Essay: I Want To Pursue A Biomedical Engineering Degree

I have always been drawn toward STEM, especially biology. Recently I’ve been fascinated, in a disbelieving sort of way, with prosthetics. I’m frustrated by slow pace of advancements in both prosthetics and the inability to overcome paralysis brought on by neck and back injuries. I think that we need to focus on better methods of sending signals to nerve endings to simulate natural movement, which I understand scholars at Case are working on currently, but I also would like to see us focus on the seemingly trivial concern with how to attach a prosthetic. It seems very Captain Ahab-like to belt on a prosthetic limb. Prosthetics should not just be a poor substitute for losing a limb but instead something that completely replaces your lost limb in a way that does not serve as a barrier. So a person is able to walk again and does not feel less than whole.
I attended an information session and toured campus. The Case School of Engineering and the Pre-Professional Scholars Program in Medicine, in particular, intrigued me. I have been looking for a college that presents a way for me to bring together my interest in medicine with design and human welfare, leading me to biomedical engineering. I learned that the concept of biomedical engineering was developed at the Case School of Engineering. The chance to be able to attend the university where this started and to combine that with a path to medical school under the Pre-Professional Program for Medicine would allow me to fulfill my dream of having a career that focuses on helping people recover from paralysis or the loss of limbs. Case Western presents the perfect opportunity for my goals, and I respectfully ask to be considered for the Pre-Professional Program for