College Life

Private Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• Johns Hopkins University
• Duke University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Rice University
• University of Southern California

State Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• Georgia Institute of Technology
• University of California—San Diego
• University of Michigan—Ann Arbor
• University of California—Berkeley
• University of California—Irvine

Classes in the Major

Physics. Science in general is about describing quantifiable things in the world. Physics is more geared towards what happens when you throw something at someone's head (they get mad—and yes, that's testable), but it's just as important. A Biomedical Engineer is going to be designing devices to go into the human body. It's a good idea that they know whether or not some new implant is going to catapult someone's head off.

Organic Chemistry. As a scientist, it's important to get only locally sourced, non-pesticide-ridden chemistry. Wait, sorry, that's something else entirely. Organic chemistry is generally referred to as O-Chem, pronounced like if "chem" just did something infuriating yet cute, or that is so chem. Oh, Chem...you knucklehead. 

Chemistry is the study of how matter interacts. Organic chemistry focuses specifically on matter that's part of a living thing. While it's interesting that granite dissolves in acid, it's not terribly useful to a Biomedical Engineer. Well, unless they decided to put a granite implant in someone's belly, which just seems strange.

Calculus. So much calculus. There's no real way to sugarcoat this. The thing is, math is the language of science, so not knowing calculus would be a bit like trying to learn this trade in Klingon. Actually, no. That would be amazing. Seriously, any program is going to demand a minimum of two calculus classes. You're smart, though, so this is no problem.

Systems Bioengineering. Sounds like a supervillain class, right? Well, it sort of is. You know the old cliché about how the human body is a machine? Biomedical engineering programs take that literally. The Systems Bioengineering classes are sort of like a class in car repair, except instead of spark plugs, it's all about neural tissue and why our internal organs don't spontaneously explode.

Computer Programming. This isn't about some weird mind-control thing. No, any devices you're going to be working with are going to be computers. Pretty much everything is a computer these days, which is why older people always look so flummoxed. If you want your implants to do what you want them to do, you're going to have to program them. In this case, bugs can be literally life threatening. Look at it this way: You'll be learning the most useful skill ever. Maybe you can make your roommate's computer curse at them, too.