<p>I was accepted ED with an intended major in biomedical engineering. I'm possibly interested in going to med school eventually.</p>
<p>I'm a bit confused as to how my course load as an engineering student will differ from someone in CAS majoring in bio or biochem. I'm also hearing lots of conflicting information regarding how difficult freshman classes really are.</p>
<p>I'm in AP Calc BC right now, but I thought it would be nice to start with Math 131 rather than 132 just to review some of the concepts. That's not even listed as an option for engineering-- is everyone expected to start with 132?</p>
<p>If anyone is able to just walk me through what classes I'll probably need to take as a freshman, that would be awesome. I'd also really appreciate any advice regarding what I should sign up for/what to expect/how to prepare.</p>
<p>Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (BME 140) (Semester 1 only)
Engineering Virtual Studio I, II (ENGR 123B, 124B)
General Chemistry I, II (Chem 111A, 112A)
General Chemistry Laboratory (Chem 151, 152)
General Physics I, II (Phys 117A, 118 or 197, 198
Calculus II, III (Math 132, 233)
Principles of Biology I (Biol 2960) (Semester 2 only)</p>
<p>How difficult is a relative term. Obviously some find it easier/harder than others. I think it is safe to say that BME is one of the more challenging majors for most people. On the other hand, the payoff at the end is generally quite excellent in terms of job prospects, salaries, and how interesting the work is. I think the only advice in general is to be very disciplined in getting the work done, and take advantage of all the resources available for extra help if you need any.</p>
<p>fallenchemist’s post is spot on. Do note - that means 3 labs spring freshman year unless you’re AP’ing out of Physics or Chem. It’s intense, yes.
(I was bme for 2/3 years before switching to another engineering department).</p>
<p>Regarding math - you have to start with at least 132 because of physics - Calc II is a coreq for physics 197, and you CANNOT delay physics past your freshman year. You could technically take 117 (only calc I is a coreq), but that is highly inadvisable. Additionally, if you’re taking BC in high school, you really may as well start with Calc III at WashU - there’s no reason not to if you do well on the BC test & the placement test puts you in 233.
There’s so much math that you’ll be happier if you get it done sooner - engineers have to take not only 132 & 233, but also 217 (diff eq), sometimes 309 (matrix), probstats, and enmath 318 & 319, so 7 classes.</p>
<p>If you ignore this advice and go with 131 anyway with 117, it will mess you up with other classes starting your sophomore & junior years that expect you to have a certain math background by then (both bme 240 and bme 301 expect you to be on the start-with-132-minimum path).</p>
<p>
The real differences come in post-freshman year. Are you interested in the actual breakdown?</p>
<p>I can understand that one could do well on the BC test and still feel the need to take 131 before plunging into 132. That doesn’t sound advisable at WashU biomedeng. So why not take 131 at a college the summer before going to WashU? If you find 131 at that college is easier than what you had in BC, then tell the instructor you want to either crank up the difficulty or transfer to the school’s 132. You can decide later whether to transfer in the 131 credits as an elective. Does this help?</p>
<p>Yes, thanks everyone for the replies. It does sound like taking Physics 197 is a lot better than doing 117, so it probably would be to my benefit to start with Math 132.</p>
<p>I have a couple more questions as well:</p>
<p>-Is it sometimes hard to obtain a spot in certain classes? I’m worried that Physics 197 will fill up and I’ll be forced to take 117.</p>
<p>-I’ve heard that BME 140 is ridiculously difficult; is this true?</p>
<p>-If, worst case scenario, I find out that I just can’t hack it in engineering or it’s not for me, how difficult would it be to change majors to biochem? How soon would I be able to do this?</p>
Depends on the class. But in this case, if you want to take 197, you’ll get into 197. That’s not a concern. You may just not get your first pick of professor (Berny’s class often fills right up).</p>
<p>
It’s no longer Yin in charge, so I have no idea how KT ran the class this year. Any current freshmen bme’s on the board that can chime in?
If the class is still the same, I can only say this - it sucks, and is a bit useless, but you survive if you stick with it and don’t drop. Very few people in my year (albeit this is fall 08 we’re talking…) got below a B. And the people that I’m aware of that did get below a B often times turned in incomplete hw (while the hw was crazy challenging, you could at least BS it occasionally so that your hw was finished, even if not correct).</p>
<p>
You can change whenever you want. However, it’s really hard to know whether or not you can “hack it” until you’ve taken actual engineering classes, which does not occur until really the end of your sophomore year/beginning of junior. The classes that will hit you hardest your freshman year are your pre-med required classes anyway. (BME 140 is absolutely no indication of your abilities as an engineer).</p>
<p>Looking back on this from a graduated perspective (I completed my BS/MS this past May), I would say this on the subject to those who want to enter as bme pre-med:</p>
<p>Are you thinking bme because you’re actually interested in engineering, or solely because you think it will look good on a med school app?</p>
<p>1) If the latter, drop now and honestly go for the major you can get the highest gpa in. For many that’s bio, psych, etc. For others it’s history. Pre-med does not need to = bio.</p>
<p>2) If the former, don’t necessarily view it in terms of bme vs. biochem. You can still have a bio focus in other engineering disciplines (systems, electrical, mechanical, cs, etc) and fulfill the pre-med requirements easily. Also, both the ESE and MechE departments are far more laid back than BME and like to steal students away who’ve gotten burned by stupid things like bme140. I know several people in med school right now who had a primary MechE or EE or Systems major. Doesn’t mean don’t consider biochem as a viable thing to switch to, but premed engineering is not just bme or bust.</p>
<p>The good news is that because freshman year bme is nearly all required for bio majors and a good chunk of sophomore year is too, switching to ArtSci as a junior won’t necessarily delay graduation.</p>
<p>Other piece of advice:take Orgo the summer between freshmen and sophomore years. You’ll thank me when your friends are hating life but you can actually take the time to figure out if engineering is your thing or not during sophomore year.<br>
Either at WashU or not. That really shouldn’t affect a med school application.</p>