So I'm about to enter my first year of college this fall at UT and I was wondering how you guys chose your major? I'm asking this is because, even though I pretty much have already registered for classes for my major, biomedical engineering, I was doubtful about what I was going to major in or what I was going to be. I mean I knew I wanted to be some kind of engineer, didn't know what type though. I was also interested at one point doing something further in advance mathematics/statistics or physics, or even going into the sports management field and being part of the statistical revolution in sports (Morey/Beane inspired me). I finally "settled" with biomedical engineering, and it's not like I'm unhappy about it, as I've always been interested in genetics, engineering artifical organs, and stuff like that, considering it was my high school biology teacher that got me interested in this field, but I keep thinking if I'm choosing the right path for my life. So I was just wondering, I mean how did you guys, choose your major? Did you guys have the same problem I did? Any advice you guys can give to young college kid like me? I also "plan" (things can change of course) to double major, with the other one in business.
i would stick to the basics for the first year or 2. Take some general classes and see what you like. I didnt choose a major until the deadline. I just took core classes in science, math and philosophy and figured out what i would like to learn more about.
I looked at projects I must enjoyed in high school and projects that I got to choose the topics. I noticed a trend towards environmental projects. I thought about going Civil, but my love of chemistry got me to go Chem E with an emphasis on the environmental side.
so when you go to your first job interview, they'll ask you. how did you find out that this was your calling? you say.. Clutch told me so..
I spent three years of my high school career wanting to be an architect. During my senior year, I needed an extra class, so I took one called Architectural Designs or something like that. The teacher was a complete a-hole that thought he was so much better than everyone else. He pretty much ruined any interest I had in the field, so I had to go back to the drawing board at what I wanted to major in. After about a month, I realized something... When any of my teammates in football and basketball had a question about plays or even general basketball knowledge, they came to me more times than they went to the coach. Considering how much I love sports, it became pretty obvious to me that I should become a high school coach. So that's what I'm doing. I'm about to start my final semester, where I'll be student teaching and getting ready to graduate.
I had a similar process. I thought I wanted to be a mechanical engineer, but I liked chemistry, so I ended up as a Chem E. I'm happy with it.
I agree with DonkeyMagic. Take your general ed classes first to get them out of the way. I went into college as a declared major, switched my second year and so I had two or three classes that were counted only towards my credits/hours/units requirements. So those were basically worthless, and it didn't give me the chance to take other classes that I was really interested in down the road. Stick with what they make you do first, you're more than likely going to change your mind at least once, so give yourself that flexibility. Good luck and have a blast during the best years of your life
Anything that doesn't require math is worthless, so that should be your starting off point. Anything that has Arts in the name is also probably worthless too. Basically look for the best amalgamation of the big four: biology, physics, chemistry and math. Also, make sure you take Honors English, English 101 is for people who just learned English a couple days before classes started. I picked Biochemistry/Molecular Biophysics and Applied Mathematics as my majors. A word of warning: Organic Chemistry is so easy it hurts.
Geophysics. I was a geology major myself at UofH, but I can see now that the money and jobs are going the way of the latest-and-greatest technology. That area happens to be filled with geophysicist whose starting salaries are higher than most any other graduate degree (masters), bar none, my TA made out with a king's ransom by cutting his PhD short with a masters.
I would have to agree with this guy, I majored in Commerce and now regret it. I'm 27 and thinking about going to school to do geological/environmental engineering. Don't know why I did accounting to begin with, I've always found math and physics to be easy and interesting. The best way to find out about which engineering you are interested in, is by going and talking to people in those fields. My brother and father are both petroleum engineers, they get paid a lot more money than almost all other engineers, might be something to look into if money is a major motivation.
Haha. I rarely post on CF, but I thought this was interesting seeing as I'm also a BME major at UT right now. I'll be a senior right now and my impression of BME is that it's only the right major for you if you wish to pursue a medical degree or become some sort of research scientist. If you plan to enter industry, a major like EE will better suit you as there aren't many BME-specific jobs available. Even if you decide to get your degree in EE, you can specialize in a BME specific track and therefore get a BME-related job in the future. Hope this helps--also I recommend signing up for the Beta Mu Epsilon mentor program that you were introduced to during orientation.
OP, have you thought about what you want to do after you graduate? join the workforce? continue your education? as a UT BME grad (c/o '06), i would say that BME gives you some options, but not as many as a physics or math major. all tech and science companies need people who can do math. unfortunately, the BME program doesn't require a high level math course--diff eq is as hard as it gets, and that was a coast of a course. getting a job can be difficult with a BME degree since the field is relatively new and companies don't know your skill set. i would say most BMEs end up at a lab bench working 35-50k jobs. i have other friends at consulting firms who don't do anything bio-related. it's all math, programming, data analysis, things that are more suited for math/physics/business majors. the vast majority of BMEs end up continuing their education, be it in med school, grad school, or law school. BME was my calling though, seeing how i'm still in the field and loving it. if i were to do it all over again, however, i would've picked math, physics, or a traditional engineering major as an undergrad and then BME in grad school.
I thought about posting something like this, but I don't have first-hand knowledge. I just know several people with biomechanical engineering degrees that went back to school for a degree in traditional engineering fields. I think most people working in biomechanical engineering have degrees in mainline engineering disciplines.
