<p>Hello, Im a rising Senior at a local public school in maryland.</p>
<p>I am applying to UMDCP and having a hard time picking between Chemical Engineering and Computer Sci.
I feel like I havent really faced real computer science or engineering, and therefore am unaware about the majors. If there are any people with information that could answer the following questions I would be glad.</p>
<p>1)How are the faculty members/professors for Comp Sci/ Chem E ?
2)Average GPA for graduating student of those majors?
3)Doing pre-med with one of those majors? Is one easier to pre-med with? Though Computer science is held in high regard at UMD, and most of the time produces better GPA results, I believe the science courses I take with Chem E will really help me more when it comes to the MCAT.
I got 5 on AP chemistry 5 on Ap biology 5 on BC calc and im taking ap comp sci next year
both parents did masters in comp sci, Ive taken a few comp sci classes and done very well. However I feel that they were rather beginner.</p>
<p>My logical thinking is sound. </p>
<p>760 on chem 790 on math 2 - for my sat 2’s</p>
<p>In my honest opinion, if you are sure you are going to go to med school I would pick the one that has the highest GPA average. You just remind me of almost every person I met in high school that wanted to become doctors (very high GPA’s and test scores) lol. I just know some people that decided on engineering before med school and they felt like it was a lot harder to get into med school because of their lower GPA. However seeing a little bit of your track record (5’s on the sciences) how good are you in physics? I was going to do computer engineering but knew that physics was not my cup of tea and decided on computer science with a double major in mathematics was the way to go. A friend of mine was kind of like you with 5s on every single AP class he took. He then went into chemical engineering and it was a wakeup call. The real class for him was organic chemistry and physical chemistry. Also it is a whole lot easier to switch from chemical engineering to computer science than it is to switch from computer science to chemical engineering. This is all my opinion (I hope that this was somewhat helpful but I could call someone in med school that did engineering and ask them) but if you are like him, you will do incredible in any of the degrees you choose to pursue. Good luck, and hopefully I will see you here at the university next year!!</p>
<p>Another way to decide is to buy a used copy of the object oriented programming book Java Foundations. This is the first book used to computer science majors. Go through that book on your own leisure and decide if you are truly interested in computer science or just think its easy. I heard that AP computer science (which was discontinued at my school before I got the chance to take it lol) was mainly the aspect of programming instead of the theory which is the basis for a computer science degree. This is why you may think computer science is easy. My sister is a computer science graduate and told me that people who graduate with these degrees have the specific mindset of a computer scientist. This means that it is not for everyone.</p>
<p>Thanks so much umdhopeful for your in-depth , and timely response,</p>
<p>Im ok ( meaning A- B+) at physics but I realized the two areas of physics which I am very good in ( A , A+) are Thermodynamics and Circuits which are related to the respective majors. I plan on studying alot harder in college too. </p>
<p>I understand that computer science in no way is easy. I know how complex higher level programs and deep hard-core programs can be. Its just that I feel like it comes a bit more naturally to me. I will check out the java foundations book. I think part is that both my parents are masters in computer science, and are very good at it. My dad tells me that ever since I was young I have contained the abilities and skills required for a programmer such as good math and logic skills. </p>
<p>Its just really hard to pick.</p>
<p>My brother is also a ChemBE major at Hopkins, and he tells me I would be better at Comp Sci than ChemE in general. </p>
<p>I’ve talked to my whole family and tried to search alot, but im still confused. Mainly because I havent done much Comp Sci yet really.</p>
<p>Wow you and your family are very intelligent (love John Hopkins, hopefully you go there for med school)</p>
<p>I think that you will be more comfortable and have more spare time if you do computer science. I know how overwhelming engineering can be for most and how easy it is to burn out. It is truly not for everyone (me included) but if you leave with a high GPA, then you can learn just about anything quickly lol. Are you taking the new MCAT (they apparently changed the test for 2015) I would take the necessary classes (chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology) as electives and have a very high GPA. Focus on research, internships and other things to standout. I feel like sometimes your parents are a great measure as to how exceptional you will be and by the looks of it you could have an incredible career as a computer scientist alone if you so choose to. This may sound corny but if you are a natural at something, anything and you enjoy it, stick with it and see where it takes you. You might become the next great doctor/computer scientist! I am still trying to find out what I am great at (nothing yet lol) but math and computer science are the only things I enjoy.</p>
<p>(I know I keep talking about GPA but for med school that is very important. You probably already knew that lol)</p>
<p>Keep asking people/researching and see if chemical engineering or computer science is really for you.</p>
<p>I dont know if you are actually going to get the book or not but here is the name of the textbook just in case:</p>
<p>Java Foundations: Introduction to Program Design and Data Structures 1st edition</p>
<p>You should get the first edition because it is really cheap at amazon and you are really not wasting a lot of money for it. Hope you had a great summer and an even better last high school year!</p>
<p>Thanks umdhopeful,</p>
<p>I will be taking the new MCAT most likely since I enter college in 2013. My brother tells me that chemical engineering is great, and that I will probably do fine in all the pre-rec classes, but he thinks that as I get deeper and deeper into the engineering the more and more I will perform worse.</p>
<p>Thanks, you contributed alot to my decision. I think i will need more time, if computer science will offer me that, then I will go with that. I need that extra time to research, volunteer… etc. </p>
<p>Once again thank you, and good luck in your endeavors as well!</p>