Need help choosing what route in science I should take!

College Majors Science Majors
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<p>I'll get right too it. I am looking at 3 different career paths and am not sure what to take. I am a senior, and am praying I get into one of either Cal Tech, MIT, U of C, Wash. U (there are some other but yea you get the point; those listed are the ones I've talked to about playing baseball for. Basically, the general comment the coaches made to me is that my scores are in the range (800 M, 2240 total, gotta take SAT II's) and they can get me about a 5050 or 6040 chance of getting into the schools). Could you guys give me any information or recommendations with regards to the listed majors and careers? I like most high school seniors am kinda lost as too what I should do with my life and could use your help!</p>

<p>Option 1. Take Biomedical engineering; become a Biomedical engineer. This is a new career path that has opened up recently, and I love Bio and Physics so it has intrigued me. The problem is, I do not believe I am the type of person who would love to go get a P.H.D. then spend my life researching. Is there any other alternatives in this field?</p>

<p>Option 2. Take Biomedical engineering; apply to med school. I figure this leaves me a good backup plan. In med school I would want to take something that deals with the brain (I know, typical) but kinda wanna stay away from something dealing with surgury (I don't think I could handle the stress). Would a neurologist who works with cases of alzheimers and other brain related diseases that typically do not require surgury be a suitable option?</p>

<p>Option 3. Final option which is way different from the others would be to take aerospace engineering. I've always thought I would head into the medical field, yet this field has always intrigued me. I've done some research on it, but no site really explains the routes a aerospace engineer could take out of school. I know the obvious, build spacecrafts, but is that all there is to the job?</p>

<p>Thanks for help!</p>

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<p>You could start out as a Mechanical engineer major, which would cover much of the more specialized majors you are considering.</p>

<p>With an aerospace degree, you’d go to work for a company that hires AEs. One fellow I know of worked on missiles. Aircraft design is another area.</p>

<p>I don’t know what the market for biomed eng. is today. It used to be crummy - too specialized a degree, too little demand for people who know both engineering and biology. Often companies hire EEs, MEs, etc. and you learn the company’s product line as you work. For someone interested in biomedical devices, they might be just as well off getting an ME or EE. GE makes medical devices; have a look at their job listings for a start.</p>

<p>I hope others chime in.</p>

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<p>This probably needs to be in the engineering subforum.</p>

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<p>Option 1: Why do you think that you would necessarily need a PhD in biomed engineering? You can work in the field with a bachelor’s degree.</p>

<p>Option 2: All medical students usually take a required clinical clerkship in general surgery, and usually in some of the other surgical specialties. I think it would be difficult to avod it entirely. While you might take some neurology clerkships, you need to get through med school and internship first before you can specialize in neurology.</p>

<p>Option 3: Check these FAQs at the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics:</p>

<p>[American</a> Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics - Ask An Engineer](<a href=“http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=214]American”>http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=214)</p>

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<p>UChicago does not have an engineering school. Would be great for Molecular Bio/Biochemistry/Biophysics though?</p>