Biomedical Engineering Sciences Major

Majors are expected to have a basic understanding of calculus, physics, chemistry, and computer science. First-year students interested in the major should take the placement test in mathematics.

Unless otherwise prohibited, prerequisites may be taken under the non-recording option. Any course being used to satisfy major or minor requirements beyond the prerequisites may not be taken under the non-recording option.

* Students with prior experience in calculus (as demonstrated through AP, IB, A-level, or placement exams) may place out of MATH 3 and/or Math 8, and may be required instead to take the MATH 8 and 13 sequence, or MATH 11.

** Students with no prior experience in chemistry will be placed in CHEM 5 and will need to complete CHEM 5 and CHEM 6 as prerequisites. Students with prior experience with chemistry (as demonstrated through AP, IB, or A-level exams) will be placed in CHEM 11, and must complete this course as a prerequisite.

*Students wishing to pursue the BE degree are advised to choose an engineering sciences course as their elective.

In addition to coursework, all biomedical engineering sciences majors are required to complete a culminating experience, which may include a thesis or an advanced engineering sciences course chosen from an approved list. Please note: The culminating experience should be consistent with the student’s career objectives and courses taken.

The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth offers opportunities for highly qualified Dartmouth biomedical engineering and engineering sciences majors to apply for admission to Geisel through the Biomedical Engineering Early Assurance Program (BME EAP). A small number of highly qualified Dartmouth biomedical engineering and engineering sciences students in their junior or senior year (depending on their BE timeline) who plan to attend medical school will be considered for admission to Geisel. (The BME EAP is a separate program from the Geisel Early Assurance program for Dartmouth juniors. Students may only apply to ONE early assurance program.)

Students majoring in biomedical engineering or engineering sciences are strongly advised to apply through Thayer via the BME EAP during their fourth year of study at Dartmouth. They may only apply once during their time at Dartmouth.

Benefits

Because admission typically occurs one year before graduation, the BME EAP provides admitted students additional time for academic and research activities in their final year as an undergraduate student, prior to matriculation at Geisel.

Eligibility

Interested students are encouraged to contact Professor Katie Hixon to ensure they meet eligibility requirements for the BME EAP. 

The program is open to highly qualified biomedical engineering and engineering sciences majors pursuing the Bachelor of Engineering (BE) at Dartmouth who are one year prior to graduation (eg. current juniors planning to complete the BE in four years or current seniors planning to pursue the BE in a fifth year). 

• Academically qualified students who have an overall 3.5 GPA or higher and a math/science GPA of 3.5 or higher at the end of their sophomore year.
• Students will be required to submit three letters of recommendation from individual faculty members in support of their application.
• Before completing their undergraduate degree, applicants must meet Geisel’s academic requirements.
• Although not required for their initial application to the EAP, participating students are required to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) before the submission of a formal application to Geisel via the AMCAS in their senior year and must score a 503 or higher. 

How to Apply

1. By August 1: Send an email expressing interest in the program to Professor Katie Hixon at katherine.r.hixon@dartmouth.edu. Students may also request an appointment with Professor Hixon to discuss the program.
2. The following week: Look for an email from Thayer notifying you if you are eligible for an interview.
3. By August 15: Interviewees must submit two documents to Professor Hixon:
   1. CV (three pages maximum) describing research, project, leadership, community, and extracurricular activities;
   2. Essay (one page maximum, one-inch margins, 12-point font, single-spaced) describing your motivations for engineering and medicine, ideally discussing specific example(s) of your own experiences and their relevance to medicine, based upon the educational pathway that you have taken.
4. By the end of August: Schedule a 30-minute interview with the BME EAP committee. Interviews will begin with the interviewee making a brief opening statement (no more than a few minutes) describing their interest in pursuing engineering, medicine, and the BME EAP, followed by approximately 20 minutes of question and answer, and conclude with an opportunity for the applicant to ask any final questions.
5. The first week of September: Interviewees are notified if they have been nominated for application through the BME EAP.
6. By the first week in October: Nominees must complete Geisel School Admissions materials. MCAT exam not required.
7. By the beginning of January: Look for an email from Geisel to either schedule a medical school entrance interview or a notification that the applicant was not chosen for an Geisel interview.
8. By the beginning of March: Thayer EAP Candidates will be notified whether or not they have been selected for admission.

Admissions & Matriculation

The BME EAP committee reviews the academic records (overall transcript, as well as major and non‐major courses) of all those submitting this email expression of interest, and identifies nominees for Geisel. 

Nomination by Thayer is not a guarantee of admission to Geisel and all applications are reviewed by the Geisel School Admissions Committee. Nominees admitted to Geisel who wish to apply to other medical schools must first withdraw from the BME EAP. Students not selected as BME EAP nominees or for admission to Geisel may apply to Geisel through the regular admissions process.

Matriculation is contingent upon successful completion of engineering studies and continuing during their final undergraduate (senior or fifth) year to meet the criteria with respect to academic record, leadership, and research excellence by which all successful applicants to Geisel are selected.

Additional questions regarding official submission by the Thayer EAP Candidate(s) may be directed to Aileen Panitz at aileen.k.panitz@dartmouth.edu.
 

For additional information about majors, courses, and degree requirements, see:

Guide to Programs and Courses

Questions? For course planning questions within the specific discipline, please contact Professor Ryan Halter or Professor Vicki V. May, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education.

For general requirement or advising questions, please contact undergraduate.engineering.advising@dartmouth.edu.