5 answers
Dania
Student
Dammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
1
Question
Asked
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how do i know if biomedical engineering is good for me?
I like biology, technology, learning about the human body, saving lives, and research.
I don't like math but I can tolerate it a little bit.
hopefully one day i will choose a major that includes all of my interests.
#biology #engineering #science #biomedicalengineering #stem #research #career #interests #college #major #engineer
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5 answers
Sarah Golob
Engineer
2
Answers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Sarah’s Answer
You definitely don't need to make a decision about your career AFTER college at the beginning of your schooling. While it could be helpful to help chart your classes for college, you ultimately want to choose a career that makes you feel satisfied with your day-to-day work. Like previously said, you don't have to love everything about your major, just how in the workplace, you won't love everything about your job and that's okay. College is about finding out what you like, what you are good at, and usually choose a major that combines the two to make for a good experience all around.
Biomedical engineering, being a "newer" engineering discipline compared to others, emerged historically from chemical engineering. A lot of engineers in the workplace have different disciplines but can end up working for companies emphasizing other disciplines (i.e. A Mechanical Engineering major can work for a Chemical Engineering / Biomedical Engineering company). Your major does NOT solely dictate what company you can work for.
Engineering, regardless of specialty, requires science, math, critical thinking, and problem-solving. I almost got a Math minor in college with the number of math classes I had to take just to get my Engineering degree.
Being a female in engineering, I would also be prepared for the inevitable scenarios of being one of few women in your classes. This was never a hindrance for me, but being aware that this is the reality as more and more women are emerging in STEM courses takes the shock out of it. In the workplace, I am fortunate enough to work alongside plenty of women and still in a diverse workplace, so pushing through the coursework in college will get you to the other side of the industry ready to hit the ground running in any work environment.
Look at the BMES website: https://www.bmes.org/
Review your BME department's website / talk to professors about your interests and if the coursework align to your interests.
Reach out to your college's BMES chapter (if they have one) to talk to current BME students
Biomedical engineering, being a "newer" engineering discipline compared to others, emerged historically from chemical engineering. A lot of engineers in the workplace have different disciplines but can end up working for companies emphasizing other disciplines (i.e. A Mechanical Engineering major can work for a Chemical Engineering / Biomedical Engineering company). Your major does NOT solely dictate what company you can work for.
Engineering, regardless of specialty, requires science, math, critical thinking, and problem-solving. I almost got a Math minor in college with the number of math classes I had to take just to get my Engineering degree.
Being a female in engineering, I would also be prepared for the inevitable scenarios of being one of few women in your classes. This was never a hindrance for me, but being aware that this is the reality as more and more women are emerging in STEM courses takes the shock out of it. In the workplace, I am fortunate enough to work alongside plenty of women and still in a diverse workplace, so pushing through the coursework in college will get you to the other side of the industry ready to hit the ground running in any work environment.
Sarah recommends the following next steps:
Luciano Gehrke
Engineer
23
Answers
São Paulo, Brazil
Updated
Luciano’s Answer
You already like many things about Biomedical Engineering.
You may not like math, but you will have to live with it, not only in your work, but in your daily life in general.
My recommendation is to look for someone you know who already works in the area and visit (schedule an interview or meeting with), or visit a school hospital, where research is done in this area, or even a university where you can talk to some teachers / professors.
The fields of work in biomedical engineering are very wide and you can enjoy and work in many of them, even living with a little mathematics.
But, I tell you that with software or programming, coexistence will be inevitable.
Good Luck!
You may not like math, but you will have to live with it, not only in your work, but in your daily life in general.
My recommendation is to look for someone you know who already works in the area and visit (schedule an interview or meeting with), or visit a school hospital, where research is done in this area, or even a university where you can talk to some teachers / professors.
The fields of work in biomedical engineering are very wide and you can enjoy and work in many of them, even living with a little mathematics.
But, I tell you that with software or programming, coexistence will be inevitable.
Good Luck!
Mickael Rosenberg
Software Engineer
261
Answers
Bellevue, Washington
Updated
Mickael’s Answer
how do i know if biomedical engineering is good for me?
Think about this: if you choose a job in the biomedical engineering, you will spend a major part of your time doing this. So can you
- work 8+ hours a day, 5+ days a week doing this?
- work in this domain with time constraints?
- accept to finish an activity even if not perfect?
- accept that your ideas be implemented by someone else (even if they remain your idea)?
- having your day to day activity not controlled by you but the needs of the moment?
- like what you are doing?
If you can answer yes to all of them, then it is something you can make a career about. I love video games, but that is definitely not something I would have liked to work as a developer. Really. I did end up being a Software Engineer because I can say yes to all questions above, but not for games.
I hope that helps.
Think about this: if you choose a job in the biomedical engineering, you will spend a major part of your time doing this. So can you
- work 8+ hours a day, 5+ days a week doing this?
- work in this domain with time constraints?
- accept to finish an activity even if not perfect?
- accept that your ideas be implemented by someone else (even if they remain your idea)?
- having your day to day activity not controlled by you but the needs of the moment?
- like what you are doing?
If you can answer yes to all of them, then it is something you can make a career about. I love video games, but that is definitely not something I would have liked to work as a developer. Really. I did end up being a Software Engineer because I can say yes to all questions above, but not for games.
I hope that helps.
Erica O'Neil
Medical Device Process Development Engineer
5
Answers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Erica’s Answer
Lots of great answers here. The only thing I’d add is that you can also change your major after you start a BME program in college! I had a friend in college who transferred to mechanical engineering after 2 years. As for myself I started in Biochemistry and changed majors and colleges within my university to Biomedical engineering after my first semester. I also have two friends from engineering school who tried it for a few years after college but then shifted to something completely different!
It’s definitely good to be thinking about what you want to do after college- but don’t put too much pressure on yourself to have it all figured out at any given point in time. Life should be a constant re-assessment of what your interests and aspirations are.
It’s definitely good to be thinking about what you want to do after college- but don’t put too much pressure on yourself to have it all figured out at any given point in time. Life should be a constant re-assessment of what your interests and aspirations are.
Zahid Iqbal
Software Engineer
119
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Zahid’s Answer
You don't have to choose a major that includes all your interest. People usually chose a major something they are very good at and excel at or something they are passionate about or in some cases a major chosen out of circumstance (for making lot of money or limited to education cost).
Biomedical engineering as the name suggests, requires you to be good at both, science and math. There is lot of math involved in engineering field. If you don't like math then see the number of math classes required for this major and then see if that's something you can tolerate or get through. Perhaps, medicine or bio-science may be a better option. Due to restrictions on opposite gender interaction and doctor/patient treatment availability, doing medicine may give you a leg up in that society.
But if you still wondering Is Biomedical Engineering Right For Me, then have a read here:
https://et.iupui.edu/departments/bme/about/is-biomedical-engineering-right-for-me
Biomedical engineering as the name suggests, requires you to be good at both, science and math. There is lot of math involved in engineering field. If you don't like math then see the number of math classes required for this major and then see if that's something you can tolerate or get through. Perhaps, medicine or bio-science may be a better option. Due to restrictions on opposite gender interaction and doctor/patient treatment availability, doing medicine may give you a leg up in that society.
But if you still wondering Is Biomedical Engineering Right For Me, then have a read here:
https://et.iupui.edu/departments/bme/about/is-biomedical-engineering-right-for-me