BioEngineering

BS BIOE Frequently Asked Questions

How many undergraduates are admitted each year to the BS BIOE program?
The number of undergraduates we admit increases each year because the undergraduate program is steadily growing. For the 2007-2008 academic year, we expect to admit approximately 45-50 students. When we reach full program capacity, by or before 2010, we expect to admit 60 students per year.

[top]

How competitive is admission to the BS BIOE program?
Admission into the undergraduate program is quite competitive. Our department conducts a comprehensive review of applicants, which means that we do not admit solely based on grades and test scores but consider a variety of supplemental factors as well. The department encourages all students with an interest in our program to apply.

Selection criteria that we consider include: pre-requisite GPA, cumulative GPA, trends in grades, and overall quality of transcript and education; quality of the personal statement, motivation to study bioengineering, clarity of decision; future goals; research experience, if applicable (please note that research experience is not required but is looked at favorably); contribution to diversity to our student body (please note that diversity is very broadly defined).

Direct Admits typically have a high school GPA of 3.90 and above, and SAT scores (combined Critical Reading and Math) of 1400 and above. Early Admits tend to have GPAs in the range of 3.60 - 4.00, with 3.80 being the average. Upper Admits typically have GPAs in the range of 3.30 - 4.00, with 3.60 being the average.

[top]

Should I apply for Direct, Early, or Upper admission?
It depends on how sure you are of your choice of major. Direct Admission should be for those students who have investigated Bioengineering while still in high school, have a high degree of confidence that they want to pursue this major, and have taken rigorous college prep courses. Early Admission is the best option for students who have clarified their interest during the freshman year, have an excellent freshman record, and feel that they are ready to commit to a major before the sophomore year. Upper Admission, the traditional point to be admitted to the College of Engineering, is best for the student who needs a bit longer to decide on a major or to complete prerequisites.

[top]

Can I apply for Upper Admission for Autumn Quarter?
Upper Admission applicants should apply by the February 1 deadline for Spring Quarter admission because the junior core sequence begins with BIOEN 301 in Spring Quarter only. (A required preparatory course, BIOEN 201, is also offered in the Winter.) It sometimes happens that February applicants who are denied admission into the program are asked to take BIOEN 301 in the spring and then reapply to the department in July. These students are technically Upper Admission admits for Autumn, but they are part of the spring quarter cohort and will continue through the junior core with that group.

A student who applied for Upper Admission in July without first completing BIOEN 201 and BIOEN 301 would need to wait until the following spring to begin the junior core sequence. While it is not impossible to be admitted under these circumstances, our priorities for Autumn admission are for Early Admission applicants and those Upper Admission applicants who have already taken BIOEN 301.

[top]

If I am turned down, can I reapply?
Certainly, with the understanding that you are also applying to other majors in case Bioengineering does not work out. An adviser can help you select other majors that would be suitable alternatives. Students who apply for Direct Admission but are not selected at that point are strongly encouraged to reapply for Early Admission. Likewise, students who apply for Early Admission but are not selected at that point are strongly encouraged to reapply for Upper Admission.

[top]

May I attend the undergraduate program on a part-time basis?
No. Our program is designed to be a full-time day program.

[top]

I already have a bachelor's degree in another field. Can I enter the BS BIOE program?
It is difficult to be admitted to the UW as a post-baccalaureate student; space is very limited and competition is keen. You need to have a compelling reason to do further coursework at UW. You also need a strong academic background in coursework relevant to your intended field.

If your Bachelor's degree is in a basic science or liberal arts field, and you want to change direction, you should take any prerequisites you are missing at a local community college prior to applying to UW for post-baccalaureate admission. Recent coursework and grades in the prerequisite courses will be very important, as will your reasons for changing direction and your exposure to the field of bioengineering. Please read about post-baccalaureate admission on the UW Admissions web site.

If you have a BS in another engineering field and experience in the engineering industry, you should consider our Master of Medical Engineering Program (MME). This evening degree program is designed to take students with solid engineering credentials and fill in the biomedical background they are missing. A certificate program or graduate degree through MME may serve you better than a second bachelor's degree.

If you are interested in pursuing a PhD in Bioengineering, and you have a BS in engineering or a basic science, it is not necessary to complete an undergraduate bioengineering degree first. You may apply directly to the PhD program.

[top]

How do I know that my transfer courses are equivalent to the BIOE prerequisites?
If your transfer course was taken at a Washington State community college, you can consult the UW's transfer equivalency web site. Take the courses that are exact equivalents of the requirements at UW.

If your course is from a Washington State four-year college or university, or any out-of-state university, there is no published list of equivalencies. Your transcript will not be evaluated until your UW application has been processed. However, our prerequisites are standard courses in most college and university curricula. You should look for the following:

International credit (including A-level credit) cannot be formally evaluated until the student has been accepted for UW Admission. In the meantime, students with international credit should look at the catalog descriptions of the required courses, and also look for current course syllabi on the web sites of the offering departments. International students should pay particular attention to required high school core subjects.

[top]

Now that I applied online, when are transcripts and letters of recommendation due?
Please see the application materials page for more information: http://depts.washington.edu/bioe/programs/bachelors/bs-materials.html

[top]

Can I take bioengineering courses without being a BIOE major?
BIOEN 299 is available to freshmen and sophomores regardless of major, and BIOEN 201 is available to sophomores interested in applying to BIOE and to other engineering students on a space-available basis. Junior level courses (300-level) are for BIOE majors only. Students from a variety of science and engineering majors are welcome in our senior level courses (400-level) on a space-available basis. If you do not have the stated prerequisites for a senior level course, contact the instructor to find out whether you have adequate background. Some graduate seminars and courses may be open to very strong undergraduates with good preparation. Instructor permission is required for an undergraduate to take a graduate course.

[top]

Does Bioengineering have a departmental honors option?
Yes. We have many honors students in our program. Honors students take an honors version of the senior capstone course, take two additional capstone research credits, and are required to make a public presentation of their senior research. BIOE departmental honors will satisfy the departmental portion of your college honors requirement. Students who are not taking college honors can complete departmental honors alone and graduate with distinction.

To be nominated for departmental honors, you must have 12 graded credits in bioengineering with an average of 3.6 or higher in your BIOE courses. (You must also have a 3.6 average in BIOE courses at time of graduation.)

[top]

How can I get started on undergraduate research?
We encourage prospective students to begin getting research experience as soon as it is practical for them. Typical ways of locating research experiences are:

Most students locate research experiences through the last method. Students interested in bioengineering should remember that BIOE is a very broad field. Thus, research experience in any basic science, engineering, or clinical department will be useful. We recommend that you do not restrict your search to the bioengineering department, where labs may already be full.

We suggest reading about faculty research interests on the UW web site, then contacting faculty members by email. You email should state, as concisely as possible, who you are, what you are looking for, your interests and goals, and why you are interested in that particular lab. You should state whether you can volunteer or work for credit or whether you are seeking only a paying job. You should also give an accurate estimate of how many hours you can work or volunteer a week. Think about this carefully, because labs will need to rely on your steady availability.

Attach transcripts and a resume that highlights your experiences. You may have prior lab or research experience you can mention. Do not neglect to include other kinds of paid or volunteer work during which you have demonstrated qualities that will be valuable in a lab setting (reliability, being a quick learner, being able to work in teams, etc.). If you need help with your resume, the Center for Career Services in Mary Gates Hall offers drop-in resume critiques in the afternoons and evenings.

[top]

Are there scholarships within the department?
Yes. We have a limited number of scholarships within the department for BIOE majors. Our students also compete successfully for numerous external scholarships.

[top]

Are there internships available for BIOE majors?
Yes. We participate fully in the College of Engineering Co-op Program. In addition, the department maintains an internship database, which is available to all declared BIOE majors.

[top]

What do Bioengineering majors do after graduation?
A large percentage of our students proceed to medical school and to graduate programs. Some students pursue other professional programs such as dental school, law school, or business school, depending on personal interest. Other students enter the biotechnology or medical devices industry. For a glimpse into our local industry, consult the Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association. Select "Directory" for a list of Washington companies, classified by sector (therapeutics, diagnostics, etc.), complete with links to company home pages. For more information on a career in the field of bioengineering, consult the Biomedical Engineering Society, The Whitaker Foundation and the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook.

[top]

What if I have more questions?
Please contact us for further information.

[top]