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Hi. I have few questions and would appreciate your guidance. Asking on behalf of my high school senior embarking on college education.
- Is Biomedical engineering a narrow choice in general over let’s say ECE or Mechanical?
- Are there better job opportunities for ECE vs. Biomedical?
- What is the perception of employers between CMU, Georgia tech, U. Michigan, and UIUC. Those are his choices admitted as a biomed. Cost is more or less same except Georgia tech.
I should mention. He is interested to work at Faang type tech companies out of college.
Hi! I'll preface this with saying I'm a recent ME grad, so take what I say with a grain of salt.
- Depending on what your son wants to do post-grad, ECE / ME can be a better choice because you can cast a slightly wider net than you'd be able to do as a BME. I knew a handful of BMEs that went to get their masters in Mechanical or Robotics to supplement their BME degree. ECEs and MEs don't necessarily need to do that. Seems like he wants to be around FAANG so BME might not be the most pointed choice for that, he would be better off with ECE and ME (in that order).
- I would say ECE can cast a wider net, but by no means do you learn "useless things" as a BME.
- Not sure, sorry :(
Sort of to tie these thoughts together, I'd say both ECE and ME teach you a broader range of skills. While you're in school, you can gear yourself towards aerospace, or automotive, or consumer electronics, etc. the list goes on. This is great because you have some wiggle room to pivot around while you gain a grasp of your major and the industries for post-grad, and pick one you'd like to be in. I knew some BMEs that realized halfway through they didn't want to work in biotech / medical devices, and ended up switching majors to Mechanical Engineering just to be able to cast a wider net.
I'd say if you really wanted to go BME, be pretty sure that you like BME enough to stick through all the way, or that switching majors won't be a big time or moneysink.
Thank you for your detailed and thoughtful response.