So I’m really confused, I thought I had my major figured out. I am applying to transfer for January 2016. But…I want to stay at U of I for an MD-PhD. I’m interested in cellular genetics engineering and virology. I was going to go into molecular and cellular biology, but I’m not sure if I should any longer. Should I focus on bioengineering? Or should I be in yet another major? It seemed to me that bioengineering was more focused on tissue and cellular replication, whereas my interests are more in actually altering the genetics of cells for specific purposes (e.g. viral vectors, altering plasmids, altering function of immune cells).
I would need to take three courses in the meantime if I am changing into any engineering major, as I am currently at a school for microbiology. Should I stay the course or change my major?
The have pre-med advisors that you should talk to. Contact admissions to be put in touch. The key to premed is to take the major that has most of the classes required by various medical schools to which you might be applying. That, it is my understanding, is MCB, and that’s where I’d apply if I were you. But, that is an opinion. So, as I previously said, talk to a pre-med advisor. Here’s another interesting tidbit that gives me pause, however. A new, stand alone public-private partnership medical school at U of I has just been approved by the trustees, and, although exactly what the focus is, is not clear. The private partner is the Carle Hospital group, which is big in the Urbana-Champaign area. Supposedly, it will be unique in that it will have a close bio-engineering focus. Because of the vagaries surrounding the new medical school, it is imperative that you contact a pre-med advisor. I’m assuming the MCB program has them. But I’d definitely call around and get more information. Be aware, however, that I believe the existing Bioengineering program only allows students already enrolled at UIUC to transfer in at the sophomore level. It does not, to the best of my knowledge, allow external transfers. Good luck.