How to better my chances in the biomedical field

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Through reading the forums on mechanical and biomedical engineering I've decided that to reach my dream of designing medical devices and working in the biomedical engineering field, that a bachelors in mechanical engineering would be best. However, I am wondering what would be a better route to take. I will have taken AP Calc BC, AP stat, and AP physics B & C before I graduate high school so I think it gives me some options. I could be wrong but I believe it would make it very possible to get my bs in mechanical and ms in biomedical all in 5 years (correct me if I'm wrong). But I think I could also complete my bs in mechanical with a minor in biomedical in 4 though the minor would take extra time that the APs picked up. So I guess which would better my chances of getting a job or helping me stand out? I would think the bs and ms but that will take at least 5 years instead of just 4.</p>

<p>Thanks for your help</p>

2

<p>Don’t stress about the degrees, it’s only your grounding. Focus on getting an internship and/or networking with people working in the field or on products/technology that you’re interested in. Contact someone, speak to them, ask questions. That’s how people (especially recent grads) often flow into companies, by showing interest, interning and doing a good job.</p>

3

<p>Don’t worry about minors. Do the BS/MS AND do co-ops or internships (2-3).</p>

4

<p>MagicMark25, design teams that develop mdeical devices consist mainly of mechanical, electrical and software engineers. A minor in biomedical engineering is not all required for designing medical devices. You are more likely to get a job in a medical device company to do R&D work if you are good in one of those major engineering disciplines. From what I have seen, people with just BS/MS in biomedical engineering end up getting positions where the contribution is really on the periphery - collection of requirements, testing & validation, ux etc.</p>

5

<p>Agree with UWHuskyDad. My husband works in the medical device industry and says the BMEs end up in technical marketing, product support etc. since their technical skills are not deep enough in any one area to be useful in R+D. The ones he knows in R+D went back to get a MSEE and he works with a lot of CS majors and some MEs as well.
That is why CMU doesn’t offer a standalone BME undergrad degree:

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