Engineering-friendly MD schools?

[ewelling]

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I couldn't really find any data out there on which schools have a tendency to accept more engineers. Anyone have any idea? I'm trying to strategically pick my OOS schools. Thanks!

 

[jr93]

I'm an accepted engineer but I doubt this data exists. Most schools will say they don't have a preference and many aim for diversity. Even if you're an engineer, I think you'll have to show a healthcare personality because the stereotypical engineer personality probably won't fit in well at med school.

 

[Microglia]

If you have a good GPA it won't matter either way. If your GPA is on the low side and you're asking if any schools are lenient towards engineers with lower GPA, I'm not sure, but I don't think many are.

 

[DrEnderW]

Everyone, including adcoms that post on this site, will tell you that your major does not matter. It won't help or hurt you. The important thing is GPA regardless of major.

I highly doubt that any school specifically selects engineers, except indirectly because their PS section of the MCAT is possibly higher on average.

 

[ChemEngMD]

I'm an engineer getting ready to apply this cycle and I was sold a false dream a long time ago that I would be given some leeway with my GPA for having a very difficult major...it's not true.

I have gone to conferences and spoken to admissions people from a variety of schools and there are probably only a half dozen who have told me that they weight more intense majors differently than less. Most don't care.

I personally think it's messed up because, no offense to anyone else but, a degree in chemical engineering is a completely different beast than a regular science degree, but hey I should have known that when I signed up

All that being said, I do know that a lot of schools do PREFER engineers if you have the grades. I have a friend at washu and they have made it clear that engineers are a relatively large portion of the class and they tend to do very well...another person I knew at a school in boston told me basically the same. If you have the 3.8+ and an engineering degree then you'll probably standout, but if you're a 3.5, you're going to unfortunately blend in with the other 3.5 bio majors

Biggest benefit: I had a friend who went from biomed engineering to med school and he said the workload in med school was actually not as bad as engineering (and this narrative has been repeated to me a few times). Sooo smile! If you get in, it won't be as tough as what you just did! (unless you're not good at rote memorization)

 

[jr93]

I'm an engineer getting ready to apply this cycle and I was sold a false dream a long time ago that I would be given some leeway with my GPA for having a very difficult major...it's not true.

I have gone to conferences and spoken to admissions people from a variety of schools and there are probably only a half dozen who have told me that they weight more intense majors differently than less. Most don't care.

I personally think it's messed up because, no offense to anyone else but, a degree in chemical engineering is a completely different beast than a regular science degree, but hey I should have known that when I signed up

All that being said, I do know that a lot of schools do PREFER engineers if you have the grades. I have a friend at washu and they have made it clear that engineers are a relatively large portion of the class and they tend to do very well...another person I knew at a school in boston told me basically the same. If you have the 3.8+ and an engineering degree then you'll probably standout, but if you're a 3.5, you're going to unfortunately blend in with the other 3.5 bio majors

Biggest benefit: I had a friend who went from biomed engineering to med school and he said the workload in med school was actually not as bad as engineering (and this narrative has been repeated to me a few times). Sooo smile! If you get in, it won't be as tough as what you just did! (unless you're not good at rote memorization)

3.8 would be pretty impressive. I think that out of my class of 80+ MechEng's, maybe 1 or 2 had a GPA above 3.7. I'd guess that 75% of them were between 2.8 and 3.2. Not many A's at my school. I think I was in the top 30% with a 3.1.

 

[TwinsFan]

3.8 would be pretty impressive. I think that out of my class of 80+ MechEng's, maybe 1 or 2 had a GPA above 3.7. I'd guess that 75% of them were between 2.8 and 3.2. Not many A's at my school. I think I was in the top 30% with a 3.1.

Same here, my 3.3 was in the top part of the class, only knew of 2 people with 3.8+. Heck, the top half of the class was a 2.9 😱 and having a 3.0+ was an accomplishment. The rigor helps on the MCAT but being in classes where no As are given is a serious gpa killer.

 

[nisarg2010]

I'm an accepted engineer but I doubt this data exists. Most schools will say they don't have a preference and many aim for diversity. Even if you're an engineer, I think you'll have to show a healthcare personality because the stereotypical engineer personality probably won't fit in well at med school.

If you dont mind me asking, were were you accepted to medical school?

 

[Josh7]

Same here, my 3.3 was in the top part of the class, only knew of 2 people with 3.8+. Heck, the top half of the class was a 2.9 😱 and having a 3.0+ was an accomplishment. The rigor helps on the MCAT but being in classes where no As are given is a serious gpa killer.

Those are some deflated GPAs 🙁 do you go to Berkeley?

I study engineering at a top 5 engineering university and I still know a few people from each discipline with 3.8+. Maybe it's because I am a sophomore so I have a lot of the more difficult classes later but 2.9 averages GPA seems so low to me. I'd bet the average is ~3.1 at my school.

I don't really know how engineering will affect the medical schools decisions but I'm hoping for the best. It's well known that engineering is more difficult that other sciences so I would be surprised if it plays no role at all.

 

[EnginrTheFuture]

With a great MCAT, I think engineers are helped out some. You need to have a hook for them to overlook the GPA and reason it to the major. The MCAT is the most visible hook and it is also the great equalizer with respect to grades. Unfortunately no one will ever know for sure if this is true. What I can say with certainty is that this cycle went extremely well for me, and I had an "okay" GPA. Definitely below the schools' matriculating averages by ~.1-.15 but above the MCAT average by ~3.

Once I got to the interview, I think being an engineer REALLY helped me stand out. At a couple schools I went to, they specifically paired me with an engineer/physician or engineer/medical student for the interview. IIRC my major was brought up positively at every single interview except 1 or maybe 2.

Work hard to get a decent GPA, but more importantly CRUSH the MCAT. Go into interviews humble, enthusiastic, and honest. You'll get into a good school with that combination. good luck and feel free to PM me if you have questions.

 

[Domino2178]

.

 

[jr93]

Those are some deflated GPAs 🙁 do you go to Berkeley?

I study engineering at a top 5 engineering university and I still know a few people from each discipline with 3.8+. Maybe it's because I am a sophomore so I have a lot of the more difficult classes later but 2.9 averages GPA seems so low to me. I'd bet the average is ~3.1 at my school.

I don't really know how engineering will affect the medical schools decisions but I'm hoping for the best. It's well known that engineering is more difficult that other sciences so I would be surprised if it plays no role at all.

Not sure what a "top 5" engineering school is but it's pretty common to be in the high 2's or low 3's based on the 100's of engineers I've worked with over the years. The reason major plays no role most of the time is because most people don't really realize how much more difficult something is than something else. If you haven't been thru it, it is tough to say.

 

[jr93]

If you dont mind me asking, were were you accepted to medical school?

I actually do mind to stay semi-anonymous but I will be attending my state school and turned down one in the east coast megalopolis and turned down one in the southeast. I do not live in a state where you are screwed by the number of applicants versus matriculants so that helped.

 

[Benedictus123]

3.8 would be pretty impressive. I think that out of my class of 80+ MechEng's, maybe 1 or 2 had a GPA above 3.7. I'd guess that 75% of them were between 2.8 and 3.2. Not many A's at my school. I think I was in the top 30% with a 3.1.

I graduated with a 3.8 in chemical engineering. It wasn't too hard, I just had to study a lot. Of course my school wasn't a 'top-five' or whateverthef*ck that means (do you mean top five overall? top five in your major? ranked for graduate or undergraduate? is it a doctoral granting school or one of those BS/MS only places like Ross Hulman? Are you only referring to USNWR, or are these other rankings? etc), it was just Notre Dame.

Anyways, I'll never forget the time one interviewer told me they didn't like engineers because they always did poorly at their medical school (which I'm not naming). So, eh, it's a mixed bag. Honestly, if I knew I was gonna try to apply to med school when I started college, there's no way I would have majored in engineering. But on the other hand, at least I have a degree that let's me have a decent chance at a nice career without an MD. But on the FIRST hand, I have to be around a bunch of other engineering students all the time. Introverted nerds the lot of them! Ewwwwwwwww!

 

[Urnathok]

I'd hone in on universities that have branches in BME or other medical technologies. It's doubtful that any specifically go for engineers, but it could set you up for interesting work opportunities in close proximity to people in the field.

Best wishes, one of the best physicians I know was an engineering major. Great bedside manner, and he's the only person within several cities of where I live who performs EUSs. I won't pretend to actually know whether those are related, but it's a neat procedure.

 

[Jamie561]

I think you're looking for the pre-osteo forum

 

[gyngyn]

Those are some deflated GPAs 🙁 do you go to Berkeley?

I study engineering at a top 5 engineering university and I still know a few people from each discipline with 3.8+. Maybe it's because I am a sophomore so I have a lot of the more difficult classes later but 2.9 averages GPA seems so low to me. I'd bet the average is ~3.1 at my school.

I don't really know how engineering will affect the medical schools decisions but I'm hoping for the best. It's well known that engineering is more difficult that other sciences so I would be surprised if it plays no role at all.

It plays no role at all in screening. Later, maybe, a little

 

[Clotho]

So, say, an electrical engineering major with a 3.8 GPA is held the same as an english major with a 3.8 GPA in that regard? Seriously?

 

[gyngyn]

So, say, an electrical engineering major with a 3.8 GPA is held the same as an english major with a 3.8 GPA in that regard? Seriously?

Yup.

 

[imadome]

-

 

[pandahunter]

If you're serious about going to med school, don't do engineering. Why punish yourself and lower your chances of getting into med school? If you want to do engineer, then just do engineering. But if you want to be a doctor, why not take an easier route?

I think engineering requires more analytical skill in undergrad than most biological science majors. But medicine at least in the first 2 years of med school is much more about rout memorization.

 

[Josh7]

If you're serious about going to med school, don't do engineering. Why punish yourself and lower your chances of getting into med school? If you want to do engineer, then just do engineering. But if you want to be a doctor, why not take an easier route?

I think engineering requires more analytical skill in undergrad than most biological science majors. But medicine at least in the first 2 years of med school is much more about rout memorization.

I'm surprised an MD/PhD student would have this opinion. There are plenty of uses for all of the different engineering disciplines in the field of biomedical engineering. Also, the analytic skills developed by completing a degree in engineering can be very useful for quite a few specialties like internal medicine or radiation oncology.

While engineering is mostly analytically based it isn't really that difficult to figure out the best techniques for memorizing vocabulary and pathways. In my opinion, four years of engineering for undergrad is more intensive and rewarding than four years of rout memorization.

 

[ToldYouSo]

I'm surprised an MD/PhD student would have this opinion. There are plenty of uses for all of the different engineering disciplines in the field of biomedical engineering. Also, the analytic skills developed by completing a degree in engineering can be very useful for quite a few specialties like internal medicine or radiation oncology.

While engineering is mostly analytically based it isn't really that difficult to figure out the best techniques for memorizing vocabulary and pathways. In my opinion, four years of engineering for undergrad is more intensive and rewarding than four years of rout memorization.

I wouldn't take the opinion of an MD-PhD student in the trenches lightly. If you're interested in the material that's one thing but the benefit, if any you get from majoring in an engineering field is probably not worth the GPA drop especially if medicine is your final goal.

 

[Josh7]

I wouldn't take the opinion of an MD-PhD student in the trenches lightly. If you're interested in the material that's one thing but the benefit, if any you get from majoring in an engineering field is probably not worth the GPA drop especially if medicine is your final goal.

I suppose I'll agree with you that it's not worth majoring in engineering if the only reason you're doing it is to impress the admissions. There are plenty of people on the forums here who have been successful with an undergraduate engineering major (Mimelim comes to mind).

It may be more difficult to pull off an impressive GPA+ECs in engineering but it certainly isn't impossible.

 

[Jumoke]

I'd hone in on universities that have branches in BME or other medical technologies. It's doubtful that any specifically go for engineers, but it could set you up for interesting work opportunities in close proximity to people in the field.

Best wishes, one of the best physicians I know was an engineering major. Great bedside manner, and he's the only person within several cities of where I live who performs EUSs. I won't pretend to actually know whether those are related, but it's a neat procedure.

What's EUSs?

 

[Jumoke]

I suppose I'll agree with you that it's not worth majoring in engineering if the only reason you're doing it is to impress the admissions. There are plenty of people on the forums here who have been successful with an undergraduate engineering major (Mimelim and Jumoke comes to mind).

It may be more difficult to pull off an impressive GPA+ECs in engineering but it certainly isn't impossible.

Thank you 🙂

 

[Jumoke]

I actually do mind to stay semi-anonymous but I will be attending my state school and turned down one in the east coast megalopolis and turned down one in the southeast. I do not live in a state where you are screwed by the number of applicants versus matriculants so that helped.

Congrats jr93 🙂


Sounds like low-tier to me

 

[Urnathok]

What's EUSs?

Endoscopic ultrasounds, sorry.

 

[pandahunter]

I'm surprised an MD/PhD student would have this opinion. There are plenty of uses for all of the different engineering disciplines in the field of biomedical engineering. Also, the analytic skills developed by completing a degree in engineering can be very useful for quite a few specialties like internal medicine or radiation oncology.

While engineering is mostly analytically based it isn't really that difficult to figure out the best techniques for memorizing vocabulary and pathways. In my opinion, four years of engineering for undergrad is more intensive and rewarding than four years of rout memorization.

I think you misunderstood. The point of my post was specifically about the whether or not selecting engineering as a major was worth it if one were already set on applying to medical school. If, on the other hand, a student were not entirely sure about attending medical school and instead wanted a degree they could fall back on, engineering would be very useful.

I don't dispute the utility of having earned an engineering degree in any field of work. I also make no mention about whether or not medicine is more intensive or rewarding than engineering, just that 4 years of intensive study in engineering not the easiest route to medical school in which most of your time well be spent memorizing things.

On a side note, engineering is not the only major that helps you develop analytical skills useful in medicine (it's not as if IM and rad onc are the specialties that require particular strength in analytical skill).

 

[ewelling]

Wow a lot of feedback since I posted this thread (OP). I probably should have mentioned that I'm a non-trad who graduated 2 years ago and has been working since as a biomedical engineer at a leading orthopedic company. I actually have the opposite situation that most of you all are talking about. I have a 3.78 GPA with significant ECs and relevant work experiences, it's my MCAT that is a little low (31). Either way, I was just trying to see if there were any schools that may tend to have a higher portion of engineers than others, not necessarily that they weigh the curriculum differently, but maybe they like the engineering "mentality" and diversity? Just a thought, I'm sure the whole process is a crab shoot anyway lol.

 

[Jumoke]

Wow a lot of feedback since I posted this thread (OP). I probably should have mentioned that I'm a non-trad who graduated 2 years ago and has been working since as a biomedical engineer at a leading orthopedic company. I actually have the opposite situation that most of you all are talking about. I have a 3.78 GPA with significant ECs and relevant work experiences, it's my MCAT that is a little low (31). Either way, I was just trying to see if there were any schools that may tend to have a higher portion of engineers than others, not necessarily that they weigh the curriculum differently, but maybe they like the engineering "mentality" and diversity? Just a thought, I'm sure the whole process is a crab shoot anyway lol.

People on this forum like to over-analyze, decode, theorize every OP post or question. You ask a simple question, they go off tangent analyzing and re-analyzing. I guess it's because they are too smart for their own good.

 

[jr93]

People on this forum like to over-analyze, decode, theorize every OP post or question. You ask a simple question, they go off tangent analyzing and re-analyzing. I guess it's because they are too smart for their own good.

Numerous people said no school will advertise any preference. Almost every school will have 1 or 2 engineers, some may have 5 one year and none the next.