Biological vs. Biomedical vs. Chemical Engineering

wannabeBlueDevil
Mon, 05 Dec 2016 02:04:09 +0000

Hi! I am planning on submitting my application to Cornell University this week. However, I am unsure what to indicate as my choice of major. I am interested in drug delivery, cellular engineering, and other biology-related engineering areas. Cornell has three majors that cater to my interests–Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Chemical Engineering.
For most other colleges that I have applied to, I have selected Biomedical Engineering if it is offered and has concentrations in molecular-level or cell-based bioengineering. For other schools I have selected Chemical Engineering with the hopes of pursuing a biological engineering track.
At Cornell, I understand that Biomedical Engineering is new, and that it therefore might not be as developed with regards to having many concentrations and a good reputation. For bioengineering at Cornell, I am confused about how it is offered in two schools (engineering and agriculture) and I am concerned that it might have too much of an agricultural focus. Other than that however, it seems like a solid option for me. Chemical Engineering seems good as well, but it is confusing to me that there is a biomedical engineering concentration within it (which I would likely pursue). However, what would cause someone to choose a Biomedical Engineering track in a Chemical Engineering major over a Biomedical Engineering major alone, or vice versa? Also, I noticed that there is a Biomedical Engineering concentration within the Biological Engineering major.

Overall, based on all this, it seems that I could cater any of these three majors to my interests, which makes me all the more confused on which I should pursue.
Thank you in advance for all your help!