Chem Engineering

[cwb]

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I am currently attending an above average but not an outstanding engineering university. My question is this...after my freshman year I decided I would like to apply to go to medical school. My current major is chemical engineering in which I have a science and overall GPA of about a 3.5. While talking to my engineering advisor he said I should stay ChE as that would be my best route but I'm thinking he definetly does not have an unbiased opinion. I'm wondering if this is true or if I should switch to biology which would not require me to take such high level physics, math, or chemistry courses. Basically my question in a nutshell: Will med schools (providing my MCAT's are OK, I have volunteer exp etc.) look at me more fondly if I stay in ChE and have a little bit lower of a GPA or if I go biology and *hopefully* have a higher GPA? Thanks in advance.

 

[mattorama]

My engineering advisor keeps saying that engineers get "bouns" points in admissions for their major, but my biology and pre-med advisors say it is crap. I probably trust the pre-med lady more, since all she does is advise pre-professionals, while the engineering people at my university have some sort of superiority complex that they try to instill into the students as well. Sorry this isn't much help....

 

[DAL]

Originally posted by cwb
I am currently attending an above average but not an outstanding engineering university. My question is this...after my freshman year I decided I would like to apply to go to medical school. My current major is chemical engineering in which I have a science and overall GPA of about a 3.5. While talking to my engineering advisor he said I should stay ChE as that would be my best route but I'm thinking he definetly does not have an unbiased opinion. I'm wondering if this is true or if I should switch to biology which would not require me to take such high level physics, math, or chemistry courses. Basically my question in a nutshell: Will med schools (providing my MCAT's are OK, I have volunteer exp etc.) look at me more fondly if I stay in ChE and have a little bit lower of a GPA or if I go biology and *hopefully* have a higher GPA? Thanks in advance.

Unfortunately I think that's a decision that you have to come too. If you like ChemE and feel that you will do well in it then stay in it. If you think you would enjoy a different major then go that route. You want to keep both your science and overall GPA around a 3.5, or raise it a bit if possible. Last I looked ChemE's had an acceptance rate to med school close to 60%, while Bio majors were around 50%. Before I get flamed, that's only because many, many more biology majors apply to med school.

I don't know if med schools look more kindly at an engineering major and are willing to give a little more leeway as far as GPA goes. I'm a ChemE myself, so I hope that they do. I've heard some people say they do, and I've heard others say they don't. Several programs in the MSAR say that they take into account the rigors of your undergrad program. It's hard to give someone advice here because you don't know them and don't really know their interests. If you want something to fall back on, I don't think you'll find much better than a ChemE degree. But if you feel it'll hurt your GPA too much and you know for sure you want to go to med school then maybe you should switch. I believe that you should be in the major that you most enjoy, because studying won't be as much of a chore, and good grades will be easier to obtain. Best of Luck!

 

[thackl]

My brief experience with premed advisors has lead me to the conclusion that they don't know their own asses from a hole in the ground. You're 3.5 in engineering should be competitive. If you had a 3.0, I might suggest switching to something easier since most schools start out by filtering app's for GPA/MCAT (not a person reading them over like some on here would like to think).

The advantage you have is the abbility to make a very nice living should you change your mind, bomb the MCAT or not get in for some other reason. Good luck with your decision.

 

[looseygoosey]

I agree completely with DAL and thackl. Don't do ChemE because you think it will give you an advantage in med school admissions and dont drop ChemE just because you think it will hurt your chances. I majored in ChemE because of the many options a degree confers and the extensive problem solving skills you acquire. At least at my school, It was nice being in ChemE because everyone was so laidback and interesting (as opposed to being in bio with all of the anal pre-med sheep). Most importantly, find a major you enjoy have have FUN, thats what college is all about.

 

[noy]

I say stay chem E if it will be what you enjoy... [among other things, I am a chem E]... if you like what you will be learning (thermo, kinetics,transport), it will make you a better physician.

Really, it always seems important to understand that an undergrad degree is more than a pre-med adventure - you are there to learn something solid, at the least how to think, and enjoy your 3-5 years before medical school.. will bio keep you motivated? do you want that level of detail on things that you will not use in medical school, or have to relearn?

as for the GPA, its the wrong reason... perhaps it will go up, yes, but there are many other strengths to be had by staying as an engineer.

And, it would be nice to be able to get a job if the med school thing does not work out, right? With engineering you cannot go wrong....

 

[28129]

Why don't you just switch to regular chemistry, or biochemistry?

At my school, that's the perfect major for premeds, but it's a fairly well kept secret.

 

[wgu]

ChemE major / Bio minor here. I agree with the above posters that you shouldn't inherit the superiority complex of being special as an engineer. Med school admissions don't want to hear it. Instead, if you could develop an argument for why ChemE puts you at an advantage (ie cutting edge research, outlook in economics and business) then maybe it would be worth saying.