<p>Hi, I was accepted as a computer engineering major, but I want to do pre-med so I'm planning on switching to bioengineering, because it'll tackle some of the pre-medical requirements. </p>
<p>I heard a lot that GPA and MCAT are the most important factors of medical school admissions, so I was wondering if it was possible to do well in bioengineering, like 4.0, 3.9, 3.8, 3.7 or whatever is competitive.</p>
<p>It’s possible to get good grades in anything, as long as you’re coming in with proven aptitude (via h.s. GPA and test scores). You may have to spend more time studying, seek out tutoring help, and spending a lot of time getting help from TAs if you need it, but it is definitely possible.</p>
<p>thanks for the info. Anyone who’s been in bioengineering have any advice?</p>
<p>I came into Maryland as a Bioengineering Major(Pre Med) as well. I quickly discovered this was possibly one of the worst decisions of my life. Since medical schools DO NOT take major into consideration, it is a bad idea to choose a major which will bring down your GPA, which, bioengineering will. Imagine a group of students who were at the top of their high schools, with perfect GPA’s and SAT’s, who work extremely hard and on top of that, you are curved against these same students. That is the reality of the University of Maryland engineering program. I had a 2110 SAT score, and guess what my first semester GPA was? 2.6, thats right. It doesnt matter how smart you are or how hard you work, when you are curved against students who work non stop and are the cream of the crop, you will NOT get that magical 3.5 GPA easily. Take this advice seriously, I am trying to save you a lot of despair, and so you can learn from my mistakes. If you are SET on going to medical school, just major in one of the Biological Sciences. If you want to do engineering and NOT go to medical school then by all means do, that is what I am doing now, and maryland’s engineering is one of the top in the country. But if your goal is to go to medical school, I strongly suggest; no, I beg you to not major in engineering.</p>
<p>So if I were to quit Pre-Med and just focus on Engineering, I would still be against the “cream of the crop” and get a poor gpa too?</p>
<p>I have a son who is at CP in Chem E/Bio E program about to graduate and another son who is considering CP. I also went to CP engineering (ME) many years ago. I think physicsmom and Terp93’s tips are good ones. Yes, it is possible to get high GPA in any major. No, at least for engineering majors, you wont’ get there without putting a LOT of effort. Yes, premed and engineering combo is probably not a good idea for most people (if not all). No, you will not “magically” get 3.5 GPA (or 3.0 or less)… If you think you can enjoy Terps basketball games everyweek, party everyweekend, and still come up with 3.5GPA, you are in for a surprise. Do your work first, don’t miss classes, go see your TA, do extra problems, look for (and do) research opportunities, and manage your time. Follow these rules semester after semester… Other than that, go have fun…</p>
<p>Granted, it’s not bioengineering, but D1 received double degrees in Astronomy and Physics (with some crazy hard classes, where she frequently tutored some of the engineering majors) and had a minor in German, worked from sophomore year on doing research, and was a TA for 3 semesters. There were lots of times that she stayed home when others started partying from Thursday on (and then some) She had a boyfriend her last 2 years, but he was in most of her Astro classes, so they spent a lot of time together, but individually working on homework. She graduated w/ a 4.0 GPA, but not without some sweat, tears (I’m not sure that it ever got bloody, however). In one of her 400-level classes, she finished the semester with a % grade of 63. Hers was the highest grade in the class…thank heavens for grading on the curve. </p>
<p>Did she still have fun at UMD? You bet. Did she “party”? Yes, but getting drunk at every given possibility was not one of her priorities.</p>
<p>Was it worth it? Yes. (She’s a first-year grad student in the Ph.D. program for astrophysics at Harvard).</p>