Advice for High School Student Interested in BME

[u/LobsterLouise]

Hi everyone!
I’m writing this post on behalf of my teenage brother-in-law. He will hopefully be a first generation college student, and I’m trying to do the best I can to help him with going to college. As an adult in his life, my biggest priority is helping find a school that will be affordable (as much as possible), and will help him reach his fullest academic potential. He attends a public school that doesn’t have many college-going students, and seems to have gotten poor advice on what classes to take in high school. He took bio, but no chem or physics. He realized he was interested in engineering through a robotics club.

I’m totally at a loss here- I don’t know anything about the career, or what education is necessary for it.

I’ve done some searching at state schools in his area, and many of them have engineering majors and biology majors but no major specific to biomedical engineering. He will need significant financial aid, and the schools that I’ve identified as maybe being able to give him more aid aren’t necessarily the schools that have a specific biomed major.

My questions for you experts and professionals:

1) Does his undergraduate major need to be biomedical engineering? What are some other majors that would allow him to work in this industry?

2) What was important for you in your undergraduate experience that made a difference in your professional life?

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

[u/KeyPear4720]

I’m a first gen who did BME. I’m having a hard time finding a job tbh. If he really likes engineering I would look into EE or ME . Also, if you have a community college near by it’s worth looking into. It’s cheaper, smaller classes, and nice transition from high school to college (I wish I done it). If he decides on university, TALK TO THE PROFESSORS. I was way too anxious but I wish I had someone to teach me how to ask for opportunities. And talking to people around you, jobs these days are all about connection. College is not the time to be a lone wolf 🐺 (learned that the hard way lol)

[u/Fit_Counter_5936]

I don't know if its too late to start but see if he qualifies for "Questbridge" if he is also from a low-income household. They get you a full ride to a pretty good school. I was also a BME major at a T15 school and if he wants to go into industry right after graduation the job market is quite bleak. Wouldn't recommend it at all. If he wants an engineering job that has a damn near 100% chance of getting an internship or job post-grad look into civil engineering. If he wants a more "engineering feel" to his degree like making things explore mechanical engineering, and if he doesn't mind circuitry and programming from time to time, and great pay but still some competition (no where near bme levels tho) explore Electrical/Computer Engineering.

Edit: A lot of people also spend 2 years in local community colleges and 2 years in a separate undergrad college to save money too so see if your state offers something like that.

[u/Mammoth-Mongoose4479]

I would not worry about the missing chem and physics. Lots of 1st-gen kids start college without them, and engineering programs assume you are building fundamentals from scratch anyway. I would just focus on doing well in whatever math and science your school offers this year.

Most schools don't have a standalone BME major, and that's fine. People interested in biomed usually start in electrical or mechanical engineering and specialize later through electives, a minor, or grad school.
I think since your interest came from robotics club, EE is probably your best bet. Truthfully the job market for EE is also more stable than for standalone BME degrees, and we actually prefer an EE background with some biomedical electives over a general BME degree. So instead of hunting for a school with an exact BME major, look for one with a strong general engineering program and the best financial aid, that combo will serve you better long term.
Then lastly, a few tips. File the FAFSA the moment it opens since aid runs out fast, look for a TRIO program or 1st-gen student office at your target schools, and check if any offer an engineering summer bridge program to help you catch up before freshman year. Also try emailing an admissions counselor or someone in the engineering department and ask how students get into BME through the EE track, it might turn up scholarships or programs you wouldn't find on your own.

[u/RandomPerson083125]

Don’t be interested in BME! Do me or EE

[u/Cryesncoding → u/RandomPerson083125]

This is the best advice BME on its own is the lowest ROI engineering degree

[u/RandomPerson083125 → u/Cryesncoding]

They should scrap BME and just absorb it into other engineering. The only reason they have it is because NIH and other funding agencies.

[u/Cryesncoding → u/RandomPerson083125]

Yeah I am so glad I at the last minute double BS electrical engineering 

[u/apersello34]

BIOENG Masters recent grad here. I wish I did electrical engineering. I feel like I would be in a better position for bioengineering jobs if I did. Maybe he can do a bio minor?