<p>I hope this is in the right section...So CC, I'm stuck between these two majors:</p>
<p>Biochemistry
Biological Engineering</p>
<p>*I realize that one is an engineering major</p>
<p>I plan on going into med school, which makes me lean towards Biochem. But then I realize a lot of students change majors, and nothing's set in stone, on top of that Biological Engineering is a more promising major money wise. Planning for med school, I realize I need a high GPA. Biological Eng. is a hard major from what I've hard, biochem not so much. That said, it's more distinctive on a med school application.</p>
<p>Skill wise, I'm split again. I'm good at math and biology, and some parts of chemistry as well, and could probably swing either way. </p>
<p>So, how do these two majors compare? I realize this is a really general question, forgive me for that, If there's any way I can make the question more clear just say so.</p>
<p>Do you like math? do you enjoy it? If you are “good” but don’t enjoy it, I would advise against an engineering major. Major in whatever you want, if you find something interesting you tend to do better in it, and GPA wise, choose a major you know you will get higher grades. Biochemistry has a little more math than the classic biology major, and some extra chem classes, but check the degree plan of the university you are planning to attend and compare both majors.</p>
<p>^^^Bump^^^</p>
<p>Any info at all on the difficulty of these two majors would be appreciated</p>
<p>Biochemistry classes are essentially entirely memorization, along with most of the intro chem classes. If you like memorizing things then by all means…</p>
<p>Bioengineering has much more math/physics which involves problem solving. The only real memorization you’ll have will be your bio classes.</p>
<p>If you want to go to Med school then I would say just choose the easier of the two (biochemistry). Otherwise engineering is more employable. <em>Remember that most people change their minds about med school within the first year or two of undergrad</em></p>
<p>Thanks for the info! One last follow up question, would it be relatively easy to switch from a biological engineering major to a biochem major and vice versa, if I did indeed change my mind about med school?</p>
<p>Yeah it’s very doable, just search what are the requirements for transferring into that major and complete them.</p>
<p>Bioengineering —> biochemistry would be much easier than the other way around. The first year will probably be similar between the two but engineering might have a few more classes so I would start out in bioengineering and make a decision after the first year. Just make sure to stay on track with the engineering calc, physics, chem classes in your first year.</p>
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<p>And so are at least the first two years of medical school.</p>
<p>I’m assuming you mean Biomedical/Bioengineering, not Biological. Biological engineering is less “healthcare” based, and deals more with plants and agricultural systems.</p>
<p>As far as medical school admissions, pick whatever you will get a higher GPA in. If you know you are capable of a high GPA in the engineering route and you see it as a good backup plan, then do it. It can’t hurt. But the 4.0 is essential in admissions, more than variety of majors I would say. My uncle is an anesthesiologist who was a biology major at an Ivy back in the day. He had a 4.0 and even then didn’t get into his top medical school choices. And I can assume that admissions are much more difficult now than then.</p>