<p>I'm a 3rd year, about to be 4th, undergrad student in Biology. currently, i am 4 classes away from graduation with a BS in Biology.</p>
<p>In the first few years I've done pretty well in the basic classes like general/organic/biochemistry, genetics, molecular bio, etc. and some higher level classes like microbio. but once i started taking more upper division classes like high level molecular bio, developmental bio, development lab, immunology and neuro that required alot of memorization of things that didn't seem to have logical connections, i either got C's or had to spend incredible effort just to get a B-. I don't think I can handle doing an industry job in biology for years.</p>
<p>When i was taking quantitative courses like physics and multivariable calculus though, i seemed to do alot better. so i considered switching. after looking at the degree requirements for all engineering majors, i found that i was closest to completion of the chemical engineering degree with the classes i've taken.</p>
<p>Would this be recommended? or should i just try harder to "get used to biology"? if i applied to graduate school, would chemical engineering deparments even look at a biology applicant?</p>
<p>Actually, yes, it would look better. A lot of grad schools and employers highly respect a degree in engineering.</p>
<p>My aunt used to be an electrical engineer. However, she decided to go back to school and become a genetic counsellor. The employer commented on how great it was that she had a degree in engineering. The critical thinking skills that you learn from pursuing the major are highly invaluable.</p>
<p>That is awfully late to be switching degrees. You realize you will end up in school for like another 2 years or something, right? If you absolutely want to do it, why not add it on as a dual major or something, that way you can perhaps capitalize on having only those 4 classes left for the BS in Bio?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t change your major. If you’re serious about going into engineering, I would finish your biology degree since you only have a few more classes and then get the engineering degree.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice, i was definitely going to just finish the biology degree.</p>
<p>a minor question: how much chemistry is actually in chemical engineering? i looked at the chemistry classes required and it seems like i’m almost done with the “chemistry” part of chemical engineering. that makes me think that the chemistry training of a chemical engineer isn’t very high, since a biology major recieved almost equal training in this area.</p>
<p>I would finish the bio degree, and maybe take a couple of intro engineering courses as electives, to see if you want to pursue it later. But definately finish, you’re so close!!</p>
<p>Chemical engineering is all about how you optimize a particular chemical reaction. Chemical engineers traditionally designed and maintained big plants that produced a particular chemical by the tonnes. If you think back to freshmen chem class, chemical engineers beat the hell out of the chapter on reaction kinetics. They also take classes in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics to accurately model the flow of reactants through the plant.</p>