8 answers
Anya
Student
Lutsk, Volyns'ka oblast, Ukraine
1
Question
Updated
798 views
How to choose a major properly? Is there a way be sure it is the one?
I'm a senior high school student. I love biology, and math (other science subjects are intersting for me but not fascinating like the ones above). Right now I`m thinking between medicine and biomedical engineering.
Anatomy out of all biology topics interests me the most. But I`m also a fan of Math and I think there is not much of it when beeing a doctor.
On the other hand, BME is much more unclear for me and not that defined. I`ve read the descriptions and different field they work in, but I`m still not sure if it`s that promising for the future, while being a doctor is clearly shown everywhere to be a great job, with great output.
I`d like to know how the insides work in BME, and if there is a way to know if i`ll be interested in it. Would be greatful for any feedback from people working in these fields.
Login to comment
8 answers
Vanessa Mandal
Medical Director
36
Answers
Rocklin
Updated
Vanessa’s Answer
One of the most exciting things about college is that you do not need to have your entire future figured out on day one. If you enjoy both math and biology, you already have a tremendous foundation. Rather than viewing college as a place to choose a career immediately, think of it as an opportunity to explore your curiosity and discover what truly energizes you.
Psychologists who study motivation have found that people thrive when they feel autonomy, competence, and connection. Our deepest motivation comes from pursuing interests that we find meaningful and engaging, not simply from external rewards. Curiosity is often the first signal that you are moving toward work that fits your strengths and values.
As you take classes, notice when you become so absorbed in an activity that you lose track of time- a state of flow, a condition of deep engagement that often occurs when your skills are matched with the right level of challenge. Those moments can provide valuable clues about where your passion lies.
The intersection of math and biology offers many exciting careers, including biostatistics, epidemiology, bioinformatics, bioengineering, genetics, neuroscience, healthcare data science, pharmacology, and medicine. These fields use quantitative thinking to solve biological and healthcare problems that improve lives.
One of the best ways to explore these possibilities in college is to be intentional. Take introductory courses in biology, statistics, computer science, psychology, and chemistry. Seek out research opportunities with professors, even as a freshman. Join student organizations related to healthcare, engineering, or data science. Attend guest lectures and career panels. Conduct informational interviews with professionals and ask them what they enjoy most about their work. Consider shadowing a physician, researcher, physical therapist, or engineer during school breaks. Summer internships can also provide invaluable exposure to different career paths.
Most importantly, give yourself permission to explore. Resilience is not having a perfectly mapped-out future. It is remaining open to learning, adapting, and growing as you discover new interests. College is not just about finding a major. It is about discovering the questions you love to ask and the problems you are excited to solve. Follow your curiosity, and your passion will often reveal itself along the way.
https://www.amstat.org/your-career
https://www.bmes.org
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/academics/data-science-for-health
https://www.genome.gov/careers-training
https://www.cdc.gov/eis/
Psychologists who study motivation have found that people thrive when they feel autonomy, competence, and connection. Our deepest motivation comes from pursuing interests that we find meaningful and engaging, not simply from external rewards. Curiosity is often the first signal that you are moving toward work that fits your strengths and values.
As you take classes, notice when you become so absorbed in an activity that you lose track of time- a state of flow, a condition of deep engagement that often occurs when your skills are matched with the right level of challenge. Those moments can provide valuable clues about where your passion lies.
The intersection of math and biology offers many exciting careers, including biostatistics, epidemiology, bioinformatics, bioengineering, genetics, neuroscience, healthcare data science, pharmacology, and medicine. These fields use quantitative thinking to solve biological and healthcare problems that improve lives.
One of the best ways to explore these possibilities in college is to be intentional. Take introductory courses in biology, statistics, computer science, psychology, and chemistry. Seek out research opportunities with professors, even as a freshman. Join student organizations related to healthcare, engineering, or data science. Attend guest lectures and career panels. Conduct informational interviews with professionals and ask them what they enjoy most about their work. Consider shadowing a physician, researcher, physical therapist, or engineer during school breaks. Summer internships can also provide invaluable exposure to different career paths.
Most importantly, give yourself permission to explore. Resilience is not having a perfectly mapped-out future. It is remaining open to learning, adapting, and growing as you discover new interests. College is not just about finding a major. It is about discovering the questions you love to ask and the problems you are excited to solve. Follow your curiosity, and your passion will often reveal itself along the way.
Vanessa recommends the following next steps:
I appreciate this, thank you for the advice.
Anya
Secheikhen Otgonjargal
Software engineer
4
Answers
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Updated
Secheikhen’s Answer
Hi Muano! I think the best way to choose is to focus less on which major sounds better and more on what you actually enjoy doing. Since you like both anatomy and math, I’d definitely look into BME more before ruling it out. Maybe try a small BME project, take a course, or talk to someone in the field and see if you actually enjoy the work.
You probably won’t be 100% sure beforehand, but getting some hands-on experience with both medicine and BME should make the choice a lot clearer.
You probably won’t be 100% sure beforehand, but getting some hands-on experience with both medicine and BME should make the choice a lot clearer.
Rebecca Tang
Banking
2749
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. I am glad to know you have interest on Biology.
Below are my suggestions :
1. BME Biomedical engineers usually develop devices medical and healthcare purpose. They possess knowledge of both technology and medical. You can find more info online. Alternatively, you can attend the information session hosts by Biomedical engineering department and ask questions.
2. Apart from BME, you can also consider other biology related careers, e.g. Doctor, Physiotherapy, Vet, Zoologist, Pharmacist, Park Ranger, etc. You can find out more online.
3. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
4. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counselor, your parents, etc.
5. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
6. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in colleges
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Below are my suggestions :
1. BME Biomedical engineers usually develop devices medical and healthcare purpose. They possess knowledge of both technology and medical. You can find more info online. Alternatively, you can attend the information session hosts by Biomedical engineering department and ask questions.
2. Apart from BME, you can also consider other biology related careers, e.g. Doctor, Physiotherapy, Vet, Zoologist, Pharmacist, Park Ranger, etc. You can find out more online.
3. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
4. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counselor, your parents, etc.
5. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
6. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in colleges
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
James Hanson
Pediatric Intensive Care Physician; Consultant
281
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
James’s Answer
As a physician, I feel you should strongly consider becoming a doctor yourself.
The good news is you can major in anything and become most any type of healthcare worker there is. You just have to take prerequisite course while you enjoy exploring other areas of study. Aim to be well-rounded. While you are in college, try to find opportunities to spend time with people in different professions to see more clearly what they do, and to find out what resonates most with you.
It turns out that mathematics are useful in medicine. When one reads medical research studies, complicated equations are common to explain physiology and therapeutics such as mechanical ventilation, fluid resuscitation, vasoactive medications, etc.
Enjoy learning - it always serves one well to learn more.
The good news is you can major in anything and become most any type of healthcare worker there is. You just have to take prerequisite course while you enjoy exploring other areas of study. Aim to be well-rounded. While you are in college, try to find opportunities to spend time with people in different professions to see more clearly what they do, and to find out what resonates most with you.
It turns out that mathematics are useful in medicine. When one reads medical research studies, complicated equations are common to explain physiology and therapeutics such as mechanical ventilation, fluid resuscitation, vasoactive medications, etc.
Enjoy learning - it always serves one well to learn more.
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1452
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Anya,
I don’t think you need to be 100% sure before choosing a major. In fact, that’s almost impossible at 17 or 18. A better goal is to gather enough real experience that one option becomes clearly more interesting to you.
From what you've written, I’d take your interest in both anatomy and mathematics seriously. That combination is actually one reason biomedical engineering could be worth investigating. BME isn't simply "medicine with engineering." Depending on the program, you may study biology and physiology alongside calculus, physics, mechanics, circuits, programming, statistics, biomaterials, and engineering design. Biomedical engineers can work on medical devices, imaging systems, prosthetics, software, biological modeling, and other technologies used in healthcare.
And BME is a legitimate career field. In the U.S., the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 8% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. Of course, the job market will depend on the country and the specific area of BME you enter.
Medicine is a very different commitment. If what excites you most is understanding the human body and then directly diagnosing, treating, and caring for patients, medicine may be the better fit. If you're more excited by figuring out how biological systems work and using mathematics, physics, and engineering to create solutions, BME deserves a serious look.
Here's what I'd do before deciding: try both fields in miniature. Take an introductory anatomy course and an introductory engineering/programming course. Watch or attend a university lecture if possible. Talk to a doctor about what their actual week looks like, and talk to a biomedical engineer about what they actually spend their working hours doing.
Pay attention to which subject makes you curious enough to keep asking questions after the lesson is over.
You don't have to choose the career that looks safest from the outside. You need to find the kind of problems you would actually enjoy spending years solving.
Best wishes!
I don’t think you need to be 100% sure before choosing a major. In fact, that’s almost impossible at 17 or 18. A better goal is to gather enough real experience that one option becomes clearly more interesting to you.
From what you've written, I’d take your interest in both anatomy and mathematics seriously. That combination is actually one reason biomedical engineering could be worth investigating. BME isn't simply "medicine with engineering." Depending on the program, you may study biology and physiology alongside calculus, physics, mechanics, circuits, programming, statistics, biomaterials, and engineering design. Biomedical engineers can work on medical devices, imaging systems, prosthetics, software, biological modeling, and other technologies used in healthcare.
And BME is a legitimate career field. In the U.S., the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 8% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. Of course, the job market will depend on the country and the specific area of BME you enter.
Medicine is a very different commitment. If what excites you most is understanding the human body and then directly diagnosing, treating, and caring for patients, medicine may be the better fit. If you're more excited by figuring out how biological systems work and using mathematics, physics, and engineering to create solutions, BME deserves a serious look.
Here's what I'd do before deciding: try both fields in miniature. Take an introductory anatomy course and an introductory engineering/programming course. Watch or attend a university lecture if possible. Talk to a doctor about what their actual week looks like, and talk to a biomedical engineer about what they actually spend their working hours doing.
Pay attention to which subject makes you curious enough to keep asking questions after the lesson is over.
You don't have to choose the career that looks safest from the outside. You need to find the kind of problems you would actually enjoy spending years solving.
Best wishes!
Sahida Khatun
Software Consultant and Analyst
142
Answers
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Updated
Sahida’s Answer
It's okay not to be completely sure about your major before you choose it. The best way is to explore the real work in each field instead of just reading job descriptions.
Since you enjoy anatomy, biology, and math, both medicine and biomedical engineering (BME) are great options to consider.
Medicine is about learning how the human body works, diagnosing illnesses, and helping patients heal.
BME mixes biology with math, engineering, physics, and technology to create things like medical devices, prosthetics, imaging systems, implants, and medical AI.
BME might seem less straightforward because it offers many career paths, while medicine has a more defined path.
To see what you like, pick a topic like the knee. Study its anatomy and an injury from a medical view, then look at its biomechanics, forces, sensors, or prosthetic design from a BME view.
Ask yourself:
Which one excites me to learn more, even when I don’t have to?
Also, check the BME curriculum at a university. Courses like biomechanics, medical imaging, biomedical instrumentation, programming, and computational modeling can help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.
In the end, ask yourself:
Do I want to understand the human body mainly to treat people, or to create, measure, model, and improve things?
You don’t need total certainty—just enough real-world experience to make a smart choice.
Since you enjoy anatomy, biology, and math, both medicine and biomedical engineering (BME) are great options to consider.
Medicine is about learning how the human body works, diagnosing illnesses, and helping patients heal.
BME mixes biology with math, engineering, physics, and technology to create things like medical devices, prosthetics, imaging systems, implants, and medical AI.
BME might seem less straightforward because it offers many career paths, while medicine has a more defined path.
To see what you like, pick a topic like the knee. Study its anatomy and an injury from a medical view, then look at its biomechanics, forces, sensors, or prosthetic design from a BME view.
Ask yourself:
Which one excites me to learn more, even when I don’t have to?
Also, check the BME curriculum at a university. Courses like biomechanics, medical imaging, biomedical instrumentation, programming, and computational modeling can help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.
In the end, ask yourself:
Do I want to understand the human body mainly to treat people, or to create, measure, model, and improve things?
You don’t need total certainty—just enough real-world experience to make a smart choice.
Daniela Johnson Machado
Technology Analyst
4
Answers
Scottsdale, Arizona
Updated
Daniela’s Answer
One thing I'd encourage you to think about is what you enjoy more on a day-to-day basis: working directly with patients and studying human health, or applying math and engineering to solve medical problems and create new technologies. Medicine and biomedical engineering both help people, but the work can look very different.
What helped me when I was exploring majors was looking beyond the degree descriptions and trying to understand what people actually do in those careers. I watched YouTube videos from professionals, looked up "day in the life" content, read career stories, and even browsed college course catalogs. Sometimes seeing the actual classes you'll take is much more helpful than reading a general description of the major.
Since you're interested in BME, I'd recommend looking at the curriculum for biomedical engineering programs at schools you're considering. See what percentage of the courses are engineering, math, biology, physics, programming, and anatomy-related topics. That can help you determine whether the balance feels exciting to you. You can also research specific careers BME graduates pursue, such as medical device design, imaging technology, biomechanics, prosthetics, or research.
One thing to keep in mind is that medicine is a very defined path, which can feel reassuring. Biomedical engineering is often broader, so it can seem less clear at first. That doesn't necessarily mean it's less promising. It just means there are more directions you can take with it.
Finally, try not to feel like you need to have everything figured out right now. Many students enter college thinking they're set on one major and end up switching after taking a few courses. That's completely normal. Your goal right now isn't to choose the perfect lifelong path. It's to make the best decision you can with the information you have and stay open to learning more about yourself along the way.
Based on what you've described, I'd keep exploring both medicine and BME, because your interests genuinely align well with either path. The more you learn about what the day-to-day work looks like, the clearer your preference will likely become.
What helped me when I was exploring majors was looking beyond the degree descriptions and trying to understand what people actually do in those careers. I watched YouTube videos from professionals, looked up "day in the life" content, read career stories, and even browsed college course catalogs. Sometimes seeing the actual classes you'll take is much more helpful than reading a general description of the major.
Since you're interested in BME, I'd recommend looking at the curriculum for biomedical engineering programs at schools you're considering. See what percentage of the courses are engineering, math, biology, physics, programming, and anatomy-related topics. That can help you determine whether the balance feels exciting to you. You can also research specific careers BME graduates pursue, such as medical device design, imaging technology, biomechanics, prosthetics, or research.
One thing to keep in mind is that medicine is a very defined path, which can feel reassuring. Biomedical engineering is often broader, so it can seem less clear at first. That doesn't necessarily mean it's less promising. It just means there are more directions you can take with it.
Finally, try not to feel like you need to have everything figured out right now. Many students enter college thinking they're set on one major and end up switching after taking a few courses. That's completely normal. Your goal right now isn't to choose the perfect lifelong path. It's to make the best decision you can with the information you have and stay open to learning more about yourself along the way.
Based on what you've described, I'd keep exploring both medicine and BME, because your interests genuinely align well with either path. The more you learn about what the day-to-day work looks like, the clearer your preference will likely become.
Jane Wang
14
Answers
Updated
Jane’s Answer
I don’t think you need to make a final decision between medicine and BME just yet. You’re still in high school, and already knowing that you enjoy biology, anatomy, and math is actually a great starting point. Instead of reading more descriptions of the two fields, I’d try to experience them in some small way. If you can, volunteer in a hospital or talk to doctors about what their everyday work is really like. At the same time, try a beginner BME course or project and explore things like medical devices, prosthetics, medical imaging, or biomaterials to see if you enjoy the idea of using engineering to solve medical problems. I also wouldn’t choose medicine mainly because it seems stable or well-paid—the training is long, and you’ll want to actually enjoy the work. BME, on the other hand, isn’t one single career and can lead in many different directions. One question that might help is: Would I rather work directly with patients to diagnose and treat them, or work behind the scenes to create technology that helps them? You don’t need to know the answer today. Get a little closer to both worlds first, and I think the right direction will become much clearer.