IDK what to do [Fall undergrad]

[taehkim]

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So I'm going to college this fall, and orientation starts in like...9 days.

I was planning on majoring in BME while doing pre-dental so I could hopefully go to Dental school in the future. I know, stupid move...
Now people are telling me how screwed I am, how hard BME is, how barely anyone can maintain a high GPA with it, and how Dental schools mostly look at your GPA. In addition, if I fail at dentistry and plan on just pursuing an engineering career, BME is a relatively new major that have very few job offers...meaning that i have no future.

So what should I do? I was thinking of changing my major, but I think it's too late now before i can take action (I think i can only change majors at the end of the semester)...

But even if that manages to work out, I would rather transfer schools altogether (because I wanna do Bio or Psychology, which kinda sucks in my current college).

What should I do? D:

 

[tinman831]

So I'm going to college this fall, and orientation starts in like...9 days.

I was planning on majoring in BME while doing pre-dental so I could hopefully go to Dental school in the future. I know, stupid move...
Now people are telling me how screwed I am, how hard BME is, how barely anyone can maintain a high GPA with it, and how Dental schools mostly look at your GPA. In addition, if I fail at dentistry and plan on just pursuing an engineering career, BME is a relatively new major that have very few job offers...meaning that i have no future.

So what should I do? I was thinking of changing my major, but I think it's too late now before i can take action (I think i can only change majors at the end of the semester)...

But even if that manages to work out, I would rather transfer schools altogether (because I wanna do Bio or Psychology, which kinda sucks in my current college).

What should I do? D:

If you can't change your major now, just take the classes you want to take, for whatever major it is you really want to pursue. Then change it once the semester is over.

 

[doc3232]

In some schools you can change it till the end of your second year...
Like tinman said, pick the classes you want and go from there.

 

[allenmarchallo]

If you can't change your major now, just take the classes you want to take, for whatever major it is you really want to pursue. Then change it once the semester is over.

I agree w/ tinman...

Why would you decide to do Biomedical engineering if you know you don't want to pursue it?? Do you have a solid interest in it?? Even if you do major in it, you probably can't do much with it w/o getting a Masters or PH.D in the field...But if you just really wanna do it...Then, by all means....do it...Just make sure its what you want, and not to impress the dental committee...

Dental schools won't care if you have a degree in BME, astrophysics, chemistry, or biology...(It may bring up a nice conversation during an interview)..But it really boils down to GPA, DAT, plus the other stuff......lol....Maybe if you go went IVY league like Harvard, MIT, or something, and pull off like ~3.4...(that's impressive), but a B.S is a B.S....Everyone w/ it is the same...(they can't discriminate)..You can even major in Spanish, History, or whatever, as long as u know the science stuff.....Do something you enjoy so you won't be stressed out taking Calc III and differential equations...lol...U won't be needing that as a dentist anyway...

Just make your life less hectic and stick with biology or something you enjoy like the rest of us...You'll be happier and your GPA may not suffer...Unless you're a genius like Doogie Howser..


-HM2

 

[desiyaar]

stick with it bro, i did the same, just cus i wanted an engineering degree cus i felt like just doin bio or another typical premed/dental major would be a waste of my time.. its not so bad, and it will look good when you apply to dental school. sets you apart from others. they will take it into account with the whole gpa thing too.

 

[allenmarchallo]

stick with it bro, i did the same, just cus i wanted an engineering degree cus i felt like just doin bio or another typical premed/dental major would be a waste of my time.. its not so bad, and it will look good when you apply to dental school. sets you apart from others. they will take it into account with the whole gpa thing too.

I respectfully disagree...If the OP does choose this route, I'd wish him good luck with this type of similar curriculum: http://http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/colleges/coe/bmed/ugrad/bsbmed/bsbmed.php

Classes like:
1) INTRODUCTION TO SIGNAL PROCESSING
2) COMPUTING FOR ENGINEERS
3) etc....

I don't see how ANY of that is helpful in dental school....I also don't see ANY room to take pre-req. classes like Gchem1&2, OChem1&2, Bio, plus upper level bio. classes...unless he takes another year to take them....I agree that the title sounds nice, but it won't mean anything he can't do well on the DAT...

-HM2

 

[SugarNaCl]

Personally... after being in research for 5 yrs (prior to dental school), if I could go back and choose a major, BME would have been IT!... Followed by dental school 😉

 

[taehkim]

Thanks for the response guys...
I chose BME because it seemed unique in a way that it incorporates my interests...I thought it would be too 'bland' just to have a bio major. In addition, my school has an excellent BME program so I wanted to take advantage of it. Judging from most of you it seems that BME is just too much of a hassle for a pre-dent, which is why I'm considering a change in major (which isnt that bad right?). The problem is, if I do change majors, I'd rather just transfer altogether, cuz my school isn't THAT good in other areas rather than engineering....

 

[allenmarchallo]

Thanks for the response guys...
I chose BME because it seemed unique in a way that it incorporates my interests...I thought it would be too 'bland' just to have a bio major. In addition, my school has an excellent BME program so I wanted to take advantage of it. Judging from most of you it seems that BME is just too much of a hassle for a pre-dent, which is why I'm considering a change in major (which isnt that bad right?). The problem is, if I do change majors, I'd rather just transfer altogether, cuz my school isn't THAT good in other areas rather than engineering....

Um...What school do you go to?.......Have you given this much thought?
If you are a freshman, how do you know if the Biology program is or isn't that great?? Hear-se ??? Well, that's not a mature approach.....Talk to the upperclassmen in the biology program.....

1) Get REAL opinions before you make such a big decision to leave the school....

2) Also, try talking to a professor and asking to see if you can sit in one of their bio. classes...See for yourself and look if you like their teaching style...~15-20 mins should do it...I'm sure they won't mind...

3) Talk to your guidance career-counselor and a few Senior professors....I'm sure they have stats to see where students go after they graduate with a Bio. degree....i.e research, PH.D, pharm/med/dent/etc....(Since, students ask them both for LOR's)

4) Look around and see if they have a Pre-medical or dental committee...I'm sure those guys can let you know the low-down on the program....

Not every school can afford the professors/lab equipment to teach and offer a Biomedical Engineering degree...lol......I'm pretty sure wherever you are, it's nicely funded...So I don't see how the Biology program isn't "good" enough for your standards.....I'm pretty sure they teach you the basics anywhere you go....

If BME is what interests you man, then go ahead and do it.....But, you'd still need to take the dental pre-reqs in order to do well on the DAT...

Lastly, this is a big decision so slow down b4 you do something you might regret...We are here to help give you advice, but not influence you to change schools !!! 😉

-HM2

 

[taehkim]

Hehe, thanks for that, all of this is really helpful.
As for the transfer, that's all speculation, a last resort, I haven't even gone to orientation yet, lol.

I'm definitely gonna do more research on BME and other possible major options in my school before I do anything...meanwhile, I'm gonna give BME a try, and if it's not for me, I'll go for other things. I've asked current students and they've said that the Biology department isn't one of their strengths, and that several Bio students changed their majors (which got me kinda worried). The reason why I even considered a transfer (after a major switch) is because if I opt for other things, I was thinking psychology or business, which I don't think isn't that good for a Tech school (but like you said, I have to do more research first).

Oh and I'm going to GaTech.

 

[ruaok]

I earned my BS in BME and it was not difficult to keep my gpa high or find a job. I interviewed at 3 companies and had 3 job offers and now after a couple years in industry I am applying to dental school. The curriculum contains all of the prereqs for d-school and other related classes such as human physiology and biomaterials. BME is a great pre-dent major and a great degree to have if you change your mind about becoming a dentist.

 

[taehkim]

Thank you so much for giving me confidence!
I will see how it goes after a few months of college. D:

 

[sajjy]

GO BME......its the best major ever to prepare for any healthcare field.
Even if you change your mind of not going into healthcare and dont like BME as well.....switch to Mechanical or Electrical because you will be taking many of those courses. BME is definitely a whole package for anything you wanna do after your BS. If i would have to do it all over again.i will still choose BME.

Many would say that engineering classes are of no use but then for some reason colleges like engineers.

If you like Math and Calc then stick with it...it will pay off big time...
Choosing BME was my best decision ever to prepare for the dental school.

 

[allenmarchallo]

GO BME......its the best major ever to prepare for any healthcare field.
Even if you change your mind of not going into healthcare and dont like BME as well.....switch to Mechanical or Electrical because you will be taking many of those courses. BME is definitely a whole package for anything you wanna do after your BS. If i would have to do it all over again.i will still choose BME.

Many would say that engineering classes are of no use but then for some reason colleges like engineers.

If you like Math and Calc then stick with it...it will pay off big time...
Choosing BME was my best decision ever to prepare for the dental school.

Dang....Look at your stats 😱
I hate smart people

-HM2

 

[sajjy]

Dang....Look at your stats 😱
I hate smart people

-HM2

Dang...Look at your ECs😱
I hate all round people

-idk what does HM2 means?

 

[allenmarchallo]

Dang...Look at your ECs😱
I hate all round people

-idk what does HM2 means?

HM2 is a rank and rate indicating that I am a Hospital Corpsman 2nd class petty officer in the U.S Navy...The actual rank is E-5 and the rating is HM...(HM2=E-5)...If that made any sense to you 😉


-HM2

 

[lgwdnbdgr]

I really don't get why so many people seem to think admissions committee members are stupid. They know that engineering is really hard and will take that into consideration. I definitely got a boost by having a biochem degree and BME is harder than biochem.

Second, college isn't vocational school. You learn very little practical information in undergrad. Undergrad primarily serves the purpose of proving your ability with a secondary purpose of giving you a broad base to help you understand on the job training. My point? With an engineering degree, you can do anything you want. Fewer than half of my college friends are in careers directly related to their undergrad major.

Third, your major doesn't really mean a lot until the school looks to see if you've met graduation requirements. If you want to switch majors but you missed the deadline, just take the classes you want as if you switched majors and then take care of the paperwork later.

In short, do what YOU enjoy. You'll be more successful if you are happy with your decision. It sounds like you really want to do BME. Don't throw away four years of your life trying to game the system based on advice from strangers who haven't actually gotten into dental school yet.

So I'm going to college this fall, and orientation starts in like...9 days.

I was planning on majoring in BME while doing pre-dental so I could hopefully go to Dental school in the future. I know, stupid move...
Now people are telling me how screwed I am, how hard BME is, how barely anyone can maintain a high GPA with it, and how Dental schools mostly look at your GPA. In addition, if I fail at dentistry and plan on just pursuing an engineering career, BME is a relatively new major that have very few job offers...meaning that i have no future.

So what should I do? I was thinking of changing my major, but I think it's too late now before i can take action (I think i can only change majors at the end of the semester)...

But even if that manages to work out, I would rather transfer schools altogether (because I wanna do Bio or Psychology, which kinda sucks in my current college).

What should I do? D: