Thinking of majoring in Biomedical Engineering and doing Pre-Med

[QueHuong]

A recent thread reminded me that I wanted to ask this question. OK, I'm gonna be a freshman at UCincinnati this fall and currently, my major is electrical engineering. Recently, I am beginning to seriously consider becoming a doctor since the stress, slow salary increase, and the lower job security (compared to doctors) of engineers are discouraging me from becoming one. At the same time, doctors can directly make a difference in people's lives and the great job security (when the economy is down, engineers can get fired, whereas doctors are always needed), the great pay, and the prestige are looking very nice to me.

On the other hand, I never did like the anatomy and biology classes I took in high school - but then again, it's only high school and I didn't try in those classes so I didn't get good grades. But I know that if I do well, I'll start to love those classes. And though I don't like general biology, I find the more specific branches absolutely fascinating, such as stem cells, cloning, and (I know this has a horrible connotation) eugenics. But I doubt biomed dwells into those subjects

So on to my main concern: whether or not I should major in biomedical engineering. I know I have a better chance of getting into med school if I major in engineering rather than biology or chemistry (assuming I get the same GPA). But this major is a new major at UCincinnati - it's only 2 or three years old so the curriculum might not as good as it should be. In addition, I heard two conflicting views on finding a job with a BS in BME: 1) biomedical engineering is more research applied, if one wants to work as a biomed engineer, he should get a master's or better. Then there's the other argument: unlike EE, BME is not a mature field - there aren't a lot of biomed engineers out there so finding a job would be easier than an EE.

Questions:

1) Just in case I don't pursue med school, how is the job outlook for a dude holding a biomedical engineering bachelor degree?

2) Is its curriculum good preparation for the MCAT, and maybe med school? UC BME curr.

3) Risks of taking of only a 2-3 year old major?

4) Anyone who majored in BME can tell me anything about it?

 

[axelfox]

become a dentist..no "taking it up the ass" residency

Seriously though, do what you enjoy...money should come in a distance second, third, fourth, fifth, etc .

 

[RGN]

You have to end up doing something that you love. If you don't it will consume you whole life.

 

[FrontlineWarrior]

you're not gonna get the same grades in bio or chem as you'd get in engineering, unless you're a genius and get a 4.0 in both subjects. my understanding is that engineering courses are much harder and the curve is much tougher.

 

[Draknor]

Funny you should bring this up, since it's come up in my life recently...

I'm a senior EE, graduating in May with a BSEE (from Bradley Univ, Peoria IL). This summer in Minneapolis doing an internship & some networking (the social kind, not the hardware ) I've talked with some friends & profs who are EEs, and I've heard the biomedical tech field is really hot; plus it's not as volatile as the telecom industry. But the people I've talked with so far have said, if you want to get into biomed engineering (by this I mean medical devices, not research-type stuff), stick with the EE degree, and adapt to the biomed field.

The reasoning is this - getting an EE degree gives you the most flexibility in career choices. You are taught to think in a logical manner, follow a process through, analyze systems, troubleshoot, design, hardware, probably some software, etc. Basically, you are learning engineering discipline from an EE perspective. Then, you can apply that to whatever field/specialization you want to go into: biomedical technology, telecom, power engineering, systems, controls, wireless, etc. The specialization stuff you'll learn as you get into it; it's the baseline EE discipline that helps you to succeed & excel.

Of course, if you are contemplating becoming a doctor, that's a whole new ballgame

I'd say, if you like engineering, stick with it. If you don't like it, find something else that you do like. I'm getting excited about the opportunities I might have next year, when I graduate - it's a scary thought!

 

[Renob]

Thinking of majoring in Biomedical Engineering and doing Pre-Med

I see your taking the easy path through school.

 

[gopunk]

i was pre-med, and am now going into computer science.

here are my reasons against medicine:

you have to REALLY LOVE medicine, which i don't
it takes a tremendous amount of schooling
hospitals are hella political
if you're going to be a higher end doctor (surgeon or whatnot), you'll always be on call and have very little time for your family.

 

[rgwalt]

Well, another option to avoid the young department but still be exposed to some of the necessary classes would be chemical engineering. Check out the school's ChemE department and see if they offer a pre-med option. The good news is that chemical engineers are always in demand so if you don't like med school you can walk out and into a job with a solid salary. There were several ChemE's in my class that went on to med school.

Not for me though... I never liked needles. Then again, I couldn't be a EE. I'm not too good with what goes on inside the little black boxes they call circuits.

Besides, ChemE's are the coolest engineers around because we learn the principles behind brewing beer AND distilling alcohol.

Ryan

 

[QueHuong]

Well guys, I just switched over to biomed engineering mechanics this morning. Man I'm scared of its curriculum, but I'm gonna try to brave it. Over the last few weeks, I have been AGONIZING over what major to pick, there were:

psychology
electrical engineering
biomedical engineering mechanics
computer science

And there were pros and cons for each..so yeah, I had a hard time deciding. Hope I made the right decision...

 

[dethman]

good luck, i tried to get into bioE a few years back but the program was too underdeveloped at my school. also i was bio going into engineering so that didn't go so well when everyone was engineering learning bio. got me a free all expenses paid trip to johns hopkins though so i'm not complaining

if you're going to be a higher end doctor (surgeon or whatnot), you'll always be on call and have very little time for your family.

not true, if you're really f'n smart and get a residency in radiology, opthamalogy, anesthesiology, dermatology or orthopedics, you'll make tons of money and still have plenty of time for family.

 

[Imported]

I was thinking of going into Biomedical Engineering as well, but decided to stay in Computer Engineering.. If the current job markets remain what they are, I might just have to take up BiomedE. I'm a freshmen this fall so I still have time I think.. :[

 

[aolsuxs]

Do what you love, love what you do. If your interested in being a doctor I seriously reccomend you consider some sort of job shadowing/internships. Tons of people are interested in becoming few realize how it actually is. Its not exactly how it is portrayed in ER and TV. As I said doing some shadowing or internship will show you the real hospital enviroment, the sights, sounds and smells. I wasn't too sure what I wanted to go into but senior year in HS I took a "health occupations" class and now I currently don't see my self becoming anything else in the future. BTW I'll be a Biotech major at UCD in the fall. As someone said earlier in the thread theres a lot of cons of a doctor. You have tons of schooling, med school/residency will be pretty damn tough. You may always be on call depending on what you go into, but in the end, after a hard day of work, if I better just one other person's life by my actions then I am ahappy person

 

[gopunk]

if you're going to be a higher end doctor (surgeon or whatnot), you'll always be on call and have very little time for your family.

not true, if you're really f'n smart and get a residency in radiology, opthamalogy, anesthesiology, dermatology or orthopedics, you'll make tons of money and still have plenty of time for family.

that's not what i had in mind when i said "higher end".

 

[SubZeroX]

If you want to get into med school, your GPA will be very important. You'll need at least a 3.5 to be reasonable sure you're gonna get in. Getting a 3.5 in engineering will be pretty tough unless you're pretty smart. I'd suggest getting into something easier like biochemistry or just plain biology. Make no mistake, those "regular" pre-med majors are also pretty tough because there will be a lot of competition, but it'll definitely be easier than any engineering major.