BioFueled

Pre-med here. But I got a question. So won't my gpa be roughly the same if I did engineering or hard science like biochemistry?

The school I go to requires the same math/physics/chemistry classes for hard science and engineering majors.

Calculus I-III, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, the only extra math class for engineers is Linear Analysis and Applied Numerical Methods

For biochemistry/chemistry(other major I am considering), I have to take the same p-chem that chemes take.

And I have to take Engineering Physics(Calculus Based).


The only difference is that Chemical Engineering I have to take the upper division engineering courses.

And for biochem/chem I have more room for upper division biology classes.



So would it be worth it to to Chemical Engineering considering the math/chemistry/physics courses are the same?

Or will I get destroyed by upper division engineering courses?

If it helps:

Calculus I- A
Calculus II-A
Calculus III-pending
Engineering Physics I-A-
Engineering Physics II-B(electricity really screwed with me)
Engineering Physics III-A-
Diff Eq- A-
Linear- A

Japher

Most ChemEs end up a few labs shy of a Chemistry degree. IMO, it's the core engineering courses that depress the gpas of engineers, not the prereqs you mentioned there.

If you are dead set on going to med school I would recommend that you not torture yourself with upper division engineering course loads and instead focus on maintaining as near a 4.0 as you can.

TomServo

Depends on the hard science and depends on what you think of as hard. Even something like biology can go from soft to hard. The hardest hard science is physics, next would be chemistry (though there is overlap between the two because chemistry is built on physical processes). I think physics majors have it harder than most engineering majors, but EE, chemE, mechE, and aero all rival physics in terms of difficulty.

Engineering tends to have a higher quantity of homework and projects than a hard science, but hard science tends to require a greater understanding of mathematical analysis and underlying processes. For example, EEs have to do a lot of circuit stuff, which physics majors only dabble in. But physics majors learn all about quantum mechanics from the ground up while EEs are handed some relevant formulae (your school may differ).

xraymancs

If you are really considering engineering as a possible career alternative to medical school, then do it. If engineering is not that interesting to you don't do it just because you can. Biochemistry is probably a better major for a pre-med since the program of study matches the entrance requirements more closely.

OperaDad

If OP went to work for a Pharmaceutical Company, is there a benefit to having a medical degree and a Chem E undergrad?

echo4300

it depends what you want to do if you do not get into med school.

biochem - forensics, teacher, lab person
chemE - teacher, designer of the lab, controls the processes to mass produce the stuff the biochemist created...