Pre-Med with Biomedical Engineering Major at UNC

Hello everyone!

I am going to be part of the UNC class of 2019. I am interested in doing pre-med. Originally, I selected Biology as a major on the Common App for UNC, but now I am leaning more towards Biomedical Engineering. My reasoning for this is because I have a strong affinity for math and computer science along with medicine. I thought that a Biomedical Engineering major (is there even such thing as a BME major? I am kind of clueless, sorry) would be a good way to combine my interests. I am also going to be part of Honors Carolina next year (if that has any relevance). Any thoughts? Is there a particular major that would be better for pre-med? My first and foremost priority is to get into med school, I just thought that BME would be a good backup plan in case I am not able to get in.

I am by no means a subject matter expert but my son and I are also researching Biomedical engineering and researched both UNC and NC State. The undergrad biomedical engineering program is actually a joint venture between the NC State engineering program and UNC medical. In talking to doctors, where you go for undergrad for pre med is not that important, its all about your grades as an undergrad and making sure you take the prerequisite courses.

The projected job outlook for Biomedical engineers is very good and my understanding is that it is a good degree for pre med students. If you decide you truly don’t have the passion needed to be a doctor spending all those years in school and coming out with huge debt, you will certainly be better off in the job market with a biomedical engineering degree than with a biology undergrad degree.