Bali

Hey guys,

I'm looking at going into BME, and was wondering how the BME program was at UNC. It appears that there's an applied science degree with a BME track, but I didn't see anything about an actual degree, like JHU or Duke (both of which I'm considering). I'm looking into getting into medical school, so going to the best BME programs in the country isn't THAT big of a priority I guess.

So yes, any info about the BME/how good it is would be appreciated.

Atlmom

ok, i give, what is BME, i know what BMI is but not BME....i will guess biomedical engineering????
Your biggest priority needs to be highest GPA whereever you go to get to med school so that may NOT be the top BME in the country.

Krazer

i don't believe UNC has an actual bme track. It is however coed with North Carolina State University's engineering program. So the UNC bme program combines the medical college of UNC and the engineering college of NC state. JHU and Duke however have a strong bme program and I would recommend those as they have outstanding pre-med and bme programs.

Bali

Atlmom, yes BME is biomedical engineering.

Krazer, to my knowledge, the joint biomed department with NCSU is at the grad level. And it looks like they have a BME track under the applied sciences degree

Curriculum in Applied Sciences

Yea, JHU and Duke are awesome in those fields, but its so much money that we probably will have a hard time paying for med school.

swim4china89

im in BME (freshman) so no real classes in it yet but i hear its one of the hardest majors here. Im premed but i didnt want to major in chem/bio since if i dont go to med school or choose not, i dont get caught with a useless degree. you have to take a variety of classes:

math (231,232,233,383,528)
bio (so 101 with lab, 202, 252)
chem (101,102,241,261,262) all are with lab except 261 (orgo I)
phys (104,105,116,117)

then you also have your requirements i.e. lit art, philosophy, drama classes, english, foreign lang., classes everyone has to take.

AND THEN you start with applied science/BME classes. which is a bunch

bluedog

Well, since UNC doesn't even have an engineering school it's obviously difficult to have a full-fledged BME program It's a WAY different type of curriculum than Duke or JHU, which may or may not be what you're looking for. Look into the course offerings to get an idea of what to expect and the differences.

Atlmom

Bluedog, your posts on other threads leads me to wonder if you are in fact a Duke student? What is your affiliation to UNC? I think the best information on UNC BME track would come from the department itself at UNC and other BME students at UNC....swim4china89 might have some contacts for you.

DukeEgr93

Coupla things:
1) From the CAMS website:
That's a pretty important change and reflects the seriousness with which UNC is pursuing its engineering offerings.

2) At present and to my knowledge, the applied science engineering program at UNC is not accredited by ABET. Depending on what you want to do afterwards, this may or may not be a big deal. Taking a BME to Med School track, for example, would mean the accreditation has no impact at all; trying to get a job with Boston Scientific might be a different issue.

3 Given the newness of the program, I am not sure there is much empirical data about getting into medical school. However, just going to UNC and getting a degree in the sciences is a boost, especially if you independently work on getting yourself in and around the UNC Hospitals as much as possible for study and research as an undergraduate.