I am a rising high school senior with my heart set on attending medical school after obtaining my undergrad degree. Since I decided I wanted to study medicine, I did research on undergraduate majors and decided that biomedical engineering was the undergraduate degree I liked the most (I thought I was being unique but now I’m seeing more and more that plenty of students like myself choose biomedical engineering). I thought that biomedical engineering would provide the best of all 3 sciences: biology, chemistry, and physics while giving me the knowledge for the research I hope to conduct as a practicing surgeon. However, now I’m beginning to wonder if biomedical engineering is my best option. I want to obtain a degree that will give a good job outlook even if at the end of the first 4 years I decide or become unable to attend medical school. I know I still have a while before this becomes an imminent decision, but I’ve looked into other majors such as chemical engineering and neuroscience (I want to study neurosurgery but I know plans can change rapidly). Any suggestions for more lucrative or appropriate degrees would be much appreciated!
My advisor told me that if you want a job in BME you’ll have to go to grad school. It’s so broad that you get a little bit of everything but depth in nothing. I’m in the process of switching to ChemE.
@bodangles is there any real difference between the two?
As far as I know, you can do most of the same things with either degree. BME (at my university) requires several different classes than ChE, like bio (obvs) and mechanical engineering courses. But since BME aims to be the intersection of mechanical AND chemical AND biological AND…etc. it’s less specialized.
@bodangles I am looking at options o complete my bachelors and masters in 4 years because of the number of ap credits I am to accumulate during high school. If I’m able to get my bachelors and masters in biomedical engineering before going to med school, would that be my best option?
ChemE from what I understand is mostly about building pipelines for industrial chemical plants, petrochemicals, paper pulp, whatever. Very different focus than BME.
If you want to use AP credits to place out of a significant number of courses, just remember that you’ll be placing into upper-division courses. Can you hack those, GPA-wise? If so, you are good for med school.
ChemE is far more marketable than BioMedE, which is very limiting.
Also, since the OP is looking for large merit, choosing a major that few schools offer will further hinder a successful search.
@NavalTradition of course I hope I can handle them but I can never be sure. I attend a schools that’s known for a very rigorous schedule and demanding teachers so I hope that my performance now will be indicative of how I can expect to perform in the future.
Something to keep in mind. Depending on the undergrad you go to, you might not be able to use all your AP credits. Usually there’s a limit. My son could only use credit for 5 classes even though he had a lot more. Engineering by itself is a hard major requiring more classes then an arts and science major. So the AP classes might help you get your bachelors in 4 years. I wouldn’t count on fitting masters in that time. Again depends on UG you go to. If son went to our state school he would of gotten 1 year worth of AP credits.
@momworried I know there is a program at Harvard that will let me get a Bachelors and Masters in 4 years if I meet certain criteria. Of course I can’t bank on being able to get in (or even being able to afford) a place like that. I need to look around at all the schools I’m interested in and see th
@momworried …see their individual AP Credit policies.
Bump. Any other opinions?
Bump
@NaijaBoy, do you have a question? Medical schools won’t care about your choice of major. Choose something that interest you. If you have no passion for your choice, you won’t do as well as you could. Only you know what your passions are.