The University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Date: Apr 26 2010
Major: Genetics (This Major's Salary over time)
Honestly speaking, I didn't expect to come to the U until the last minute. Financial aid fell through at my school of choice, and I rather not be buried in loans before I start Grad school. Because of my haste, I didn't READ that Biomedical Engineering is in IT, not CBS. I found that out soon enough. But being said, I felt lucky to have landed in CBS. Students are more friendly in my opinion, and classes are smaller, well compared to IT classes (I ended up doing a double major with Biomedical Engineering in IT and Genetics…(GCD) in CBS, so I know what I am talking about when I say friendlier). I was in the CBS Honors program, so the advising part was superb. My adviser knew so much about me and was an excellent resource. I found the classes to be very, very easy. I take 20 credits a semester, but I normally don't have to study outside of going to lectures, doing HW (if it needs to be handed in), and cramming for exams. Very manageable except for a few crazy weeks of the year when everything is due at the same time when I have to apply to Med schools. It is hard to meet and retain friends here since people move around so much, and it is hard to meet in classes, but if you are active and join clubs, that's a solvable problem. It does take efforts, but quite like high school. Do get involved in research though. I got into a lab in Fall of Sophomore year, best decision ever. It really spice things up a great deal. I learned so, so much in lab, and it helped A LOT to get into good schools. I have learned that Profs like young students, READ:Sophomores. It is hard to get into anywhere as a freshman, but the searching and email should start already. Don't frat about not knowing enough. Even starting seniors make very stupid mistakes and know essentially nothing. It is relatively hard to get into a lab because so many people are trying, but if you email enough and keep your grades up, your chance will be close to 100%. I am kind of dorky and prefer writing this blog over partying, so no advices there. But I do love the different ethnic restaurants, very, very cute city in terms of food. But if Chinese food is what you are after, you better like spicy food. Non-spicy Chinese Cuisine here is just crap in my opinion. Don't have enough Northerners apparently.