<p>I'm a 23 year old majoring in electrical engineering at a UC. Right now Im two classes away from graduating, a GE and an electrical engineering class. I'm not going back to the UC to finish because the engineering class is only offered once a year and there is a college near my area that offers the class sooner. </p>
<p>Right now my GPA is at 2.7. My parents choose this major for me. I went along with it because I wasn't interested in anything else. I feel like I didn't learn anything. I'm a good test taker and got by with Bs and Cs in my classes. I skipped classes, didn't study until 2 or 3 days before an exam. The upshot is that I dont really have a cohesive understanding of the subject. </p>
<p>I've finally found something I'm interested in: bioengineering. Im thinking about doing another bachelor's. I know UCs dont accept second bachelors. Im not sure about private schools because of the money issue. I cant apply for aid because my parents make too much. They dont want to put me through another degree when they have other kids to worry about. The first time around my parents paid for the degree completely. </p>
<p>Also, since I dont technically have my degree yet (two classes left), could I apply for admission as a first bachelors? Should I go to community college and take biology and chemistry classes and then apply? My GPA out of the UC is pretty bad and Id like to go to a better college this time around. I dont think itd take me that long to complete my degree; engineering and bioengineering have a large overlap of classes (math, physics and engineering classes). </p>
<p>Any advice would be appreciated! Currently Im just sitting around my parents place.</p>
<p>Finish the Electrical Engineering degree and then look for a job in the Bioengineering industry. Lots of Bioengineers started as Electrical Engineers. Once you have some experience you can decide if getting a Masters in Bioengineering is a good thing for you to do.</p>
<p>Seconding Xraymancs. Possibly all you need to segue into the field are a few biology and chemistry classes, so maybe you can take those part-time while you work and then get an MS in bioengineering later. There is no reason to go back and get a second bachelor’s for two degrees so close together.</p>
<p>If you don’t finish the degree you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. With 2 classes left you’re just letting emotional impulse weigh you down by not finishing ASAP. That GPA is bad and will hold you back from certain opportunities, but not as much as starting from scratch will.</p>
<p>Also, I think I know more electrical engineering grads working in bioengineering than I know bioengineering grads working in bioengineering. A lot of the research going on, from diagnostic computers to artificial nerve connections, is almost pure electrical engineering.</p>
<p>Like the other posters said, you have other options like doing a masters in bioengineering. Not only will that save you years of redundancy but you will come out with a superior resume (just keep your GPA up this time).</p>
<p>Finish the bachelors and then go back to school. Most schools will waive general education requirements if you already have a degree. So you just need to do all the major requirements and usually 60 credits total. (might be 30 total.)</p>
<p>Of course I’m going to finish the degree. Since I haven’t applied for graduation and need two classes, I was wondering if I could apply to colleges as someone seeking a first bachelor’s instead of a second. </p>
<p>I know it’s pretty difficult to get into colleges for a second bachelor’s. Add that to a 2.7 GPA and I get a feeling it’ll be pretty hard to admission into any decent college.</p>
<p>From what I’ve been reading, you’re pretty much screwed if you don’t have a decent GPA. I don’t think finding a job will be easy. From what I’ve been reading, most companies have a 3.0 minimum hard limit. </p>
<p>Since I have so many units, can I even apply anywhere with for admission for a first bachelors?</p>
<p>I feel like I’m really screwed right now. I’m definitely going to finish my degree and apply for graduation. If I do that, I’m now holding a degree in a subject I find really dry and have a shaky grasp on. I’m going to have a hard time finding a job, grad school is pretty much out the window and getting a second bachelor’s seems difficult too (a lot schools don’t offer second degree and from what I’ve been reading, they want someone with a good GPA). </p>
<p>What is the recommended avenue for people in my situation?</p>
<p>Many schools frown on changing major this late because it would considerably delay graduation. Schools accepting transfer students (note that public schools tend to be more transfer friendly than most private schools) are not likely to accept those with senior standing for the same reason.</p>
<p>Probably the best would be to just finish your EE degree (though if you can take two additional bioengineering type electives along with your two required courses in your last quarter/semester, that may be helpful to you), then look for jobs in the bioengineering industry (but don’t exclude other EE jobs). If you feel it is necessary, you may want to take organic chemistry and general biology at a community college part time while working.</p>
<p>Yes companies look at your GPA but having an engineering degree means you have completed a very demanding curriculum. Make sure you have a well crafted resume and make use of the contacts you have made as a student to get interviews.</p>
<p>The worst way to find a job is via the traditional way - job boards and company web sites. Only 25% of external hires are hired via these (and most people spend most of their job hunting time answering ads).</p>
<p>If you do the right things - use your network, interview well, are personable - you will find a job.</p>
<p>There are employers who take low GPAs, and there are employers who don’t even look at GPA, but there are a whole lot of large firms with a firm GPA cutoff as well.</p>
<p>I think more relevant is the simple fact that the original poster states themselves that they have a flimsy grasp of the material and never really got into it.</p>
<p>I’m just curious why someone would have 0 interest in EE but feel so interested in BME that they’re willing to start all over. The two fields are extremely closely related.</p>
<p>I’m not an engineer, but I highly recommend that you finish the EE degree and try to enter the Bioengineering field. I knew someone who received a BS in EE from a California school, then worked for a number of years as a Biomedical Engineer.</p>
<p>You say that you aren’t going to go back to the UC because the course you need to graduate is only offered once a year. Since you are already contemplating switching majors, why not just go back to the UC and take the additional year to complete your EE degree? In the meantime, you can try to take more bio-engineering related courses and boost your GPA in the process. To me, this seems to make the most sense.</p>
<p>I believe that after a certain age, your parents’ income is no long factored in for financial aid eligibility. In fact, I think that age is 23 but I’m not sure. I don’t recommend taking on a lot of debt to obtain a second bachelor’s degree. Since UCs don’t admit students seeking second bachelor’s you’ll need to go to a CSU, a private Uni, or go out of state.</p>
<p>I think the main issue here isn’t a lack of interest in EE but a lack of maturity. I think it will do you some good to finish your degree, find a decent job, and get away from the shelter of your parents’ house and pocketbooks. It’s your career, after all, and perhaps you’ll feel less apathetic about school once you are paying for your own education. A friend of mine was in a similar situation as yours a few years ago. He went to MIT and majored in an engineering field he didn’t enjoy and did poorly there (he admits he was lazy and spent most of his time playing video games), but he started working, started taking computer science courses at a local university, and after a few years, he was admitted as a computer science grad student at a UC. Now, he takes his school very seriously.</p>
<p>Finally, I don’t think your situation is so grim, so cheer up. You’re young, you’ll have an EE degree from a good university, and most importantly, you’ll be debt free since you’re fortunate enough to have parents who were able to pay for your schooling. I think a lot of people your age would love to be in your situation.</p>
<p>Although my advice, which is to go ahead and graduate with possibly a few electives dealing in biology, and get As in the final classes if possible, is short, I did find this little section in an article on CareerBuilder:</p>
<p>"The majority of employers (62 percent) don’t have a minimum GPA requirement for hiring college graduates, according to CareerBuilder.com’s ‘College Job Forecast 2008.’ Six percent of employers will accept below a 2.5 GPA, while an additional 31 percent require a 3.0 and above. Only 11 percent require a 3.5 and above.</p>
<p>‘For employers, GPA is just one factor in their decision to interview or hire an applicant,’ says Amy Diepenbrock, director of career services at Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla. ‘More and more, it’s less of a factor.’"</p>
<p>I’m guessing this is a general rule-of-thumb statement where the number percentages can be carried over to any employment field and still be approximate; otherwise, they surely would have stated what field(s) it applies to.</p>
<p>Most companies who hire engineers have a minimum 3.00 GPA hard limit though, so your data is a little skewed (at least in terms of what the OP is looking for).</p>