how are engineering classes treated?

[gobblety_gook]

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ok...so I'm a biomedical engineering major...i filled out/submitted amcas exactly how transcripts listed my classes and I've taken all the prereqs for med school....that comes out to about 9 classes for me...but I've taken 20-25 engineering/comp sci classes (all classified as eng or compsci)...are these just going to be ignored with respect to my sci gpa? that would really suck...i don't know how a class titled electrobiology or electrocardiology would NOT be factored into sci gpa...that even holds true for some classes like linear systems (basically a fourier analysis class) and algorithms (discrete math class)...

my sci gpa would be significantly higher if med schools factored in eng. and/or comp sci classes (3.3-->3.5)

 

[lorelei]

If the content of the class is actually biology or math even though it's listed under BME or MechE or whatever, you can mark the class as BCPM in AMCAS. There's a risk that they won't agree with you and will switch it back, but all that'll do is slightly slow down the processing of the application. I'd mark Linear Systems as a math class, for example.

 

[tinkerbelle]

I classified some of my biomedical engineering classes under bio or physics. For example, your electrobio course can be under bio. Just think about the course content. If AMCAS disagrees with you, they can always change it.

 

[gobblety_gook]

= ( I went ahead and submitted AMCAS last weekend...too late to change I guess...i can only hope med schools will take it in stride

 

[gdk]

fyi, i was an engineering undergrad. i classified my engineering classes as math or physics depending on what subject matter a physics or math major would take.
compressible aerodynamics - fluids - physics
finite element analysis - engineering
astrodynamics - physics
jet engine performance - thermodynamics - chemistry

none of my classifications were chagned when i (finally) got verified yesterday

 

[Scrubz67]

My undergrad institution directs engineering (and all students) to use their own discretion to classify courses. As many have said, you choose the classification based on content. A lot of engineering classes (or all some would argue) are really just glorified BCPM courses.

A rule of thumb that I used is that I classified all my basic engineering fundamental courses as physics or math (such as thermodynamics, fluids, statics), but the courses that integrated content from many disciplines/classes (like engineering design or project courses) I classified as engineering. And of course some are still borderline (like adv. engineering math).

As for AMCAS changing course classification, they can't obtain the syllabus for every class in order to assess whether or not a couse you claim to be physics is really more "physics" than "engineering". What you should consider though is that for every classification you make, be sure that you are able to support your reason for doing so if questioned in an interview.

 

[DaveOT]

I was pretty conservative with the AMCAS app--aside from straightforward things like Human Physiology for Engineers, I tended to mark my engineering coursework as just that.

If other people are having success at getting some courses verified as BCPM, then I'd say go for it. That definitely would've helped out my science GPA, and as noted above,

A lot of engineering classes (or all some would argue) are really just glorified BCPM courses.

 

[Mr Reddly]

I listed a bunch of my EE courses as BMCP.
However, I didn't list my CS courses as BMCP. I wanted to put some of them as math, but I consider them to be more logic and not quite math...

Oh BTW, I had no problem with AMCAS. They took them as BMCP.

 

[thackl]

In the TMDSAS (TX) system, all my engineering and math courses were added to my science gpa.

 

[tupac_don]

ok...so I'm a biomedical engineering major...i filled out/submitted amcas exactly how transcripts listed my classes and I've taken all the prereqs for med school....that comes out to about 9 classes for me...but I've taken 20-25 engineering/comp sci classes (all classified as eng or compsci)...are these just going to be ignored with respect to my sci gpa? that would really suck...i don't know how a class titled electrobiology or electrocardiology would NOT be factored into sci gpa...that even holds true for some classes like linear systems (basically a fourier analysis class) and algorithms (discrete math class)...

my sci gpa would be significantly higher if med schools factored in eng. and/or comp sci classes (3.3-->3.5)

From my experience, I will tell you this. It comes down to 2 things. One if it sounds like a science from the course title and you give it BCMP title, they will give it BCMP as well. However, if you don't title it BCMP, they wont' either. Also know that you are not the first biomedical engineer applying. i am sure they have experience dealing with this kinda thing. All I suggest, put them as BCMP and if they change them they change them. But if you don't put them as BCMP, they are more likely not to change them, especially if it says ENG next to the course name even though it was all bio. Best of luck.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Just be reasonable guys, med schools can smell blatant BCPM GPA padding from a mile away.

 

[thackl]

Just be reasonable guys, med schools can smell blatant BCPM GPA padding from a mile away.

I fail to see how engineering courses would pad the BCPM? I've lived in both worlds and can tell you for sure which is more difficult. Most engineering applicants I know were wanting PFOS grades thrown out of thier BCPM.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

If classifying engineering classes as BCPM would lower your BCPM GPA, who in their right mind would put BCPM instead of ENG? Of course, it is only people who are going to be able to boost their BCPM with their engi classes that are going to be considering this option.

 

[Mr Reddly]

True! It's more along the lines of "Gosh darn it! I worked my butt of in that class and it was most definitely more difficult that that stupid 'astronomy 101' class those non-science people take! I'll be darned if my transistor theory class is worth less than general chemistry! Same goes with my Signals and Systems course (all math / Fourier analysis)!!! Ain't no way your gonna count that along with 'underwater basket weaving'!"

Know what I mean?

 

[Mr Reddly]

Oh... for pikertinkle,

The OP is a BME major. We tend to major in things we like. If you like it, you work harder in it and tend to do better. Also, there are statistics in play. Because we are engineers, we have less of the generic science courses to count. Any bad grade could swing the gpa one way or the other. When you add in the engineering classes (and if you know what the courses are that the OP listed, you would understand that those are not fluf classes ...except for maybe the algorithms class. But then again, I'm biased 😛 ) the resulting grade is more true to his overall performance in 'real' science classes.

IMHO / 2cents.

 

[Mr Reddly]

Most engineering applicants I know were wanting PFOS grades thrown out of thier BCPM.

What's PFOS?

 

[Pinkertinkle]

I am not downplaying the difficulty of engineering courses, which I understand are quite challenging. I am only saying that applicants probably wont considering putting engineering classes as BCPM if that was going to lower their BCPM GPA.

 

[Mr Reddly]

I am not downplaying the difficulty of engineering courses, which I understand are quite challenging. I am only saying that applicants probably wont considering putting engineering classes as BCPM if that was going to lower their BCPM GPA.

I know. It's part ego (at least on my part) for wanting them in.
But also, you are correct... because we can pick and choose which classes WE think are BMCP, we do have the oppertunity to do a little bit (not much though) of padding. And if we can't pad, we do have the option of leaving them out all together.

 

[Jubester3]

How's this...simply put the engineering courses you got a high grade as BCPM, and the engineering courses you got a low grade in as not BCPM. That way, you compromise instead of putting it all in either bcpm or not...and everybody wins! 😎

Example: Got an C in 'polymer engineering'? then it's definitely NOT BCPM! Got an A in Heat and Energy Transfer? Sounds like Math or Physics to me!

 

[Pinkertinkle]

How's this...simply put the engineering courses you got a high grade as BCPM, and the engineering courses you got a low grade in as not BCPM. That way, you compromise instead of putting it all in either bcpm or not...and everybody wins! 😎

Example: Got an C in 'polymer engineering'? then it's definitely NOT BCPM! Got an A in Heat and Energy Transfer? Sounds like Math or Physics to me!

Ha, now that's what I call blatant.

 

[kgboy]

This is interesting, because I have asked similar questions like this several times, and each time ppl say different things. On some thread I posted a while ago many engineering majors told me NOT to put my biomechanics, fluid mechanics, solid mechanics as BCPM. But now it seems like most ppl agree it is okay to do so. I'm not trying to put only the engineering classes I did well in as BCPM either...just the mechanics classes that I listed which I think are physics classes.

 

[thackl]

What's PFOS?

Professional Field of Study

 

[thackl]

This is interesting, because I have asked similar questions like this several times, and each time ppl say different things. On some thread I posted a while ago many engineering majors told me NOT to put my biomechanics, fluid mechanics, solid mechanics as BCPM. But now it seems like most ppl agree it is okay to do so. I'm not trying to put only the engineering classes I did well in as BCPM either...just the mechanics classes that I listed which I think are physics classes.

Maybe someone should contact AMCAS. I'm sure they have guidelines. TMDSAS told me that all my engineering would be included in my science GPA. There was no picking and choosing and that would seem quite unfair anyway.

 

[kgboy]

I read from some thread a while ago that someone emailed them about similar questions....and they never emailed back. I would rather call them but there is no phone number to call in their website either. hmmm 😕

 

[Friday]

I was also a BME major. The only BME course I added to the BCPM was one cross listed with the bio department. If I used all of the BME or regular engineering courses it would have improved my BCPM.

I reasoned that they will look at my whole transcript anyways. Besides, I didn't wan't some old chemistry proffessor looking at my AMCAS and thinking I'm trying to be sly by classifying an engineering course as BCPM while there is a whole different classification for engineering courses...

 

[PublicEnemy]

AMCAS emailed me back and said to use my discretion but they may change it if they feel necessary. but if you really disagree with what they changed, you're allowed to appeal their decision also, but that takes weeks and then you're SOL by the time you actually do get processed.

ok, yeah some BME classes are really worth putting as BCMP. some BME classes I had, Neuropathophysiology, or Cardiovascular Instrumentation, or Immunobiology, Sytems Physiology etc. Somehow these seem infinitely more relevant to medicine than general chemistry, yet we're not supposed to consider these BCPM. i did anyway.

what are they gonna do? reject me? yeah, probably.

 

[gobblety_gook]

Thanks for the all the feedback...its reassuring that fellow engineers feel the same way about AMCAS somewhat trivial way of classifying 'BCPM' classes...

I kinda agree with whoever said that AMCAS will probably let slide whatever engineering classes you list as BCPM (within reasonable limits of course) and probably won't care if you decide to list engineering classes as engineering...the discretion is kinda up to you...looking back, I kinda wish I had classified some engineering classes as BCPM...but c'est la vie 😳

 

[joy77]

Has anyone had Statics classified as Math? I put in in AMCAS as Engineering (it was listed as a CE course on my transcript), and they changed it to Math!

I made a C, so I was not happy about their designation. Dynamics, on the other hand, a course in which I made an A, was left alone as Engineering. I sent an change request, indicating that they may have misread it as "Statistics".

 

[kgboy]

lol they're so ******ed. How can statics be math. I bet they did think it was "statistics". ...Does this mean they dont know what statics is? 😕

 

[gdk]

if you email AMCAS, they will tell you to base your decision on course content, not on the department teaching it or the course title. several people have posted the AMCAS response in other threads (i'd post mine but it's on my other computer).

like others have said, just put some logic to your decisions in case you get asked about them later. engineering majors don't put together the list of what BMCP courses are, so they can't list every possible engineering type course in the student guideline. i mean, AMCAS lists astronomy as a physics class, but not astrodynamics (probably b/c they didn't think to add it).

however, there are some classes that are definately "engineering" and not "science." anything with a multidiscipline approach would be hard to defend as science. my "engineering" courses included FEM, aircraft deisgn, gas turbine performance optimization, aircraft stability and control, etc. however, i also had some vector calculus classes taught by the engineering department that i put as "math"

 

[joy77]

if you email AMCAS, they will tell you to base your decision on course content, not on the department teaching it or the course title. several people have posted the AMCAS response in other threads (i'd post mine but it's on my other computer).

like others have said, just put some logic to your decisions in case you get asked about them later. engineering majors don't put together the list of what BMCP courses are, so they can't list every possible engineering type course in the student guideline. i mean, AMCAS lists astronomy as a physics class, but not astrodynamics (probably b/c they didn't think to add it).

however, there are some classes that are definately "engineering" and not "science." anything with a multidiscipline approach would be hard to defend as science. my "engineering" courses included FEM, aircraft deisgn, gas turbine performance optimization, aircraft stability and control, etc. however, i also had some vector calculus classes taught by the engineering department that i put as "math"

Yeah, I definitely see your point, but I just don't see why they would selectively screw me over unless it were a mistake, since I did not try to classify any of my eng. classes as BCPM. -- i.e. they reclassified Statics (the bad grade) as Math, while leaving Fluids and Dynamics (good grades, with about the same amount of math involved as Statics) as Eng courses. It seems like they should have changed none or all three.