Biomedical Engineering, or BME, is applying engineering principles to resolve the needs of society. It is considered to be one of the hardest majors in college. Well, then why do students opt for this major? In today’s society, BME is one of the fastest growing fields. There is ample opportunity for BME graduates. You can work in a laboratory or clinical setting doing research or go on to pursue further studies such as medical school.
I decided to choose BME as my major because I wanted a profession that combined math and science. The research that I conducted in high school for three years was one of the experiences that inspired me to choose this major. After that experience, I knew that I wanted to follow a career which incorporated and depended heavily on research. This field can be broken down into six major areas: biomechanics, biomaterials, physiology, instrumentation, bio-processing and imaging, all of which provide generous prospects for research and development.
When someone would ask me what I wanted to do in college and I gave them my answer, they would respond by saying, ‘BME is a really good field to go into. You might end up becoming the next Kiran Majumdar-Shaw.’ Kiran Majumdar-Shaw is a biotech entrepreneur and the richest woman in India. I must say that I didn’t choose BME (BME) because of the zeros after the dollar sign. Even though this may sound like a clich’eacute; or idealistic point of view, I want to help others and make a difference in another person’s life. This field will give me the opportunity to utilize my knowledge in the different sciences and engineering fields to find cures for diseases and improve social healthcare.
After coming to Stony Brook University, I realized how much of a workload this major required. As a freshman, I not only needed to adjust to the new college environment, but also to the pace of the classes. Having 19 credits the first semester is a lot for an incoming freshman to handle.
Coming from my meeting with Dr. Molly Frame, the director of the BME program, I began to think of all the courses I needed to take to obtain a degree in this field. Besides that, I also needed to complete my DEC requirements. DEC stands for Diversified Education Curriculum, and it is meant to expose students to courses they wouldn’t necessarily take as part of their major. It was overwhelming in the beginning, but I think that it will be worth the effort in the end.
BME is a great field to go into if you have an interest in Physics, Biology, and Mathematics. This is a relatively new field that is flexible and allows the individual to find an area that uses their talent and interest. In the world we live in today, we seem to rely heavily on technology. Biomedical engineers utilize this technology to bring about improvements in society. There is still more research to be done and more cures to be discovered in the future.
