Biomedical Engineering Major

[Josaid]

Hey, I`m a recent high school graduate and truly interested in Medicine. I will be going to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the fall with a major in Biomedical Engineering. My question is, do you think it is worthwile to have a BME degree or better to pursue a degree in something much easier, say Biochemistry? Also, since BME is supposedly a difficult major, would med schools understand that a low GPA is due to a more difficult course? All and all, do you think i should stick with BME or something different at a more prestigious school?

Thanks,
Joe

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[Pinkertinkle]

Yes, adcoms will understand that engineering gpa's tend to be lower and account for that in their decisions. Beware, however, this is only if you are 3.2+. Some schools will automatically screen out lower GPA's and computers don't care what major that GPA was earned in. Also, it is best if you choose a major depending on your interest, and not on how it will or will not please adcoms.

 

[gildas]

Who told you majoring in BioChem is easier? anyway that 's not the point, Adcoms advise people to major in something they are interesting in.
Look at it this way, if you major in something that you are interested in, not only you will be more likely to have good grade because you will enjoy studying for the material, but also in case you don't make it to med school, you will still have job you like.

 

[smallqt]

Personally, I would say biomedical engineering is a great major to set you up for med school. I majored in it and in the past three years I have had to take all of the premed reqs because they are also required for my major and then all of my major classes also are basically biology based. The only bad thing that I can see so far is that all of my major classes (ie Biomedical Thermodynamics and Kinetics) don't get to count for you BCMP or whatever its called. Plus if you have an aptitude for math, it helps to explain a lot of the processes that occur in the body using mathmatical models. If nothing else I figure it at least set me up for a good back up in case I dont get into any med schools.


Good Luck!! 😀

 

[agp4]

I think there's a general understanding that engineering majors can be more strenuous than a lot of the other majors available. However, I don't think that should be an incentive for you to settle with low grades- med schools like to see a person who isn't afraid to take on challenges and who manage to exceed under those circumstances. If you really love engineering, go for it. Just don't let it become an excuse for bad grades - rather, treat it as an opportunity to show your mettle.

Now that I've finished making engineering sound like a nightmare (it's not 🙂) , I should point out that its really a lot of fun, and you'll end up with a lot more useful skills and knowledge than many of your other classmates. Good luck!

 

[gizmoduck]

Don't listen to these kids. Your future lies here.

 

[monopolova]

I would do some combination of all of the following:

a. do what interests you
b. do what will prepare you the most for the mcat and med school

That being said, I think it's important to get good numbers. Numbers are everything. Med schools look at numbers first and ask questions later. Go for a program in which you feel you can be successful while fulfilling the above two qualifiers. If you aren't successful, chances are you won't get into med school since these adcoms don't know jack about how hard your major was at your particular school. They'll just see a crappy g.p.a. and take someone else who's g.p.a. isn't as crappy.

In other words: don't be a hero by going into some insane major teaching you things you will never use and that you don't enjoy anyway.

 

[Blade28]

I was a bioengineering major in undergrad because it fascinated me, though the courses were damn hard. 🙂 Never regretted it, though...made me a little different than all those bio premeds! 🙂

 

[Medikit]

Why would you choose a major based on its difficulty and since when is Biochemistry an easier major? Protip: The hardest major is the one you don't enjoy.

 

[uclabruin2003]

i was a chemical engr with a biomedical engr specialization. it was not easy. it was tough. my GPA looks like sh$% because of it. so don't major in it because you think it will look good. do something that you KNOW you will do well in. i am not sure how much of a factor that adcoms place on the difficulty of your coursework/courseload. for my and most of people posting on this forum....i hope they put a lot of emphasis on it! ha

 

[Josaid]

Well, i didn't intend to say that biochemistry would be easier than Biomed Eng, I just meant that maybe there is something easier that I could take. Anyhoot, thanks guys. I really appreciate it, except for you gizmoduck. Any other advice?