Future Career Question 4

[Nicholas_F]

Hello, I'm a high school student interested in the field of Engineering. I'm currently in the process of choosing a discipline to enter. The problem I am having is actually choosing a discipline that I feel I would enjoy for a career.

I am interested in Mathematics, Physics, and Mechanical designs and how those fields relate to Biology and Medical devices. I am also very interested in those applications when it comes to Nanotechnology. I have a lot of interests and a single discipline doesn't encompass them all. My plan was to get a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering and then get a Masters Degree in Biomedical Engineering because those two degrees seem to have what I'm looking for just separately. The reason I would want to take this degree plan is because Mechanical Engineering is way more broad than Biomedical Engineering, so if i happened to change my mind I would have many more options. Is this a good path to take? Are there any other disciplines or fields that I should be looking at instead?

 

[rb1957]

I think you've a well thought out plan. You may want to talk to schools that offer your Masters to see what they think ... maybe they have some prerequisites ? maybe they need some electives, maybe they need a larger medical component before the Masters ?? You might want to talk to potential employers.

Following your dream is a plan. It worked for me, not so well for my daughter.

Good Luck.

"Hoffen wir mal, dass alles gut geht !"
General Paulus, Nov 1942, outside Stalingrad after the launch of Operation Uranus.

 

[SwinnyGG]

I think you are on the right track - a mechanical engineering degree is definitely the most 'universal' of the engineering disciplines. If you have a BSME, you can qualify for a masters degree program in almost any more specific field.

You will also get exposed to a LOT of different fields in undergrad, from materials to structures to mathematical modeling/FEA etc etc etc. You may feel right now that you have too many interests and it's hard to narrow down - but chances are good that exposure to a wide range of specialties during your undergrad degree will allow you to parse out what you are actually interested in doing long term, versus what just interests you to learn about briefly.

In short, do it. You're way ahead of planning for a masters program at this point, so don't get too locked in on that. But mechanical engineering leaves you with possibly the widest prospects out of any bachelors degree program available (granted, I am biased).

 

[Gr8blu]

A lot of "biomedical" devices require some sort of power to operate - which could be pneumatic or stress/strain (i.e. mechanical engineering methods), but far more use body motion (piezoelectric), thermo-electric, or "pure" battery. Perhaps researching electrical engineering would be worthwhile on your part.

When asked why I chose electrical engineering (instead of some other branch), my answer is this. "I wanted something difficult, since I was paying for the degree out of my own pocket - something to make me want to learn. For me, holding a bolt in one hand and a nut in the other and twisting to get an idea of torque comes pretty easy, as do most mechanical concepts. However, there is no way I can grab a volt and and amp and slap them together to get power." What this means is I learn best by DOING (which might tip me toward a mech eng degree path). What works for you?

Converting energy to motion for more than half a century

 

[rb1957]

damn sparkies ! think they're good's gift to engineering ...

"Hoffen wir mal, dass alles gut geht !"
General Paulus, Nov 1942, outside Stalingrad after the launch of Operation Uranus.

 

[PABLO VAQUERO]

Your plan to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and then a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering seems like a well-thought-out approach, given your interests in Mathematics, Physics, Mechanical designs, Biology, and Medical devices. Mechanical Engineering indeed provides a broad foundation and can be applied to various industries, making it a versatile choice for your undergraduate studies.

Mechanical Engineering boards many aspects of designing, analyzing, and manufacturing mechanical systems, which can be useful when transitioning to Biomedical Engineering for your Master's degree. By combining these two disciplines, you can focus on the development and design of medical devices, biomechanics, and applications in nanotechnology, aligning with your interests.

In conclusion, your plan to pursue a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering and a Master's in Biomedical Engineering seems like a viable path. However, you should research and explore other interdisciplinary programs, minors, and opportunities that can help you tailor your education to match your interests and career goals.

 

[SwinnyGG]

you should research and explore other interdisciplinary programs, minors, and opportunities

Excellent advice from Pablo here.

In addition... internships, internships, internships.

Designing biomedical devices sounds super cool. So do lots of other engineering disciplines. But when you actually get into a biomedical device engineering job, you may find that things like giant piles of FDA paperwork make the job a lot less interesting than you originally anticipated. Get yourself out into the market as absolutely early as you possibly can. This will teach you what being an engineer is actually like - because is it nothing at all like you think it is, most likely. You will likely never have an engineering job that involves 50 hours a week of pure lab time 'building cool stuff'... most engineering jobs involve administration, government approvals, permits, design reviews, etc etc. The guy actually on the shop floor 'building cool stuff' is rarely an engineer.

 

[dik]

They aren't? I was never one for planning... decided to go into engineering, on the bus, on my way out to register for university.

-----*****-----
So strange to see the singularity approaching while the entire planet is rapidly turning into a hellscape. -John Coates

-Dik

 

[SWComposites]

hmmm, Pablo sounds like ChatGPT ..........

Nichola - you have a good plan. Once you get into engineering school you might change your plan, but that is ok; the first two years of engineering school is mostly the same across the various disciplines. Many engineering schools have outside of class project teams that you can join to gain additional experiences. And a BSME degree is a very good foundation for many possible career paths. Good luck!

 

[GregLocock]

Thanks ChatGPT

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[Luceid]

It's really getting annoying...I'm with ya Greg