Bioengineering

Explore Your Major

• Review the Bioengineering concentrations and general degree requirements

• Take first-year BioE classes BioE 10 & 26

• Look for classes that spark your interest (such as Freshman Seminars).

• Choose your concentration.

• Attend the BioE Town Hall.

Connect and Build Community

• Meet other bioengineers at events and student groups like BioEHS and BMES.

• Go to office hours and study groups (SLC, ESS).

• Seek out mentorship from upper division students.

• Get help if you need it and respect your limits.

Discover Your Passions

• Find opportunities in BioE Announcements emails.

• Go to the BioE weekly seminars to get inspired.

• Read about faculty research in Bioengineering, but don’t worry about joining a lab your first year.

Engage Locally and Globally

• Interested in studying abroad later? Check out the requirements now.

• Explore volunteering opportunities on campus.

Reflect and Plan Your Future

• Develop a plan for getting career ready.

• Join Handshake for Career resources.

• Apply for scholarships and awards as available.

• What are you doing this summer? Look into  jobs, volunteering, courses, and internships. (watch BioE Announcements).

Explore Your Major

• Finish lower division courses.

• Talk with adviser(s) and use the multi-year teaching plan to plan your prereqs and classes.

• Considering a minor or summer minor? Sketch out how it’ll fit into your 4-year plan.

• Attend the BioE Town Hall.

Connect and Build Community

• Keep going to office hours and study groups to build your connections.

• Get to know faculty and grad students at professor lunches, Town Hall, research exhibitions, etc.

• Gain leadership experience in student organizations and ESS.

Discover Your Passions

• Plan for research. Make a resume, talk to faculty.

• Into health entrepreneurship? Apply for the Fung Fellowship

• What kind of problems do you want to solve? Start thinking about how they relate to potential careers and what skills you’ll need.

Engage Locally and Globally

• Apply for study abroad

• Prime time for volunteering in the community - check out PiE, BEAM, BioEHSC

• Apply to NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) and internship programs.

Reflect and Plan Your Future

• Attend Biotech Career Connections and Bio-Tech Connect to learn about industry careers.

• Check out career paths through Career Connections Networking Series

• This is a great time for an off-campus internship! Visit another university for an REU.

Explore Your Major

• Choose classes from your concentration that will build the career skills you need.

• Check in with a major adviser and college adviser on degree progress.

• Plan time for non-major courses on your bucket list.

• Attend the BioE Town Hall.

Connect and Build Community

• Don’t stop going to events and seminars to hide in the lab. Time at Berkeley is precious!

• Push your boundaries - connect with new student groups through the LEAD Center or become a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.

Discover Your Passions

• Doing research? Present your work whenever possible (CoE poster session, Cal Day) and apply for the Dr. Budinger Award

• Narrow your careers list and make a plan to get there. Faculty advisers can help.

Engage Locally and Globally

• Find opportunities to pursue your passions that go beyond campus, such as a Berkeley Global Internship, community volunteering, or independent project.

Reflect and Plan Your Future

• Attend Bio-Tech Connect and Employer Infosessions.

• Going to grad school? Take GRE/LSAT/MCAT.

• Explore post-grad options with Career Educators and at Career and Graduate School Fairs

• This is a great summer for an industry internship!

Explore Your Major

• Meet with your major and college adviser to ensure you are fulfilling all major, college, and campus requirements.

• Take the Bioengineering Capstone Design course if you haven’t fulfilled your Design Requirement

• Attend the BioE Town Hall.

Connect and Build Community

• You’ve made it! Now be a mentor for others.

• Cement your knowledge by teaching: become a Engineering peer advisor or tutor at the Student Learning Center

• Do your BioE and UCUES student surveys. Your perspective is at its most valuable.

Discover Your Passions

• Attack your career plans Job shadow, visit grad schools, network!

• Keep seeking out new experiences.

• Earn a certificate through the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology or Jacobs Institute for Design and Innovation.

Engage Locally and Globally

• Apply for fellowships available to recent Berkeley graduates.

• Explore gap year opportunities prior to embarking on your next academic or career adventure.

Reflect and Plan Your Future

• Industry bound? Update resume, practice interviewing, and utilize job board tools from Berkeley Career Engagement. Watch On-Campus Recruiting, Infosessions and BioE Announcements.

• Grad school? Talk to grad students and advisers. Ask for letters of recommendation EARLY. Apply for fellowships (hint: NSF).