I have heard references to studying "underwater basketweaving" many times before. Where did the idea of this fictitious major originate? I don't think that it's merely by coincidence that so many people have landed on "underwater basketweaving" when trying to name a non-existent, fictional academic discipline.
who started this one?
No idea where it came from, but I Wikipedia'd it and found this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwater_basket_weaving
For a short time back in high school, I investigated pursuiting this intellectually stimulating field. My plan was to eventually attend a school along the lines of NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study, where they encourage students to design their own multidisciplinary concentration.
A little bit of Physics, some Fluid Dynamics, a touch of Materials Engineering, a course or two in Computer-Aided Design, some Stress Analysis, a spritz of Marketing and a little bit of Painting to top it off, and voila -- I have a degree in Underwater Basket-weaving.
Anyway, sorry to get off topic. As others have said, Biomedical engineering would be more relevant to medicine. Additionally, you would likely knock out some of your prereqs just by following your major.
On the other hand, a doctor I once shadowed told me, somewhat bluntly I might add, that if I follow medicine, I'll be studying Biology the rest of my life. This is fine, he continued, if I really, truly enjoy Biology. Otherwise, he advised, I should study as much of everything else that I enjoy now, while I've got the time. As a little bit of background, he studied Psychology in college.
So, take that for what you will. Basically, just study whatever you like! This will likely afford you a greater benefit, measured in happiness, than would a course of study designed with your best-chances in mind, in my opinion.
