Addison

Who else is headed to UPenn next fall? I'm going for bioengineering and can't wait!

Perhaps, in the sense that you will likely be more able to compellingly explain 'why program X at school Y' if you have directly relevant research experience. However, I think a more important question is would you be happy working in your current area of research for the duration of a PhD program and beyond? Ultimately, you want a fulfilling experience, not just admission.

A friend got an interview invite from U-Michigan BME via email in late December.