Engineering + Pre-Med

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a pre-med, not engineering, just curious, is goal to have a good backup career option or real interest in both and torn?

I do believe that's what OP was thinking/asking before this thread got hijacked. The path to becoming a doctor is so difficult, OP is thinking working as an engineer if becoming a doctor is unattainable.

Yep.

Well, to answer from my kid’s experience. It’s not a common option at my kid’s Ivy, but school also isn’t known for engineering. That being said, probably one of the easier to make it work though for that reason.

Premed is such a challenging path with so much required outside of difficult classwork. Engineering seems similar in that project teams are such a big deal it seems? It would be very difficult I’d presume and probably guarantee gap years to get required hours completed would be my guess, but I understand the thought process. It’s just difficult to go all-in as needed and choose another difficult major without a lot of overlap in classes or requirements.

BME and ChemE majors with good GPAs and MCATs do well in med school admissions. The AO at med schools know that getting a 3.8 as a BME/ChemE is much more difficult than as a Psychology major with a Spanish minor.

I wasn’t suggesting otherwise, I was saying they don’t get a gold star for engineering versus other majors.

[Anonymous]

They love humanities and language majors too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a pre-med, not engineering, just curious, is goal to have a good backup career option or real interest in both and torn?

I do believe that's what OP was thinking/asking before this thread got hijacked. The path to becoming a doctor is so difficult, OP is thinking working as an engineer if becoming a doctor is unattainable.

Yep.

Well, to answer from my kid’s experience. It’s not a common option at my kid’s Ivy, but school also isn’t known for engineering. That being said, probably one of the easier to make it work though for that reason.

Premed is such a challenging path with so much required outside of difficult classwork. Engineering seems similar in that project teams are such a big deal it seems? It would be very difficult I’d presume and probably guarantee gap years to get required hours completed would be my guess, but I understand the thought process. It’s just difficult to go all-in as needed and choose another difficult major without a lot of overlap in classes or requirements.

BME and ChemE majors with good GPAs and MCATs do well in med school admissions. The AO at med schools know that getting a 3.8 as a BME/ChemE is much more difficult than as a Psychology major with a Spanish minor.

Providing you have MCAT to support that. A Psych major with 3.8 GPA/520 MCAT vs BME/ChemE with 3.8/520? I am not sure how much advantage your major will help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[youtube]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A thread of ChemE students and grads explaining that you don’t need Ochem at all: https://www.reddit.com/r/ChemicalEngineering/comments/ji309v/is_organic_chemistry_course_important_for/. Ochem has really nothing to do with what an engineer does, at all. Thermodynamics is extremely important, however.

But most Chem E programs require it (at least in the T75 schools)

My Chem E major would agree that it's not really used. They hated it, but loved thermo (which is a good thing for a chem E major).

They don’t.

Well the 8-10 programs my kid applied to required at least Orgo 1, many required Orgo 1&2

Same with mine, just checked all 14 programs they applied to.

yeah the previous Troll is clueless about the Chem E Programs.

Yes! Our 2nd large state school (ranked in the 150+ range) requires 2 semesters of Orgo for a Chem E major. My kid started looking at 20+ schools and then narrowed it down, and ALL of them required at least 1 semester of Orgo. And every single one had "technical electives/advanced Chem course" required that could be filled with Orgo 2 (if that wasn't a major requirement already). so back to the OP question, yes it's not that difficult to meet the academic prerequisites for med school with a Chem E and BME major. Even easier if you have a few AP credits to open up space (which most kids heading to medical school have)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to take all the required pre-med classes while completing an engineering degree, preferably in 4 years?

Which classes are typically more difficult, engineering or med school prerequisites?

Engineering courses overlap with premed. Premeds do not have to take thermodynamics, quantum, or fluid mechanics which are much harder than orgo and physics (generally thought to be the hardest four premed semesters). Engineers who are not premed often have to take orgo and phyiscs too(chemE, biomolecular, materials).

Of course it is possible to be an engineer and a premed. I went to a top school that has engineering and many of my undergrad friends graduated in 4 yrs, BME, and are all physicians now. To be fair they often had an easier time with the MCAT because they had many more difficult courses than we did as regular premeds.
My premed son is at a different ivy, he is aiming MDPhD and will easily finish in 4 yrs, as do essentially all in Engineering there, unless they choose to do a 4+1 masters (not a typical premed option though some do). The medical school admission rate is very high from BME at this school, about 90%. A 5th year for undergrad is almost unheard of for engineering or any major there, premed or not. Courses are guaranteed though, so there is no registration issue at play which may occur at large schools.
Bio/molecular or biomedical engineering overlaps the most with premed. Engineers generally take 5 classes a semester; students who are non-engineering bio or chem majors (or any arts&sci major) take 4 most semesters. One of DC's friends is Materials Eng and premed; that seems to overlap well too due to chem, orgo, and physics requirements.

Premed coursework. This flow assumes no AP or other place-out, though at top schools many can skip a couple of semesters--upper level engineering is plenty of extra science coursework so med schools do not care if they skip intro physics or bio. Non engineers who skip intros due to AP are often expected to take upper levels in the same discipline.
1st year: gen chem 2 semesters, math 2 semesters(calc2 &stats or upper math if ahead). physics 1&2 is needed for engineers, leaves 2 openings per semester for intro engineering requirements and writing/language/humanities electives. For most non-premed engineering students they take a similar load to this.
2nd yr: orgo 1&2, GenBio/upper level bio (or could do physics here and bios first year, depending on the school), leaves 3 openings per semester for engineering coursework, and rest of math needed, which may overlap with those already taken.
3rd year: biochem 1, upperlevel BME counts as upper level bios, psychology, leaving a lot of room each semester for engineering courses and humanities electives.
4th year: wide open for the rest of engineering, and all premed reqs done so that one could take the MCAT after 3rd year.

Sorry but what a crock of BS. Engineers do not typically take orgo or any quantum mechanics. Engineers tend to take an intro and intermediate mechanics course, intro E&M, thermo, intro chemistry and an electronics course

False.
Organic chem is required for chemE at both my kids T10s and is listed for materials E in some places. Its listed for molecular Engineering in other top places. Quantum mechanics is part of the curriculum for multiple different Engineering disciplines. E&M the same E&M the physics majors take is required for all.
Top Engineering school programs go beyond minimal ABET.
Even in Engineering where orgo is not required, doing it in addition to engineering is simply not that hard for bright science minded kids. Orgo is less difficult than many engineering courses.

Other than a special quantum engineering degree, I can't think of any engineering degree even at a top school that requires quantum mechanics. And at top schools, the engineers take a different, easier EM course than the physics majors.

It is required for materials engineering at my kid's top10 school and most of the other engineering programs they were accepted to. And they take the same E&M as physics majors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[youtube]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A thread of ChemE students and grads explaining that you don’t need Ochem at all: https://www.reddit.com/r/ChemicalEngineering/comments/ji309v/is_organic_chemistry_course_important_for/. Ochem has really nothing to do with what an engineer does, at all. Thermodynamics is extremely important, however.

But most Chem E programs require it (at least in the T75 schools)

My Chem E major would agree that it's not really used. They hated it, but loved thermo (which is a good thing for a chem E major).

They don’t.

Well the 8-10 programs my kid applied to required at least Orgo 1, many required Orgo 1&2

Same with mine, just checked all 14 programs they applied to.

yeah the previous Troll is clueless about the Chem E Programs.

Yes! Our 2nd large state school (ranked in the 150+ range) requires 2 semesters of Orgo for a Chem E major. My kid started looking at 20+ schools and then narrowed it down, and ALL of them required at least 1 semester of Orgo. And every single one had "technical electives/advanced Chem course" required that could be filled with Orgo 2 (if that wasn't a major requirement already). so back to the OP question, yes it's not that difficult to meet the academic prerequisites for med school with a Chem E and BME major. Even easier if you have a few AP credits to open up space (which most kids heading to medical school have)

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a pre-med, not engineering, just curious, is goal to have a good backup career option or real interest in both and torn?

I do believe that's what OP was thinking/asking before this thread got hijacked. The path to becoming a doctor is so difficult, OP is thinking working as an engineer if becoming a doctor is unattainable.

Yep.

Well, to answer from my kid’s experience. It’s not a common option at my kid’s Ivy, but school also isn’t known for engineering. That being said, probably one of the easier to make it work though for that reason.

Premed is such a challenging path with so much required outside of difficult classwork. Engineering seems similar in that project teams are such a big deal it seems? It would be very difficult I’d presume and probably guarantee gap years to get required hours completed would be my guess, but I understand the thought process. It’s just difficult to go all-in as needed and choose another difficult major without a lot of overlap in classes or requirements.

BME and ChemE majors with good GPAs and MCATs do well in med school admissions. The AO at med schools know that getting a 3.8 as a BME/ChemE is much more difficult than as a Psychology major with a Spanish minor.

Providing you have MCAT to support that. A Psych major with 3.8 GPA/520 MCAT vs BME/ChemE with 3.8/520? I am not sure how much advantage your major will help.

It would come down to all the other stuff, quality and amount of clinical, research, leadership, and volunteer hours. I don’t have an engineer, but have one in another very tough major. Wish the rigor was taken into account, but it isn’t. Told them being at a T10 school I’ll be, not the major chosen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People are severely sidetracked. I have no concern that an engineering student can get through premed course requirements ( and take quantum mechanics for whatever reason) and get As, but where are they going to find the time to do all the rest needed for med school apps?

summers are used at DS college. Research in the semester with faculty is more likely guaranteed paid in the semester versus summer, 6-10 hrs a week. All engineers do it not just premed. Premeds will usually get clinical jobs in the summer at the hospital and continue research part time to make progress on publishable data. There are a lot of community volunteer clubs students do which boost the resume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a pre-med, not engineering, just curious, is goal to have a good backup career option or real interest in both and torn?

I do believe that's what OP was thinking/asking before this thread got hijacked. The path to becoming a doctor is so difficult, OP is thinking working as an engineer if becoming a doctor is unattainable.

Yep.

Well, to answer from my kid’s experience. It’s not a common option at my kid’s Ivy, but school also isn’t known for engineering. That being said, probably one of the easier to make it work though for that reason.

Premed is such a challenging path with so much required outside of difficult classwork. Engineering seems similar in that project teams are such a big deal it seems? It would be very difficult I’d presume and probably guarantee gap years to get required hours completed would be my guess, but I understand the thought process. It’s just difficult to go all-in as needed and choose another difficult major without a lot of overlap in classes or requirements.

BME and ChemE majors with good GPAs and MCATs do well in med school admissions. The AO at med schools know that getting a 3.8 as a BME/ChemE is much more difficult than as a Psychology major with a Spanish minor.

Providing you have MCAT to support that. A Psych major with 3.8 GPA/520 MCAT vs BME/ChemE with 3.8/520? I am not sure how much advantage your major will help.

The gpa /mcat data from the engineering school at DS ivy versus the arts and sciences school indicates that the same GPA and MCAT leads to a higher percent MD acceptance rate for the E school. However, there is no breakdown for physics or chem undergrad major versus history. Maybe Engineering versus non-E stem would be the same?
Both are sky high compared to the national average, does not really matter I suppose. It would be nice to see if other schools break it down that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a pre-med, not engineering, just curious, is goal to have a good backup career option or real interest in both and torn?

I do believe that's what OP was thinking/asking before this thread got hijacked. The path to becoming a doctor is so difficult, OP is thinking working as an engineer if becoming a doctor is unattainable.

Yep.

Well, to answer from my kid’s experience. It’s not a common option at my kid’s Ivy, but school also isn’t known for engineering. That being said, probably one of the easier to make it work though for that reason.

Premed is such a challenging path with so much required outside of difficult classwork. Engineering seems similar in that project teams are such a big deal it seems? It would be very difficult I’d presume and probably guarantee gap years to get required hours completed would be my guess, but I understand the thought process. It’s just difficult to go all-in as needed and choose another difficult major without a lot of overlap in classes or requirements.

BME and ChemE majors with good GPAs and MCATs do well in med school admissions. The AO at med schools know that getting a 3.8 as a BME/ChemE is much more difficult than as a Psychology major with a Spanish minor.

Providing you have MCAT to support that. A Psych major with 3.8 GPA/520 MCAT vs BME/ChemE with 3.8/520? I am not sure how much advantage your major will help.

It would come down to all the other stuff, quality and amount of clinical, research, leadership, and volunteer hours. I don’t have an engineer, but have one in another very tough major. Wish the rigor was taken into account, but it isn’t. Told them being at a T10 school I’ll be, not the major chosen.

Which t10, name it. I wouldn’t money it is not the same upper div e&m students need for physics grad school but just a basic e&m class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a pre-med, not engineering, just curious, is goal to have a good backup career option or real interest in both and torn?

I do believe that's what OP was thinking/asking before this thread got hijacked. The path to becoming a doctor is so difficult, OP is thinking working as an engineer if becoming a doctor is unattainable.

Yep.

Well, to answer from my kid’s experience. It’s not a common option at my kid’s Ivy, but school also isn’t known for engineering. That being said, probably one of the easier to make it work though for that reason.

Premed is such a challenging path with so much required outside of difficult classwork. Engineering seems similar in that project teams are such a big deal it seems? It would be very difficult I’d presume and probably guarantee gap years to get required hours completed would be my guess, but I understand the thought process. It’s just difficult to go all-in as needed and choose another difficult major without a lot of overlap in classes or requirements.

BME and ChemE majors with good GPAs and MCATs do well in med school admissions. The AO at med schools know that getting a 3.8 as a BME/ChemE is much more difficult than as a Psychology major with a Spanish minor.

It largely doesn’t matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a pre-med, not engineering, just curious, is goal to have a good backup career option or real interest in both and torn?

I do believe that's what OP was thinking/asking before this thread got hijacked. The path to becoming a doctor is so difficult, OP is thinking working as an engineer if becoming a doctor is unattainable.

Yep.

Well, to answer from my kid’s experience. It’s not a common option at my kid’s Ivy, but school also isn’t known for engineering. That being said, probably one of the easier to make it work though for that reason.

Premed is such a challenging path with so much required outside of difficult classwork. Engineering seems similar in that project teams are such a big deal it seems? It would be very difficult I’d presume and probably guarantee gap years to get required hours completed would be my guess, but I understand the thought process. It’s just difficult to go all-in as needed and choose another difficult major without a lot of overlap in classes or requirements.

BME and ChemE majors with good GPAs and MCATs do well in med school admissions. The AO at med schools know that getting a 3.8 as a BME/ChemE is much more difficult than as a Psychology major with a Spanish minor.

Providing you have MCAT to support that. A Psych major with 3.8 GPA/520 MCAT vs BME/ChemE with 3.8/520? I am not sure how much advantage your major will help.

It would come down to all the other stuff, quality and amount of clinical, research, leadership, and volunteer hours. I don’t have an engineer, but have one in another very tough major. Wish the rigor was taken into account, but it isn’t. Told them being at a T10 school I’ll be, not the major chosen.

My kid's med school classmates are from all over the places - top tier schools (Ivy, Stanford, Duke...etc.) but also many state Unis. The only big-name schools missing are Princeton, MIT, and Caltech.

[Anonymous]

It’s embarrassing seeing people who know nothing about physics trying to argue that it makes any sense for the physics and engineering students to take the same sequence beyond intro mechanics/e&m. Even thermodynamics is fundamentally different between engineers and physics, because there’s applied aspects engineers really need to know that physicists have no business going into, and vice versa for the theoretical statistical mechanics. Engineers went a lot more into engines than physics majors, but I really don’t know many engineers who like math enough to do the statistical mechanics course we took, versus their thermodynamics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a pre-med, not engineering, just curious, is goal to have a good backup career option or real interest in both and torn?

I do believe that's what OP was thinking/asking before this thread got hijacked. The path to becoming a doctor is so difficult, OP is thinking working as an engineer if becoming a doctor is unattainable.

Yep.

Well, to answer from my kid’s experience. It’s not a common option at my kid’s Ivy, but school also isn’t known for engineering. That being said, probably one of the easier to make it work though for that reason.

Premed is such a challenging path with so much required outside of difficult classwork. Engineering seems similar in that project teams are such a big deal it seems? It would be very difficult I’d presume and probably guarantee gap years to get required hours completed would be my guess, but I understand the thought process. It’s just difficult to go all-in as needed and choose another difficult major without a lot of overlap in classes or requirements.

BME and ChemE majors with good GPAs and MCATs do well in med school admissions. The AO at med schools know that getting a 3.8 as a BME/ChemE is much more difficult than as a Psychology major with a Spanish minor.

Providing you have MCAT to support that. A Psych major with 3.8 GPA/520 MCAT vs BME/ChemE with 3.8/520? I am not sure how much advantage your major will help.

It would come down to all the other stuff, quality and amount of clinical, research, leadership, and volunteer hours. I don’t have an engineer, but have one in another very tough major. Wish the rigor was taken into account, but it isn’t. Told them being at a T10 school I’ll be, not the major chosen.

My kid's med school classmates are from all over the places - top tier schools (Ivy, Stanford, Duke...etc.) but also many state Unis. The only big-name schools missing are Princeton, MIT, and Caltech.

Sounds about right. The schools with grade deflation.

[Anonymous]

3.8+ in engineering is so f'king hard