The Difficulty of Bioengineering major

LSJU · 11-03-2007, 01:36 AM

I'm thinking to do bioengineering or physics at UCSD as premed. I'm more interested in engineering stuff than pure science right now, but I'm also worried that bioengineering at UCSD is so hard that my GPA won't be as high as majoring physics. Do you have any suggestion or opinion about these 2 majors at UCSD? Don't have to be particularly for UCSD, but I wanna hear about these majors in general, too.

Sulaymanshah · 11-03-2007, 01:46 AM

If you're doing premed, why not just major in biology? Because it's relatively "easier," you'll have much more time to make yourself a well-rounded applicant for med school.

Saxonthebeach6 · 11-03-2007, 02:40 AM

Eh, can't speak for UCSD, but Berkeley BioE isn't so bad. PM me if you want some more info.

steevee · 11-03-2007, 09:37 AM

Do you even want to do engineering as a alternate career? If not, don't bother with engineering. Instead, just go for the traditional premed path.

However, if you are interested in engineering, and specifically the bio area, it's a better idea to major in something like chem, mech, or elec. With premed in mind, chemical engineering is the ideal choice, assuming that you're smart enough to pass with a high gpa.

LSJU · 11-03-2007, 03:04 PM

Thanks guys for the comments. For now, I’m interested in physics (it's actually a specialization with biophysics) and biotech. I know I'm weird, but I don't wanna major in pure biology because everybody is majoring in for premed.

I now have in my mind, doctor or engineer, so I really don't know which I should major in, physics or bioengineering.

s1185 · 11-03-2007, 03:29 PM

Why are people suggesting the OP major in bio? The OP has expressed no interest in the subject. There is no apparent reason for the OP to do this.

Major in what youre interested in, not in what you believe is a better "fallback" career. It's the GPA, not the major, that counts.

I don't know about UCSD, but at Berkeley, upper division BioE courses are graded fairly leniently (curved around an A-).

WimpLo · 11-03-2007, 07:45 PM

The curriculum for BioE is no joke, but BioE harder than Physics major curriculum?? What are you smoking because I want some of that.

Just stick it out, see if you can handle it. And if not, have you ever considered being a chef?

Mr Payne · 11-03-2007, 10:57 PM

Quote:

I don't know about UCSD, but at Berkeley, upper division BioE courses are graded fairly leniently (curved around an A-).

That is pretty damn easy.

Saxonthebeach6 · 11-04-2007, 04:09 AM

Quote:
I don't know about UCSD, but at Berkeley, upper division BioE courses are graded fairly leniently (curved around an A-).

Is this true? I'm starting my upper divisions next semester =P

steevee · 11-04-2007, 08:25 AM

Quote:

It's the GPA, not the major, that counts.

Which is why you don't major in engineering if you plan on becoming a doctor.

sruder · 11-04-2007, 11:11 PM

I'm in the same boat as the OP, except that I don't have any doubts about doing bioengineering as undergrad...I think that if bioengineering interests you, major in it. Doing so would differentiate yourself from other doctors, and bring something different than the norm to medicine. Medicine needs all types of doctors and med schools know this.

scorp · 11-05-2007, 04:47 PM

"I don't know about UCSD, but at Berkeley, upper division BioE courses are graded fairly leniently (curved around an A-)." source?

s1185 · 11-09-2007, 02:41 PM

Go to pickaprof.com and look up some random upper division classes. I am a source too - I was told up front by my instructors.

HypnosX · 11-11-2007, 12:44 AM

Yes, BioE upper div are curved around A-

Source: 3rd year BioE myself, taken a UD BioE class last year. I bombed 2 midterms (i.e getting averages). Got an A- eventually.

Caveat: BioE at Berkeley is ****ty as hell. One will realize that once they get into their upper div classes. They are a joke.