BS in chemical engineering

[superccat]

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Hello everyone, this is my first post!!

I have some question about the graduate study in medication

I am currently persuading a BS in chemical engineering (will graduate around 1 more year) and is intending to have some further study in chemical medication.

Here is my question:

1. Do you think I am qualified to get into the Phd program in Pharmacology or medicinal chemistry with a Bachelor in chemical engineering (over all GPA: 3.04 - science GPA: 3.5)?

2. Is there any different between Pharmacology and medicinal chemistry at the PHD level, and which one is a lot more interesting based on your experience.

____Thank you__________

 

[andafoo]

I'd say you are qualified to be anything with a B.S. in chemical engineering. If you are interested in it, go for it. What would you be interested in doing with a PhD in pharmacology or med. chem.?

About pharmacology and medicinal chemistry, it is hard to say which one is more interesting to you. If you want to find out you could take a look at a few labs that are categorized under the respective departments. From my experience in medicinal chemistry, I thought it was 5-star cool. It dealt less with the human body and less with mechanism-of-action of medicines, but focused on discovery of new medicines.

As a chemE, medicinal chemistry is much more relevant, but I wouldn't presume your degree to indicate anything about your actual interests. I recommend you experience both first-hand. It's nice you have your interests narrowed down so far eh?

If you have any more questions, post or PM and hopefully you can get your questions answered.

Hello everyone, this is my first post!!

I have some question about the graduate study in medication

I am currently persuading (pursuing) a BS in chemical engineering (will graduate around 1 more year) and is intending to have some further study in chemical medication.

Here is my question:

1. Do you think I am qualified to get into the Phd program in Pharmacology or medicinal chemistry with a Bachelor in chemical engineering (over all GPA: 3.04 - science GPA: 3.5)?

2. Is there any different between Pharmacology and medicinal chemistry at the PHD level, and which one is a lot more interesting based on your experience.

____Thank you__________

 

[flashback]

You're likely qualified for either. But it may depend on your specific program. I am not clear if "chemE" has a standardized curriculum across the nation; but at my school the chem engineers take gen chem (we have an accelerated 1 semester all-encompassing gen chem class), one semester of Ochem and one semester of PChem.

I imagine if you enter a med chem program you will need a minimum of 2 semesters of ochem though (or you will be taking the undergrad class before taking advanced Ochem grad classes). If you only take a semester of PChem, I would hope it is (like most schools) focussed on kinetics and thermo rather than quantum. Schools may also desire some amount of biology.

Pharmacology is a whole other deal and I wouldn't imagine that it would particularly appeal to an engineer. In any case, I'm not clear what you would need there, but some biology would almost undoubtedly be required before entering such a program.

Bottom line: look at the requirements of the top programs. Call their admissions and ensure that they will not make exceptions for those with a chemical engineering background. Good luck.

PS. check out protein engineering as well. There are some incredible possibilities for therapeutic development there too.

 

[RxnMan]

...1. Do you think I am qualified to get into the Phd program in Pharmacology or medicinal chemistry with a Bachelor in chemical engineering (over all GPA: 3.04 - science GPA: 3.5)?...

I have a ChemE degree, and while I'm going for an MD, my ugrad more than prepared me for pharm. You would be qualified for either PhD program.

A word of caution - You and I know that a 3.04 GPA is solid for ChemEs. However, my experience with the health-related disciplines is that you are in competition with applicants who got 4.0s in basket-weaving. Admissions committees may (lazily) compare you to other applicants based on your GPA, and not your degree. That's where the engineering majors lose out. Pharm and Med Chem may be different, but consider this when you apply, and try to seek out opinions directly from school admissions officials.

Good luck. Both fields sound fun.

 

[superccat]

A word of caution - You and I know that a 3.04 GPA is solid for ChemEs. However, my experience with the health-related disciplines is that you are in competition with applicants who got 4.0s in basket-weaving. Admissions committees may (lazily) compare you to other applicants based on your GPA, and not your degree. That's where the engineering majors lose out. Pharm and Med Chem may be different, but consider this when you apply, and try to seek out opinions directly from school admissions officials.

You scare me to death, lol. I assume that the admission committee will compare my GPA with the ones who have a liberal art major (sky high GPA), and therefore disqualify me for the program. There are stupid people in every single place, and I am maybe unlucky to have them as my admission official. I don't think they even look at my science GPA at all.

 

[superccat]

You're likely qualified for either. But it may depend on your specific program. I am not clear if "chemE" has a standardized curriculum across the nation; but at my school the chem engineers take gen chem (we have an accelerated 1 semester all-encompassing gen chem class), one semester of Ochem and one semester of PChem.

I imagine if you enter a med chem program you will need a minimum of 2 semesters of ochem though (or you will be taking the undergrad class before taking advanced Ochem grad classes). If you only take a semester of PChem, I would hope it is (like most schools) focussed on kinetics and thermo rather than quantum. Schools may also desire some amount of biology.

Pharmacology is a whole other deal and I wouldn't imagine that it would particularly appeal to an engineer. In any case, I'm not clear what you would need there, but some biology would almost undoubtedly be required before entering such a program.

Bottom line: look at the requirements of the top programs. Call their admissions and ensure that they will not make exceptions for those with a chemical engineering background. Good luck.

PS. check out protein engineering as well. There are some incredible possibilities for therapeutic development there too.

My major is actually biochem engineering which focuses a lot more on biological pathway of the discipline. I got a full year of principle biology, one class of bioinformatics, one year of bichem, and one class of modular biology as supplements for my degree.

 

[RxnMan]

You scare me to death, lol...

Not trying to scare you, just saying you should be prepared. Talk to the adcoms of a school before to applying to it, and ask them if this will be a problem. Is there a particular pharm school that has a history of taking grads from your program? And as always, apply early, apply broadly.

 

[Neuronix]

I assume that the admission committee will compare my GPA with the ones who have a liberal art major (sky high GPA), and therefore disqualify me for the program.

That is how it works for med school admissions, in general.