Can I get a PhD in Physics After a Bachelors in Biomedical Engineering?

Pre-College Topics
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Hi everyone, happy (almost) new years!

I had a quick question and I wanted to know if doing my undergrad in BME was feasible for attempting a physics PhD later on. I’ve been talking to a lot of people, (namely my uncle, who does have a PhD in physics) and I’ve decided that I’d like to work towards one as well.

I researched online and found out that biomedical engineering is not math or physics heavy at all, in fact some colleges/websites say the math + physics needed and taught is very basic level. I don’t think this would set me up for a PhD in physics so would a better option be to dual major in physics + biomedical engineering?

I’m trying to choose classes that would set me up best for a PhD later on and here are my high school courses for 10th grade:

  • AP Calculus BC
  • AP Chemistry
  • GT Humanitites/AP World (essentially AP world, just faster paced bc I’m in the GT program)
  • AP Spanish 4
  • AP Physics 1
  • AP Seminar
  • English 2 Advanced (Debating if should take this over the summer and take APES in its place due to weightage reasons)
  • Orchestra

So I really don’t know what to major in here as just Physics seems like it has no backup plan, and the other option is something like math + cs or physics + cs. I know most people on here will say its too early to think about this stuff but its kind of a common fact nowadays that you need to start competing/interning in your area of interests asap if you even want to look at T20s :slight_smile: (I know that everyone at my current hs who has gone to ivys/top colleges has done research + competed in some pretty high level events related to their future major so yep)

Please help and provide insight!

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You do know that some “top 20’s” do not consider your major in admissions decisions, and do not let you pick a major until the end of your freshman year? As one example, MIT uses your intended major only to decide which freshman year advisor you get assigned to. When I was there during my freshman year I was on-track to major in any of mechanical engineering, physics, or math. During my sophomore year I was still on-track to major in either physics or math, and I did not settle on one (mathematics) until after studying quantum physics (which I did well in, but did not like).

If you might want to get a PhD in physics, then I think that you will want to take a significant amount of physics as an undergraduate student, as well as at least some math. For example multi-variate calculus, differential equations, probability and statistics, and linear algebra are all useful for a physics major.

Whether you can fit all of this in while still completing the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in BME is hard to say. It seems like a lot.

If you are still a high school student and still have not picked a university to attend there is something that you might want to think about. Generally to get a double major it is not all that unusual for it to take more than four years. If you need an additional year to complete a double major then there are two issues that come up: Do you want to do it? Can you afford to do it? If you attend a private university or a university where you need aid to afford to attend the school then a fifth year can be very expensive. However, if you attend an in-state public university then you will still be in-state if a fifth year becomes necessary.

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I see, so basically what you are saying is that a physics major + a minor would be more suitable then?

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I think that you can figure this out after you get to university.

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5

Sounds good :+1:

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So realistically, most people who are going to qualify for a good PhD program in Physics are going to know that is what they want to do by no later than end of sophomore year or so. And they will then likely elect Physics as their primary major. Because it very likely will not make sense practically to try to major in something else.

That doesn’t mean you have to commit to Physics while in HS. Really, all you need to do is keep taking advanced Math at whatever pace is available to you, and probably advanced Physics (although interestingly not necessarily so much the Physics as even AP Physics does not really get you that far).

I can’t answer for what is true at your HS, but I can tell you that at our feederish HS which sends a lot of kids every year to “T20s” (and also highly selective LACs, highly selective OOS publics, and the service academies), that fact is not actually factual. The most common combination is just taking advanced classes that might track intended college interests, and then doing non-academic activities–sports, arts, music, debate, charity, and so on. Of course a few people do academic competitions and internships and such, but that is the less common, not more common, sort of main activity profile for our most competitive college applicants.

And that makes sense because honestly, none of that really has all that much to do with, say, being a Physics major, let alone a Physics PhD student. Seriously, the main thing you can be doing right now to prepare for that path is just to take a lot of advanced math.

Which hopefully is not something you have to force yourself to do, it is something you actually enjoy. And then to actually get admitted to one of the many selective colleges good for Physics, adding balance both academically and non-academically is likely more helpful than just doubling down (and tripling down, and quadrupling down) on other things that merely serve to confirm you do in fact like math/Physics.

Because eventually you will see the most selective colleges usually react to such an applicant with some form of, “That’s a good start, but what else?”

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7

Why not find a physics prof or two at colleges of interest and ask them for 15 minutes of their time and run your scenarios by them.

If you find out the path wouldn’t be ideal, you’d know now? Why not major in physics?

PS - what do you mean physics has no back up plan? It’s a great undergrad major.

Don’t worry about everyone at your hs - worry about you - it’s your life.

And some of the top physics programs are nowhere near at what you’d define as top 20 schools.

Good luck.

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See that’s the thing, I tried to message 4-5 biomedical engineering professors if I could have a conversation with them and its been about 1 and a half month with no response so I really don’t know if others will ignore me similarly and just not respond.

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*By message I mean email, no I did not text professors :sob:

10

Pick up the phone.

Do u have a local college ? Go to office hrs.

Why do u want to do bio medical engineering ?
Ps - it’s easier to start in engineering and drop to physics than vice versa in many schools.

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Well I want to pursue biomedical engineering because its at the intersection of everything that interests me as well as computer science. I will call them within office hours when I can, thank you!

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Biomedical engineering tends to represent a poor choice for a major even for those who would like to become biomedical engineers. This is what’s known as a “convergent” field, in which the skills of specialists, such as mechanical or software engineers, are more valuable than those of a generalist with a biomedical engineering degree. However, a minor in biomedical engineering would seem suitable for your interests.

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I’m confused. A few months ago you started a thread where you said that you were a freshman in high school. Why the rush to lay out your PhD plans? In addition, in that thread you said that you were currently taking Algebra 2. In this thread you indicate that you will be taking AP Calc BC next year. Why that accelerated sequence?

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You are currently a high school freshman and you already have changed your mind this year about future goals…which is fine and is very normal.

Your high school schedule really has NO bearing on a future PhD program. Absolutely none. Your actual performance in college will be what matters…not high school.

At this point, you want to take a challenging high school courseload for you…and get the best grades possible. This will position you for options when it comes to applying to college in just about three years from now.

In the meantime…forget about PhD programs. You need to finish high school, and undergrad…first. While doing your courses, you need to also find time for ECs, social time with friends, maybe a job, sleep and eating.

PhD programs accept students based on the strength of their applications (includes college…not high school) and the programs desire to have you as a member of the cohort.

Right now…you are way jumping the gun. What’s your rush!

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15

This student is a high school freshman. Not a college student or even a soon to be college student. I can’t think that the local college will be all that interested in talking to a 9th grader about PhD plans.

My opinion!

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16

Although come to think of it, a variation on Scared Straight in which they talk to some post-docs might be a good idea . . . .

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As others have said, it’s very early to be trying to make this decision. But if you’re trying possible college majors on for size, you might want to look at schools that offer a major in Engineering Physics. This major is usually structured to include a concentration in an engineering discipline, which could be biomedical. Here’s one example: Engineering Physics, BSE < Case Western Reserve University Graduating from this kind of program positions you to move forward with graduate study in either engineering or physics; plus, it positions you well during undergrad to shift into either a more specialized engineering major or a pure physics major, as you experience the coursework and become more clear on what interests you most.

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18

pre calculus summer program, also I’d like something to work towards I guess, my apologizes if it came out too fast

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Physics PhD programs tend to expect undergraduate preparation similar to an undergraduate physics major.

While BME or other engineering overlaps considerably with physics in the first year or two, they diverge in junior and senior year. An engineering physics major would overlap more in upper level course work compared to other engineering majors.

But if you are early in high school, you have many years to decide your college and career path. High school course selection is unlikely to differ for preparation for studying physics or engineering in college, although if your high school offers PLTW or similar engineering courses, they can help you gauge your interest in engineering (the high school physics and math that you will take anyway would help with that for physics).

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You are in 9th or 10th grade. It is way too early to be thinking about getting a PhD. Your job is to enjoy school, do well (without sacrificing your mental health), go out with friends, stay active and involved, etc. Do not buy into the hype that HS kids are competing at high levels and doing research. I assume a few might be, but the majority are not (even those at the very top).

Right now you do not understand just how stressful a PhD program could be (hint: the students I know are very stressed). While I am not discouraging you (it might be right for you), it is not something you need to think about right now. Your HS years will have zero bearing on your acceptance to a PhD program.

Once you are in college and begin speaking with professors and students, you will know whether this is the right path for you.

Just enjoy HS.

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