Switching from Science to Engineering

<p>I am currently a graduate student at University of Pennsylvania in Biochemistry/Biophysics. I went to University of the Sciences undergrad in pharmacology/toxicology. I earned a 3.97 GPA, couple of years of research, graduate awards, 1400 GRE (800 math, 600 verbal), and scholarly presentations. I have taken 5 mathematics courses (Calc I-III, Mathematical Modeling, Applied Math for Chemistry) and have courses in General Chem, Organic, Biochem, and Molecular Biophysics. </p>

<p>Although I am currently in a premier graduate program, I am unhappy that I will become a scientist, as I come from a family of engineers and one mathematician/computer scientist. When I was applying for undergrad, I narrowed my choices down to Delaware ChemE and Pharmacy at USP. I obviously chose Pharmacy, but ultimately changed it to pharm/tox (a research-oriented applied science). I have been disgusted of my decision ever since the end of my third year in college (I am currently a 1st year grad student), and I am unhappy that I isolated myself from my family. I actually always loved mathematics and chemistry but just made a poor decision for undergrad. I have been kicking myself for the past year and a half for not simply following in the footsteps of my siblings. It would have made things much simpler for me, but I was quite stubborn-headed about things as a teenager. Now, at 22, I am regretting my past decision quite a bit, and I hope that I can rectify it. </p>

<p>So to all engineers out there, given my credentials, do you think it is feasible for me to apply to Delaware's ChemE PhD program? It is quite high ranked, but a number of their faculty do applied biomedical research and, in fact, some of them use the same techniques that I have used/am currently using in my graduate lab. I just recently found out that my Biophysics and Biochem courses are transferrable, as they have a Biochemical/Biomedical Engineering concentration in their graduate program. Also, their graduate brochure says that the majority of their metriculants are engineers, but they admit scientists on the basis that they complete certain coursework first. I have experience with molecular visualization software, MATLAB, UNIX/LINUX, mentoring/tutoring, and TA experience. </p>

<p>Is it still possible for me to pursue engineering given my prior coursework and experience?</p>

<p>Short answer is yes…I did it Physics undergrad -> Engineering grad, however the fact that you are in grad school now complicates the issue alot. Are you in a Masters Program? How long does it take? If it is a one or two year program, I’d consider finishing it and applying in to Masters or PhD programs in Chemical Engnieering which you certainly would be completely qualified for. Your Stats are great. I’d finish and get a Masters because it will look terrible when applying to engineering grad schools to have quit. They will of course wonder why you won’t quit there program.</p>

<p>One note, I needed to take 1 1/2 semesters worth of undergrad courses switching between physics and a type of Engineering. You may need to do something similar.</p>

<p>Do your have a TA, RA, or Fellowship?</p>

<p>What turns you off to science so much?</p>

<p>100% a big yes, although I am not a bio guy, but many fellow PhD students in my engineering program have pure science background.</p>

<p>It’s really not uncommon to change your field from undergrad to grad (assuming not too far apart), but you need to take the initiative and start taking actions! Since you are already in a graduate program I presume it will be easier. You can reuse most of the resources you used 1 year ago :)</p>

<p>Thanks for both of your replies, guys. </p>

<p>To Jack 63, I am actually in a PhD program, and I am only in my first year. I found out that my courses could serve as technical electives in the grad program that I’m interested in. As far as science is concerned, I just don’t see the point in continuing in it since the ChemE’s get paid more, are probably respected more, and have better job opportunities while doing quite similar research (drug or disease-related) to what I am doing. </p>

<p>I never actually wanted to be a scientist; it was either pharmacy or engineering for me and I chose poorly, especially considering my family’s highly technical background. In retrospect, I’m having a “what was I thinking” feeling about my past choice. </p>

<p>At any rate, I appreciate yours and Mr. Zoo’s encouragement, and I will do my best on my application.</p>

<p>Dunno how common the experience is- but I am finding myself contemplating alternative careers throughout this first month of grad school as well. So far I have seriously considered auto mechanic, genetic counselor and infection control specialist. I am sure engineering would be on my mind if I enjoyed the math aspect more. Since people make it through this introductory period in substantial numbers, I assume it isn’t that bad. You develop a social support group, learn your way around town and campus, settle into a routine, feel out a mentor and find an interesting problem to work on. None of this has happened for me yet either, but best of luck in these things for you.</p>

<p>Pharmguy, I find it interesting that your main reason for wanting to leave the pharmacology program is because you have deviated from your family “trade,” not because of any true passion for engineering. If your family is truly ostracizing you, do you really think things will be better if you switch fields? Won’t they just find something else about you to pick on? In most families, people don’t become outcasts because of their career choices – unless, of course, that choice is something illegal. Pharmacology is nothing to be “disgusted” with. It’s one thing to find that you are temperamentally unsuited to pharmacology and quite another to think you are the scum of the earth for following that career path.</p>

<p>You might want to consider availing yourself of the counseling available on campus before you make such a decision. I’m afraid that you’ll switch tracks, only to discover that you hate engineering and that your family doesn’t treat you any differently. </p>

<p>Good luck – whatever you decide to do.</p>

<p>Not to be a downer, but I’m currently an undergrad in a 15-20 ranked ChemE program (lower than Delaware), and the guy in charge of grad admissions was giving a grad school presentation maybe a week ago, and someone asked that specific question (he was a chem major looking at ChE PhD programs). The admissions director said it’s very difficult to get into ChE PhD programs without some form of an engineering degree, and that there’s only one currently enrolled in my school’s ChE PhD program without an engineering undergrad degree.</p>

<p>Apparently it differs from school to school, as Jack and Mr.Zoo seem to have had different experiences, but I just wanted to give you a heads up. I don’t know anything about Delaware specifically.</p>

<p>Your credentials seem pretty impressive, so I don’t doubt you could do it, but you’ll need to come up with a good, believable reason for why you want to transfer. You also might want to apply to a larger range of grad schools than most people, since policies seem to vary so much.</p>

<p>yes it surely differs from school to school, also from year to year, it all depends on the specific applicant, OP’s GPA is superb I’m sure he has decent chance (by not knowing details about his research experience and LoR quality)</p>

<p>I went to OSU for my ChemE undergrad+MS (rank 20-25), yes most of them have ChemE background but it’s not uncommon the otherwise. Keep in mind today’s ChemE is no longer about the classic stuff like thermodynamics and reaction kinetics. Many ChemE faculty members themselves are from or have affiliation with other departments. That being said, it might be at your strong advantage to think about what subfield in ChemE you want to work in and start looking for professors in Delaware you want to work with, start talking to them and mention their work and relate with yourself in your SoP. BTW, my MS advisor (a pure ChemE professor) was a big bio guy, works with gene delivery so a lot of his students have pure bio background, one of them even holds MD degree :)</p>

<p>Hubert brings up a good point. It is very difficult to get into engineering Ph.D. programs with out an engineering degree. I didn’t do this. I went Undergrad Physics-> Master Engineering->Work real world-> Engineering Ph.D. Usually a Ph.D. program will want you to have a pretty clear idea of your research interests and start connect with profs before they accept. This is very hard to do without any Engineering courses.</p>

<p>With this being said, Undergrad Physics -> Masters Engineering was doable. I applied to 8 schools out of undergrad, and got into half of them. I even got a fellowship at one of them in the top 20 to 30. I didn’t go to it, but went to one in the top ten instead and paid initially but eventually got a TA.</p>

<p>I would sorta same the same thing as Mr. Zoo to speak to people about your future. For example, somebody in the department or a College counselor. Something may be able to be worked out. For example, some applied physics Ph.D. programs let thier students get engineering Masters. Perhaps you can take some Undergrad Engineering courses while in the Ph.D. pharmacy program and leave with a Masters degree. Perhap the school will make it easy for you to trasfer. If you have funding(TA, Fellowship, RA) in a Ph.D. program you should work with the people at the University. If you walk away from a fellowship, there may be problems getting accepted in the another program at the same university. Also, check you don’t need to repay anything on the fellowship.</p>

<p>Hubert, thanks for letting me know. From these responses, I guess it varies across universities. I suppose that I will still give it a shot and see what happens.</p>

<p>to momwaitingfornew, my family did not ostracize me nor do they pick on me. Rather, I felt that I had distanced myself from them for no reason; I ended not pursuing pharmacy so there was no point in straying from engineering, especially since the research I am doing now is quite similar to that of many engineers.</p>

<p>Sorry, Pharmguy, for misinterpreting. It just sounded that your reason for changing fields had more to do with your family than with what you liked or were good at. I don’t understand how choosing pharmacology would “isolate” anyone from his family. But every family is different. </p>

<p>What kind of engineers are in your family? Would being a chemical engineer or bioengineer deviate from their careers? An electrical engineer has different training from a mechanical engineer which is still different from a civil engineer and a chemical engineer. If your family is composed of mostly electrical engineers, being a chemical engineer isn’t going to get you any closer than pharmacology. </p>

<p>If you are more concerned about going into industry rather than academics, the pharmaceutical industry hires researchers. </p>

<p>Undergraduate engineering is an extremely rigid major that leaves little room for electives. You might want to compare your own background against the type of engineering you’d like to pursue. You might even be able to take some courses while you’re at Penn to see whether you are suited to the field.</p>

<p>These are Penn’s requirements for chemical engineering:</p>

<p>[Penn</a> Engineering - Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Major](<a href=“Majors”>Majors)</p>

<p>And for bioengineering:</p>

<p>[Penn</a> Engineering - Bioengineering Major](<a href=“Majors”>Majors)</p>

<p>Any graduate program in engineering will expect a similar background.</p>

<p>Pharm guy,</p>

<p>You CAN make this switch (as in, its possible), provided you are limiting yourself to those fields and specialties where you are reasonably well prepared. I have seen a ton of people make the jump from chemistry, physics, or math into my field, electrical engineering, by focusing on those areas which require a strong understanding of the fundamental science behind the engineering. Plus, if you performed well as an undergrad they will often give you some leeway with your preparation under the assumption that you will be able to catch up.</p>

<p>So, I would first and foremost contact some of the professors you are interested in working with and discuss the matter with them. At worst they may tell you to go take some ChemE classes before applying, or admit you only to a masters until you have proven yourself.</p>

<p>that’s alright momwaitingfornew. </p>

<p>i’ll look into the undergrad curriculum. i think the only things that are missing are a few fundamentals. thanks for the advice.</p>