<p>Hi so I'm going to be applying to various UCs this fall and im starting to think about picking my major. At this time im swaying toward engineering. However, i don't know what type i once thought about bioengineering like the mechanical stuff or chemical engineering. However, my next year course loud for math is AP Stats. Im worried that that was the wrong decision. Should i have taken AP Calculus BC instead? Ive already taken Ap Calculus AB and received an 5 on it. I still have time to change my math class, so i would really appreciate an answer to that. Ive always taken Chemistry AP and received a 4. I was planning on taking BIO AP in my senior year, but i did not get in so instead i am taking Ap Environmental Science and Physics regular my senior year. Do u think im heading in the right direction? What class should i take Calc BC AP or Ap Stats? </p>
<p>I also heard form my friends that u might have better chances when applying to college when u input your major as undecided. Should i do that? or is there an option where i can input undecided engineering? I want to increase my chances of getting into a good UC like University of California David, San Diego, or Cal State Slo?</p>
<p>Also, if i were to puruse a career in bioengineering, whats the difference between bioengineering and biomedical engineering? I dont understand what is the difference, i want to pursue something like making machines for the medical field, like MRI or something. Some schools do not offer biomedical engineering, while some offer bioengineering, and some offer both. If the school did not offer the type of engineering im looking for, for example if the type of engineering where i can work with machines of the medical field is biomedical engineer, what type of engineering should i input, and vice versa. Which goes back to the orignal question, with my lack of Calc BC right now and biology AP, should i even put my major as engineering?</p>
<p>Please answer soon. Thank you If you need anymore info please ask.</p>
<p>Edit: Actually at the moment i don’t really know what specifically i want to do with bioengineering. I just want to know what path i should go into.</p>
<p>Wow it sounds like you are freaking out over nothing. I don’t go to a UC, but I started in the first Calc for Engineers class without ever taking Pre Calc. If you got a 5 on the AP Calc exam I don’t think you should be worried! Engineering is supposed to take 4-5 years assuming you start from zero credits. </p>
<p>Wikipedia can answer your questions about the differences between engineering disciplines. </p>
<p>It does sound like you are very interested in Engineering, so I would not apply as undecided. If you apply as undecided you will have to apply within the school later if you wish to pursue an Engineering major.</p>
<p>Maybe i am being worried over nothing. But i go to a pretty competitive high school with students being 90% asians and i hang out with pretty competitive people. Thanks for your advice.</p>
<p>I was wondering though, because ive heard that prospects for biomedical engineers or bioengineers for jobs are pretty so low. So as a safety net should i pursue Mechanical engineer, eletrical engineer, or some other major in engineering?</p>
<p>Well, the Bureau of Labor Statistics say that Biomedical Engineering will increase 70% or so in the next ten years, but it turns out the field is so small that it is only about 11,000 more jobs. </p>
<p>When you pick a college major you are pretty much taking a shot in the dark with regards to employment prospects. You have no idea how many people will be applying for how many open positions. A lot of people will just tell you to pursue what you are interested in. </p>
<p>To me, Biomedical Engineering seems awfully specialized for an undergrad major. I favor the broader ones like Mechanical, Electrical, and Civil. I’m sure the biomedical companies employ just plain EEs and MEs too. From what I hear, it is almost a necessity to get a Master’s in Biomedical to get a job.</p>
<p>Thanks Andrewsky i hear the same thing about biomedical. Do u know what EEs and MEs work with? And the difference between their workload in college? I dont want to go into ME then discover i actually want to do EE</p>
<p>AP Calc BC would be a better choice than AP Stats as far as preparation, however this decision will not by any means make or break your chances at getting admitted to any school. Stats is still a very cool class in my opinion. </p>
<p>As far as picking your major, do not begin to panic. The classes freshman year for all engineering disciplines are the same (or very close) therefore you have even more time than you think to explore your options and pick the one that is best for you. I thought that I had to make the decision right the first time too which caused me to switch from chemical, to biomed, to nuclear before registering for freshman classes. Now, I realize that there is no reason to be so worried about this choice right now as it is easy to change.</p>
<p>Note that Cal Poly SLO doesn’t offer Chemical Engineering should you decide to go that route.
As I understand it, Bioengineering is more biology (using technology to play with genes/proteins, etc.) than what you are thinking about as engineering (designing bio/medical devices). However I wouldn’t put it past colleges to get murky with terminology.
Also, one of the co-inventors of the MRI technology you mention was a physicist and the NMR technology it is based on was developed by physicists in the 1940s. So perhaps you should broaden your horizons and consider Physics or Biophysics.</p>