Bioengineering major at UCLA

[PaxEuropaea]

Hey all,

I am an incoming freshman at UCLA, began early this summer. Most likely ending summer qtr with a 3.7 (A-'s are weighed as 3.7's here, and adjusting to college in the summer + the rigor of the 6 wk qtr made things more eh). I was talking to some other upperclassmen and they told me that my summer load was a lot, and that during the regular qtr, things will feel less academically intense and crammed (plus, I won't be adjusting to college life). They think I'll be fine when the actual qtr hits.

A lot of people here do biology, psychobiology, etc for pre-med, and it seems like every freshman ever is a pre-med which is lowkey intimidating. In high school, I did biomedical engineering research with the intent of studying to be an engineer (CS, physics, etc. were my stuff).

My friends really wanted to become pre-meds (they always said it pays well, I was never really swayed), but I never wanted to be a doctor because I come from a family that has stereotypically gone into the medical field (grandma, aunts were nurses, grandfathers did residency in Chicago, etc..) That is, until I interned as a HS research intern at a medical school (T10 program) one year ago. I worked in the wet lab, but I also saw the patients, hospital, etc.. My PI was the head of the radiology dept at the affiliated hospital, and I began to realize that I kinda liked medicine.

I come from a small town, my grandfather practices in a rural area out of choice, and has served that area a decade or so after he finished residency. I used to be frustrated that my family felt obligated (or stuck) running this clinic in the middle of nowhere (I know, I was really stupid for feeling that way).. I realize, now, as I got older, that he's a doctor to the people in that area because he cares, and because he watched the families grow and change over the years he's practiced. It was never about the money for him. He just loved giving back to the community.

Working as a research intern and seeing my PI and research mentor do work, as well as just now beginning to see the beauty in what doctors like my grandfather do, made me realize that I really want to be a physician-scientist. Of course, that can change, because I am a fickle young person.

TLDR; I understand, however, that MSTP programs are incredibly selective to get into. Is it realistic to stick to my bioengineering major at UCLA, with MSTP aspirations? I've generally known that I've wanted to become some kind of scientist my entire life, but.. I feel a strong tug in my gut here. I don't think I want to switch to being a straight biology major because I love engineering and hard sciences a lot, too. My engineering friends told me that the pre-med majors are full of hyper-competitive gunners who don't really care about learning, mostly the end grade. Sorry if this post seemed scrambled, I'm studying for finals, and everything's a little stressed rn.

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[The Lumineers]

Hey there, fellow Bruin here- just finished my first year as a life science major. As I'm sure you understand, bioengineering at UCLA (and likely everywhere) is much more difficult and time consuming than any of the traditional "pre-med" majors and will make your life substantially more difficult, especially if you are shooting for an MSTP program. Even if you can manage a 3.8+ in bioeng (I believe in you!), the time you spend in Powell library to get that 3.8+ is time you could spend beefing up your application in other areas (research, volunteering, etc), time that is freed up by taking bio or psychobio or human bio/society classes instead. Engineering classes are notoriously rough on the GPA, but this isn't too much of a concern for most engineers because they are unlikely to pursue postgraduate education. Additionally, your science classes will be much more difficult because as a bioeng major you'll be taking the 20 series for chemistry, 1 series for physics and 32 for math, all of which are more difficult than their life science series counterparts (14 series, 5 series, and 3 series). I'd fancy myself in a ten pound bet that your MSTP application would be worse off by being a bioengineering major- you'll get no love from adcoms for taking more rigorous courses. Having said that, if you are truly passionate about bioengineering and are thinking about it as a possible career path, it may be a door you should keep open. My advice would be to do your best to learn as much as possible about becoming a physician/physician-scientist, and if you decide that medical school is right for you, to run from bioeng as fast as your blue and gold feet will carry you. I can also say that in my time taking classes in the life sciences, most of us are not cutthroat idiots that don't care about learning the material- at the very least, most everyone recognizes that the best way to get that A is to really learn the material. We can be a very helpful and sociable bunch, and from my experience have a little more fun than those deep South campus majors like engineering 😉 the sciences are a little softer (LS7B will make you want to scream) but you'll still get your fill, especially in chem/physics, and the professors are always happy to answer questions that get into the nitty gritty science behind things. The great thing about UCLA is that there are so many dang kids- you'll find your crowd in the life sciences if you so choose. Remember that yes, while every first-year and their mother is premed, the attrition rate is insane- I estimated that there were around 1500 premeds in my class, if not more, but only 125-150 matriculate from ookla each year. This is more of a commentary of how little people think this through than how competitive the pre-med environment is- you're on SDN before fall quarter started, you've already done more thinking than all of the pre-meds at that school across town have done combined. Then again, so long as you aren't comatose, that isn't exactly a high bar. Most of all, recognize that advice from other people is useful, but don't be swayed too easily because most of your peers, especially me, are idiots. College can be whatever you make it. Have some fun along the way! Go to the basketball games! NEVER WEAR RED

 

[Toutie]

but only 125-150 matriculate from ookla each year.

I have to disagree with you on this point. Each year UCLA has more med school applicants than any school in the country...well over 900 last I heard. Obviously not all of the applicants each year matriculate...but I can assure you it is MUCH higher than 125-150 per year. That being said, yes a huge majority of freshman premeds at UCLA never make it to med school, the attrition rate is huge.

 

[The Lumineers]

I have to disagree with you on this point. Each year UCLA has more med school applicants than any school in the country...well over 900 last I heard. Obviously not all of the applicants each year matriculate...but I can assure you it is MUCH higher than 125-150 per year. That being said, yes a huge majority of freshman premeds at UCLA never make it to med school, the attrition rate is huge.

I was basing that off of this chart from UCLA's career center, but I wouldn't be surprised if I was interpreting something incorrectly; I was shocked by how low the # of total applicants was when I first found this chart

 

[Toutie]

I was basing that off of this chart from UCLA's career center, but I wouldn't be surprised if I was interpreting something incorrectly; I was shocked by how low the # of total applicants was when I first found this chart

Most important part of that chart is the part that says...those who released their AMCAS information to UCLA. 😀

 

[The Lumineers]

Most important part of that chart is the part that says...those who released their AMCAS information to UCLA. 😀

Ha! Noted. Thanks, I learned something new today

 

[PaxEuropaea]

Taking 20a rn with Lin, the content is insane (coreq is 31a but we're deriving the schroedinger eqn and talking about eigenvalues, eigenfunctions??!?), but absolutely fascinating and challenging.. Either gonna A- or A with the final coming up lol. Thanks for your advice.

Hey there, fellow Bruin here- just finished my first year as a life science major. As I'm sure you understand, bioengineering at UCLA (and likely everywhere) is much more difficult and time consuming than any of the traditional "pre-med" majors and will make your life substantially more difficult, especially if you are shooting for an MSTP program. Even if you can manage a 3.8+ in bioeng (I believe in you!), the time you spend in Powell library to get that 3.8+ is time you could spend beefing up your application in other areas (research, volunteering, etc), time that is freed up by taking bio or psychobio or human bio/society classes instead. Engineering classes are notoriously rough on the GPA, but this isn't too much of a concern for most engineers because they are unlikely to pursue postgraduate education. Additionally, your science classes will be much more difficult because as a bioeng major you'll be taking the 20 series for chemistry, 1 series for physics and 32 for math, all of which are more difficult than their life science series counterparts (14 series, 5 series, and 3 series). I'd fancy myself in a ten pound bet that your MSTP application would be worse off by being a bioengineering major- you'll get no love from adcoms for taking more rigorous courses. Having said that, if you are truly passionate about bioengineering and are thinking about it as a possible career path, it may be a door you should keep open. My advice would be to do your best to learn as much as possible about becoming a physician/physician-scientist, and if you decide that medical school is right for you, to run from bioeng as fast as your blue and gold feet will carry you. I can also say that in my time taking classes in the life sciences, most of us are not cutthroat idiots that don't care about learning the material- at the very least, most everyone recognizes that the best way to get that A is to really learn the material. We can be a very helpful and sociable bunch, and from my experience have a little more fun than those deep South campus majors like engineering 😉 the sciences are a little softer (LS7B will make you want to scream) but you'll still get your fill, especially in chem/physics, and the professors are always happy to answer questions that get into the nitty gritty science behind things. The great thing about UCLA is that there are so many dang kids- you'll find your crowd in the life sciences if you so choose. Remember that yes, while every first-year and their mother is premed, the attrition rate is insane- I estimated that there were around 1500 premeds in my class, if not more, but only 125-150 matriculate from ookla each year. This is more of a commentary of how little people think this through than how competitive the pre-med environment is- you're on SDN before fall quarter started, you've already done more thinking than all of the pre-meds at that school across town have done combined. Then again, so long as you aren't comatose, that isn't exactly a high bar. Most of all, recognize that advice from other people is useful, but don't be swayed too easily because most of your peers, especially me, are idiots. College can be whatever you make it. Have some fun along the way! Go to the basketball games! NEVER WEAR RED

 

[gyngyn]

I was basing that off of this chart from UCLA's career center, but I wouldn't be surprised if I was interpreting something incorrectly; I was shocked by how low the # of total applicants was when I first found this chart

UCLA had 926 applicants last year, 1,011 the year before.

 

[Toutie]

UCLA had 926 applicants last year, 1,011 the year before.

Is there any info on how many of them matriculate? My uneducated guess would be something north of 50%...just no idea how much north.

 

[gyngyn]

Is there any info on how many of them matriculate? My uneducated guess would be something north of 50%...just no idea how much north.

It's hard to say.
As noted above, relatively few give the school feedback on their outcomes.

 

[Mcatgod528]

UCLA had 926 applicants last year, 1,011 the year before.

Lol pretty precise numbers. Sounds like you work for UCLA