<p>i keep hearing different things... any feedback?</p>
<p>You don’t apply to a major, you apply to MIT. You don’t have to actually pick a major until the end of freshman year (and even then you’re still free to change if you want). </p>
<p>Also, biomedical engineering isn’t actually a major at MIT (although I think course 20 has a biomed minor… anyone want to correct me on that?).</p>
<p>There are several bio-engineering majors, for example Course 6-2 is a major in bio-electrical engineering.</p>
<p>That being said, it is quite correct that you are admitted to the university not to a course of study. If you want to study, Nuclear Engineering, Urban Planning, Philosophy or Music, it is all equivalently difficult to get in. In any of those cases, you are applying to MIT.</p>
<p>Biomedical engineering is one of the concentrations in Course 2-A and a minor in Course 20.</p>
<p>If you want to talk about bioLOGICAL engineering (Course 20), though, that is technically “harder” to get into than chemical engineering because, unlike other majors, it cannot simply be declared on a Course Selection form. In other words, you have to complete certain prerequisite course before you can become Course 20.</p>
<p>But as others have already mentioned, you don’t actually apply to MIT under any particular program.</p>
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<p>This is no longer true. Because lab space is limited and demand was unpredictable (this is a new major), the department wanted to be able to limit its students. No one, to my knowledge, has been turned away, including those who did not fulfill the recommended courses.</p>
<p>In any case, starting with the Class of 2013, 20 will be able to be selected like any other major.</p>
<p>Of course it’s still true. Class of 2012 has no Course 20 majors yet. And as far as I can tell, the only absolute prerequirement is taking 20.110/20.111, so unless you know someone who became Course 20 without first taking that class, the point is not moot.</p>
<p>Where does it say the policy is changing?</p>
<p>Even though there is no Biomedical Engineering Major at MIT, starting this year YOU CAN MAJOR IN BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING (Course 20).</p>
<p>If you look here, they will be giving out BE SB (Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering): [MIT</a> | Department of Biological Engineering](<a href=“http://web.mit.edu/be/education/ugrad-reqs_2009.htm]MIT”>http://web.mit.edu/be/education/ugrad-reqs_2009.htm)</p>
<p>You have to apply separately into the program:
[MIT</a> | Department of Biological Engineering](<a href=“http://web.mit.edu/be/education/ugrad-declare.htm]MIT”>http://web.mit.edu/be/education/ugrad-declare.htm)</p>
<p>There are still MINORS in Biomedical Engineering and Toxicology & Environmental Health (both through the Biological Engineering department).</p>
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Yeah, if this year is 2005.</p>
<p>Okay. I was wrong. It’s starting with this year’s graduating class you can major in biological engineering.</p>
<p>Actually, two classes have already graduated with Course 20 majors.</p>
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<p>Yes, but their course selection forms are already in, and what you said above doesn’t apply to the current freshmen or any of the applicants here :)</p>
<p>The policy was emailed out. The department website is updating slowly, as is typical.</p>
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<p>No, 6-2 is Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (as opposed to 6-1, which is Electrical Science & Engineering, and 6-3, which is Computer Science & Engineering).</p>
<p>What you might be thinking of is that there’s a bioelectrical engineering track within course 6, of which 6.021 is the header, and you can pursue it as a course 6 major (and because 6-2s have the most flexibility, they might be more likely to do so).</p>
<p>Jessiehl, you are quite right technically. The course catalogue defines it as:</p>
<p>“Three accredited preprofessional four-year Bachelor of Science programs are available. One (6-1) is for students specializing in electrical science and engineering, a second (6-3) for those specializing in computer science and engineering, and a third (6-2) for those whose interests cross this traditional boundary.”</p>
<p>So while 6-1 is clearly EE, and 6-3 is clearly CS, 6-2 is the “other” one. All of the 6-2’s that I have ever met were doing bio-electrical. Clearly though, under the new course 6 curriculum ([MIT</a> EECS - New Curriculum 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 in EECS](<a href=“http://www.eecs.mit.edu/ug/newcurriculum/index.html]MIT”>http://www.eecs.mit.edu/ug/newcurriculum/index.html)), there is a strong possibility of other 6-2’s. I stand corrected.</p>
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<p>Huh. We have met very different sets of 6-2s. I think I only know two who did bioEE. And these are mostly people who did the old curriculum. I’m not surprised that there are more out there, though I wouldn’t be surprised if course 20 is eating into their numbers somewhat.</p>
<p>Once you get to the grad level, bioEE is one of the Research Areas that students can focus in - Area VII.</p>
<p>Course 2A (flexible mechE) has a track in biomedical engineering, and there are numerous interesting courses in the department free for the taking by anyone who meets the prereqs (whether or not you’re actually studying within that track).</p>
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Perhaps it used to be a more common track in the past?</p>
<p>My n=1 is that my PhD advisor (class of '80) was bioEE.</p>