<p>I’m conflicted as to whether I should apply to the engineering school or to the college of arts and sciences. </p>
<p>If I were to go to the college, I’d either be a Biochemistry (if they let me make that major up) or a Neuroscience major. If I were to go to the engineering school, it’d be biomedical engineering. </p>
<p>Which of those two programs are stronger? (engineering vs. college science offerings).</p>
<p>Please help! Apps are due soon…</p>
<p>The undergraduate Biomedical Engineering program is highly ranked, whereas UVA’s science departments are so-so. I would apply to the engineering school… you can make a transition to the college if you really feel the need to do a biochem (its a chem major BS with specialization) or neuro major.</p>
<p>The E-school at UVa gets a bad rap. Everyone I know in it is very smart (I know I couldn’t do that work) and they have a ridiculous workload. The E-school may not be the highest ranked department, but who cares. rankings are so arbitrary. Look at the e-schools average starting salary - that gives you an idea how good it is. </p>
<p>Anyway, one of my best friends does biomed at the e-school - and he’s always doing work, im sure its the same for chem majors in the college too, but overall - i would think about how much of a life you’d like to have outside of numbers. I rarely see him anymore (maybe once a week he goes out)</p>
<p>Well, I have a little different perspective. My son’s a third-year e-schooler. He seems to have lots of time for a wide range of social and extracurricular activities. But, I know he has to spend time studying, too. </p>
<p>I also just looked at the chemistry curriculim in the undergraduate record. A biochemistry specialization is about the same as any chemistry major, but adds two courses in biolgical chemistry. I think those upper-level courses, especially physical chemistry, will be just as tough as anything the e-school will throw at you. Believe me, I took all those courses, and thirty years later I still remember how hard they were!</p>
<p>You asked about which are “stronger”, as if there were a reliable ranking of these majors vs. similar majors at other schools. I know USN&WR tries to break down undergraduate majors in this way, but, please believe me on this, THEY MEAN NOTHING! It’s meaningless to talk about the “ranking” of UVa’s brand new BME major, for example. </p>
<p>If your credentials lean toward math and science, I think you’re better off going for the e-school. But, if you’re undecided between biochem and neuroscience, you probably won’t go wrong with the College. Is admissions in question? If so, I would lean toward the e-school.</p>
<p>I’d go for E-school. But be warned. I believe you anyone can get into the biochemistry major. The BME program requires studious work your first year, so that you have good enough gpa to apply the end of your first year. If you don’t get in, your only other choice is chemical engineering.</p>