u/Ok-Student-5016

I'm a rising sophomore at studying Biomedical Engineering, and I'm struggling with whether I actually want to continue on the pre-med path.

For years, I assumed I'd become a physician, so I've built my classes and extracurriculars around medicine. But lately I've realized my dream is probably different. I'd love to design medical devices and hopefully start my own company one day.

Medicine feels like the safe, structured path, while engineering and entrepreneurship feel much riskier. I'm worried about spending the next few years checking pre-med boxes if I don't actually want to practice medicine.

Has anyone else been in this position?

• What made you decide to leave (or stay on) the pre-med path?
• Do you regret your decision?

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who've been through something similar.

I'm a rising sophomore at the University of Florida and I've been doing a lot of thinking about my career goals, and honestly I'm pretty conflicted.

For most of high school and my freshman year of college, I planned on going to medical school. Because of that, I've been involved in medical volunteering, healthcare leadership organizations, and I've been building a pretty typical pre-med profile.

The problem is that I'm starting to realize I'm not sure I actually want to practice medicine for the rest of my life.

If I'm being honest with myself, my dream isn't to become a physician.

My dream is to create a medical device that genuinely improves people's lives and eventually build a company around it.

I know that's a huge goal and there's no guarantee it ever happens, which is probably why I've always found comfort in medicine—it feels like a much more structured and predictable path.

At UF I'm currently in Biomedical Engineering. After comparing the Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering curricula, I'm really torn.

Mechanical Engineering seems to provide more depth in:

• machine design
• manufacturing
• mechanics
• product development

Biomedical Engineering gives me:

• physiology
• biomaterials
• biomedical instrumentation
• clinically inspired engineering design
• medical imaging

I'm also considering completing UF's Engineering Innovation certificate, which includes engineering entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, project management, and internship credit.

Some additional context:

• I already have my CSWA (SolidWorks) certification.
• I'm interested in internships at medical device companies.
• I want to gain prototyping and product design experience.
• Long term I'd love to found a medical device startup rather than spend my career in clinical practice.
• I have already taken Bio2 and Lab, Chemistry 1 and 2, Physics 1 and 2 w/calc and my fall semester includes Orgo 1, and genetics ( which I put thinking I was going pre-med and a lot of these classes are not needed for MechE
• For those of you working in medical devices, startups, or product development:

1. If you could do it again, would you choose Biomedical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering?
2. Did you ever feel limited by a BME degree?
3. If your goal was eventually to found a medical device company, what would you prioritize during college?
4. Is switching majors worth it, or would you stay in BME and focus on internships, engineering design projects, and entrepreneurship?

I'm looking for honest advice from people who have actually gone through this. Thanks in advance!

'm a rising sophomore at the University of Florida and I've been doing a lot of thinking about my career goals, and honestly I'm pretty conflicted.

For most of high school and my freshman year of college, I planned on going to medical school. Because of that, I've been involved in medical volunteering, healthcare leadership organizations, and I've been building a pretty typical pre-med profile.

The problem is that I'm starting to realize I'm not sure I actually want to practice medicine for the rest of my life.

If I'm being honest with myself, my dream isn't to become a physician.

My dream is to create a medical device that genuinely improves people's lives and eventually build a company around it.

I know that's a huge goal and there's no guarantee it ever happens, which is probably why I've always found comfort in medicine—it feels like a much more structured and predictable path.

At UF I'm currently in Biomedical Engineering. After comparing the Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering curricula, I'm really torn.

Mechanical Engineering seems to provide more depth in:

• machine design
• manufacturing
• mechanics
• product development

Biomedical Engineering gives me:

• physiology
• biomaterials
• biomedical instrumentation
• clinically inspired engineering design
• medical imaging

I'm also considering completing UF's Engineering Innovation certificate, which includes engineering entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, project management, and internship credit.

Some additional context:

• I already have my CSWA (SolidWorks) certification.
• I'm interested in internships at medical device companies.
• I want to gain prototyping and product design experience.
• Long term I'd love to found a medical device startup rather than spend my career in clinical practice.
• I have already taken Bio2 and Lab, Chemistry 1 and 2, Physics 1 and 2 w/calc and my fall semester includes Orgo 1, and genetics ( which I put thinking I was going pre-med and a lot of these classes are not needed for MechE
• For those of you working in medical devices, startups, or product development:

1. If you could do it again, would you choose Biomedical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering?
2. Did you ever feel limited by a BME degree?
3. If your goal was eventually to found a medical device company, what would you prioritize during college?
4. Is switching majors worth it, or would you stay in BME and focus on internships, engineering design projects, and entrepreneurship?

I'm looking for honest advice from people who have actually gone through this. Thanks in advance!