r/Biomechanics

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping to get some advice from older students, alumni, or anyone who has navigated a similar situation.

I’m currently a sophomore in ECE (came in through ENGRUD). Over the last year, I’ve realized my true passion lies in the physical, structural, and materials side of engineering rather than internal electronics. I took statics and absolutely loved it, whereas circuits really wasn't my thing. Through my engineering clubs, I’ve been actively building up my hands-on skills, getting a lot of experience with the machine shop, CAD, and FEA. I also have direct experience on the mechanical side outside of class, including an industry internship building automated machinery and a research analyst role focusing on biomimetics and CAD. My long-term goal is to work on structural components and physical product innovation (aerospace, automotive, or biomechanics).

Because of this shift in interest, I applied to switch my major to ME (my top choice) or CIV. I just found out I was rejected from both, which is definitely a bummer, but now I’m trying to figure out the most logical next step. I see three main paths forward and would really value your thoughts on them:

1. Stay at UW and finish my ECE degree. Is it realistic to pivot into mechanical/structural roles with an ECE degree if I build a strong portfolio outside of class? I'm willing to put in the work, but I don't want to be automatically screened out of ME jobs just because of my degree title.
2. Stay at UW, take ME prerequisites, and reapply next year. This feels like the riskiest option. I’d be taking non-ECE classes for a year, and if I don't get in next cycle, I'll have lost a lot of time.
3. Transfer to another university (like WSU) for ME. I really like UW, but transferring would guarantee that I actually get to study the exact field I want to work in.

Has anyone been in a similar boat, or does anyone working in the industry have insight into how much the specific degree matters here? I want to make sure I'm making a smart choice for my career, so any guidance or reality checks you have would be incredibly appreciated!

Thanks so much for your time.