The Ancient Roman structures, such as aqueducts, the Forum, and various other structures, have further evoked my interest in engineering, especially civil engineering. I am also interested in mechanical and aerospace engineering. Is pursuing a degree in engineering, alongside a pre-med track, biting off more than I can chew? Is this combination possible to achieve?</p>

<p>This fall, I will be attending Northampton Community College, and eventually be transferring into a four year institution. My favorites so far are Maryland (my #1 choice school), Penn State, North Carolina, and Georgia. Right now, I am a bio sciences major; however, as I am waiting for the first semester to start, I am considering changing my major to engineering. I am approved to take Math 175 (Applied Calculus with review). Will this level of math be high enough, or should I try to take the placement test again in order to be eligible to take Calculus I? Also, I have never taken physics before. Will that negatively affect me? I am starting to seriously consider a degree in engineering while, at the same cost, trying to get accepted into medical school.</p>

<p>physics is probably a vital course for civil engineering so you would most likely have to take it. I took it my freshman year in HS it wasn’t very hard however in college it will probably be a little harder. It utilizes a lot of Math so if you’re good at math you should be good in physics</p>

<p>While it is possible to both do well in engineering school and be a good applicant for med school, it’s also a pretty bad idea because you’ll spend the entirety of 4 years on endless work. That tends to make people stressed and depressed, if not downright suicidal.</p>

<p>I recommend you evaluate both options on likelihood of success, salary, workload, etc. and choose one of the two. If you’re set on being a doctor, keep engineering as a hobby and maybe take a class or two. It’s a more sane choice.</p>

<p>Med school admissions depends a lot on your GPA. And in engineering, getting a great GPA may not be so easy.</p>

<p>You’re the only one who can say if you’re biting off more than you can chew. I had two friends in college who majored in engineering (EE and MechE), who were premed, and who still had time for fun. They’re both doctors now. As for physics, you’ll need to take it for both engineering and premed.</p>

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Well, pre-med will mean 4 semesters of chemistry, 2 each of physics, biology, and math, and a semester of English. In the majors you mention much of this will already be covered, but you will still probably need to add a couple of chemistry and biology classes above and beyond what the major normally requires. By itself this is essentially an extra semester.</p>

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The expectations for math in engineering essentially start at calculus, so not knowing what MATH 175 covers all I can say is that until you hit calculus you cannot start engineering math or physics.</p>

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Are you talking about admissions or graduation? Getting admitted into an engineering program can be a problem if you lack the coursework required to start the required courses, but like all college admissions they are looking at a number of factors - if you have a solid GPA and test scores they will generally forgive the need for a few remedial courses.</p>

<p>As far as actually completing the program, just remember that engineering involves long chains of prerequisites, so delays in starting the first courses can prolong your entire college career. But it won’t stop you.</p>

<p>Future! Welcome to the forum, man!</p>

<p>Thanks for the responses everyone! Looks like I’m going to have to think long and hard about the possibility of engineering. It’s a very interesting major, especially mathematically and scientifically speaking; however, I agree that it may turn out to be a GPA killer. It seems like EVERYONE I know who’s in an engineering major doesn’t have above a 3.4 hahaha! Since med schools focus heavily on GPA for admissions, I guess I’ll just have to sleep on the possibility of engineering.</p>

<p>@Niquii Hey Niquii! I’m honored to be here hahaha!</p>

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This is a common misperception - at most schools with which I have any experience, engineering GPA’s are 0.1-0.2 below the university average at most. At Penn State, a 3.0 was about the 50th percentile, a 3.5 about the 75th percentile, and a 3.75 about the 88th percentile (the threshold for graduation with distinction).</p>

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It is certainly something to consider. I doubt engineering would kill your chances (unless, of course, you were terrible at it) but it might certainly lower your med school options a bit. It is up to you to decide whether you want engineering major + med school or fluffier major + slightly better med school.</p>

<p>You could do Biomedical Engineering. At my school, they have that with a pre-med track. You get a little bit of the engineering aspect but it’s mainly biology based to prepare you for med school.</p>

<p>I agree. Biomedical engineering would probably cross over more.</p>