<p>Don’t major in Biology if you want to work in Biotech or go to BE grad school, it will not adequately prepare you unless you step up the rigor beyond what is required of Bio majors, i.e. take Physics 2 series, take Math 20 series, etc. The bio major is designed for pre-medical students who do not need to know the in’s and outs of physics. </p>
<p>I really doubt biotech companies favor EE or ME majors over BE considering EE has virtually nothing to do with biology, and I’ve never heard of such a preference for ME/EE in biotech. I think your main competitors would at least be relevant to biotech, e.g. chemical engineering, (bio)physicists, biologists, etc.</p>
<p>Biophysics sounds like a good fit based on your interest in bioengineering and concern about building a solid science foundation first. I have also heard that if you want to work in biotech you need a Masters and/or PhD to be employable, or at least that’s what my friend in BE told me. With a physics major, you’ll lay down a strong foundation in principles of physics in your first few years, apply that knowledge to your understanding of biological systems in your later coursework, and then in graduate school be able to further apply physics to bioengineering with design projects, research and cutting-edge class material.</p>
<p>That being said, if you are to major in physics, understand that it will be a LOT of pure physics and that you should be highly interested in physics to pursue that degree in place of engineering, where you will/can get a solid foundation in physics without it being your life. Secondly, for someone who is interested in biology, I think bio will be sorely missed if you become a Biophysics major. The major consists of much, much more physics than biology. There are maybe 2-3 classes in that entire major which could actually be deemed “biophysics,” and the rest are distinctly physics only or biology only. There aren’t a lot of cases as an undergrad where you’ll actually see bio and physics together. Just fyi about the major, it may not be as interdisciplinary as you would think.</p>
<p>I guess what I’m trying to say is, things may not play out the way you anticipate. Maybe you think you want to major in physics and build a strong foundation in sciences first. Then you want to engineer and design biological models / tools by applying and merging your knowledge of physics with your knowledge in other fields. </p>
<p>In reality, you may find yourself tiring of all the physics and regret not taking a more practical, applied approach that more directly leads into your desired career. You may find that learning physics to the depth, volume and detail required of a Physics major is more than you actually want. You may find yourself pining for more tangible and interdisciplinary applications of physical concepts rather than an onslaught of rigorous theory. In an ideal world we would all first build a solid foundation in the sciences before applying them, but reality is a little messier. I say this to kind of counter-balance what seems to be a bias on your part in favor of theory and pure science first, and applications later. </p>
<p>You seem to believe it’s best to learn the science and theory before implementing it in design and practice. While I agree this seems logically sound, I would argue that you need to think more critically at the individual level as to whether or not that path is right for you. There is a good chance you cry “Theory!” now but wish you had taken an engineering approach a few years down the road. There are lots of factors which play into why you might change your tune as time progresses, including but not limited to: evolving interests, difficulty of studies, admission into a specific graduate school/program, time you’re willing to spend in school and what that time will be spent studying/doing, employability and job stability, and specific research interests (which may require some knowledge or skill you failed to acquire due to lack of foresight, previous interest and/or luck). Considering all these factors, it is pretty hard to say your views and plans will not change.</p>
<p>I’m not saying you shouldn’t major in a pure science, but you should certainly consider the possibility that your views and interests will evolve. After all, the only person who can decide what path is right for you is yourself. Try to talk to people who favor either side (straight into engineering vs. science first) to help you decide what’s best for you personally. I think you’re just as likely to be on the right path (major in a pure science first) as you are to be on the wrong path (wish you had done things differently). All I can say is, it’s a good thing you’re thinking about this early and asking questions. Keep doing so, and I wish you luck with your future plans!</p>