<p>How does UVA engineering compare to other top universities' engineering programs??</p>
<p>any info on the BME undergrad major and anyone actually taking this major have any info/comments?</p>
<p>UVa does not rank highly among national polls of engineering schools. Thus, if you're searching for a national reputation, it's better that you look elsewhere. (I think such polls are useless to individuals, but you asked!).</p>
<p>The BME department and major were just created. Last year there were only four graduates, but in the coming years there will be many more. As such, of course, there will be no track record. </p>
<p>In order to create BME, the e-school 'demoted' aerospace engineering to a specialty in the mechanical engineering department.</p>
<p>I expressed some concern at the recent family day about this decision. Take a look at the career center's survey of graduates and recruiting on the engineering school website. The LEAST requested major by companies and corporations was BME. Of the top ten hiring companines, three (Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop-Grumman) make lots of aircraft and spacecraft. Aerospace is not a dead field up here in northern Virginia. Biomedical engineering, however, has yet to deliver on its promise. Maybe some day, but it seems like they've put their resources into a speculative investment. Beware, 8ball, lest you find yourself forced to show the courage of somebody else's convictions!</p>
<p>I heard that the BME undergrad is projected to be a nice, profitable field in the future, but that appears to be contrary to what redbeard just posted, so I'm not sure. However, our BME program is indeed one of the top ones around, so you'll at least be guaranteed a good education in that regard. Overall, UVA's engineering ranks relatively low compared to other top schools..I think last time I checked it was around #30?</p>
<p>Well, none of us can predict the future with perfect accuracy. BME is an attractive field for young people for a lot of reasons. Far be it from me to tell people not to follow their dreams. I'm just concerned that there's a gap between what you envision doing (as a BME) and what the market will pay you to do. </p>
<p>UVa's BME program will benefit from the proximity to the large, modern research hospital that UVa operates adjacent to the university. I know there are professors in the e-school who actually work in the medical school. If BME is to become a nice, profitable field, UVa will surely be one place where that will happen.</p>
<p>Experience talking here: you will reinvent yourself many times during your adult life. Rare are the people who have the same job title for 30 years. Give BME a try, but be a skeptic. Watch the market, ask questions (inside and outside the university) and pay particular attention to solid evidence and less to opinions and fashion.</p>
<p>The emphasis on BME is a decision of the university faculty. Often, these august individuals guess wrong about the real world. (Engineering profs are a little better in this regard, but that university wall is still pretty tall.) As an engineer, you must sell your skills in a stingy, shifting marketplace--not to your professors and classmates.</p>