I’m a recent graduate in molecular cell biology from UCSC with somewhat low stats (3.38 UGPA, got a C in French and a few other silly classes ha). I want to do biomolecular engineering at Cal. I think my major GPA is a bit higher (≥3.4). On the positive side, I have some amazing recommendations from several biochemistry and genetics professors, and I placed in the top of those classes. They also they really liked my independent work (I genetically engineered glowing marijuana by myself in my garage). I’m taking my GRE this month as well. My grades are a bit hit and miss though. I missed the deadline to apply for the masters program this year, but I want to apply for next fall semester. I was thinking of possibly going to a community college to take the additional math, physics, and engineering classes I missed out on while I was an undergrad. If I do well in those classes, can I use them to raise my UGPA? Does anyone have any advice on what to do if you’re a non-traditional engineering grad student applicant?
Also, realistically, if UCB is a bit of a reach for me, do you guys know of any other programs that might be worth looking into? I found that I really enjoy molecular genetics and just wish that there were programs that had a good balance of research and application.
I would consider working or interning in your desired field. If you can do some professional research (with a P.I. at a university, not in your garage) and get your name on a few papers, that would probably really help. As you already have a degree, I am not sure that going back to community college would help, but I do not know much about switching to engineering from life sciences. There is a lot you can do in mol bio without getting a degree in bioengineering. If you like genetically engineering things, there are plenty of ways to get involved with that and NOT be an engineer. Looks up CRISPR, TALEN, zinc finger nucleases, etc. All of these are done in mol bio labs as well as bioengineering labs.
Thank you! I guess maybe in my mind there is some false dichotomy between bioengineering and molecular biology since a lot of what I am doing already is technically “genetic engineering”. I’m familiar with crispr and I’ve used it before to create transgenic organisms, so I guess in some ways I am already doing “bioengineering” hehe :p. Is there anyone who can maybe explain the differences a little better? In my mind, I always assumed that the work of a molecular biologist was more abstract and theoretical, and is centered around discovery and working in academia, whereas being a (non-medical) bioengineer was centered around invention and applying the theoretical knowledge discovered by scientists to create useful products and services. Are these ideas correct?
Unfortunately, I do not know enough about engineering to answer your questions. Best of luck to you!
Engineering refers to the use of engineering principles–mathematical and quantitative approaches–to solve problems. In other words, it refers to the things that engineering majors (such as mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, or chemical engineers) learn–statics and dynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, solid and structural mechanics, chemical process design and optimization, polymer science and materials engineering, electricity and magnetism, electronics, optics, photonics. The tools engineers use include math such as multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations, and programming and using CAD software, among other things. “Genetic engineering” is not engineering in this sense. The use of the word “engineering” in “genetic engineering” is more akin to the dictionary definition of “engineering,” and really has nothing to do with engineering in an academic or professional sense.
In academia, engineering research–though it perhaps tends to skew towards the practical, and towards design–may be just as “theoretical” and “abstract” as in biology. The main difference in engineering tends to be the approach, which tends to be more quantitative and methodical in nature.
A molecular biologist is not an engineer, but the transition from biology to bioengineering or biomedical engineering is a relatively smooth one compared to, say, biology to electrical engineering. I myself got my BS in Molecular/Cell Biology and am currently working on my MS in Mechanical Engineering. The best thing you can do is what you mentioned in your first post: take the requisite math/physics/engineering courses and do well in them.
However, perhaps more importantly, you need to do a lot more research on what “bioengineering” and “biomedical engineering” are and how they differ from molecular biology/biochemistry/genetic engineering. You really shouldn’t be aiming for a graduate program in anything unless you know what it will entail and how it will help you achieve your goals.
Thank you for the messages, everyone. It has been extremely helpful.
Okay I have an update to add. I ended up enrolling at a local community college around my area. I enrolled in differential equations, a programming course for engineering, and engineering level physics. I think I could get an A.S. degree in engineering before the next admission cycle next fall, which might complement my biology background and possibly fulfill most of the technical courses I might have missed while I was doing my BS. The strange thing I discovered is that admission requirements for the masters program doesn’t seem to be as rigid and defined as the experience I had transferring as an undergrad. The adcom didn’t really give me a definitive answer on what courses were absolutely required for acceptance.
The reason they can’t give a definitive answer is because things aren’t as clear cut for grad school as for undergrad. Applicants for bioengineering programs come from a broad variety of backgrounds beyond a BS in bioengineering, and they realize that some strong applicants could be kept out if they didn’t meet one particular “mandatory” requirement.