sefago

ok, I really need good advise on this question
I am a biochemistry major in a semi-prestigious school but I really want to do engineering for graduate school...I have been told by many people that this isn't possible but I also get mixed responses. I am a math minor...I would have differential equations by senior year and may two more math classes-stats and hopefully financial math...but if anyone has experience crossing over please tell me about it

ele902

Simply, you lack too much engineering fundamentals to do well in graduate as one. The math minor doesn't mean much, and most engineering student finish differential equation as a freshmen.

Why not just jump into something like biochemical engineering? Its a combination of biochemistry and chemical engineering, and with your strong background in biochemistry you can focus the rest of your undergraduate career on the engineering stuff.

sefago

don't get but in btw my school doesn't have an engineering department. I have seen chemistry students in my school go to caltech for engineering PhDs but only in environmental engineering...also what schools offer biochemical engineering if there are any?

ele902

U.C. Davis, U.C.LA, UC San Diego, etc. There are tons of schools out there with biochemical/biological engineering programs. I don't know what environmental engineers studies, but as a chemical engineer you need a very strong background in the three fundamental areas: thermodynamics, reaction engineering, and transport phenomena (mass,heat, and fluid). These three areas are impossible enough as an undergraduate, and even more so as a graduate.

canty2

I can't speak about ChemE but with regard to EnvironE, I disagree with alot of what some of the other posters said. I think you will be fine and actually may be at an advantage when it comes to Environmental Engineering.

Most environmental engineering programs are part of departments of civil and environmental engineering. As such a large amount of the students matriculating to grad school in environmental engineering have wasted time in structures and transportation classes. Environmental Engineering is very chemistry/biology based, and students coming from a traditional civil engineering background aren't particularly strong at these fundamentals (myself included). I would say if you are interested in Haz Waste remediation, water & wastewater treatment, or just water chemistry, Environmental Engineering would be a great degree to pursue. Environmental engineering is also fairly lucrative for students leaving grad school with a MS Environmental Engineering. Salaries tend to start around mid 60k.

disclaimer: I am a civil engineering student at Virginia Tech and have been accepted to VT, Texas, UIUC, and MIT for environmental engineering and I wish I had a better chem/bio background.

sefago

thanks canty. I actually want a PhD and I would really like environmental engineering. i know someone in my school's chem department years back went to caltech to study environmental engineering and finished in 4 years...so I know it is feasible...if i might ask did you have a ridiculously high GPA to get into those school...also did you get funding for the masters...I am poor so I dont think i can pay for a masters. Also I am an international student