biochemistry vs. biomed engineering

PcEhAoCsE
Fri, 15 May 2009 00:25:54 +0000

I switched out of EE and into BME because I wanted to go to pre-med. The undergraduate advisor, before signing the form asked me for my reasons and when I told him my plans, he almost seemed to plead with me to stay in EE. The BME advisor is a very cool guy (Paul Fincannon), and is approachable and informed me that he would recommend me not switch into it. I should have listened to him (I’ve since switched back).

Not saying go EE, but do heed this. Many of my friends who are on the pre-med track opted to be either BME, BIOL, or CHEM. Of the ones who opted BME, they are worried as BME doesn’t offer them much to fall back on except for a select few companies and research lest they do not matriculate into a medical school.

I can’t speak for Biochemistry as it is relatively new and I know no one in that program (it appears to just be a Chemistry program on acid however), but one good thing that the BME program offers is the class Systems Physiology (or Sys Phys, for short). This class is a great class to help you prepare for the MCATS apparently (you take this in your Junior year).

Will all this said and done, as GPBurdell32 has stated, it is up to you, and as dani6706 stated, it is a hard major. (Generally has a reputation as being one of the hardest 3 majors, with EE and AE taking the other two spots).